Nous Arrivons!

After many tearful goodbyes we have one more which proves to be the hardest of the lot – Dog. Sam forgot him at the airport and is inconsolable.

The flat is lovely and contains a few precious things which I’m terrified of wrecking; 17th century real gold mirror and very expensive wooden side table. We meet our gay landlord Tristan who ‘likes zem very much’, in other words, ‘don’t let you’re little weapons of mass destruction near them’.

We attempt our practice run to school on the bus. Somehow we have an invalid bus ticket and the bus police randomly check and want to fine us 70 euros! We talk them down to 35 and have learnt a grave lesson.
Sam is whinging incessantly about his dog and walking, results in three huge meltdowns on our travels, we’re both at breaking point with stress and tiredness. Everything is so spread out and far apart we give in and get a taxi home as Tom needs to go back to work.
Haven’t had a chance to get food yet, kids are munching on breadsticks and water for tea, I’m convinced they won’t starve. Decide to brave the grocery store with the kids and they are amazingly helpful, they know mommy's hanging by a thread and I let them choose their own cereal. Superwoman succeeds! Tom comes home to kids happy, eating tea and to a glass of wine.
o Saving grace – Dvd player works, vin is cheap, sun is shining.