Rock climbing in the Charente

One of the big differences between our life in France and the one we had in the UK is the participation in organised sport.

When I was at school, Wednesday afternoon was always devoted to rugby or cricket and the summer holidays were simply spent playing with friends.

Over here the schools don't seem to organise any sport at all, it's down to you to sign up for the events run by the local communes (of which there are plenty).

During summer the local children in the Charente all seem to join clubs under the banner of "Eté actif". Last year our two tried their hands at water-skiing, horse-riding and archery this year it's rock climbing, horse riding (again), pottery and flower arranging.

The lessons are cheap and it gives them a little taster of different activities.

Rock climbing is the most popular by far in our house-hold.  Katie had tried it in the Pyrenees with school so when we turned up at "La font qui pisse" she scoffed at the 24m high sheer rock face.....although it certainly looked daunting enough to me.

A quick briefing from the instructors and she was scaling the sheer face like Spiderman while her mother was having kittens below.

I have no idea if she will take this further and move on to Mont Blanc and  Mount Everest but it sure was lovely to see her trying something well outside the usual Downie family comfort zone.

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Saturdays in France

I've always loved Saturdays.

When we moved to France it was a great worry that my Saturday ritual would be gone for ever (wake up, cooked breakfast in the local greasy spoon, Telegraph crossword, "football focus", trip to White Hart Lane, dinner with friends).

The good news is that nothing's changed and it's the one morning each week when you'll catch me singing in the shower and in an assuredly good mood.

Take today.

The senior partner teaches some local children each Saturday morning so it's always down to me to get the two girls off to English school by 10.00am. 

No sooner were they dropped off than I'd parked up in Jarnac, bought my copy of L'Equipe from the bar/tabac and was ensconced on my favourite bar stool with a grande creme in front of me.

The proprietor of the café is a friend of mine (I know you won't believe me but his name is M Champagne...how cool is that for a bar owner) and he always lets me sit peaceably for 90 minutes and we chat about all things sport that crop up in the paper.

I always get a little tingle in my tummy when I turn to the TV page in L:'Equipe to see what matches are being shown on Canal+. 

Today it's Stoke v Liverpool (1.40pm), Chelsea v Sunderland (3.50pm) and Everton v Man City (6.25pm)....then, of course, they're showing all the French matches, Real Madrid &  Barcelona tonight.

Sadly I'm going to have to forfeit the evening matches as we're off to friends for dinner.  Christian is the cellar master of this place so we always have the finest wines and cognacs to accompany our meal....they really are sensational hosts.

So there we have it.  Life over here is so, so different to how it was in the UK - and yet it's the same.

It may seem mundane but to me it's like having christmas day 52 times a year and I'm seldom happier than when I'm sat on that bar stool, at peace with the world and anticipating the day ahead.

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