April 2015

So how did that happen? I have not even published the March bloggy bit (I think they are called 'posts' ) and I find myself at the end of April! April?! Where did that month go?

We had our lovely daughters back for their Spring break from University, and a surprise visit from our nephew, aged 18, sent over by his parents so he could be buried in the French rural countryside whilst I supervised him during A' Level revision. Having got 3 of my own through A' Levels, I really thought I had done my bit, and didn't relish the role at all! We did let him off occasionally to help make icing rabbits for the Easter cake and paint some eggs. Some traditions die hard in our household. Considering he is an 18 year old lad with facial hair, who enjoys such things as drinking, smoking and clubbing, he got stuck into the challenge!

After Easter we dashed up to Paris. I had an appointment with the Dutch Embassy to renew my passport which included having special photos taken, finger prints, eye recognition, tedious paperwork, lots of money, and a long wait. I regretted not having taken British citizenship again, as I do every time I have to go through this process, as I could have sorted it all out by post. Anyway, it did mean we had a few days in Pareeee, the city of LOVE! The whole of Europe was bathed in sunshine and Paris was no exception. We 'did' the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Le Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Pompidou Centre, Versailles, Catacombs and the Latin Quarter. The latter meant an hour and a half traipsing through streets looking for a burger restaurant which Matt insisted we go to. It was actually worth the hunger pains, and moody teenage moment. Happy days, sore feet and a very empty wallet. We especially enjoyed Marie Antoinette's crazy farm and village, made especially for her, the Bonnard exhibition, and the hilarious Jeff Koon exhibition. It was Georgia's first time in Paris (we can't really count the last time as she was 4 and didn't remember it at all) and it was wonderful to experience how enchanted she was by the city.
We took the train home, muggins here having no passport, or ID, and being temporarily non-existent, and were impressed how civilised it was. We have decided to travel by train more in the future.

We had a week to finish spring cleaning the gite. So Matt took off to do some work in the UK and left me to scrub and polish and mop. Georgia loved the new window cleaning machine and washed all the windows for 3 hours. We went out and bought fresh geraniums and spent a happy afternoon potting and re-potting. The sun was out. We made an apple cake and welcomed our first guests of 2015! Roll on May! Surely it must be time to open the pool....