This week ended up being extra busy. On top of all the usual lesson planning and marking, our school wanted us to chase up all those pupils who haven't been logging on (there were lots of them !) so I spent an afternoon phoning around the parents. Then they dumped all the end-of-term stuff on us as "extra urgent", so we had to go through all the requests of the final year pupils to see if we agree with their choice of high school or not (depending on their grades and capacities). At home, we still managed to fit in loads of baking though, and I used Sunday afternoon to deal with all of Monday's lesson plans, meaning I'll be free on Monday morning to deal with Pierre's work - phew !
Sunday 23rd March - One of the things that we found in our rummage through the baking cupboard last week was a packet mix for Chocolate Fondants. This was something that we never got round to making before, because finding a time when everyone was in the house at the same time, ready to eat them as they came out of the oven, was a logistical nightmare. Confinement made this a lot easier though, so Pierre made them (with a little help and supervision). They were utterly delicious and absolutely perfectly timed, with a lovely molten middle. Yum !
Monday - A busy morning, dealing with getting work online for each of my classes, then sitting Pierre down to do his work. Dictation, French, maths, poem, English, plus (at some point during the week, not particularly today) making chocolate cakes (after working out the measurements, multiplying them for the number of cakes required) and doing a drawing of flowers to put in the window. Well, we did most of it, but I put some back until Wednesday (normally a day off school, so it gives us a chance to catch up). Back to my emails, marking/advising pupils, then we did some more baking, using another box for Raspberry Macaroons. I wasn't overly hopeful but they turned out great - Pierre was really proud !
Tuesday - Another busy day, dealing with my work and Pierre's work. I came across this box of Guylian chocolates, which I need to review - the kids helped me munch through seahorses, shells, shrimps and all manner of other seashore treasures.
Wednesday - A day off - phew ! Juliette took a break from working in her room and sauntered downstairs, with a big smile on her face, asking if she could make pancakes ! Well, why not ?! She looked up the recipe online, then made loads of pancakes, even showing Pierre how to make them. A great success !
Thursday - I was running out of food so I decided to nip to the shops. I put shoes on for the first time in over a week, as I've been sauntering around in slippers or socks while we've been staying indoors ! For the first time, the police were waiting outside of Lidl, checking everyone's "permission to go outside" papers. I'd copied all mine out luckily, as it's a fine of €138 if you don't have one. There were four people being checked before me, and three of them were fined - serves them right !
Friday - Friday was a manic day, doing (most of) Pierre's work in the morning, then catching up with all my schoolwork and phone calls in the afternoon. I'm so glad that 99% of my pupils take the weekend off - I need a break ! This photo is actually from yesterday - the cheap steak that I grabbed plus some frozen "pommes duchesse" potatoes.
Saturday - I needed a break, so after cleaning the kitchen and washing the floors, I chilled out watching the end of Safe on Netflix. I didn't do it on purpose but this is the second series based on a Harlan Coben novel, after The Stranger last week. I really enjoyed this one too.
I love macaroons, I need this kit in my life. We finished the stranger last week to & stayed watching Safe. It’s good so far. Glad you got the weekend off of school work it sounds busy. The pancakes look good xx
ReplyDeleteI've just noticed that we're on holiday in two weeks and, to be honest, I'm looking forward to the break ! I'll probably be bored to tears within a few days though ! lol
DeleteI will have to look out for that Sainsbury's macaroon kit, it looks fab. Such a shame that the school left the end-of-term stuff so late
ReplyDeleteYes, I really couldn't understand why suddenly, it was all such a rush ! Oh well, it's done now :)
DeleteWow, I'm very impressed with your macaroons! I've always avoided making them, as I don't have confidence in my macaroon-making abilities. They sound super complicated. How nice that Pierre and Juliette help with cooking, and they seem to enjoy it too. Sorry to hear that you had such an overload of work. Keep safe! xxx
ReplyDeleteJuliette normally stays out of the kitchen (apart from when she's rummaging through the fridge !) so I was doubly pleased ! lol
DeleteIt sounds like you have been busy with work. Ringing around chasing up the kids sounds like a job you didn't need. Why can't they just do what they're supposed to.
ReplyDeletePierre sounds like such a wonderful cook. The Chocolate Fondants look so good and the Raspberry Macaroons too.
Those chocolates are very tasty. I had a whole box to myself a while ago, no one else is keen on them here.
It is hard to remember the last time I wore proper shoes. Eek! I think it is good that the police are fining people. I hope more take notice. x
I agree - it's not fun staying in, but if that's what we've gotta do, we don't have a lot of choice ! I have a recipe coming up tomorrow which is similar to the chocolate fondants :)
Deletelol yes we have watched both those series in the last month as well.
ReplyDeleteYou sound far to busy, guess you will be earning working hard for your wage in comparison to others.
lots of baking going on, helps to keep them all fed.
I haven't watched a thing on Netflix in about a year - it was always the kids watching their series on there. But I'm catching up now ! lol
DeleteSounds like a very productive week, I love a bit of baking. We haven't done as much of it as I thought we would. Glad you are managing to juggle everything and that you have the weekends off from school work
ReplyDeleteIt's not too bad, now that we're a few weeks in, and have picked up some kind of a routine. I've got much less free time than I thought I'd have though ! lol
DeleteI think I'll have to watch Stranger as so many people are saying they've enjoyed it, good on you for having your papers in order ready for the food shop, I'm wondering when they'll start that here, still surprised at the number of people just popping to the shops for the days meal. Sounds like you've got a good balance with your work, the kids learning and family fun time, keep well
ReplyDeleteToday it's sunny and there are a few (but not too many) kids out on their bikes riding round and round the big car park, and I do see lots of people going to buy a baguette at the bread shop most days. There's one couple with three big dogs (pitbull type things but bigger) and they walk past the window every time I look outside - the window is next to the toilet and that's when I see them go past, I'm not constantly looking outside ! - so goodness knows how many times they're taking them out. I must see them about four times a day, but I'm guessing more than that :o
DeleteSounds quite hectic for a week at home, but I'm glad you got so much cooking done. I think the papers for the food shop is something we should be doing too. I'm trying to limit how often I go out, but not everyone is doing the same.
ReplyDeleteI have some friends on facebook who do their "obligatory" hour of exercise out walking along the seafront or through the park every single day. Surely that's not right, is it? We have to stay within 1km of our house in theory :-/
DeleteI wish they would introduce fines in the UK, there are just so many people not following the rules which means the lockdown will last even longer. I want to investigate packet mixes, I had no idea there were macaroon sets! #project366
ReplyDeleteIt's been in the cupboard for ages so I don't know if that one still exists ! lol
DeleteThat's alot of work. I bake too; the chocolate fondant and macaroon looks delicious. Your oven has been quite busy this week
ReplyDeleteIt has been busy ! lol
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