Tuesday 19 August 2008

Camping at the National Park of St. Pierre de Chartreuse

A few weeks back we decided to go camping. About 80km and roughly1.5hrs drive from the parent's home. Just to do something different. It was during the music festival and where we were going, there will be some open air performance, Live bands. The weather however was not promising for a summer. As shown in the photo below... dark cloudy day....Well we took our chances anyways.

We arrived just in time at the camp site to set up the tent cos there were lots of people coming for this festival. Well, our camp site is a little distance from the town center and it was pretty happening camp area. There were loud music blasting all throughout the day and night!!! Ya, the boom boom kind of music with very powerful speakers.
Here is the tent we used for our weekend camping. It was very easy to set up. The tent actually belongs to his father. It was a father's day gift but I guess we took the opportunity to use and try it out first hand.
All you got to do is, throw it in the air and it just OPENS up like magic!! POOF... VOILA ...no need for more effort. It took a couple of seconds to open up. As you can see behind, there are more tents like this. It is really the fashion to use buy and use this tent.

It is vrey spacious too. Could fit 3 or even 4 people in here. 2 very comfortably. 3 is alright and 4 gets a little too COZY.. Unless it is Winter then, 4 is a good amount to keep warm. hahahaha..

A little effort from me, to nail down the tent.. well, we still have to do some manual labour apart from the magical bit. This is for safety purposes in case a strong wind comes and blows away our tent. Don't want that to happen.

Apparently we set up the tent just in time too cos not long after... THE RAIN came and followed but thunder and lightning... HMMM.. I was pretty scared. The thought that it might strike us or the tree where our tent and then fall on top of us. I kept telling Johan that maybe it will be better if we just slept in the van. Eventually the rain and thunderstorm stopped. Phew, thankfully. We got ourselves ready for the night and went to the town cetre for the main activities.
The Town Council of St. Pierre de Chartreuse with a beautiful rainbow after the storm....
Real pigeons flying away?? Nope, that is a painting on the wall!! Yup, including that little widow.. and the view.. ALL PAINTING!! Beautiful work huh? It looks sooooo real. In France, there are lots of beautifully painted walls. I must take some photos when I get a chance too.
Spot Johan.
The Baba Yaga.. hehehhe
Most of the houses there looks like this cute cottage.
One of the few live bands performing that night. Unfortunately, only got a photo shot of this band. It was nice and there were some people dancing. Children and Adults were enjoying themselves.
The morning after...... Some campers who had a really good time with his friends. We didnt have a good sleep that night with the music playing loudly and then by 5 am there were people talking really loudly and looking for a place to place their tents to sleep.. yup, lots didnt sleep till about that time. We are like the babies that need to sleep really early!!

HMMMMM... BREAKFAST! My favourite meal of the day especially when I have the whole day to have breakfast. Johan and I can have our breakfast for a good 1 - 2 hours. This morning, we bought some fresh bread and had it with peanut butter with jam and butter with jam accompanied with an orange juice.

Then we took a walk around and the music continues...
There still had other activities for the early bird and for those who slept earlier...
Live band in the middle of the market place. They played and sand well. There was a good crowd around to listen to them. A french Stereotype..
The two stand-up comedians managed to draw a good crowd of both children and adults. They were funny. The kids loved them.
After our little walk around, Johan went cycling while I was too lazy to join him.. Ya, I am such a lazy bum. I stayed near the camp area and read my book. Then I took a nap and prepared to go back home. Of course putting away the tent was not as easy as it came open like magic. There were some people who were packing up and trying to twist and turn the tent to pack it. It was funny to watch. We never tried it before so Johan and I observed them closely so we could learn from them the techniques to pack the tent. A guy next to us even tried lying and putting his body weight on the tent to twist and turn the tent.. SO FUNNY to watch. I should have video it.
We only left towards the end of the day so we could enjoy being outdoor in the woods. There were not too many people left and I decided to take on the challenge to pack away the tent.. Since not too many people, I cant make a fool of myself trying to twist and turn the tent. Surprisingly, it was not as difficult as how some of them made it to be. Just got to let the tent fold in by itself and then twist it accordingly and VOILA.. under a minute!
Either it was easy or I am just TOO SMART!! HAH
Well, that was it.. It was a good and relaxing weekend out of the house. Relaxing for me at least cos I didnt go cycling.. I just lazed around!

Sunday 10 August 2008

My current work

Hi all,
Most of you are aware of what I do.
Just a brief note in case some have missed out on that particular information.
I am currently working for a company that deals with helping eldely people or disabled people to do things that they are unable to do for themselves. I go to their individual homes and help them in the daily chores such as general house cleaning, laundry, ironing, shopping, driving them around for their doctor's appointments and some certain cases I help them to take their shower and go to the toilet.
Some photos of those I was working for during my first week of work. This is temporary work until I am able to find something else. The job is interesting, tiring and some days it can be difficult.This experince is very enriching and has taught me alot personally on humility and patience.

It reminds me the importance of health, loved ones and how fortunate I am be healthy and have people that loves me. Some of the people I am working with are very Lonely who are finding it had to continue of living. Some days it brings tears to my eyes to hear what they have to say about their own personal experience.
I wish you all well and good health. Take good care of yourself and remember your loved ones.

Tuesday 5 August 2008

Lunch with Papy

Johan's grandpa (papy) invited us for lunch a few Sundays ago.
We ate in a restaurant with a park near a big big pond with swans, geeses and ducks..
(How Johan might look like after 60 years!! hehhehe)

Deciding what we should eat. Difficult choice.
Finnally we chose and ordered SALAD, FROG'S LEGS cooked in butter and garlic and MUSSEL in Garlic sauce!! Yummy.
Getting ready for the big meal!
Mussel.
Frog's legs. In actual fact, it was the whole frog just without the head. It was really tasty. Very buttery and full of cholesterol.
After a full meal to finish we had dessert!! OF COURSE! For a matter of fact, we couldnt eat another bite BUT papy wouldnt hear of it. We HAD to order cos if not he will get upset. Sooooo......

A little mouse that took a bite off our bread when we left it on the side. Can you see it?? Cute eh?

After lunch we took a walk around the park to digest. Then with the bread that we had left we took it to feed the swans and geese... the ducks if they were lucky they will manage to get some but the swans and geese are a lot bigger and faster too.



For those who are worried that I might lose too much weight..you don't need to worry any longer, as you can clearly see.. I am eating well and I still have those FULL thighs - It is really in my genes i cant seem to get rid of them. Hmmmm.. perhaps the butter deep fried frog's legs doesnt help either eh??
MERCI PAPY!!

Sunday 3 August 2008

DJ Bruno came by to visit us!!


Our dear friend whom we knew from Brunei came by to visit us before heading back to South East Asia.. LUCKY MAN!!! Bruno stayed for the weekend and we went to the Medieval Village about 30hrs ride from parent's home. Enjoy the photos!!











It is the spinning wheel from Sleeping Beauty.
I am trying to go pass the chimney to follow Sleeping Beauty up the stairs. Stop her from pricking her fingers and from eternity sleep. Hah!I love that cartoon!!!!

Just having fun with the cooking tools.. hehhehe
Yummy soupy soup!!! Corn soup???!!!!

Johan trying to figure out how to use this utensil.
Thanks for visitng us Bruno. It was nice to see you again. Hope you are enjoying your time in South East Asia. Maybe we'll meet again.