Alex

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="0c0fd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Gites at La Vergne</B></FONT><B>     |  </B><A HREF="gite_holidays_at_la_vergne.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marshes in Charente"><B>Marshes in Charente</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Andrew ">Andrew </A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hilary">Hilary</A>   |   <B>Alex</B>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alycia">Alycia</A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eleonore">Eleonore</A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hannah">Hannah</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=247 style="border-right: 3px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#FFFF66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="mailto:gite@amarsh.claranet.fr" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gite@amarsh.claranet.fr"><IMG SRC="114cd890.jpg" border=0 width="205" height="137" ALT="Gites at La Vergne Logo" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> Click photo to contact us</div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Alex">About Alex</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos">Photos</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Vie de Madame Mathias">La Vie de Madame Mathias</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Le Grand Madieu Civil history">Le Grand Madieu Civil history</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Les Ecoles du Grand Madieu">Les Ecoles du Grand Madieu</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapelle Saint JeanBaptiste">Chapelle Saint Jean-Baptiste</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vieux Photographes du Grand Madieu">Vieux Photographes du Grand Madieu</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chemin de Fer">Chemin de Fer</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grand Madieu 1960">Grand Madieu 1960</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="La Commanderie des Templiers à La Vergne">La Commanderie des Templiers à La Vergne </A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Les Monuments aux Morts">Les Monuments aux Morts</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAmandie 1939 1945">L’Amandie 1939 - 1945</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Epilogue Dramatique">Epilogue Dramatique</A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=310 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Alex</I></div> <div> I am 17 years old and attend the Lycee Emile Roux at Confolens where I am studying for a Baccalaureate S  at the moment I am in Premiere, the middle year of this course. In the future I hope to be able to train as an animal nutritionist. </div> <div>  In March 2004 I was able to  confirm my faith and become a full member of the Church of England. Many informative afternoons were spent  with Caroline Gordon-Walker our Curate in preparation for my confirmation. </div> <div> This year at Lycee the students and teachers  went on strike because the "recteur" ( Director of The Academy,  Poitiers) wants to close the Lycee within the next five years! All  the staff and students manifested in Confolens and we were filmed for the news on TF1. There was a meeting at Angouleme the next day and  the commune paid for 5 buses, which we easily filled. We manifested outside the Lycee at where the meeting was held.  At the moment we are collecting signatures for a petition against the closure. The disruption to the school day will continue well into next year or until we have halted the predicted closure.</div> <div> I had a great summer because for the first time in six years I went back to England. This was thanks to my Grandparents who had arranged to take Alycia and I back with them  after their holiday with us. It was great to see  Newport once again and meet up with Vicky and her family,  we were able to catch up on all the news.  We spent several days with Marzie and Grandad and were also able to stay with our cousins Jenny and Rosie. The second half of the holiday was spent with Auntie Sylvie, Uncle Dougie, Ella, George , Harriet and Grandad Charlie at Aults Cottage. Where we were amazed by the changes to Mum's family home. At the end of July Auntie Sylvie, Ella,George and Harriet returned with us. Eleonore and Hannah were very excited about our return and were overwhelmed when they saw Auntie Sylvie, it was the best  kept secret ever.</div> <div> Over the last weekend in July  we were invited celebrate the  20th Wedding anniversary of  Chantal and Christophe's. Everyone except Mum (who stayed at home and looked after the farm) went up to Javron Les Chapelles to the party, it  was wonderful to meet up with  my French family again there was plenty to talk about. The party went on until 4 am all  the children crashing out in the marquis. The celebrations were still in full swing when we had to reluctantly leave.</div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0b7fa591dkelyh.jpg"> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>