This week I have mostly been drinking Pina Coladas.

On account of my husband having remembered his magic recipe and it being very hot and sunny and we are in need of refreshments. They taste so delicious and non-achoholic that they go down treat, unfortunately, they have loads of alcohol in them, probably my weekly units allowance in one glass the way I feel afterwards!

We've just booked ourselves a little holiday as we are pretty knackered at the moment and in need of a break. We can't afford it, but we got a very good price on a gite in Brittany, half hour from the coast. We'll have to take Isabella out of school, but it's the only week when we haven't got any people in and after September they'll be no taking her out of school as she'll be at the age where schooling is obligatory. I'm worrying as it is about informing her teachers and she doesn't have to be there at the mo!

The head has been pestering me to get Georgia started in September as well at the grand old age of 2 yrs and 10mths. I was originally planning on it, but I don't think she'll be ready. However, she's really coming on with her speaking lately and getting used to being around other people, slightly less shy and freaked out by adults she doesn't know, so hopefully with all the folks coming in over the summer she'll be a bit more confident by September. And out of nappies. She was dry before Christmas during the day, then all of a sudden changed her mind about the whole business and has remained in nappies ever since. I think it was possibly because our toilet travels to another dimension during winter. It's true, step through the door and you magically arrive in Siberia. The seat is icy cold and so is the water from the tap when you try to wash your hands. Can't leave it dripping, there would be an icicle by morning (I'm refering to the tap). I think it may have put her off, can't think of any other explanation anyway.


It was the village carnival yesterday, the first since we've been here. The children paraded around in fancy dress and got overheated (it was very hot and sunny), headed up at the front by some kind of 'Rio/Brazilian' kind of troop playing music and lead by a couple of women in high heels, fishnets and what would presumably be described as bikinis except bikinis usually have more coverage. Well this is France. Although for a little village in the middle of very rural France it felt a bit odd, but at least the men appeared to enjoy themselves.

Had an amazing storm last week, none of us have ever seen anything like it. Woke us up at just before 3am and went on overhead for over half an hour - constant lightning - did not stop at all, it was like daylight outside. Still could see and hear it in the distance carrying on nearly an hour later. Isabella ended up in our bed, fidgeted constantly, Adrian ended up in her bed and left me with her. Did not get much sleep that night.

Went in the pool at last with the girls today - 20 degrees, a bit fresh, they got in straight away, took me a little longer. Georgia refused to get out even though she was shivering like mad, she just loves to swim!

Update on the washing machine that we tried to buy online - from what I can understand the company has been liquidated on account of all the lawsuits against it for either non-delivery of goods or non-refund of payments after they have broken their own terms and conditions. Has turned out to be the most expensive washing machine ever. We can write and ask for our claim to be considered, but very little chance of seeing the money again, and this being france, it's not just a case of writing one letter, it seems to be various letters and forms to various folk so I'm not really sure if it's worth the hassle.

Also on the subject of money, the company that I pay our cotisations to (a bit like NI) has just realised that we haven't been paying for everything and have sent us a bill for over 3 grand. It's based on (over)estimated earnings for 2006 and 2007 (2008 and 2009 to be calculated), even thought they know our income for these years as it has been declared to them for the other cotisations we pay them. I'm wondering if perhaps different departments don't speak to each other much - probably a secret branch of cmig.