Bordeaux August 07

We’ve just got back from Bordeaux and A* flew to Herez this morning. She won’t be back now until the end of September at the earliest and maybe never! I always go and sit in her empty room after she’s gone and feel a bit sad. Summer is over. J1 goes back in two weeks.

The holiday was lovely. The weather was fantastic with one overcast day and raining on the last morning. J2 got on OK with M and when there were 7 of us it was amazing peace and harmony and I learnt how to play poker. We went to the sea twice which is quite a long haul, visited the St Emilion, Medoc and Cognac wine regions, went to Bordeaux and generally idled in the French countryside. FP and I took it in turns to cut the grass in R’s fields with his tractor the day before we left which was part of the deal.

A* is still with Chris who we have now met. FH describes him as an adult Harry Potter with a beard, but he seems very nice, not shy, quite intellectual – anyway A* likes him. Because of him A* may come back from Herez. In the end she worked 10 days over the summer and did one week’s work experience with the regeneration company who she thought were dull and worked too hard. We’ll have to see how the wine tour guide stuff shapes up otherwise coming back may be hard.

J1 had a week’s wages nicked – he thinks by one of his work mates – just before he came away. He tried to resolve it unofficially, but we have involved the police this morning. It always happens to J1. He got a letter while we were away telling him that the guy who nicked his brand new bike from outside our house (i.e. lifted it on to the back of a truck) has admitted it and is now in prison (presumably not just for that). However, J1 has now got a flat for next year in London, though he had to give up on sharing with 6 and they divided in to 2. The contract starts in September – about £120 a week! He’s OK. All this training and discipline makes him impatient and disappointed with the inadequacies of people and you can have some interesting, if slightly desperate conversations about politics i.e. he thinks leaders should have more control because people are stupid, but I will then say, how can you be sure leaders will do a better job?

J2, who I forgot to say last time scored 90 odd % in his ref exam, got into nude sunbathing in a big way in France and thrashed everyone, including Bear through sheer staying power. I thought he would be moaning about being bored as soon as we got there, but he was lovely and really appreciative. It’s very touching how children suddenly grow up and surprise you! He has been having nightmares about his GCSE results.
No more news at this stage. I go back to work tomorrow.