Tuesday, 14 September 2010

We got back from France on Saturday 28th August, then on Sunday we went to church where Scott did a presentation, and gave a talk in Sacrament meeting (both of which I though were very good), and then on Bank Holiday Monday we all went to Nottingham to visit Robin & Niki in their new house, and see Grandma Asher.
We found out during our last week in France that Grandma has cancer, and that she won't be having any treatment for it. She and Mum and Dad actually think she may have had it for quite some time already, though the doctors never pursued things till now. In some ways I'm not sad, because I think Grandma is tired and fed up with not being able to do very much - and ready for what comes next. I just hope she doesn't have a long, drawn out, painful time.
My brother Robin, and Niki are so happy with their house. They are now living where Robin has always wanted to live, and are sorted out for school catchment areas, and the house is solid and has lots of lovely features (though they don't think the bright primary coloured carpets and walls are amongst them!!) I am really happy for them!
Lucy and I then headed to town to get school shoes and a few bits, and Scott took the boys to the cinema (thanks to Tesco clubcard points!)
We then visited Grandma. She wasn't doing too great - feeling sick because of some new medication she is on - not for cancer. I didn't like to leave her like that, but Uncle Ronnie was staying while Mum was in France for a bit.
We then had two days at home before the kids started returning to school. Harry was able to visit his new class - though was not impressed that he couldn't stay without me.
I had started feeling not too well on Sunday, and by Monday night was feeling pretty dreadful. Not sure what from really - an infection, or virus or something, but had a ridiculous fever and headache, and at one point was just crying because I was shaking so badly. I felt pretty much wiped for the rest of the week. I also got some stuff through from my half marathon organisers, saying that if you had had a fever or virus before the race, then don't run. I had been worried about the run, because I hadn't been training for a few weeks, so at least that took that out of my hands.
The house became a tip (hadn't even finished unpacking properly yet), and so before the kids went back to school, I had been chatting to my friend Juli on the phone and we were arguing about who's house was the messiest, and we decided to do some 'before and after' pictures for a laugh and put them on Facebook in the evening. It was great motivation, and kept making me laugh through the day as I was tidying! I also had a good sort out at the same time. I was totally done in by the end, but glad.
Some of the Before & After pictures:
(Still not finished decorating yet though...) Anyway, towards the weekend I was starting to feel better, and John persuaded me to go to Yorkshire for the weekend, to his parent's-in-law's who where holding a family reunion. And that little adventure I will save for another blog post...

Monday, 13 September 2010

Summer Holiday in France (Fifth Week)

On Monday morning, Lucy and I headed to McDonalds in Ploermel, so that we could use their free Wifi. It was good to make contact with the outside world, and read some emails and messages on Facebook! We then went into Ploermel and had a look around. Our favourite place was a Home shop that Lucy and I spent ages looking at knic-knacks in...Lucy by the kind of tree I really like. What kind is it??In the afternoon I headed off with Jack and Tom to check out a couple of places that my satnav had listed as places of interest fairly nearby. The first was the little town of Rochefort-en-Terre. We parked with ease, and had a lovely wander up the main street which was closed to traffic. Very picturesque.We then went to a Prehistoric Park place, which was set in a nice wood around some old slate mines. It was quite pleasant walking round, and seeing all the models etc.
Jack and Tom, and an ancient dolmen we could actually go inside.
Harry and Dad eating lunch, with Ken for the entertainment! (He was digging up corner stones for his store room, from the foundations of an old chicken shed that are laid there.)Lucy and Harry spent quite some time sitting in a canoe, reading and drawing, in a rain shower! Congregating in the kitchen. Me applying the crepi to Dad's rendering on the brekkie room. On Thursday morning, we packed up and said goodbye to Dad & Ken, and Bel-Air (in a torrential downpour!)We drove along the road right next to the Loire river. I didn't realise how shallow it would be in places. We saw this chateau from the road and decided to stop off and explore. It was in Saumur. We had a lovely time wandering around it, and it was wonderful and warm.
Scott said the kids couldn't pick any grapes, so they were waiting for some to drop!I loved this view back down the Loire. The view we had seen from the road.
We then drove straight to Paris, arriving after dark. We saw the Eiffel tower all lit up, and also drove past the Sacre Coeur, which looked beautiful. We were booked for two nights into one of the super-cheapy Formula 1 Hotels on the outskirts of Paris.
The next morning (27th August) we walked to the nearest Metro station and made our way to the Eiffel Tower.We all walked up to the 2nd floor (the equivalent of walking up a 43 storey building), then got the lift to the top. Some view! This was Harry's first time up the tower.


Ken asked me to take this picture for him...
Our next stop was Notre Dame. We stayed outside for ages, while we had lunch, and the kids fed the sparrows. This was one of their most favourite things in Paris!
We did take a quick look inside!
The Musee d'Orsay where we surfaced from the metro at one point. I love the glass roof bit.
We also walked through Monmarte to the Sacre Coeur.
I love this part of Paris. Climbing the steep streets, watching the artists, and picking out which apartment I would choose to live in... My other favourite bit is the Arc de Triomphe, but we didn't get to see that this trip - you can only fit so much into one day with all the kids.
We just went to KFC for tea, and headed back to our hotel, pretty tired.
Driving to the Euro tunnel the next day. Taking in everything that I will miss about France. Not really wanting to go home...
We made it home at about 3.30pm, after a straighforward journey.