Creativity in education

While reading this blog I stumbled across a speech by Sir Ken Robinson that I first heard a few years ago at a conference. The audience at the conference, teachers of English as a foreign language, were mesmerised and inspired by Sir Ken.

I must remember to listen to the speech once a year to keep it fresh in my mind.

Santa Claus House - Le hameau du Père Noel

Today we headed over to France to Santa Claus's house, Le hameau du Père Noel after a tip from a friend.

It was well worth the trip, a truly magical house filled to the brim with interesting things for the children to discover.

Outside in the Jardin de lutins (the Elves Garden) the sleigh awaits the big night. To assist Rudolf and his crew, there is a large ramp at the end of the runway.









Inside the house, the children were fascinated by the kitchen - cookies were being made, the recipe book open on the table.















In the elves dining room the table was set for dinner, and when we moved through to the workshop the children's eyes were as large as saucers.

Around the top of the room a tin train circled, toys were everywhere, some finished, some half made. Wooden blocks were transported along a conveyer belt to a 'toy machine' and out of the other side came wooden cars.














Santa's room was divided into three sections: office, bath room and bedroom. The big man himself was snoring in the bed, even the loudest appeal of the children could not wake him.













































The children were very concerned about poor Rudolf, who was confined to bed after a nasty car accident. He suffered two broken paws, a sore head and 1 bois foulé. Swiss choc to anyone who can translate that, my translator suggested a wooden crown which sounds a bit strange.

DD explained to her brother that the reason that Rudolf did not have a red nose, was because he was ill.

Nothing to do with the fact that he was a dead stuffed animal then.

Escalade Celebrations

This was taken down in the village, early evening. I love the colours in this picture.

We were down at the Salle Communale for the village celebrations of the Escalade.

The football club had invited the children and their parents to a procession and disco. It was great fun for the children, and the adults were able to relax and have a glass of wine (or three).











A chocolate cauldron called a marmite was lowered to the floor and smashed, the filling of marzipan and sweets spilling all over the floor to be snatched up by the waiting hordes.
















The disco afterwards was great fun, the DJ was great and played everything from the macarena to ADCD.

Some of the young lads from school practiced their air guitar skills. They were almost as good as the famous Czech world champion air guitarist.


Erm, no comment about this pic.

Morning in Switzerland

Sometimes I open the shutters in the morning and the first thing I do (after shouting OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT) is grab my camera.

This was one of those mornings.

Kind old ladies, aren't they just lovely?

I recently took the children to Manor in Vesenaz to buy a comic each. They hummed and hawed and the old lady who works in the newsagent came over. I was worried that she would be annoyed at them taking so long and looking at all the comics.

She started to chat to my daughter about what kind of comic she liked and if she liked Barbie. I listened fascinated as I always do when my children speak French, I cannot believe how fast they have learnt.

When we were leaving my daughter asked for sweets and I said that since we had already bought comics, we would buy sweeties another day.

The lovely lady asked my daughter what were her favourite sweets and when she answered 'Fruit Mentos' gave her a packet free. She said that they were very well behaved children.

It made my day.

Rain and sunshine

Lac Leman at sunset