Middle Fifth - Voyage en France

Date: Wednesday 2 July 2008

Tuesday July 1st, and all members of the Middle Fifth who study French were invited to join Mlle Stephanie Thelliez on a day trip to her native France, to get a better feel of French summer culture.

So it was that at 6.00am 42 pupils, accompanied by 5 teachers, and chauffeured by Scotland and Bates, set off for the continent, reaching Calais at 9.00am local time.

Stop one was at a tiny village called Beussent where, by some peculiarity of French life, the village owns a chocolaterie producing superb sweetmeats for the local town and departement consumption. We had the chance to see the whole production operation from the arrival of cocoa beans from Madagsacar to the emergence of delectable delicacies at the end of the 'assembly line'! Sampling was compulsory, and purchase optional - no one opted out!

Back on the coach to Montreuil sur Mer; something of a misnomer because there is now no 'mer' in sight. But they do have a tiny supermarket, 'Shopi', a statue of Sir Douglas Haig, and a plethora of bars and restaurants where everyone practised French to order 'Le Plat du Jour', or a 'baguette et frites'. A post-lunch constitutional stroll around the defensive ramparts of this walled town - mad dogs and Englishmen in the afternoon sun - led to a return to the coach and a hop to the sea at Le Touquet - Paris-Plage - for shopping, paddling, or simply an ice cream concoction.

The final phase was a gallop up the A19 to Calais and Cite Europe for a spot of retail therapy, and presents for home. An early tunnel crossing was available so the return to Canterbury 45 minutes early was appreciated by all, especially those who had been performing in 'Encore' just 24 hours beforehand.

Many thanks to Mlle Thelliez for masterminding the whole operation, to the staff who found time to escape St Ed's in the busiest week of the year, and to the 42 pupils who managed not to get lost, and who seemed to enjoy the whole day. Next? - Lille Christmas Market, December 13th 2008.