En France, en ligne

We'd resisted getting the internet here in France for a long time, but we finally caved, mainly because Elspeth needs to go online for her work. So we now have a nifty, fast connection with Orange (France Télécom in disguise, I think). Cheap broadband is not easy to get in France, as the main players all seem to charge for a complete package of telephone, internet and TV. anyway, it's all working, so here I am.

We picked up Joel from Nantes airport last night and are now enjoying relaxing in the April sun listening to Dream Theater in the background.(I occasionally enjoy a touch of prog metal.)
Before going to the airport we spent an hour or so in Nantes. My memories of Nantes are confined to the time when we ended our bike round along the Nantes-Brest canal a few years ago. I had forgotten how characterful the old centre is.

My students have largely settled in well and we enjoyed two pleasant days together last week, the first at Futuroscope, the second in Saintes and at the Château de la Roche Courbon. Futuroscope still looks fresh and they add something new each year. The latest headline attraction is Arthur 4D which is a combination of moving seats, 3D film and surround sound. Not bad, though no great quantum leap forwards from the film it replaced, Le Défi d'Atlantis.

So, for the rest of the week we hope to go out a bit, get some exercise, take a boat trip down the Charente, watch Mad Men on DVD and enjoy the weather.

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