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Help[Games] Re: Year Game 4/6
in reply to a message by Lindsey
Thanks for posting this!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 0
DH [38] Valère Vergé
DW [36] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Valère, a comfortable engineer who had resigned himself to the quiet life, found his life turned over for the better when he met Julia, a no-nonsense British charity worker whom he met when both spent time in Calais for work reasons. She found him intelligent, comforting and good-hearted, and he admired her hard-headedness paired with a strong ethical commitment. Neither of the two had yet been in a real 'adult' long-term relationship, and both were hoping that first love could be true love, even when you're nearly middle-aged, when they married last year in a small family ceremony. The two have now settled in Valère's hometown, Toulouse, although both are often away for their careers.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 1
DH [39] Valère Vergé
DW [37] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Julia's had trouble adjusting to her new job since moving to France, and her issues came to the forefront in June this year when she publicly fell out with her supervisor. Luckily, she removed herself from the situation before causing too much damage, but was not surprised to find herself promptly demoted. The change has been difficult as Julia loves her work, and she found herself very angry and frustrated at the situation; however, at Valère's suggestion, she has been considering taking up some volunteering to supplement her paid work. The family's income is not a problem, as they've obtained their small sub-urban semi-detached house on a reasonable mortgage, and Valère continues to do well at work.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 2
DH [40] Valère Vergé
DW [38] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Valère and Julia's whirlwind romance had come as quite the surprise to most of their family and friends: much unlike the trouble they're going through now, which many had worried about. Both partners have come under pressure from their parents to produce grandchildren, but their relationship really isn't at that stage yet - perhaps they shouldn't have gotten married so quickly, as it may be giving the wrong impression about how ready they are to settle down. The problem is that neither of them are getting younger. Julia's hours being further reduced hasn't exactly helped, either, as she's often irritable or feeling down. Though there have been few serious arguments, the two feel more distant from one another, and complaints about each other's behaviour to their family and friends are on the up.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 3
DH [41] Valère Vergé
DW [39] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [nb] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [nb] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [nb] Pèire Stephen Vergé
Well - the baby thing certainly isn't a problem anymore. Julia and Valère had only just tentatively decided to stop using birth control when she discovered she was pregnant - with triplets. After some tense and awkward discussion, they decided to keep all three. They've reviewed their finances and Julia will also take an indefinite leave from paid work, though she intends to start doing some volunteering as soon as she's physically well enough - there were some minor complications during the birthing process due to her age and the multiple birth. They're both besotted with the kids - but also very tired, very stressed, and very uncertain about where their life is going to go on this unexpected new path.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 4
DH [42] Valère Vergé
DW [40] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [6] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [1] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [1] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [1] Pèire Stephen Vergé
After the unexpected death of a college friend of Julia's, Daisy, the former decided to go home to attend the funeral. Daisy had died suddenly of a heart attack - being only 38 this was certainly unexpected. Daisy had no siblings, few close friends, no partner, and was estranged from her parents. She also had a six year old, Ashley, and a newborn, Oliver. Julia, whose career had started through interning with a child protection agency, was an expert on the process and decided to intervene, leaving poor Valère with a full-time job and infant triplets whilst she stayed in Britain for six weeks. She negotiated a temporary, year-long placement: Ashley would live with them in Toulouse, whilst Oliver has remained in care. Given that there were no better options, the plan went ahead. Ashley has now been living with them for eight months and a formal adoption process is underway. The child is obviously undergoing deep grief and trauma, and has not yet attended school in France, but is making progress learning French, and has formed a close bond with Julia. Of course, the pressure on both parents is massive now that they're dealing with both a traumatised six-year-old and just-toddling triplets, but they remain convinced that they've done the right thing - both for them and for Ashley.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 5
DH [43] Valère Vergé
DW [41] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [7] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [2] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [2] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [2] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [1] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
This year, Valère and Julia made a difficult, but ultimately necessary, decision - they would take Oliver into their home, too. This is difficult for Julia especially, as it means she still can't return to work, leaving her to care for five young children. Ashley's bond with Julia has grown stronger, but she doesn't seem exactly comfortable with any other members of the family. Valère proposed recently that she wait to start school at the same time as the triplets, which would strengthen the link between the children, as well as giving Ashley more time to improve her French. Speaking of which: although in English Ashley calls Valère and Julia by their first names, she has begun to call Julia maman when speaking French.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 6
DH [44] Valère Vergé
DW [42] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [8] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [3] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [3] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [3] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [2] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
The family are dealing with yet another difficult situation this year. Although Daisy wasn't in contact with her ex-boyfriend, Oliver's father, she had maintained a friendship with Ashley's father, Christian - although he had known about Ashley's paternity, she had thought of him has an uncle, or a family friend. Christian had not sought to gain custody immediately after Daisy's death, but after his contact with her had been completely eliminated after Ashley's move to Toulouse, he began to consider it. This year, he launched a lawsuit seeking custody of Ashley. This is difficult for Valère and Julia, as not only are Julia and Ashley now very close, but they feel strongly that Ashley and Oliver shouldn't be separated. The court have tried to get Ashley's feelings on the matter, but she avoids talking about it and cries if confronted directly. The fact that Ashley hasn't yet been able to begin school in France has been a cornerstone of Christian's argument.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 7
DH [45] Valère Vergé
DW [43] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [9] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [4] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [4] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [4] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [3] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [nb] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Valère and Julia were brought ever closer after the difficult process involving Ashley's father - which has now been largely resolved. The courts feel it would unnecessarily settle Ashley to move her again, but Julia and Valère, who are doing very well for themselves financially due to Valère's great career successes, have offered to pay for Christian to visit as often as he likes, and, when Ashley is older, she will be given the option of spending the summer holidays with him. Ashley finally started school this year, at the same time as Amélie, Georges, and Pèire. Poor Oliver had bonded with his new siblings very much, being very close in age to them, and misses them dreadfully. It's especially hard as Julia gave birth for a second time this year, to a beautiful little girl, who is now hogging much of his beloved mother's attention. Julia worries about this very much, but Valère comforts her: Oliver is growing up with them, and will never see her as anything but a mother. Ashley is now fluent in French, and only speaks English when she and Julia are alone. Oliver, Amélie, Georges, and Pèire are French-only, and are always babbling away to one another.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 8
DH [46] Valère Vergé
DW [44] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [10] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [5] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [5] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [5] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [4] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [1] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Dcat [4] Hermione
Valère and Julia are delighted that Ashley has done so well at school, and Oliver was very happy to join his big siblings this year. He's not in the same class as them, but trails after them during breaks. Ashley is very protective over him, and isn't looking forward to leaving him behind when she goes to middle school next year. However, she's friendly with most of the girls in her class, some of whom will be going to school with her next year, and so Valère and Julia aren't particularly worried. Julia's very antsy at home. It's not as if she doesn't have lots to do - as six children produce a lot of mess, Charlotte requires a lot of attention, and Valère works very long hours so doesn't help much - but she clearly misses her job. The family all had an uplift, though, when they adopted a calico rescue cat, who Ashley has named Hermione (she was given the Harry Potter books for Christmas.)
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 9
DH [47] Valère Vergé
DW [45] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [11] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [6] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [6] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [6] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [5] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [2] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Dcat [5] Hermione
Ddog [2] Dilly
Hermione has been so popular with the family that this year Valère and Julia acquiesced to Georges' requests, and got a dog, too. He and Ashley, since she's the oldest, have been given primarily responsibility for walking and feeding her, but the whole family fusses over her - except Pèire, who's quite neat and shy, and prefers the much less messy Hermione. Little Charlotte calls her "chan", as she can't quite pronounce "chien" yet! But really, they're all very happy, even Ashley, who was very nervous about the move up to middle-school. She's not the best all-round student, but she excels in Maths and in Languages. Julia says her early 'switch' from English to French did her some good, and it certainly does her good in the English classes!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 10
DH [48] Valère Vergé
DW [46] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [12] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [7] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [7] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [7] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [6] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [3] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [nb] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [6] Hermione
Ddog [3] Dilly
Valère always wanted a big family, and although it's nerve-wracking Julia going through a pregnancy now that she's much older than most new mothers, he in particular was delighted when they conceived again. In May this year, she gave birth to a little boy, Marcel. Julia's always had a massive work ethic, and she still manages to volunteer part-time with flexible hours, especially now that Ashley is old enough to help out with childcare. The triplets and Oliver are still a handful, and Charlotte's turned out to be quite boisterous. But the family, although big, is very happy. When thinking back to the early days, Valère and Julia laugh, thinking that they used to worry they'd never be ready for kids. Now, they have seven.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 11
DH [49] Valère Vergé
DW [47] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DS [15] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [13] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [8] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [8] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [8] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [7] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [4] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [1] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [7] Hermione
Ddog [4] Dilly
Given that Julia is at home full time, and the family have experience with the childcare system and with adoption, the Vergés decided that they would be a good placement for Alexis, a teenage boy from their local community who recently went into care after his parents' home was deemed not safe for him due to their neglect of his younger siblings, Anne and Augustin, who are currently in care whilst their social worker tries to find a permanent adoption for them. Julia and Valère will only be responsible for Alexis for the next three years at most, and it is hoped that eventually he'll be able to find a placement with his siblings. However, they've found him intelligent, responsible, and willing to help around the house. He and Pèire are especially close; Alexis has been lending him some of his childhood favourite books.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 12
DH [50] Valère Vergé
DW [48] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DS [16] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [14] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [9] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [9] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [9] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [8] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [5] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [2] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [8] Hermione
Ddog [5] Dilly
Georges and Amélie are always scuffling, and earlier this year one of their fights had quite serious consequences, as Amélie fell from a table and sprained her collar bone. There was no love lost between her and Georges and in fact she hadn't been going to tell anyone about the pain, but good little Oliver 'snitched' on his big sister. Since it's become common knowledge she's been a big drama queen about it, sucking as much attention out of dear Ashley as possible. Ashley herself is doing well. She has a few close friends at school and occasionally visits them, although she prefers not to bring them over to her own busy household. She's still a quiet, caring sort at heart, and loves to fuss over little Marcel in particular. She's taken a shine to Alexis - who is still living with the Vergés, and has set his heart on studying Philosophy, like Julia did - and loves to listen him to play music or read aloud.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 13
DH [51] Valère Vergé
DW [49] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [15] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [10] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [10] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [10] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [9] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [6] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [3] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [9] Hermione
Ddog [6] Dilly
Dfishes [nb] Lulu, Cleo, Roro
It's all change in the Vergé family this year. Alexis has moved out, as his siblings have finally found a placement where he is also welcome. However, he feels he's learnt a lot from his time with the Vergés, and still often visits. When he does so, Ashley is always right there ready to make him coffee and to listen to him speak about his life and his studying. Speaking of Ashley, she's moved up to high-school this year, and so far is enjoying the change. Although so far she hasn't taken her father up on the offer to visit him over the summer, feeling shy and a little anxious about the travel - the Vergés have never been abroad as a family - she enjoys showing him the museums and parks when he comes to Toulouse, and now that she is a little older is considering going this summer. Julia has gone back to work, although it's only part-time, as Marcel hasn't started school yet and can't be with his grandparents every day. Lastly, the family have added to their collection to their pets with three goldfish, which little Marcel is obsessed with. He loves to climb up on the kitchen counter and watch them - unfortunately, Charlotte loves to climb up on the kitchen counter and push him off!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 14
DH [52] Valère Vergé
DW [50] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [16] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [11] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [11] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [11] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [10] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [7] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [4] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [10] Hermione
Ddog [7] Dilly
Dfishes [1] Lulu, Cleo, Roro
Valère received a promotion this year. Having worked for the same institution his whole life, he's very much respected amongst his colleagues, and everyone agrees that it was well deserved. He and Julia have begun talking about moving to a bigger house, as their current property has only four bedrooms, meaning that none of the children have their own room - Charlotte and Marcel share, as do the triplets, and although Oliver makes an excuse to go and sleep in Julia and Valère's room most nights, he is technically supposed to sleep in Ashley's room. When Alexis comes to visit for weekends, Oliver's officially displaced into the parents' room and Ashley, as the put-upon oldest, has to sleep on the sofa! The kids are all very excited about the prospect of a bigger house; they're currently looking at a six-bedroom property slightly further out of Toulouse.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 15
DH [53] Valère Vergé
DW [51] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [17] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [12] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [12] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [12] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [11] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [8] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [5] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [11] Hermione
Ddog [8] Dilly
The Vergés made their move this year after Julia was promoted back into her old position. Now that Marcel is older and it's unlikely that they'll have any more kids, it definitely feels like the right move to focus on her career. The one downside to the move is that Julia decided that the move could be a shock to the fish, so they left them with family friends on their old street. Ashley, Amélie, and Oliver now all have their own rooms, with Georges and Pèire and Charlotte and Marcel sharing, although Charlotte's been promised Ashley's room when she chooses to move out: although that subject is a little contested at the moment. Julia and Valère were expecting Ashley to attend university next year, thinking she'd choose to study Maths, her strongest subject in school. However, Ashley's not sure about the change. She wants to stay at home for as long as possible. For now, it's been decided that Ashley will take a gap year. She's to spend one third at home, as she wants to, one third with Alexis in his new flat in Paris, where she can 'shadow' his life on the university campus, and one third with Christian in Bristol, where she can work on her English, which has slipped by the wayside slightly, as well as experiencing more of adult life in a different country.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 16
DH [54] Valère Vergé
DW [52] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [18] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [20] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [13] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [13] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [13] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [12] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [9] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [6] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [12] Hermione
Ddog [9] Dilly
The developments of this year were very much not expected. Everything's well and normal with the younger kids - Amélie's has taken up dance lessons to supplement her interest in theatre, Georges is very popular in middle school and has a good group of friends, Pèire and Oliver are as close as ever and are perfect darlings with the younger kids, and even Charlotte's been settling down a little and not teasing poor Marcel so much. However, after only two months of living with Alexis in Paris, little 'mouse' Ashley announced that they were romantically together and that she would be moving in with him permanently! Julia and Valère were shocked, especially since Ashley has never expressed any romantic preoccupations beforehand, and has always said she wanted to stay home as long as possible. They've been very worried about her and some fights have broken out, especially since Alexis is a little older, but they have little choice but to respect her decision, but Ashley visits often, and Valère admits it's nice to have Alexis officially part of the family. Charlotte, for one, is delighted - she's finally got her own room!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 17
DH [55] Valère Vergé
DW [53] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [19] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [21] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [14] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [14] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [14] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [13] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [10] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [7] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [13] Hermione
Ddog [10] Dilly
Some of the Vergé's fears about Ashley and Alexis's relationship progressing so fast have been validated: it's proven difficult for Ashley to be so far away from home, and she's often bored in Alexis' flat, as she's not really interested in getting a job or in attending university herself. She's made few friends in Paris and visits home often. However, when Oliver went up to visit the two of them earlier this year, he emphasised how lovely their flat was. Ashley clearly enjoys keeping the place nice, and she enjoys Paris very much as a city. There's no love lost between the two young things, but they're in a stressful situation, and it clearly shows. Julia continues to worry that Ashley's throwing her life away by not attending university: especially since, by contrast, Alexis has gone on to pursue a Master's degree.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 18
DH [56] Valère Vergé
DW [54] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [20] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [22] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [15] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [15] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [15] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [14] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [11] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [8] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [14] Hermione
Ddog [11] Dilly
Dcat [nb] Lucie
Charlotte went up to high-school this year, which has been a big shift for her, as she doesn't always react well to change. Her parents worry that she hasn't really found her 'place' in the family: Amélie and Georges are the leaders, both talented drama queens who are popular both at school and at home, Pèire's the quiet dreamer, Oliver is the hard-working one who's a bit of a pet to his mother, and Marcel's the baby of the family. It might be that she misses Ashley, too, who was a calming influence on the whole family. However, she worked hard to correct her initially poor grades by the end of her first term, and as a reward she got the kitten she's been wanting for years as a Christmas present. Ashley does seem to have settled in a bit more in Paris, even having found herself a part-time job, babysitting and keeping the house for a rich German family in central Paris. Alexis has finished his Master's degree and is now pursuing a PhD.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 19
DH [57] Valère Vergé
DW [55] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [21] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [23] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [16] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [16] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [16] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [15] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [12] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [9] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [15] Hermione
Ddog [12] Dilly
Dcat [1] Lucie
Now that they're getting a bit older, Julia suggested to Valère that they cash out some of their investments; mostly in sustainable energy, which Valère has always been interested in. They've put some of the money into savings pots for their younger children, but are giving most of it to Ashley and Alexis, who are hoping to save enough to put down a mortgage on an apartment soon. It's becoming clearer and clearer to Valère and Julia that the two are really serious about each other. They also had an extended trip to England, inviting Ashley and Alexis along too, during which they visited Julia's parents and siblings and spent some time sight-seeing in London. Ashley also managed to meet up with Christian, whom she hasn't seen in a while.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 20
DH [58] Valère Vergé
DW [56] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [22] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [24] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [17] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [17] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [17] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [16] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [13] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [10] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [13] Dilly
Dcat [2] Lucie
Sadly, Hermione passed away this year. It was difficult for the whole family - especially Ashley, who wasn't there at the time and so had to hear about it over the phone - but they know that she had a good life with them and was well-loved. Dilly and Lucie are getting even more attention than usual in the wake of their death. Another important development is that the triplets have had to think about what they're going to do after they finish high-school. Amélie is certain she wants to attend drama school, but obviously it's highly competitive, and although she's a great actor and has been taking contemporary and jazz dance classes for some time now, she has little musical experience. Pèire's also the artistic type and wants to study fine art himself. Georges is less sure: he never really excelled at anything in school, preferring to spend his time with his friends and with the various 'girlfriends' that he's had over the past few years. Their parents have decided to be supportive whatever path he decides to pursue: they weren't initially happy with Ashley's choices, but she seems very happy now.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 21
DH [59] Valère Vergé
DD [23] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [25] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [18] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [18] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [18] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [17] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [14] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [11] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [14] Dilly
Dcat [3] Lucie
The family was shocked and heartbroken this year when Julia died suddenly of a heart attack. It had certainly been a stressful year - Charlotte's been acting out more than ever, Ashley had sadly miscarried her first pregnancy, and with Amélie and Pèire both having left to attend university, Georges had become sullen and directionless - but no-one had expected this. Julia was deeply loved by her husband and children, and the family will be very different without her. It seems especially sad as she had just begun to adjust to work again and was enjoying it more and more now that only four of the children were at home, meaning that her time was finally her own to pursue the projects that meant the most to her, after spending nearly twenty years tirelessly devoting herself to the welfare of her children. For all of the Vergés, this is a true tragedy.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 22
DH [60] Valère Vergé
DD [24] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [26] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [19] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [19] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [19] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [18] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [15] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [12] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [15] Dilly
Dcat [4] Lucie
Ddog [nb] Samson
This has been a very difficult year for the whole family. Adjusting to life without Julia seems almost an impossible task. Georges has finally got a job, but it doesn't animate him, and he finds himself still completely at a loss for what to do with his life. Charlotte is angry and bitter, often getting into awful screaming matches with her father. The school suggested counselling after they noted that she was skipping most of her lessons, but she's been refusing to attend. Oliver has stayed at home, delaying his offer to study Management at university, feeling that he was needed there, but this seems just to have led to more resentment. Pèire, Amélie and Ashley rarely visit. Little Marcel is the only one whose spirits seem good, though no-one would notice were it otherwise. He spends most of the time with the pets, including his new puppy, Samson.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 23
DH [61] Valère Vergé
DD [25] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [27] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [20] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [20] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [20] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [19] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [16] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [13] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [5] Lucie
Ddog [1] Samson
Valère made a big choice this year. Now that Oliver and Georges have also moved out - Oliver has taken up his Management course, moving to Britain to study in London, and Georges has moved in with Pèire in Lyon - he felt that the house was too big for merely himself, Charlotte and Marcel, especially after Dilly sadly passed away of old age. He'd also been offered a job in Canberra, where a massive new sustainability research project has begun. At least temporarily, he feels that the right decision is to move himself and the two youngest kids out of their house in Toulouse, where there are too many memories for any of them to move on from Julia's death, and to Canberra, at least temporarily. Whilst Marcel seems happy enough, the older children are unhappy, especially since Ashley in particular is very settled in France, and she and Alexis are trying to conceive. Charlotte is beyond unhappy. Her moods have gotten yet worse and she barely talks to her father or Marcel anymore. Whether Valère's big decision can, in the long run, make a difference for all of them, is yet to be seen.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 24
DH [62] Valère Vergé
DD [26] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [28] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [21] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [21] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [21] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [20] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [17] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [14] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [6] Lucie
Ddog [2] Samson
Amélie and Pèire graduated from university this year. Amélie has chosen to move to Paris, where she'll live temporarily with Ashley and Alexis in their large suburban home (they are still hoping to start a family, although Ashley sadly miscarried again this year), but Pèire was initially undecided. When Georges lost his job after the local store he assisted in went out of business, however, he realised they had to do something. The market for fine art was not as good as Pèire had been expecting, and their rent is much higher now that they're no longer in student-targeted accommodation. Currently, he's teaching part-time at a local adult education institution, but he isn't really happy there. Things aren't much better in Canberra. Charlotte hasn't settled in at all. She has few friends - probably because she rarely even goes to school. Marcel, on the other hand, is doing well in school, but is very quiet and doesn't seem particularly well-adjusted for his age. Although Valère enjoys his new job immensely and himself is much less melancholic due to the move, he still thinks incessantly of Julia, and knows that his children are no nowhere near as happy as they once were.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 25
DH [63] Valère Vergé
DD [27] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dfiancee [29] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [22] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [22] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [22] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [21] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [18] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [15] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [7] Lucie
Ddog [3] Samson
The family in Europe are doing well, it seems - Amélie has a part-time job as a barista, but has had more auditions than she expected, and received a call-back for a part in a soap that she's hoping to hear about soon. Ashley and Alexis are still desperate to have children, but Alexis is very happy in his job in academia, and Ashley's mind has temporarily been taken off kids by the ring on her finger. Pèire and Georges are muddling by happily enough: Georges is lonely and still isn't sure about his goals for the future, but Pèire has gotten some showings at a local art gallery recently and is making good money from his teaching, which means that they're living more affluently than they're used to. Oliver is interning in HR at a law firm and loves the productive atmosphere. In Canberra things are not so good. Although Valère is utterly absorbed in his work and happier than he could ever have hoped to be just four years after the death of his beloved wife, he doesn't have much of a social life in the new city, and Marcel has few friends and is very, very withdrawn. Charlotte seems like a lost cause. She's not even considering university, is often out of the house, and had to spend a night in hospital recently after obtaining a head injury which she refuses to explain to her father. He's worried about the reckless, seemingly violent life she's leading, but for her, it's the only way to get by.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 26
DH [64] Valère Vergé
DD [28] Ashley Raelene Plamondon (neé Paulson)
-Dfiancee [30] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
--DD [nb] Isabel Julia Plamondon
DD [23] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DD [19] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [23] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [23] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [22] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DS [16] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [8] Lucie
Ddog [4] Samson
Ashey and Alexis have finally had the child that they've wanted for so long, and they welcomed her as man and wife, after they married at the beginning of this year. Of course, the Canberra wing of the family travelled back to visit the Plamondons for their wedding, and again to see little Isabel in her first weeks. The visit to France made Charlotte realise how unhappy she's been in Australia. Now that she is nineteen, she has decided to move back to France. Given that Alexis is well-paid, the Plamondons have moved into a slightly larger house, with Amélie and Charlotte sharing the attic rooms. They are both keen to help out with Isabel. Valère feels slightly uncomfortable leaving Charlotte behind, especially given her general state, but he feels that it's the right choice for her. He and Marcel returned to Canberra feeling hopeful.
*
"That cynicism you refer to I acquired the day I discovered I was different from little boys."
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 0
DH [38] Valère Vergé
DW [36] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Valère, a comfortable engineer who had resigned himself to the quiet life, found his life turned over for the better when he met Julia, a no-nonsense British charity worker whom he met when both spent time in Calais for work reasons. She found him intelligent, comforting and good-hearted, and he admired her hard-headedness paired with a strong ethical commitment. Neither of the two had yet been in a real 'adult' long-term relationship, and both were hoping that first love could be true love, even when you're nearly middle-aged, when they married last year in a small family ceremony. The two have now settled in Valère's hometown, Toulouse, although both are often away for their careers.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 1
DH [39] Valère Vergé
DW [37] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Julia's had trouble adjusting to her new job since moving to France, and her issues came to the forefront in June this year when she publicly fell out with her supervisor. Luckily, she removed herself from the situation before causing too much damage, but was not surprised to find herself promptly demoted. The change has been difficult as Julia loves her work, and she found herself very angry and frustrated at the situation; however, at Valère's suggestion, she has been considering taking up some volunteering to supplement her paid work. The family's income is not a problem, as they've obtained their small sub-urban semi-detached house on a reasonable mortgage, and Valère continues to do well at work.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 2
DH [40] Valère Vergé
DW [38] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
Valère and Julia's whirlwind romance had come as quite the surprise to most of their family and friends: much unlike the trouble they're going through now, which many had worried about. Both partners have come under pressure from their parents to produce grandchildren, but their relationship really isn't at that stage yet - perhaps they shouldn't have gotten married so quickly, as it may be giving the wrong impression about how ready they are to settle down. The problem is that neither of them are getting younger. Julia's hours being further reduced hasn't exactly helped, either, as she's often irritable or feeling down. Though there have been few serious arguments, the two feel more distant from one another, and complaints about each other's behaviour to their family and friends are on the up.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 3
DH [41] Valère Vergé
DW [39] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [nb] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [nb] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [nb] Pèire Stephen Vergé
Well - the baby thing certainly isn't a problem anymore. Julia and Valère had only just tentatively decided to stop using birth control when she discovered she was pregnant - with triplets. After some tense and awkward discussion, they decided to keep all three. They've reviewed their finances and Julia will also take an indefinite leave from paid work, though she intends to start doing some volunteering as soon as she's physically well enough - there were some minor complications during the birthing process due to her age and the multiple birth. They're both besotted with the kids - but also very tired, very stressed, and very uncertain about where their life is going to go on this unexpected new path.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 4
DH [42] Valère Vergé
DW [40] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [6] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [1] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [1] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [1] Pèire Stephen Vergé
After the unexpected death of a college friend of Julia's, Daisy, the former decided to go home to attend the funeral. Daisy had died suddenly of a heart attack - being only 38 this was certainly unexpected. Daisy had no siblings, few close friends, no partner, and was estranged from her parents. She also had a six year old, Ashley, and a newborn, Oliver. Julia, whose career had started through interning with a child protection agency, was an expert on the process and decided to intervene, leaving poor Valère with a full-time job and infant triplets whilst she stayed in Britain for six weeks. She negotiated a temporary, year-long placement: Ashley would live with them in Toulouse, whilst Oliver has remained in care. Given that there were no better options, the plan went ahead. Ashley has now been living with them for eight months and a formal adoption process is underway. The child is obviously undergoing deep grief and trauma, and has not yet attended school in France, but is making progress learning French, and has formed a close bond with Julia. Of course, the pressure on both parents is massive now that they're dealing with both a traumatised six-year-old and just-toddling triplets, but they remain convinced that they've done the right thing - both for them and for Ashley.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 5
DH [43] Valère Vergé
DW [41] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [7] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [2] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [2] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [2] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [1] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
This year, Valère and Julia made a difficult, but ultimately necessary, decision - they would take Oliver into their home, too. This is difficult for Julia especially, as it means she still can't return to work, leaving her to care for five young children. Ashley's bond with Julia has grown stronger, but she doesn't seem exactly comfortable with any other members of the family. Valère proposed recently that she wait to start school at the same time as the triplets, which would strengthen the link between the children, as well as giving Ashley more time to improve her French. Speaking of which: although in English Ashley calls Valère and Julia by their first names, she has begun to call Julia maman when speaking French.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 6
DH [44] Valère Vergé
DW [42] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [8] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [3] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [3] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [3] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [2] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
The family are dealing with yet another difficult situation this year. Although Daisy wasn't in contact with her ex-boyfriend, Oliver's father, she had maintained a friendship with Ashley's father, Christian - although he had known about Ashley's paternity, she had thought of him has an uncle, or a family friend. Christian had not sought to gain custody immediately after Daisy's death, but after his contact with her had been completely eliminated after Ashley's move to Toulouse, he began to consider it. This year, he launched a lawsuit seeking custody of Ashley. This is difficult for Valère and Julia, as not only are Julia and Ashley now very close, but they feel strongly that Ashley and Oliver shouldn't be separated. The court have tried to get Ashley's feelings on the matter, but she avoids talking about it and cries if confronted directly. The fact that Ashley hasn't yet been able to begin school in France has been a cornerstone of Christian's argument.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 7
DH [45] Valère Vergé
DW [43] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [9] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [4] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [4] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [4] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [3] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [nb] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Valère and Julia were brought ever closer after the difficult process involving Ashley's father - which has now been largely resolved. The courts feel it would unnecessarily settle Ashley to move her again, but Julia and Valère, who are doing very well for themselves financially due to Valère's great career successes, have offered to pay for Christian to visit as often as he likes, and, when Ashley is older, she will be given the option of spending the summer holidays with him. Ashley finally started school this year, at the same time as Amélie, Georges, and Pèire. Poor Oliver had bonded with his new siblings very much, being very close in age to them, and misses them dreadfully. It's especially hard as Julia gave birth for a second time this year, to a beautiful little girl, who is now hogging much of his beloved mother's attention. Julia worries about this very much, but Valère comforts her: Oliver is growing up with them, and will never see her as anything but a mother. Ashley is now fluent in French, and only speaks English when she and Julia are alone. Oliver, Amélie, Georges, and Pèire are French-only, and are always babbling away to one another.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 8
DH [46] Valère Vergé
DW [44] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [10] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [5] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [5] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [5] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [4] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [1] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Dcat [4] Hermione
Valère and Julia are delighted that Ashley has done so well at school, and Oliver was very happy to join his big siblings this year. He's not in the same class as them, but trails after them during breaks. Ashley is very protective over him, and isn't looking forward to leaving him behind when she goes to middle school next year. However, she's friendly with most of the girls in her class, some of whom will be going to school with her next year, and so Valère and Julia aren't particularly worried. Julia's very antsy at home. It's not as if she doesn't have lots to do - as six children produce a lot of mess, Charlotte requires a lot of attention, and Valère works very long hours so doesn't help much - but she clearly misses her job. The family all had an uplift, though, when they adopted a calico rescue cat, who Ashley has named Hermione (she was given the Harry Potter books for Christmas.)
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 9
DH [47] Valère Vergé
DW [45] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [11] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [6] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [6] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [6] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [5] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [2] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
Dcat [5] Hermione
Ddog [2] Dilly
Hermione has been so popular with the family that this year Valère and Julia acquiesced to Georges' requests, and got a dog, too. He and Ashley, since she's the oldest, have been given primarily responsibility for walking and feeding her, but the whole family fusses over her - except Pèire, who's quite neat and shy, and prefers the much less messy Hermione. Little Charlotte calls her "chan", as she can't quite pronounce "chien" yet! But really, they're all very happy, even Ashley, who was very nervous about the move up to middle-school. She's not the best all-round student, but she excels in Maths and in Languages. Julia says her early 'switch' from English to French did her some good, and it certainly does her good in the English classes!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 10
DH [48] Valère Vergé
DW [46] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [12] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [7] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [7] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [7] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [6] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [3] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [nb] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [6] Hermione
Ddog [3] Dilly
Valère always wanted a big family, and although it's nerve-wracking Julia going through a pregnancy now that she's much older than most new mothers, he in particular was delighted when they conceived again. In May this year, she gave birth to a little boy, Marcel. Julia's always had a massive work ethic, and she still manages to volunteer part-time with flexible hours, especially now that Ashley is old enough to help out with childcare. The triplets and Oliver are still a handful, and Charlotte's turned out to be quite boisterous. But the family, although big, is very happy. When thinking back to the early days, Valère and Julia laugh, thinking that they used to worry they'd never be ready for kids. Now, they have seven.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 11
DH [49] Valère Vergé
DW [47] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DS [15] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [13] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [8] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [8] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [8] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [7] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [4] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [1] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [7] Hermione
Ddog [4] Dilly
Given that Julia is at home full time, and the family have experience with the childcare system and with adoption, the Vergés decided that they would be a good placement for Alexis, a teenage boy from their local community who recently went into care after his parents' home was deemed not safe for him due to their neglect of his younger siblings, Anne and Augustin, who are currently in care whilst their social worker tries to find a permanent adoption for them. Julia and Valère will only be responsible for Alexis for the next three years at most, and it is hoped that eventually he'll be able to find a placement with his siblings. However, they've found him intelligent, responsible, and willing to help around the house. He and Pèire are especially close; Alexis has been lending him some of his childhood favourite books.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 12
DH [50] Valère Vergé
DW [48] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DS [16] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [14] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [9] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [9] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [9] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [8] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [5] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [2] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [8] Hermione
Ddog [5] Dilly
Georges and Amélie are always scuffling, and earlier this year one of their fights had quite serious consequences, as Amélie fell from a table and sprained her collar bone. There was no love lost between her and Georges and in fact she hadn't been going to tell anyone about the pain, but good little Oliver 'snitched' on his big sister. Since it's become common knowledge she's been a big drama queen about it, sucking as much attention out of dear Ashley as possible. Ashley herself is doing well. She has a few close friends at school and occasionally visits them, although she prefers not to bring them over to her own busy household. She's still a quiet, caring sort at heart, and loves to fuss over little Marcel in particular. She's taken a shine to Alexis - who is still living with the Vergés, and has set his heart on studying Philosophy, like Julia did - and loves to listen him to play music or read aloud.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 13
DH [51] Valère Vergé
DW [49] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [15] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [10] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [10] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [10] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [9] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [6] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [3] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [9] Hermione
Ddog [6] Dilly
Dfishes [nb] Lulu, Cleo, Roro
It's all change in the Vergé family this year. Alexis has moved out, as his siblings have finally found a placement where he is also welcome. However, he feels he's learnt a lot from his time with the Vergés, and still often visits. When he does so, Ashley is always right there ready to make him coffee and to listen to him speak about his life and his studying. Speaking of Ashley, she's moved up to high-school this year, and so far is enjoying the change. Although so far she hasn't taken her father up on the offer to visit him over the summer, feeling shy and a little anxious about the travel - the Vergés have never been abroad as a family - she enjoys showing him the museums and parks when he comes to Toulouse, and now that she is a little older is considering going this summer. Julia has gone back to work, although it's only part-time, as Marcel hasn't started school yet and can't be with his grandparents every day. Lastly, the family have added to their collection to their pets with three goldfish, which little Marcel is obsessed with. He loves to climb up on the kitchen counter and watch them - unfortunately, Charlotte loves to climb up on the kitchen counter and push him off!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 14
DH [52] Valère Vergé
DW [50] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [16] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [11] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [11] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [11] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [10] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [7] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [4] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [10] Hermione
Ddog [7] Dilly
Dfishes [1] Lulu, Cleo, Roro
Valère received a promotion this year. Having worked for the same institution his whole life, he's very much respected amongst his colleagues, and everyone agrees that it was well deserved. He and Julia have begun talking about moving to a bigger house, as their current property has only four bedrooms, meaning that none of the children have their own room - Charlotte and Marcel share, as do the triplets, and although Oliver makes an excuse to go and sleep in Julia and Valère's room most nights, he is technically supposed to sleep in Ashley's room. When Alexis comes to visit for weekends, Oliver's officially displaced into the parents' room and Ashley, as the put-upon oldest, has to sleep on the sofa! The kids are all very excited about the prospect of a bigger house; they're currently looking at a six-bedroom property slightly further out of Toulouse.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 15
DH [53] Valère Vergé
DW [51] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [17] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
DD [12] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [12] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [12] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [11] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [8] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [5] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [11] Hermione
Ddog [8] Dilly
The Vergés made their move this year after Julia was promoted back into her old position. Now that Marcel is older and it's unlikely that they'll have any more kids, it definitely feels like the right move to focus on her career. The one downside to the move is that Julia decided that the move could be a shock to the fish, so they left them with family friends on their old street. Ashley, Amélie, and Oliver now all have their own rooms, with Georges and Pèire and Charlotte and Marcel sharing, although Charlotte's been promised Ashley's room when she chooses to move out: although that subject is a little contested at the moment. Julia and Valère were expecting Ashley to attend university next year, thinking she'd choose to study Maths, her strongest subject in school. However, Ashley's not sure about the change. She wants to stay at home for as long as possible. For now, it's been decided that Ashley will take a gap year. She's to spend one third at home, as she wants to, one third with Alexis in his new flat in Paris, where she can 'shadow' his life on the university campus, and one third with Christian in Bristol, where she can work on her English, which has slipped by the wayside slightly, as well as experiencing more of adult life in a different country.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 16
DH [54] Valère Vergé
DW [52] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [18] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [20] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [13] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [13] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [13] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [12] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [9] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [6] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [12] Hermione
Ddog [9] Dilly
The developments of this year were very much not expected. Everything's well and normal with the younger kids - Amélie's has taken up dance lessons to supplement her interest in theatre, Georges is very popular in middle school and has a good group of friends, Pèire and Oliver are as close as ever and are perfect darlings with the younger kids, and even Charlotte's been settling down a little and not teasing poor Marcel so much. However, after only two months of living with Alexis in Paris, little 'mouse' Ashley announced that they were romantically together and that she would be moving in with him permanently! Julia and Valère were shocked, especially since Ashley has never expressed any romantic preoccupations beforehand, and has always said she wanted to stay home as long as possible. They've been very worried about her and some fights have broken out, especially since Alexis is a little older, but they have little choice but to respect her decision, but Ashley visits often, and Valère admits it's nice to have Alexis officially part of the family. Charlotte, for one, is delighted - she's finally got her own room!
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 17
DH [55] Valère Vergé
DW [53] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [19] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [21] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [14] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [14] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [14] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [13] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [10] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [7] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [13] Hermione
Ddog [10] Dilly
Some of the Vergé's fears about Ashley and Alexis's relationship progressing so fast have been validated: it's proven difficult for Ashley to be so far away from home, and she's often bored in Alexis' flat, as she's not really interested in getting a job or in attending university herself. She's made few friends in Paris and visits home often. However, when Oliver went up to visit the two of them earlier this year, he emphasised how lovely their flat was. Ashley clearly enjoys keeping the place nice, and she enjoys Paris very much as a city. There's no love lost between the two young things, but they're in a stressful situation, and it clearly shows. Julia continues to worry that Ashley's throwing her life away by not attending university: especially since, by contrast, Alexis has gone on to pursue a Master's degree.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 18
DH [56] Valère Vergé
DW [54] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [20] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [22] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [15] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [15] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [15] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [14] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [11] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [8] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [14] Hermione
Ddog [11] Dilly
Dcat [nb] Lucie
Charlotte went up to high-school this year, which has been a big shift for her, as she doesn't always react well to change. Her parents worry that she hasn't really found her 'place' in the family: Amélie and Georges are the leaders, both talented drama queens who are popular both at school and at home, Pèire's the quiet dreamer, Oliver is the hard-working one who's a bit of a pet to his mother, and Marcel's the baby of the family. It might be that she misses Ashley, too, who was a calming influence on the whole family. However, she worked hard to correct her initially poor grades by the end of her first term, and as a reward she got the kitten she's been wanting for years as a Christmas present. Ashley does seem to have settled in a bit more in Paris, even having found herself a part-time job, babysitting and keeping the house for a rich German family in central Paris. Alexis has finished his Master's degree and is now pursuing a PhD.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 19
DH [57] Valère Vergé
DW [55] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [21] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [23] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [16] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [16] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [16] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [15] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [12] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [9] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [15] Hermione
Ddog [12] Dilly
Dcat [1] Lucie
Now that they're getting a bit older, Julia suggested to Valère that they cash out some of their investments; mostly in sustainable energy, which Valère has always been interested in. They've put some of the money into savings pots for their younger children, but are giving most of it to Ashley and Alexis, who are hoping to save enough to put down a mortgage on an apartment soon. It's becoming clearer and clearer to Valère and Julia that the two are really serious about each other. They also had an extended trip to England, inviting Ashley and Alexis along too, during which they visited Julia's parents and siblings and spent some time sight-seeing in London. Ashley also managed to meet up with Christian, whom she hasn't seen in a while.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 20
DH [58] Valère Vergé
DW [56] Julia Lucy Vergé (née Berwick)
DD [22] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [24] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [17] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [17] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [17] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [16] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [13] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [10] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [13] Dilly
Dcat [2] Lucie
Sadly, Hermione passed away this year. It was difficult for the whole family - especially Ashley, who wasn't there at the time and so had to hear about it over the phone - but they know that she had a good life with them and was well-loved. Dilly and Lucie are getting even more attention than usual in the wake of their death. Another important development is that the triplets have had to think about what they're going to do after they finish high-school. Amélie is certain she wants to attend drama school, but obviously it's highly competitive, and although she's a great actor and has been taking contemporary and jazz dance classes for some time now, she has little musical experience. Pèire's also the artistic type and wants to study fine art himself. Georges is less sure: he never really excelled at anything in school, preferring to spend his time with his friends and with the various 'girlfriends' that he's had over the past few years. Their parents have decided to be supportive whatever path he decides to pursue: they weren't initially happy with Ashley's choices, but she seems very happy now.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 21
DH [59] Valère Vergé
DD [23] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [25] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [18] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [18] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [18] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [17] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [14] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [11] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [14] Dilly
Dcat [3] Lucie
The family was shocked and heartbroken this year when Julia died suddenly of a heart attack. It had certainly been a stressful year - Charlotte's been acting out more than ever, Ashley had sadly miscarried her first pregnancy, and with Amélie and Pèire both having left to attend university, Georges had become sullen and directionless - but no-one had expected this. Julia was deeply loved by her husband and children, and the family will be very different without her. It seems especially sad as she had just begun to adjust to work again and was enjoying it more and more now that only four of the children were at home, meaning that her time was finally her own to pursue the projects that meant the most to her, after spending nearly twenty years tirelessly devoting herself to the welfare of her children. For all of the Vergés, this is a true tragedy.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 22
DH [60] Valère Vergé
DD [24] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [26] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [19] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [19] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [19] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [18] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [15] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [12] Marcel Henri Vergé
Ddog [15] Dilly
Dcat [4] Lucie
Ddog [nb] Samson
This has been a very difficult year for the whole family. Adjusting to life without Julia seems almost an impossible task. Georges has finally got a job, but it doesn't animate him, and he finds himself still completely at a loss for what to do with his life. Charlotte is angry and bitter, often getting into awful screaming matches with her father. The school suggested counselling after they noted that she was skipping most of her lessons, but she's been refusing to attend. Oliver has stayed at home, delaying his offer to study Management at university, feeling that he was needed there, but this seems just to have led to more resentment. Pèire, Amélie and Ashley rarely visit. Little Marcel is the only one whose spirits seem good, though no-one would notice were it otherwise. He spends most of the time with the pets, including his new puppy, Samson.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 23
DH [61] Valère Vergé
DD [25] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [27] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [20] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [20] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [20] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [19] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [16] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [13] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [5] Lucie
Ddog [1] Samson
Valère made a big choice this year. Now that Oliver and Georges have also moved out - Oliver has taken up his Management course, moving to Britain to study in London, and Georges has moved in with Pèire in Lyon - he felt that the house was too big for merely himself, Charlotte and Marcel, especially after Dilly sadly passed away of old age. He'd also been offered a job in Canberra, where a massive new sustainability research project has begun. At least temporarily, he feels that the right decision is to move himself and the two youngest kids out of their house in Toulouse, where there are too many memories for any of them to move on from Julia's death, and to Canberra, at least temporarily. Whilst Marcel seems happy enough, the older children are unhappy, especially since Ashley in particular is very settled in France, and she and Alexis are trying to conceive. Charlotte is beyond unhappy. Her moods have gotten yet worse and she barely talks to her father or Marcel anymore. Whether Valère's big decision can, in the long run, make a difference for all of them, is yet to be seen.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 24
DH [62] Valère Vergé
DD [26] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dbf [28] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [21] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [21] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [21] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [20] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [17] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [14] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [6] Lucie
Ddog [2] Samson
Amélie and Pèire graduated from university this year. Amélie has chosen to move to Paris, where she'll live temporarily with Ashley and Alexis in their large suburban home (they are still hoping to start a family, although Ashley sadly miscarried again this year), but Pèire was initially undecided. When Georges lost his job after the local store he assisted in went out of business, however, he realised they had to do something. The market for fine art was not as good as Pèire had been expecting, and their rent is much higher now that they're no longer in student-targeted accommodation. Currently, he's teaching part-time at a local adult education institution, but he isn't really happy there. Things aren't much better in Canberra. Charlotte hasn't settled in at all. She has few friends - probably because she rarely even goes to school. Marcel, on the other hand, is doing well in school, but is very quiet and doesn't seem particularly well-adjusted for his age. Although Valère enjoys his new job immensely and himself is much less melancholic due to the move, he still thinks incessantly of Julia, and knows that his children are no nowhere near as happy as they once were.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 25
DH [63] Valère Vergé
DD [27] Ashley Raelene Paulson-Vergé
-Dfiancee [29] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
DD [22] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DS [22] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [22] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [21] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DD [18] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [15] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [7] Lucie
Ddog [3] Samson
The family in Europe are doing well, it seems - Amélie has a part-time job as a barista, but has had more auditions than she expected, and received a call-back for a part in a soap that she's hoping to hear about soon. Ashley and Alexis are still desperate to have children, but Alexis is very happy in his job in academia, and Ashley's mind has temporarily been taken off kids by the ring on her finger. Pèire and Georges are muddling by happily enough: Georges is lonely and still isn't sure about his goals for the future, but Pèire has gotten some showings at a local art gallery recently and is making good money from his teaching, which means that they're living more affluently than they're used to. Oliver is interning in HR at a law firm and loves the productive atmosphere. In Canberra things are not so good. Although Valère is utterly absorbed in his work and happier than he could ever have hoped to be just four years after the death of his beloved wife, he doesn't have much of a social life in the new city, and Marcel has few friends and is very, very withdrawn. Charlotte seems like a lost cause. She's not even considering university, is often out of the house, and had to spend a night in hospital recently after obtaining a head injury which she refuses to explain to her father. He's worried about the reckless, seemingly violent life she's leading, but for her, it's the only way to get by.
The Verges, Toulouse - Year 26
DH [64] Valère Vergé
DD [28] Ashley Raelene Plamondon (neé Paulson)
-Dfiancee [30] Alexis Hugo Plamondon
--DD [nb] Isabel Julia Plamondon
DD [23] Amélie Catherine Vergé
DD [19] Charlotte Ariane Vergé
DS [23] Pèire Stephen Vergé
DS [23] Georges Damien Vergé
DS [22] Oliver Blue Paulson-Vergé
DS [16] Marcel Henri Vergé
Dcat [8] Lucie
Ddog [4] Samson
Ashey and Alexis have finally had the child that they've wanted for so long, and they welcomed her as man and wife, after they married at the beginning of this year. Of course, the Canberra wing of the family travelled back to visit the Plamondons for their wedding, and again to see little Isabel in her first weeks. The visit to France made Charlotte realise how unhappy she's been in Australia. Now that she is nineteen, she has decided to move back to France. Given that Alexis is well-paid, the Plamondons have moved into a slightly larger house, with Amélie and Charlotte sharing the attic rooms. They are both keen to help out with Isabel. Valère feels slightly uncomfortable leaving Charlotte behind, especially given her general state, but he feels that it's the right choice for her. He and Marcel returned to Canberra feeling hopeful.
*
"That cynicism you refer to I acquired the day I discovered I was different from little boys."
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