Table-Tennis (le ping-pong) is very big round here. The college has several tables in the playground and the kids all like to play it at break time. Sadly, proper tables are usually in excess of €130 so that makes it not entirely a priority for us. However, undeterred by the lack of a big, smooth surface to play on, our children have managed to work up some pretty exciting ping-pong action on our rather warped outside table.
It’s not quite olympic size, but it certainly provides enough entertainment!
Not quite as fresh as last time, but Fontenay market provided our second batch of oysters… Washed down with lemon juice and white wine this time – and opened with a proper knife!
I think we’re getting the hang of it now 
This morning we took our first real trip to the market at Fontenay-le-Comte. I know, we’ve been here for 10 months and this was our first visit, but its a Saturday morning, and with 3 kids it’s a struggle to get them to do anything on a Saturday morning, never mind get dressed and go out!
Most markets we have ever seen in France are pretty much the same – a mix of beautiful fruit, vegetables, fish, cheese and bread, with some rather old-fashioned clothes, hats and lots and lots of pants! Fontenay market was certainly no different. However, there is something special about the atmosphere of a French market that is really worth sampling.
The fruit and vegetables are especially resplendent in their colour and size. Much nicer than their supermarket-bought cousins. The people are all friendly and happy to chat (not much chatting in your local Hyper U I can tell you!) and the road-side cafés make a welcome break where you can just stop for a coffee (or a pineau ) and watch the world go by.
We picked up a fair selection of stuff to keep us going over the weekend…some mussels, oysters (yes, more oysters!), lots of bread, some roquefort cheese (to go in the sauce for the mussels)… and Molly bought a scarf, kindly reduced by the merchant skilfully negotiated down by me from €7 to €5. Yes, I know it’s still 22 degrees and sunny here, but you’re apparently nobody if you don;t have a scarf round your neck…
I think we may make a habit of a Saturday-morning trip to the market. The kids will be fine to run riot/sleep all morning on their own and Lisa and I can enjoy a pleasant morning perusing the fine produce, having a quiet coffee and generally enjoying this essential part of everyday french life.
Sounds good to me. What do you think?
