And here she is......Louise Junior or Madame Louise

She arrived today.  The guides called me on the radio and said, she's here.  Come and get her.  As fast as I could put my coat on and as fast as I could get Sophie to come out with me to take pictures.  Zoom. So let me introduce you to MY lamb.  She even has her ears pierced.  Allen says that I'm baaaaaaaad.

So I'll be bringing her treats and putting her red ribbon on.  I have 2 sizes of ribbon for when she grows up.

So bébé lamb is now at work with me.  When I came back in the office, Karine said:  you pu le mouton.  You smell sheep.  They are starting to talk like me now.  A little bit of English mixed with French.  I wonder if I can wash her.   Must google that.  How to wash a sheep.

So goodnight and talk to you soon.  Allen just finished putting up shelves for me.  He's a good man.

Do not despair, Bird is still in the air

Latest news, new guides have arrived.  They are all very nice and a new session is about to start, I am going to miss the old guides...and the circle of life continues.  Allen is here and already my apartment has a fresh look.  He first put up 4 blinds so 70 euros, hemmed, ugly, brown curtains, down you come.  Then he screwed in my 3 drawers that kept falling off, did my laundry, varnished my tables, painted the apartment AGAIN, washed the floors on his hands and knees because I didn't tell him I had a mop.  I'm no fool.  So for him, it's not a vacation. For me, I'm at the 4 seasons.  I love the color.  It's called Pepper and it really brings the room together and makes it homy.  Is that a word.   Rachelle, you can tell me if that's a word.  I asked Allen if he thought the bedroom needed painting.  He pretended he didn't hear me.  Damn him!!!  I think that he did enough on this trip.

Zina is with us this week and she kind of adopted Allen but sleeps on my side.  She is very tired from watching Allen doing all the work.  The life of a cat is pretty hard.  Here are a few pictures of what's happening.

I wasn't really painting, just pretending.  Doing it pretty well eh!

Well I am very busy, so I can't blog long, but I didn't want anyone to think that I forgot about all my readers out there.  So good night.  Isabelle, Christiane and Marie-Cri are arriving Monday.  It will be very nice to see them.

What a night...

Monday, the guides asked if we wanted to go play Lazer Tag.  Well let me tell you, it was fun and I will go again.  I wore my police t-shirt just so they would know who was the boss...(as if that would help).    The funny thing is that André had a navy blue and white striped t-shirt and I had police written on the back and it looked like he was a prisoner and I was escorting him.  The room had black lights so it looked even funnier.  OK, well maybe you had to be there.  Anyway, I told the guides, don't shoot me first, I'd like to last a bit.  They divided us into 4 groups of 4 and in my group, nobody had played before.  So we're running around, (they told us not to run, but who listens to rules anyway), ducking, looking all over, hiding.  It's a pretty good workout.  It lasted 20 minutes. It usually is only 15 but I think the guy took pity on me and thought that it would take me 15 minutes just to figure what I'm suppose to be doing with this lazer gun.  Ah, I was shooting everyone I saw, even in my own team.  Our team didn't win, actually we didn't even make it on the screen but next time we will.  I was wishing that Kevin could see me in action.  Here's a few pictures of us at the arcade before we went into the lazer tag area.

They were competing against one another.  It sure was fun and next time, I'm going to have a plan on how to surprise the bad guy before he gets me.

On a more serious note, I was walking around the Monument at Vimy Monday and along the wall, this beautiful flower was sitting there in memory of a lost soldier.  I had to take a picture.   It was just too perfect.

I just finished skyping with a wonderful friend.  It's always so nice to talk to you Corinne and see your smiling face.  Talking about skyping, Sunday morning, 2:05 am, I get this facetime call (it's like skype but for apple).  I need to put this on my blog because I know that she will be reading this and Marla is cool too.  Karen will be laughing.  Poor Paula, she forgot that there was a time difference.  So I'm trying to get my bearings here (oh, I don't know if that's the word) but I go to bed with my BB, my IPAD, my phone, just in case someone needs me.  Like I could do someting this far away.  So I sit in bed, in the dark (yes it's night here too), try to find my glasses, grab the phone, no it's not that, grab my BB, trying to unlock it, then figured, ah, it's my IPAD so by the time I found it, Paula was gone.  I knew she would feel bad and I knew that she would probably send me a message on my BB.  BINGO.  A message. ah Louise, so sorry.  If you heard facetime, it was me. I forgot the time difference.  Well the next day, Marla is cool and I made sure that we made her feel guitly.  In all honestly, it's OK Paula.  You are not the first one to do that.

Well my red, silky ribbon is ready for tomorrow to welcome Madame Louise.  Monsieur the Shepherd man brought her Monday so I could look at her but I wasn't there.  The guides saw her and said she was so cute.  I bought cat treats because I couldn't find lamb treats.  Last night I googled How to train a Lamb.  The things you find on YouTube.

I bought Velux (blinds for windows on roofs).  My first attempt was Sunday and I wasn't strong enough to put the screws in.  Old wise one thought, I'll buy an electric screwdriver.  Bought that today and all screws went in crooked.  All of them were also only half in.  I knew I should have bought a Black & Decker.  Anyway, finally I couldn't hook the blind in because I had put the whatever silver metal thingy too far in the wood, so I said, screw you.  Allen is arriving Saturday.  So I put up my ugly, brown, 70 euros, hemmed curtain back.

Well I must go get ready for bed.  Already 9:00 pm here.  Hope this weather clears up.  I'm ready for sunshine.

Bob

Well I was asked to take care of Bob again.  I enjoy him alot.  A totally different personality than Zina.  Zina is the Princess.  So yesterday I went to get Bob.  I walk in and as usual, he comes to the door then I pick him up and sit on the couch.  He rubs his head on me and is very cuddly.  However, some people don't seem to believe me....Anyway, we sat there for about 15 minutes then up goes Bob.  I got all his stuff ready for the sleepovers, put that in the car and went back in for Bob.  Well Bob was gone, hiding, as usual.  I know his hiding place so I go and he is so comfortable in there and he wouldn't come out.  So I bring the stuff back in the house and stand at the bottom of the stairs and I tell Bob, who couldn't care less if I was there or not, '' tomorrow Bob, I'm going to put you in the car first, then I'll pack your stuff''.  Like really, I'm standing there, alone in a house, talking to a cat and telling him my plan.  Bob is smart.  He remembers things.  So today after work, I went back with my plan.  But when I came in, he was so happy to see me.  The smile on his face, he was spinning around, did wheelies, stood on his tail.  He was so cute that I just had to pick him up and sit on the couch so he could snuggle.  OK, he doesn't do any of this but it's just because he doesn't want to.  Same thing tonight, sat on the couch, rubbed his head then after 15 minutes, he's had enough so there he goes, up and hides and I can't get him.  So now my plan is to go every evening after work.  He likes that better.  Here are a few pictures.

Bob is saying, you're not getting me into that thing.  I'm staying home and waiting for mama.

Yes I am alone.  I took the picture.  Just in case people think that I'm having wild parties.

Ah those stairs are killing me.  Couldn't you get a one story house.

He's saying, should I bring my blue pyjamas or my green ones.  You know, the one piece one with the flap in the back.

So this is the story of Bob.  He's a good cat.  See you tomorrow Bob and to all my fellow readers, have a great evening.

OK, let me explain.....

Today was the big day.  The sheep were arriving.  11:00 couldn't come quick enough.  I had to get ready to meet my little lady.  Monsieur the shepherd man said that she was black and white.  He showed me the picture but I didn't have my glasses so I said, ah elle est tellement belle.  She is so beautiful.  I couldn't see the color or the size but pretended I could.  He was so proud to come and show me my sheep in his 1 X 1 camera screen.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that I couldn't see her.  Today, I'm looking and looking.  All sheep look alike.  They all follow one another.  I couldn't see any black and white.  So I took all the pictures that I could figuring, well she must be in there somewhere.   After they were in the field Monsieur the shepherd man comes to see me and says, ah votre petit mouton n'y est pas encore.  Your little lamb (even better, I thought I was getting a gros mouton, a big sheep) is not here yet because it's a bit cold and she is only 1 1/2 months.  He has a bell for her and he said, go get a nice ribbon to put around her neck with the bell.  I'll have her here Thursday in the truck and you can hold her.  It's a baby and she's mine.  He says, she'll be the only one that color so you can always see her.  He said he was going to put an elastic around her tail so the tail would fall.   I said, WHY... Well, I was sorry I asked that question.   I had tears in my eyes. I couldn't understand how someone could be so nice and name a lamb after me.  Such a nice gesture.  OK, maybe it's the fact that I whinned, and begged, but still. (No I didn't ask, beg or whine).  So, who's the popular one now Mary had a little lamb.  Stand back and see who follows me to work.  I'm putting pictures as promised, of today's event.   Lots of fog this morning.

The funny person out there that is saying, ah this dog is black and white, Louise can't see anything.  Let's tell her that's her sheep.  Not going to work.  I can tell by the feet.  For some reason, I can hear Karen being sarcastic and saying that...

This one was looking at me funny.  I think he was saying, get that camera out of my face lady.  FUN FACT:  Do you know why some have a blue line on them.  It means that they are pregnant.  Another thing I can put on my resumé.  Sheep connaisseur.

 

So, this is it.  It's been a long day, this Bird's going to bed and counting sheep.

10 months today....

10 months today was my first day of work here.  How time flies.  Since then, I met great people, saw great things, participated in ceremonies that I never knew I would.  I think that I'm a somebody now. ha ha.  It was alot of hard work for everybody but we pulled through.  We celebrated 95th Anniversary of Vimy.  First at Beaumont-Hamel on Easter Sunday with approximately 800 people.  OK, I didn't count them all but what alot of people.  The Governor General was there, along with the Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Deputy-Minister and me.  All the other people just happened to be there.  Then on Easter Monday, it was the BIG celebration at Vimy.  I think that it was the worst weather that I've seen since I'm here.  Rain, wind, 5000 students plus another 3000 or so.  People everywhere.  So I'm standing there on the side of the road because the students, yes all 5000 of them were doing a Walk of Silence from Givenchy to Vimy.  I kind of get excited when I see crowds like that from all over Canada so I was waving to everyone.  All of a sudden, this woman comes to me and says, are you Louise.  Hello, somebody knows me.  She hugs me.  Ah I was so happy to feel the Canadian Love.  I had never met her but through her brother-in-law with whom I work with in Charlottetown, yes that's you Wayne, we had exchanged emails.  I couldn't believe it.  And then, I was walking along the trenches where about 2000 kids were going through and I just happened to say, eh, anybody from PEI, well right beside me, a group started to shout, yes we are, we are.  Oh, now that was luck.  A young girl comes forth and says, my uncle said to look for you and she hugs me.  I think she was missing home.  Now how can I not love my job.  I am sure that alot of you saw the ceremony on TV.  I stayed behind the cameras because I wanted to let others have their moment on TV.  Here is a picture.  Miserable weather but nothing like what the soldiers went through. You will notice that I didn't wear my legs.  I wasn't competing that day.  I didn't feel the need.




With hard work comes pain sometimes.  I woke up Tuesday morning with all of my body aching.  I thought that I had been run over by a tractor trailer.  Of course, no way this woman was going to Emergency.  I was lucky because Tuesday and Wednesday were my days off.  I really thought they were my last days on earth.  Wednesday was even worst.  Somebody please shoot me.  I lasted until Thursday and finally after everyone and their dog telling me to go see a doctor, I finally went.  I just can't figure out why my mind is of a 23 years old or younger sometimes and my body isn't.  I ended up with strep throat but let me tell you they have good meds here in France.  Pretty poten or is it potten anyway, real good stuff.  I made my way to the pharmacy, then dragged my body to the Huit à Huit which is now the Carrefour, just to confuse you, and the lady said, ah bonjour, ça fait longtemps que je ne vous ai pas vu.  It's been awhile since I saw you.  Ya Ya, whatever, give me my darn bread and let me go die in a corner somewhere.  Only kidding.  I was nice BUT today, I feel alot better.  Going back to work tomorrow.  The couch is nice, but it's starting to sag in the middle from me lying there.  I had a brainwave again today.  I figured that I should go for a walk just to get some fresh air and I brought my little cart.  I wasn't going shopping or anything but I used it as a kind of rest thingy.  If I got tired, I would stop and just lean on it.  Oh how smart am I.  How many people would think of that.  It worked.  Came back home and talked to Diane.  Somebody called me last night when I was in bed, I know that I answered and talked to someone but can't remember who.  If you are reading this, please let me know.  Damn drugs.  Oh and I now know how to make hot toddies.  I thought it was hot totties but I change the word every now and then.  Well, who invented that.  Gets rid of any fever you have.  Thank you to the person who suggested it.

Yesterday was André's birthday but I couldn't go out.  Sorry André.  I emailed him to send me a picture of all of them having fun but ha ha ha, you don't have a camera on your Blackberry like I do.  And I knew it.  ha ha ha.  Talking about André, I wonder how Ontario Louise and Bob are making out.  I miss them.

Allen is arriving next Friday.  I smell paint in the air.  I went to my neighbours apartment 2 weeks ago.  Did I tell you that, anyway, they have walls different colors and I'm jealous.  It is so like me.  I have to keep Allen busy so he might as well paint.  Only a few walls though.  Nothing major.  Then Isabelle, Christiane and Marie Cri are coming.  Diane should be here cleaning.....what is a big sister for....to take care of her little sister.

Big day tomorrow.  Madame Louise is arriving on Site.  Monsieur the shepherd man is bringing his herd tomorrow.  Can't wait to meet the little darling.  Do sheep bite.  Oh well, I already have my tetanus shot so I'm good.  I hope she likes me.  I have butterflies just thinking about it.  Get a grip Bird, it's a sheep.  I'll put pictures in for sure even if I don't write anything.

Our trees are in bloom.  Looks very nice.  Hard to believe that Campbellton and PEI still have snow.  If you look to the far left, you will see part of what we call The Danger Tree (google it).  It is at Beaumont-Hamel.

I also want to show you how you find shrapnel.  Now these shrapnels are from WW1.

Lesson No. 1 - FIND A FARMER'S FIELD.  SHOULD BE ONE ON THE WESTERN FRONT. This one happens to be behind the Y Ravine Cemetery at Beaumont-Hamel.  (google it).

Lesson No. 2 - HUNCH YOUR BACK AND LOOK DOWN.  Pretend you are the Hunch Back of Notre Dame.  The best time to see them is after it has rained.  The black kind of stick out.  Can you see it.  Keep looking.  It's there.

Lesson No. 3 - MAKE SURE THAT IT IS REALLY A SHRAPNEL AND NOT SHEEP POOP.  They look alike.  Believe me, I've been had.

Lesson No. 4 - DO NOT PUT IN YOUR MOUTH.  You'll get Strep-throat.  Only kidding.  I don't do that.    So what about that.  That's how you find shrapnels.  Funny finding shrapnel was never on my bucket list but only because I didn't know.  But it should be on yours.  Every movie you see, every book you read cannot come close to what it feels like standing in a battlefield.

Lesson No. 5 - DO NOT TRY TO GET THROUGH SECURITY AT THE AIRPORT WITH SOME SHRAPNEL IN YOUR POCKET.  IT BEEPS.  I had forgotten some in my pockets at Christmas.

Well that's all for tonight folks.  Oh, I wanted to tell you that some of my readers enjoy when I put names of places down because they google it but don't feel like you have to but it is interesting.

Oh I have to say hi to my guide Honeybunch.  He told me to.  One of the guides, The Blond Girl (to save her identity) brought me a nice plant.  Everyone is so good to me.  How can I give back what they give me....

Auto-École for Dummies - part deux

Most of the time, the sequels are never as good but here are some more Rules of the Road in France.  You know I've been driving this road for 9 months and I still love it as much as my first time.  There is just something about the little villages, the sunken roads and the farmers fields that gives you peace while driving.

They have lost a member of the Blue Man Group (google it).  He was last seen crossing the road in Ayette, France.  Pretty far from Vegas where I last saw them.

Oh here's a good one.  For the short people that can't see the signs at normal level, this one's for you.  So Cynthia and I know one person.  Her name has 4 letters, starts with J, ends with N and both middles letters are vowels.  Sounds like Bean.   So J_ _N.  Fill in the blanks.  This is not being mean to her.  It's been going on since 1996.

So here, you get out of your car, go round and round and then get back in and see if you can drive straight.  Good luck.  I've tried it and it's not good.  This is how they know if you are drinking and driving.  I think it's a test.

Lights here are at 2 levels.  Again for tall people and short people.  Here in France, they think of everyone.  Nobody is left out.

You can only pass if you are driving a red car.  I drive white or blue so I stay behind.  

 Like I said before, if they don't like a village, they cross it off.  No it really means that you are outside the village.  Here's a pretty neat house.  I drive by it everyday.  I bet you there are spiders there.  I wouldn't open my window.

 So now to another topic.  Friday, I went to a beautiful ceremony in Moreuil.  I had to lay 2 wreaths on behalf of Canada.  It's an important job I have.  So I wore my skirt only to notice that the bag pipers' skirts were shorter than mine.  Here, take a look.  Oh, I got their permission to post their picture.

I had brought my high heels and was there early so I practiced (yes I did) going down the path with my heels on.  I came back, went to the car and put my flats.  I just didn't trust myself and there were little rocks so I could picture myself breaking my ankle.  I have to be in tip top shape for April 8th and 9th.  After the first wreath laying, we drove into the woods, parked the cars and walked half a km.  Like you all know how I like to walk.......not.  They put me behind the marching band and the flag holders and I was looking good.  We got to this other memorial and it was beautiful.  They had horses doing reanactment and Canadian Flags and everyone wanted a part of me.  Well not really but I would like to think that.  Then we walked (again) where they had the unveiling of a memorial.  The buglers (I don't know how to spell that, the bag pipe guys) played but they somehow lost the trumpet guy.  I don't know.  We walked so far, he could have gotten lost.  Then we walked up further, again, for a little Vin d'honneur.  That's what they call it.  I had orange juice.  Well I really didn't but it was a very moving ceremony.  I was one of the last one to leave.  I could hear people saying, blah blah Canadienne blah blah English blah blah so I turned around and started to talk to them.  First thing they said was how good I looked. NO they didn't.  They should have though.  They said, so you are English Canadian.  I said non, je suis Canadienne Française et je suis Acadienne.  So they practiced their English with me.  They were so cute and friendly.  One man was a retired lawyer.  I just don't hang around anybody.  I have class.  All in all, I loved it and hope to go again next year.

See the Maple Leaf.  Ah, so proud to be Canadian.  Here is the first monument and it's before I laid the wreath.

It was the first time in my life that I used a GPS by myself this week.  How much more can I learn.  I pretty well know it all now.  I loved it and it got me exactly where I wanted to go.  It didn't even tell me RECALCULATE.  Allen said that he was very proud of me.

Today was April Fools and nobody trusted me.  Don't know why.  I would tell the guides something and they would say, ah we're not falling for that.  But I did get one guide.  I told the guides that my boss had cake at the house and could someone please go get it.  Of course they didn't believe me.  So I called my boss and said, OK, call the front desk and tell them you have cake.  So, the call came, poor guide thought, well it must be true.  She wouldn't call and say that.  Out he goes, through the site, going to the house.  The plan was that my boss was going to say...APRIL FOOL... no, here I see him come back with hot cross buns.  She took pity on him.

I have more to post but I will wait until tomorrow or the next day and keep you all guessing.  So again, merci, thank you for reading.  Have a great April 1 and talk to you soon.  Wish you could all be here to experience what I am experiencing.  I am still loving it.  I am blessed.