Martine's home in Ormes, France, has become the centre for family activities and visits from the grandchildren, and the renovations and improvements to the garden have continued. See Luca's birthday party on a separate page. There are more pictures of the house and garden in the homes part of this web site.

Luca, Martine and Lia along the river, March 2018

In September 2018, the pond was being completely reconstructed, restoring its clay lining. A second shallow cement-lined pond was discovered between the spring and the main pond, and was being rebuild to make a wading pond for the children. Martine, her sister Catherine and brother-in-law Louis-Pierre contributed to the work. For other pictures see the homes page.

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Spring feeding into the newly-discovered pond being rebuilt

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Large pond being cleaned down to its clay lining

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Major work on the big pond, with Louis-Pierre and Martine supervising

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Martine cleaning heavy mud where the spring enters the big pond

The family gathered again in Ormes to celebrate Martine's 70th birthday on 1-2 January 2019. As a surprise, our son Alexander flew over from Quebec to join the celebration. Our daughter Agnès, with Bahador and our three grandchildren, Lia, Laleh and Luca, came from Geneva. There were also Martine's sister Catherine, her husband Louis-Pierre, and their grandson Henri.

We walked down the wide path from the house to the Saône River, and then along the bank (see separate page on the house and surroundings)

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Walking down to the river; Alex; my son-in-law Bahador

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Alex; along the Saône River with the grandchildren

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Alex; Bahador, Lia and Henri; Henri, Lia and Laleh

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Lia and Alex; Alex and Laleh

We celebrated both Martine's birthday and the "Fête des Rois" with a "galette des rois". Whoever gets the piece with a figurine hidden in it wears the crown. Luca was the lucky one.

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Waiting for the cake, with Laleh hiding under the table; Agnès cuts the cake; Luca was the lucky one

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Preparing the crown; enjoying the cake; Agnès serving

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Agnès, Alex and Martine; everyone is served; Catherine and Louis-Pierre

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A happy family gathering; Alex and Martine