Sorry for the lack of picture, but I can assure you that Baby JoJo continues to develop into a lovely big baby.
He is now happily rolling onto his tummy and stays propped up for a while watching the world around, although he still hasn't learnt how to roll back again! He can also sit up for a while, unless he decides to reach for something or sway, in which case he collapses flat.
He goes to any admirer so happily, which is handy as there are so many of them around! He lies cheerfully on the floor playing with the toys we have brought along, but never stays on the mat for long. No idea how he gets off though! His favourite amusement is still watching his sisters, especially when they go crazy around him. In fact, it is the times when we warn them most to be careful that he is the happiest!
Baby JoJo sits happily in his bumbo eating breakfast and lunch now. We have tried carrot, sweet potato, pear, apple, banana and baby rice, all goes down pretty well. But he still can't keep his eyes off whatever we are eating! It is still such hot work feeding the poor boy and watching him sweat away.
I have got his sleeps a bit more organised which is great, so now he wakes usually around 6.30am then sleeps around 9am for an hour and after lunch, between one and two pm he will sleep for 2 hours or so. I have been trying to get him to sleep in the evening but not successfully yet, so usually he goes to sleep around 8 or 9pm for the night.
He can be such a noisy baby! During the prayer meeting I went to, he was babbling and gurgling at the top of his voice! But there was worse to come...time for his latest trick of blowing raspberries! They really enhanced the meeting!
I am very glad that our shipping has just arrived as he is really growing out of his 6-9 month clothes and the new ones are (hopefully!) in one of those boxes!
Amazing to think of all the changes that take place during the next six months!
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Friday, 12 September 2008
Popping By
Oh dear, I haven't been online for a while... but the good news is that Bertie has got himself organised and set up an internet account. It should be ready in the next 5-10 (presumably working) days and I am very excited! Unfortunately I am no further at sorting out my camera, sigh! So once we are all hooked up I will be able to get emailing and replying to your lovely comments, not to mention catching up on all your own blogs and and surfing around.
He has also delivered our new cooker today - hurray! I think 3 and a half weeks is quite sufficient time to wait! I am looking forward to taking charge of my cooking, sticking in a few more veg, taking out a lot of salt, and not getting odd looks for all the pasta that we eat!
And to complete the trio, Bertie brought home our boxes of shipping. I am looking forward to unpacking and seeing what I put in during those crazy final days - I have no idea now! I do hope I brought my lovely recipe for banana cake, courtesy of Mei-Li's mum, as I am looking forward to making one with all the bananas around me.
Bertie got on fine at his teaching post on Saturday and we survived without him! I went to a women's prayer meeting after and he took the girls shopping and got LissaLou some very pink noddy trainers.
I am a bit concerned about LissaLou's obssession with shopping (and bemused as to where she gets it from!). On Wednesday we went to the beach for the morning then Bertie took the girls with him to the shopping centre. That evening as we went through our things to say thank you for during our prayers, LissaLou listed "going shopping, buying sugar cakes there, going on two escalators, one steps the other flat..." In response to my "didn't we do anything else?" it was finally CassCass who mentioned the beach!
LissaLou still cries when we leave her at school - twice a day, sigh! But she tells us she is fine after a few minutes. She now has three friends, Leah, Jade and Emma. It is funny hearing her tell us what the maitresse said and lovely hearing her french. She was translating for CassCass today!
CassCass woke this morning at 5.30am (ouch) and came running into our room crying that there was a bee in her bed. Bertie went to investigate (not very seriously, as anything from a flea to a moth could be a bee for her!) and ended up swopping places with her. A little later, I asked what the bee looked like, and she looked wide-eyed and beaming at me as she replied "like a princess!" The mind boggles.
We have not had any hurricanes, unlike the poor Haiti, but we have had SO much rain. You seriously can't imagine how much it is unless you have been in a monsoon! Our routine is Bertie drops LissaLou at school and I collect her, and it always seems to fall when I have to go! It is incredible how quickly the roads become rivers which I wade through. Equally incredible is how quickly the water goes. On the downside, we haven't been to the park as much and it is all dark upstairs when it rains, as we have to close the shutters (no glass!).
Bertie has been working at Pika with his dad this week, which is a great encouragement for his dad and a pleasure for him. He has been working on a vegetable patch which should be fruitful in January.
Look out for the next update on Baby JoJo who hits six months on the 16th!
He has also delivered our new cooker today - hurray! I think 3 and a half weeks is quite sufficient time to wait! I am looking forward to taking charge of my cooking, sticking in a few more veg, taking out a lot of salt, and not getting odd looks for all the pasta that we eat!
And to complete the trio, Bertie brought home our boxes of shipping. I am looking forward to unpacking and seeing what I put in during those crazy final days - I have no idea now! I do hope I brought my lovely recipe for banana cake, courtesy of Mei-Li's mum, as I am looking forward to making one with all the bananas around me.
Bertie got on fine at his teaching post on Saturday and we survived without him! I went to a women's prayer meeting after and he took the girls shopping and got LissaLou some very pink noddy trainers.
I am a bit concerned about LissaLou's obssession with shopping (and bemused as to where she gets it from!). On Wednesday we went to the beach for the morning then Bertie took the girls with him to the shopping centre. That evening as we went through our things to say thank you for during our prayers, LissaLou listed "going shopping, buying sugar cakes there, going on two escalators, one steps the other flat..." In response to my "didn't we do anything else?" it was finally CassCass who mentioned the beach!
LissaLou still cries when we leave her at school - twice a day, sigh! But she tells us she is fine after a few minutes. She now has three friends, Leah, Jade and Emma. It is funny hearing her tell us what the maitresse said and lovely hearing her french. She was translating for CassCass today!
CassCass woke this morning at 5.30am (ouch) and came running into our room crying that there was a bee in her bed. Bertie went to investigate (not very seriously, as anything from a flea to a moth could be a bee for her!) and ended up swopping places with her. A little later, I asked what the bee looked like, and she looked wide-eyed and beaming at me as she replied "like a princess!" The mind boggles.
We have not had any hurricanes, unlike the poor Haiti, but we have had SO much rain. You seriously can't imagine how much it is unless you have been in a monsoon! Our routine is Bertie drops LissaLou at school and I collect her, and it always seems to fall when I have to go! It is incredible how quickly the roads become rivers which I wade through. Equally incredible is how quickly the water goes. On the downside, we haven't been to the park as much and it is all dark upstairs when it rains, as we have to close the shutters (no glass!).
Bertie has been working at Pika with his dad this week, which is a great encouragement for his dad and a pleasure for him. He has been working on a vegetable patch which should be fruitful in January.
Look out for the next update on Baby JoJo who hits six months on the 16th!
Friday, 5 September 2008
What We Have Achieved This Week
Baby JoJo has enjoyed avocado, carrot, apple, banana and had a few sad moments with his first tooth coming through...
LissaLou has managed three days at school. Her french is getting so much better, which is lovely to see, but she leaves each mirning (and afternoon!) in a rather tearful state. It is reassuring to know that she is fine when she is there! She has made two friends called Leah and Jade (she thinks) and she understand some but not all of what they say! Alongside the teacher, each class has a Tatie and LissaLou's is a lovely lady called Marie-France who she likes a lot.
CassCass was able to follow all of Papy's instructions and carry them out obediently. It is great to see the relationship that is building up there, with the help of some biccies and chocolates and guavas slipped their way! (Grandparents are alike world over!) After many days of silence, it is lovely to hear their bright "Bonjour papy! bonjour mamie!" each morning.
Bertie found himself some work! It is a private school that teaches English, run by a Zimbabwean lady. He will be working...Saturday morning, groan! "I've never worked saturday in my life" he exclaimed! There may be additional work on...Wednesday. Of course, it would be LissaLou's day off, sigh! Furthermore, he went to see the owner today, criticised her method of painting, and got a job repainting the building! Go boy!
Bertie has also taken our social security application a step nearer completion and applied for a bank account at La Poste. This required...proof of address, his mum's ID card, both our passports, our livret de famille, a final payslip...and that was just to get a card that lets you withdraw money and no more!
We have started rearranging our upstairs flat and it is feeling very homely. We have a tv now, ooerr! Not very good for us I am sure, but thankfully there is very little to watch on it and I have been lent some more books so I have no time for it anyway! Unfortunately for Bertie it won't show the Ryder Cup, coming soon.
As part of this work, we have got rid of lots of poor Mamie's junk! The rubbish truck passed at a very opportune time this week. And the big event...we finally have our own room! So exciting! Baby JoJo is in with us but in a corridor section and with a stand separating us, so it hardly feels like he is there. The girls were reassigned to their lot by their pink and green mosquito nets and the masses of space they now have to play in.
All the kids are back at school so it is very quiet here. Several of them start at...gasp...7am! I don't know how they do it!
On a sad note, the mango season is finished until next spring, but we are delighted to be enjoying guavas, cerises de pays and cythères. Yum!
LissaLou has managed three days at school. Her french is getting so much better, which is lovely to see, but she leaves each mirning (and afternoon!) in a rather tearful state. It is reassuring to know that she is fine when she is there! She has made two friends called Leah and Jade (she thinks) and she understand some but not all of what they say! Alongside the teacher, each class has a Tatie and LissaLou's is a lovely lady called Marie-France who she likes a lot.
CassCass was able to follow all of Papy's instructions and carry them out obediently. It is great to see the relationship that is building up there, with the help of some biccies and chocolates and guavas slipped their way! (Grandparents are alike world over!) After many days of silence, it is lovely to hear their bright "Bonjour papy! bonjour mamie!" each morning.
Bertie found himself some work! It is a private school that teaches English, run by a Zimbabwean lady. He will be working...Saturday morning, groan! "I've never worked saturday in my life" he exclaimed! There may be additional work on...Wednesday. Of course, it would be LissaLou's day off, sigh! Furthermore, he went to see the owner today, criticised her method of painting, and got a job repainting the building! Go boy!
Bertie has also taken our social security application a step nearer completion and applied for a bank account at La Poste. This required...proof of address, his mum's ID card, both our passports, our livret de famille, a final payslip...and that was just to get a card that lets you withdraw money and no more!
We have started rearranging our upstairs flat and it is feeling very homely. We have a tv now, ooerr! Not very good for us I am sure, but thankfully there is very little to watch on it and I have been lent some more books so I have no time for it anyway! Unfortunately for Bertie it won't show the Ryder Cup, coming soon.
As part of this work, we have got rid of lots of poor Mamie's junk! The rubbish truck passed at a very opportune time this week. And the big event...we finally have our own room! So exciting! Baby JoJo is in with us but in a corridor section and with a stand separating us, so it hardly feels like he is there. The girls were reassigned to their lot by their pink and green mosquito nets and the masses of space they now have to play in.
All the kids are back at school so it is very quiet here. Several of them start at...gasp...7am! I don't know how they do it!
On a sad note, the mango season is finished until next spring, but we are delighted to be enjoying guavas, cerises de pays and cythères. Yum!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
La Rentrée
Just two words, but of such great significance here and in France. It is funny, as we don't seem to make such a big deal about it in the UK. But here, all the girls have spent hours having their hair beautifully put into tresses, usually with extensions. The boys have been shaven and shorn. New shoes, new clothes, new bags...the shops and news can't talk about anything else!
Unfortunately, we never got a letter from the Mairie about LissaLou's school; nor are we very organised! So LissaLou set off to school this morning missing a few essentials. Ah well! On our shopping list are umbrella, raincoat, trainers. Oh, and enroll at a doctor!
Her school is La Maternelle, for 3-6 year olds. School is not obligatory until 6 here, but everyone goes anyway. The hours are 8am till 11.30 and then 14.00 till 16.30 - no tardiness please or we get suspended for a week! It is quite a big school with three classes in each year. LissaLou is in Section Moyenne, class 7. I was a bit concerned about her and the teacher, as Bertie warned they can be less strong on the pastoral side here, but hers seems very nice and friendly. The headmistress was here when Bertie was 30 years ago! Apparently she is very stern!
We turned up at 9am today and joined the chaos of parents filling out forms. We were rather embarrassed at all the blank spaces on ours, but the teacher didn't seem to mind too much. Another thing they have here is assurance scolaire which appears to be obligatory. We paid the school €45 but you can get your own too.
LissaLou was delighted to see a home corner and it was a very pleasant classroom. There is lots of space to run around outside. And we can see the school, in fact her classroom, from our bedroom window!
We left her to it, sad but not crying like a few others. Heartwrenching to see them in tears, or trying hard not to cry. Bertie picked her up for lunch and she said that they sang some french songs and she made two friends whose names she had forgotten. She seems to have understood everything but it's just the speaking that lags behind a bit. Unfortunately she wasn't so pleased to go back this afternoon (I left it to Bertie as she is less likely to cry with him!). We will see how it goes. I could have signed her up for the canteen and not disrupted her day, but that would have meant a very long day for her so I hope she will enjoy coming home and going back again.
It is pouring with rain today. All the windows are shut to keep it out!
Unfortunately, we never got a letter from the Mairie about LissaLou's school; nor are we very organised! So LissaLou set off to school this morning missing a few essentials. Ah well! On our shopping list are umbrella, raincoat, trainers. Oh, and enroll at a doctor!
Her school is La Maternelle, for 3-6 year olds. School is not obligatory until 6 here, but everyone goes anyway. The hours are 8am till 11.30 and then 14.00 till 16.30 - no tardiness please or we get suspended for a week! It is quite a big school with three classes in each year. LissaLou is in Section Moyenne, class 7. I was a bit concerned about her and the teacher, as Bertie warned they can be less strong on the pastoral side here, but hers seems very nice and friendly. The headmistress was here when Bertie was 30 years ago! Apparently she is very stern!
We turned up at 9am today and joined the chaos of parents filling out forms. We were rather embarrassed at all the blank spaces on ours, but the teacher didn't seem to mind too much. Another thing they have here is assurance scolaire which appears to be obligatory. We paid the school €45 but you can get your own too.
LissaLou was delighted to see a home corner and it was a very pleasant classroom. There is lots of space to run around outside. And we can see the school, in fact her classroom, from our bedroom window!
We left her to it, sad but not crying like a few others. Heartwrenching to see them in tears, or trying hard not to cry. Bertie picked her up for lunch and she said that they sang some french songs and she made two friends whose names she had forgotten. She seems to have understood everything but it's just the speaking that lags behind a bit. Unfortunately she wasn't so pleased to go back this afternoon (I left it to Bertie as she is less likely to cry with him!). We will see how it goes. I could have signed her up for the canteen and not disrupted her day, but that would have meant a very long day for her so I hope she will enjoy coming home and going back again.
It is pouring with rain today. All the windows are shut to keep it out!
Comings And Goings
On Saturday, our fridge came! Hurray! It is lovely to have one upstairs so no need to traipse up and down for water and things. It is still very empty but we will get to work on that!
We also got a cupboard which makes the kitchen look a bit more like one. Now we just have to work on CassCass' new habit of helping herself to whatever is in the fridge or cupboard! Today she turned up with a very chocolatey face having found some truffles left by Bertie's sister... The problem with fridges here is they all have the icebox/freezer at the top, which makes the fridge a) very accessible for kids b) very inaccessible for adults! I will be constantly bending down to get water and things from the bottom. I definitely prefer our UK style with freezer on the bottom. I am further justified in this as I read it is also the most environmentally friendly style too!
On Sunday Bertie's sister and her family set off back to France so it was a flurry of activity all day as they packed, said farewells, had a big family lunch... Those familiar with Bertie's family and their luggage won't be surprised to know they had too many kilos and had to send stuff back with Bertie! It is now waiting for the next traveller to take (be warned mum!!).
How quiet it was once they had set off and everyone gone home! Two sisters played scrabble - they play at such a speed and in french that I don't dare join in and slow the game down! So instead I made a nice yoghurt cake with my niece Stella. Delicious!
We went to the house church run by the Texans in the morning and having no car, I suggested walking. Twenty five VERY hot minutes in the burning sun on the hottest day for the last month, ouch! Thankfully a lady gave us a lift up the hill at the end and then a lift home again. We keep our eyes peeled for a car!
Still waiting for our cooker to come - two weeks since we ordered?!
We also got a cupboard which makes the kitchen look a bit more like one. Now we just have to work on CassCass' new habit of helping herself to whatever is in the fridge or cupboard! Today she turned up with a very chocolatey face having found some truffles left by Bertie's sister... The problem with fridges here is they all have the icebox/freezer at the top, which makes the fridge a) very accessible for kids b) very inaccessible for adults! I will be constantly bending down to get water and things from the bottom. I definitely prefer our UK style with freezer on the bottom. I am further justified in this as I read it is also the most environmentally friendly style too!
On Sunday Bertie's sister and her family set off back to France so it was a flurry of activity all day as they packed, said farewells, had a big family lunch... Those familiar with Bertie's family and their luggage won't be surprised to know they had too many kilos and had to send stuff back with Bertie! It is now waiting for the next traveller to take (be warned mum!!).
How quiet it was once they had set off and everyone gone home! Two sisters played scrabble - they play at such a speed and in french that I don't dare join in and slow the game down! So instead I made a nice yoghurt cake with my niece Stella. Delicious!
We went to the house church run by the Texans in the morning and having no car, I suggested walking. Twenty five VERY hot minutes in the burning sun on the hottest day for the last month, ouch! Thankfully a lady gave us a lift up the hill at the end and then a lift home again. We keep our eyes peeled for a car!
Still waiting for our cooker to come - two weeks since we ordered?!
Friday, 29 August 2008
At The Dispensaire
I thought the dispensaire was like a pharmacy - turns out it is the clinic! It is the first (basic!) choice for baby care here. You can also see the PMI I think or go directly to the pediatrician. We are keeping it simple!
I headed off today with the girls and Baby JoJo for his appointment at 8.30am, not quite sure what to expect. Perhaps it would have been better to find out where it was to begin with! We stood in a cabinet d'infirmière for a while before discovering it was the wrong place and there was still a long walk ahead of us! We finally got there, and discovered the more familar sight of a rather chaotic clinic full of babies and kids running around - I love the french word turbulent for particularly badly behaved children!
We waited. And waited. And waited. The girls got harrassed by some turbulents, so Bertie kindly came and took them home. And then I waited. And waited. And a bit more. Two hours later (!) I finally saw the nurse, who took Baby JoJo's details and discussed England with me - apparently she believes it to be a very hot place, as it was when she visited Basingstoke and Piccaddilly Circus! They measured his length and head circumference and were horrified to hear we don't do this in the UK after birth. But what if there is a problem with his head? she inquired. I could only offer my very best gallic shrug. Then she weighed him. 67cm, 44 cm and 7.7 kg were the figures I think. Then I got sent back out to wait again!
It is quite interesting seeing all the people around - they are not just Guadeloupeans, but also Haitians and Dominicans for whom life is better here. Bertie can recognise them by looking and certainly by their speech but I only worked out who was Dominican by who was speaking some english! On a slight digression, they are not always well-perceived here unfortunately. I had an interesting discussion with my Dominican SIL who understands but never speaks english as she moved here when 7 and there was such a negative attitude towards people from her background that she did all she could to leave it behind. Her attitude has even passed on to her daughter who also dislikes english so will study spanish at uni.
Back to the clinic. Next was the doctor, who didn't seem to understand me, which was a bit frustrating. We discussed the different vaccins - Baby JoJo is perfectly up to date on the UK system but not according to the French. Apparently I have to buy a vaccin for €80 (refundable) which I am not convinced about, plus consider Hep B. Any thoughts? Then she did a thorough check of chest, ears, eyes, mouth, back. I told her this was never done after the 6 week check in the UK and that we don't even visit the doctor unless ill - more horror! Apparently here, you have to take the baby to the doctor every two months, then a bit less often after a year. And if you don't turn up, you get a convocation and into big trouble! I explained our system was much more laisser-faire, and inwardly shuddered at having to repeat this experience every 2 months! In all it took three hours, which seems slightly ridiculous.
On the positive side, Baby JoJo is very well and she said there would be a tooth coming through soon! How exciting! If only I could photo this exciting event!
We have started feeding him baby rice and he is loving it, as he swings around in his Bumbo grasping at the spoon. I have frozen my first batch of puree (apple) and will get going on avocado and banana soon.
I headed off today with the girls and Baby JoJo for his appointment at 8.30am, not quite sure what to expect. Perhaps it would have been better to find out where it was to begin with! We stood in a cabinet d'infirmière for a while before discovering it was the wrong place and there was still a long walk ahead of us! We finally got there, and discovered the more familar sight of a rather chaotic clinic full of babies and kids running around - I love the french word turbulent for particularly badly behaved children!
We waited. And waited. And waited. The girls got harrassed by some turbulents, so Bertie kindly came and took them home. And then I waited. And waited. And a bit more. Two hours later (!) I finally saw the nurse, who took Baby JoJo's details and discussed England with me - apparently she believes it to be a very hot place, as it was when she visited Basingstoke and Piccaddilly Circus! They measured his length and head circumference and were horrified to hear we don't do this in the UK after birth. But what if there is a problem with his head? she inquired. I could only offer my very best gallic shrug. Then she weighed him. 67cm, 44 cm and 7.7 kg were the figures I think. Then I got sent back out to wait again!
It is quite interesting seeing all the people around - they are not just Guadeloupeans, but also Haitians and Dominicans for whom life is better here. Bertie can recognise them by looking and certainly by their speech but I only worked out who was Dominican by who was speaking some english! On a slight digression, they are not always well-perceived here unfortunately. I had an interesting discussion with my Dominican SIL who understands but never speaks english as she moved here when 7 and there was such a negative attitude towards people from her background that she did all she could to leave it behind. Her attitude has even passed on to her daughter who also dislikes english so will study spanish at uni.
Back to the clinic. Next was the doctor, who didn't seem to understand me, which was a bit frustrating. We discussed the different vaccins - Baby JoJo is perfectly up to date on the UK system but not according to the French. Apparently I have to buy a vaccin for €80 (refundable) which I am not convinced about, plus consider Hep B. Any thoughts? Then she did a thorough check of chest, ears, eyes, mouth, back. I told her this was never done after the 6 week check in the UK and that we don't even visit the doctor unless ill - more horror! Apparently here, you have to take the baby to the doctor every two months, then a bit less often after a year. And if you don't turn up, you get a convocation and into big trouble! I explained our system was much more laisser-faire, and inwardly shuddered at having to repeat this experience every 2 months! In all it took three hours, which seems slightly ridiculous.
On the positive side, Baby JoJo is very well and she said there would be a tooth coming through soon! How exciting! If only I could photo this exciting event!
We have started feeding him baby rice and he is loving it, as he swings around in his Bumbo grasping at the spoon. I have frozen my first batch of puree (apple) and will get going on avocado and banana soon.
Setting Up Home
We spent the last couple of days doing tasks that LissaLou (rightly!) classes as boring things! Boring, but vital nevertheless!
Rather than the NHS, here we have Sécurité Sociale. In order to get any treatment etc, you need to have a number, then you pay and you get reimbursed the appropriate amount afterwards. I still think the NHS is simpler, though Bertie was arguing it out with me on the basis of the quality offered! As you can imagine (we are in the midst of French bureaucrocy, and laid-back West Indies on top of that!), getting a number is quite a lengthy process, which my laid-back husband hasn't yet got round to doing...So it was a with great joy that he discovered a gentleman he sat chatting to most of Sunday afternoon at church turned out to work in the very section of the Sécu that we need! We have handed in our European Insurance cards (formerly known as E111) and just need to hand in bank details, then hey presto!
Re the bank, Bertie decided to open a new account at La Poste. Would you believe, he went along to do so and the lady who opens accounts is on holiday for the month of August!! I love it! In any case, he needed an attestation de résidence so he got his mum to write one out and took it to the police station where he met a former schoolfriend who did it immediately for him. It's all about who you know here...! And apparently I don't need a carte de séjour here which is good.
We are still waiting our cooker. Bertie phones every few days and they say it will be ready for collcetion in a few days and so on... Perhaps they are making it?
In the meantime we keep checking Paruvendudom which is the Loot of Guadeloupe, with extra items included. Still no car, but we saw a possible fridge which we checked out yesterday. It was clean, it worked, we paid! (The fridges we have seen previously have been pretty horrible, including at the place for troquer, where people leave items with a price to haggle and the store takes a fee too.) As a bonus, he was selling a nice kitchen cupboard too! We just need to arrange a trip with Bertie's sister's huge car to get it home, then no more traipsing up and down the stairs or having items mysteriously disappear!
Our neighbours go back to France on Sunday so I am planning how we will spread ourselves over the top floor. My own bedroom beckons! Though we will have Baby JoJo with us for the meantime. It is funny starting from almost scratch again, we have been buying tea towels, measuring jugs, chopping board etc etc.
On the job front, Bertie is applying for the position of English Assistant which is 12 hours a week. Again, a lady at the church on Sunday gave him the details of who to contact, all very helpful!
Rather than the NHS, here we have Sécurité Sociale. In order to get any treatment etc, you need to have a number, then you pay and you get reimbursed the appropriate amount afterwards. I still think the NHS is simpler, though Bertie was arguing it out with me on the basis of the quality offered! As you can imagine (we are in the midst of French bureaucrocy, and laid-back West Indies on top of that!), getting a number is quite a lengthy process, which my laid-back husband hasn't yet got round to doing...So it was a with great joy that he discovered a gentleman he sat chatting to most of Sunday afternoon at church turned out to work in the very section of the Sécu that we need! We have handed in our European Insurance cards (formerly known as E111) and just need to hand in bank details, then hey presto!
Re the bank, Bertie decided to open a new account at La Poste. Would you believe, he went along to do so and the lady who opens accounts is on holiday for the month of August!! I love it! In any case, he needed an attestation de résidence so he got his mum to write one out and took it to the police station where he met a former schoolfriend who did it immediately for him. It's all about who you know here...! And apparently I don't need a carte de séjour here which is good.
We are still waiting our cooker. Bertie phones every few days and they say it will be ready for collcetion in a few days and so on... Perhaps they are making it?
In the meantime we keep checking Paruvendudom which is the Loot of Guadeloupe, with extra items included. Still no car, but we saw a possible fridge which we checked out yesterday. It was clean, it worked, we paid! (The fridges we have seen previously have been pretty horrible, including at the place for troquer, where people leave items with a price to haggle and the store takes a fee too.) As a bonus, he was selling a nice kitchen cupboard too! We just need to arrange a trip with Bertie's sister's huge car to get it home, then no more traipsing up and down the stairs or having items mysteriously disappear!
Our neighbours go back to France on Sunday so I am planning how we will spread ourselves over the top floor. My own bedroom beckons! Though we will have Baby JoJo with us for the meantime. It is funny starting from almost scratch again, we have been buying tea towels, measuring jugs, chopping board etc etc.
On the job front, Bertie is applying for the position of English Assistant which is 12 hours a week. Again, a lady at the church on Sunday gave him the details of who to contact, all very helpful!
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