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Good Morning everyone !

Bright and not too cold this morning - but same as you, not very good prospect for days to come.

I was lucky and never had school food; I lived 10mns walk from the college which I attended for primary and secondary education, thus I had my meals at home; we did have one and a half hour break though, so quite feasible.

Primary education stopped with a Certificat d'Etudes - your Eleven +. Your O levels was our Brevet (and still is), and then A levels are the four years that lead to the Baccalaureat. (bacically)

Difference with you though is that for the Brevet, and in my days, we did not choose the subjects we wanted to take. It was a set program including two types of French (grammar and literature), Algebra, Geometry, History, Geography, Physic, Chemistry. Natural Science (Biology - the human body etc...) 1st foreign Language (studied for four years) and 2nd foreign language (studied for only 2years), Physical training, and I think that's all.

No way is it as difficult nowadays and in fact the Brevet now is only a glorified version of 11+ !

As for the Bac, it was divided into two parts, spread over two years, first part taken 2 years after the Brevet, and part 2 taken the following year. Choice of type of subjects for that though, either Maths, Science or Lit (but all having basic subject as well, including foreign languages. I think this also has changed now.

Good Sunday to All,

Hope your weather is better than here - rain has arrived in the night, slight but grey sky nonetheless; barometer showing bright sun so can expect improvement by Tuesday I think. (Still rather fresh!)

Promise, I won't put in as a long a post as yesterday !

Till later

Good morning, Pigale!
Still lovely here today but apparently we can expect rain ALL next week!
We are just waiting for daughter and grandson to arrive(son-in -law staying at home to so some school work preparation - he's a teacher.)
Then we are all going out to the park, taking a picnic as requested by the youngster! (probably last opportunity!)
I'm told we are going to collect conkers and acorns!!!!

Hi again

Yes Elle, enjoy the nice weather while it lasts - there might still be nice sunny days (after next week), but certainly not as warmish.


I have just read the Rugby results and discovered that England is out of the Cup - I am very sorry, particularly since you are the hosting country; Although I was supporting Wales, yesterday I was actually supporting England, but the Australian team looks very strong this year.

For France, the big hurdle in this first round comes on the 11th, against Ireland; both teams will be eager to win so as to be top of their group and avoid playing New Zealand in quarter final - and Ireland never let things go right until the whistle blows; they never give in - and I respect them for that - so I just hope that France will have the same willpower; and let's hope it will be clean good rugby, even though there is so much at stake!

Watching the rain come down this morning, so to pass the time I'll bump this thread up.

Yes ChrisE, you are right - this thread is an endangered species!

You see ChrisE, as usual one of us bumps the thread to the top, two or three people answer (on average), and that is it !

What can we do to keep this thread alive?

I can understand that Rugby (subject of my previous post) was probably a sore point, but whatever the subject broached anyway. no one seems ready to take it up.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Wales get on against Australia on Saturday. I am half Welsh, and that half may have to come to the fore for the rest of the time that they remain in the tournament. I don't think they can win though - in fact the most impressive performance I've seen so far was Australia's against England.

Your big game is on Sunday, isn't it? How is Saint-Andre viewed in France? Some of his team selections seem frankly odd over here.

Yes, Australia looks impressive.

I shall support Wales of course, (as I often do). I like that little team; I have seen her improve over the past few years but, like you, I think they will need a bit of luck!

The French have always enjoyed Wales-France rugby matches, it has always been The match of the tournament that was important, particularly in the days of JPR (who left a very nice scar on my Husband's leg !) , Gareth Edwards, and our own Albanadejo, the Spanghero brothers etc... A different rugby in those days!

~Saint Andre is viewed with mixed feelings I think - So far, I think he has had strange choice in his players perhaps in order to protect the better, more experienced ones from a bad injury this early in the competition - but luckily he changed a number of players around for the 2nd half of France-Roumania, otherwise we would have lost!

I am quite concerned about Saturday, (as I said, the Irish never let go) , but even if we did win, we would probably end up by meeting Argentina in the quarter finals - and they can be dangerous too!

ChrisE, I know the US are not that much of a Rugby country, but more American Football, but South Africa has just beaten them 64 - 0 ! I feel sorry for the poor Yanks, that is a disastrous score!