Thursday, September 5, 2013

Rentrée Roll-call

As it's la Rentrée (back to school), I thought I'd just give you the run-down of the current residents of our home!
Youngest first: Wilson the kitten arrived approximately four hours before we left on our Spanish holiday. He mewed and mewed in our neighbours' empty garden (they were already on holiday) until we took pity on him and presented him to our house/garden/animal sitters, who took the adoption of an untrained kitten in their stride! He must have been over 2 months when this photo was taken by them, but we all thought he was younger - he must have been rather malnourished. Lots of kittens get abandoned around here, but young Wilson has landed on his feet - we've already had him vaccinated and chipped, and Raja has adopted him as a playmate! We are all in love with him...

So next up for age must be Son 2's guinea pigs - if I get more time, I will add more photos. His piggies are called Lysandra, Catrina and Hester (well, what else do you call guinea pigs?) and he loves them very much.

The three big hens are next in age - we are getting three eggs a day from them at the moment! Wilson is wary of them...

Then come the two ornamental hens, who were adopted when a friend returned to the USA. One is just a smaller version of our big ones, but China, the white silky bantam, is a sight to behold... they also lay fairly well, but less than the biggies. We eat a lot of omlettes, here!

Chanel the adult cat comes next. He is at least 9 years old and is theoretically an invalid, as he has broken his hip twice. He has calmed down a bit, and we keep him inside a lot, but he still slopes off to visit neighbours, and, I am sure, gets fed by them... Six Dinner Sid! He was most unimpressed when Wilson arrived, particularly as Wilson was missing his mum and tried to get some milk from Chanel!

Raja is a few years older than Chanel. She is Son 1's adopted cocker spaniel, and has changed his life for the better in so many ways. I mentioned 'hen therapy' to Lola Nova a while ago (she agreed it exists) but dog therapy is wonderful, too...

Then comes Son 2 - at 14 he is two years older than Raja! He is in his exam year, the final year of collège. It's all a bit much for a kid who is juggling an enthusiasm for Pokemon with spots and adolescence, but we're confident he'll get through it.

Son 1 is 16 now, and in his second year of lycée. It's a better place than collège. He's specialising in science, with as much history as he can do on the side, but sadly, from his point of view, he still has to read French literature!

There's a really big gap now until you get to the adults in the household. Probably the youngest adult is Achilles the tortoise. I've roughly counted the rings on his shell and he seems to be in his 30s. He's got the wisdom of age, certainly - he gets out of his enclosure and goes for wanders, so now we've written my mobile number on his shell, and we get the occasional phone call from an excited family who've found him chomping through their garden...

And now we come to me, vintage-loving English teacher. You know me!

And finally Ben, who has an adventure of his own starting next week. His work is funding him to do further studies - he'll be off in Lyon during the week for the next nine months, coming home at the weekend to see how his family and other animals are getting on! We're all very pleased that he's got this opportunity (it's to do an MBA) and hope to be reporting on a little bit of life in Lyon, as well as in the Toulouse area, over the coming year.

8 comments:

Elizabethd said...

Floss, what a house full you have...or should that be a 'garden full'? What super names they all have!

Pom Pom said...

Oh, that kitten is darling. I want one!

Frances said...

Floss, seems as if the coming months will be keeping you very, very busy.

Could this be la Rentree plus?

xo

Jane and Chris said...

Welcome ,Wilson, from Jane and the cats.
XXXX

Elderberry-Rob said...

Exciting times ahead with all the changes, good luck to Ben with his adventure in Lyon, all these animals will certainly keep you occupied! The kitten is delightful - wish one would come and adopt me! or a puppy even! Betty

Catherine said...

Lots happening for you all, but life looks good. Enjoy the kitten x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous to have such a house full, though hope you will all be ok with Ben missing during the week.

Happy new year! (I've done my first week back at school and just had the confirmation letter through that I passed my NQT year.)

I took my guinea pigs (Copper and Nickel) in to school this week to aid with teaching Year 9 biology - the 7 life processes :-)

Serenata said...

Hey I did't realise you had guinea pigs! I must have missed that somewhere along the line.

Sounds like you have a full house indeed....you have more animals than us now!

I can imagine the next few months will be strange with Ben away during the week, but great news about his MBE work. Hope it all goes well for him.

A new school year - changes and adventures for all it sounds.