Today marks the beginning of the first of four elongated school holidays in the French academic year.  The excuse for a break is pinned on Toussaint (“All Saints Day”), the November 1^st holiday during which the French decorate their deceased relatives’ graves with flowers.

 

For Côte d’Azur school children, observation of the day merits a full week-and-a-half off school.

 

Which means that we will have a full week-and-a-half off real life at Bellevue as well.  “French Lessons” will continue around the time that, just over the Channel, the Brits are burning effigies of Guy Fawkes.