Page 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 Labhairt Amach

Mr McAllister

Joel from Ashfield Boys and Christopher from St.Patrick’s College— a  new  friendship formed

Christopher Goodall
Text Box: time. Although it was hard work the Irish craic kept us going and we all realized that this was a great experience and one to fully embrace and enjoy. Saturday was a special day as we had some free time and, believe me when I say, that we made the most of it. We went into the town centre of Bordeaux and had the chance to explore, shop and soak up the French ambience. Overall I had a fantastic week. I met new friends, some of which I hope to keep in touch with. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I’d jump at the opportunity. It was an experience that will be with me forever and one I sincerely thank Mr Terry Text Box: After an early Sunday morning start and a tiring journey, we arrived at Chateau de la Ligne to be greeted with a warm welcome by Terry Cross’s wife Adele. After a tour of the beautiful chateau and its grounds we sat down together to eat. Retiring to bed early prepared us for the following days hard work of grape picking. Each day we began work at 8.30am in the morning and finished at 5.30pm. Together with 10 Ashfield pupils, Mr McAllister and Mr McCoy we managed to pick 7 acres of grapes from the 11 acre vineyard. We were really pleased with what we had achieved in a relatively short period of Text Box: The cuisine made by Simone, the singing cook, and her staff was absolutely delicious. Simone sang two beautiful Edith Piaf songs for everyone after dinner one evening – ‘La vie en rose’ & ‘Je ne regretterien’! The dining room was silent until Christopher Goodall and others tried to repeat the feat with songs that can only be described as ‘best forgotten!’ Despite several attempts to kidnap Simone by Mr McCoy and Mr Mc Allister, she is still cooking for the multitudes at the Chateau! Text Box: Mr O’Grady arrived at the Chateau on Friday, the last day of the Harvest. One or two quick witted pupils remarked that he had timed this perfectly – but I fully believe Mr O’Grady when he informed us that this was the earliest flight available that week! His arrival was greeted with enthusiasm when he announced that he had answered an SOS from Mr McAllister to bring reinforcements of soda bread and potato bread for the masses. The following morning twenty five people ate a full Text Box: Irish breakfast at the Chateau courtesy of Desmond Smyth and Mr McAllister! After a gruelling week of work many reported that they had visions of bunches of grapes in their sleep! In tradition of all wine harvests, a grape fight occurred on the Friday evening – the French workers beginning the initiation for the innocent Irish fellas! Text Box: Memoirs of France Text Box: Bordeaux accueille les vendangeurs Irlandais (Bordeaux welcomes the Irish Grape-Pickers!)