I feel like I should be putting a cape and bonnet on and flying away by Umbrella levitation! Or at the end of an episode of Super Nanny (that's me alright!) when she's 'fixed' the family and has to go (i.e. run out screaming). I can't believe how quick this month and 1/2 has gone, and everyone is still alive! Progress has even been made with the dog - it's now too frightened to even yap at me, and stays out of my way! Don't worry though - no need to reach for the phone and dial for RSPCA or anything!
Anyway, the Suitcase Kid is currently staying in Versailles for the night with another family (friends). We're catching the ferry from Calais to Dover tomorrow morning. Home! Well, I'll still be living out of my suitcase but it'll be good to be on English soil, although I'm happy knowing I'll be returning back to Paris. (Paris, sweet Paris!)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sod the National Sport Museum!
Today I saw modern-sport at it's best: the gym!!! Finally found one nearby - only a mile away (10 minute run), and the equipment there is pretty good! I tried out this machine which simulates the roller-blading/ ice skating movement. And much better (and A LOT cheaper) than the snobby tennis club one. So I'm really happy! Something I can do for ME in the daytime.
Slowly improving my SuDoku skills, and resisting temptation to peak at the answers/ semi-answers for a little helping hand! :) Home on Saturday, and hope to arrive back to London at 3.30. Ahh, so soon! I've started packing, but of course I'm only taking the things home I want to leave at home, and then a few other essentials. The suitcase still weighs a ton though (I blame the suitcase!), so maybe I'll come back with more clothes and books but in a slightly smaller suitcase.
Still no sign of ANY packages or parcels... I'm beginning to think that the post has it in for me. And it's NOT to do with the strikes or anything. They just can't be bothered to post at sensible times in the day. I mean, who the hell stays in ALL DAY when you have PARIS?! (Oh, sweet Paris.)
Slowly improving my SuDoku skills, and resisting temptation to peak at the answers/ semi-answers for a little helping hand! :) Home on Saturday, and hope to arrive back to London at 3.30. Ahh, so soon! I've started packing, but of course I'm only taking the things home I want to leave at home, and then a few other essentials. The suitcase still weighs a ton though (I blame the suitcase!), so maybe I'll come back with more clothes and books but in a slightly smaller suitcase.
Still no sign of ANY packages or parcels... I'm beginning to think that the post has it in for me. And it's NOT to do with the strikes or anything. They just can't be bothered to post at sensible times in the day. I mean, who the hell stays in ALL DAY when you have PARIS?! (Oh, sweet Paris.)
The Cherry to my Pie
So. It turns out that the French equivalent for deer leaping out in front of you whilst driving in England comes in the form of Renault Twingos. Those stupid cars are more like Chiuauas - small, ratty and ridiculous, which barely live-up to their category of 'dog' or in the Twingo's case, 'car'.
Anyway, today was my first experience of a French Car Crash. Yes, I managed to crash the car - I guess it had to be done some time!! But as my Dad told me; 'In France, cars are there to be bumped'. It was only a slight bump - William or Crazy Caroline haven't reacted one teeny bit. Nada. Everythings STILL in one piece (there is no getting rid of this damn car!), and my car came off 'worse' than the minty-green 'TWINGO' in front which didn't even appear to have a scratch at all. Like colliding with a deer (not that I have any experience of that!), the deer leaps off into the next bush pretty much unscathed whilst you slowly drive your car back terrified of anything else that crosses your path, with your front lights hanging out of their sockets, a wing mirror left on the side of the road and half the bonet folded backwards over the car!
I'd collected Juliette and Margot from Tennis, and was trying to get across town to get Marie and her friend to their ice skating lesson. The traffic was absolutely horrendous - all stop-go-stop-go-stop-go - when suddenly the Twingo ahead braked and I 'contacted' the bumper of the car. Juliette explained I was a 'foreigner' to the driver (and his friend) who both seemed completely unfazed by it all as if I'd hit his car with a beach ball! Juliette did all of the talking with them so I don't actually know what she was saying... And consequently no learned experience on how to cope in a car crash! I was more worried about what William or Crazy-o were going to say about it. The girls all got out of the car to inspect the front like some sort of School Trip or something ('back into thecar school bus everyone!'), and I slowly and cautiously braved my way to the front of the car to see what damage there was. A huge sigh of relief to see that really the only difference was the corner of the number plate bent in, but still totally read-able. In the end, after Juliette talking with her father, the guys in the Twingo drove to the house (Juliette gave them the address). Whoopee. I could just imagine them twisting the story and making me out to be some awful, reckless driver (as if!) without me there to blame it on their stupid car. To my absolute HORROR, when I returned after finally getting Marie and friend to the ice skating 40 minutes late, there was the mint-green Twingo parked outside the house. Absolute cringe! I dropped off Juliette and Margot and sped off again!
Such an AWFUL day though right from the beginning - It obviously was missing the cherry on top until this evening.
Anyway, today was my first experience of a French Car Crash. Yes, I managed to crash the car - I guess it had to be done some time!! But as my Dad told me; 'In France, cars are there to be bumped'. It was only a slight bump - William or Crazy Caroline haven't reacted one teeny bit. Nada. Everythings STILL in one piece (there is no getting rid of this damn car!), and my car came off 'worse' than the minty-green 'TWINGO' in front which didn't even appear to have a scratch at all. Like colliding with a deer (not that I have any experience of that!), the deer leaps off into the next bush pretty much unscathed whilst you slowly drive your car back terrified of anything else that crosses your path, with your front lights hanging out of their sockets, a wing mirror left on the side of the road and half the bonet folded backwards over the car!
I'd collected Juliette and Margot from Tennis, and was trying to get across town to get Marie and her friend to their ice skating lesson. The traffic was absolutely horrendous - all stop-go-stop-go-stop-go - when suddenly the Twingo ahead braked and I 'contacted' the bumper of the car. Juliette explained I was a 'foreigner' to the driver (and his friend) who both seemed completely unfazed by it all as if I'd hit his car with a beach ball! Juliette did all of the talking with them so I don't actually know what she was saying... And consequently no learned experience on how to cope in a car crash! I was more worried about what William or Crazy-o were going to say about it. The girls all got out of the car to inspect the front like some sort of School Trip or something ('back into the
Such an AWFUL day though right from the beginning - It obviously was missing the cherry on top until this evening.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Oh-so-great inventions...
Clearly the 'designer' of plastic fish slices didn't have his head screwed on when he came up with THAT idea. Yes, I am SURE that the children all wanted melted plastic in their crepes, instead of Nutella or honey. This is why COOKS should design kitchens.
Also, one of the things Crazy Caroline said when I first arrived was that I could change my room round if I wanted to, so I took her up on the idea and spent the afternoon moving my bed around, to discover that it won't actually GO anywhere. The room is the same size as the bed. Or, the bed is the same size of the room. I have about a foot's space round my bed (including the top end) - it is impossible to fit up against a wall properly, or be able to walk round it standing straight up. So after huffing and puffing it 90 degrees round anti-clockwise, I then had to huff and puff my way 90 degrees back again. And all the other furniture I'd moved/collapsed/ piled onto the bed in the moving process all had to go in it's exact place again. So no bedroom changes. Totally UNproductive. However, I am DETERMINED to get these damn plugs fixed - I have FOUR, and only one works. I wish I had some knowledge of wires and plugs... I'm feeling pretty helpless right now.
Threemoredays. threemoredays. threemoredays.
Also, one of the things Crazy Caroline said when I first arrived was that I could change my room round if I wanted to, so I took her up on the idea and spent the afternoon moving my bed around, to discover that it won't actually GO anywhere. The room is the same size as the bed. Or, the bed is the same size of the room. I have about a foot's space round my bed (including the top end) - it is impossible to fit up against a wall properly, or be able to walk round it standing straight up. So after huffing and puffing it 90 degrees round anti-clockwise, I then had to huff and puff my way 90 degrees back again. And all the other furniture I'd moved/collapsed/ piled onto the bed in the moving process all had to go in it's exact place again. So no bedroom changes. Totally UNproductive. However, I am DETERMINED to get these damn plugs fixed - I have FOUR, and only one works. I wish I had some knowledge of wires and plugs... I'm feeling pretty helpless right now.
Threemoredays. threemoredays. threemoredays.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Back to Routine!
I went to see Granny off home today - back to England. There were a lot of strikes on this morning, so loads of trains weren't working. Then she'd arranged to meet 'at the bottom of the stairs'. Have you ANY idea how many stairs there are at Gare de Nord? A LOT. It was quite sad to be at Gare du Nord, RIGHT BY the Eurostar, yet not be getting on it. :( Made me want to sneak onto a carriage and hide in the luggage area!
So back at the house now, or rather, SAUNA! The heating is on full blast round the house - and I don't want to turn off or even turn down my radiator because it was so cold before!! - I don't want to waste the 'heat opportunity'! I am MELTING though... maybe I should turn it down ONE notch...
Today I decided to 'exercise the brain' and bought an 'easy' SuDoku book to keep me occupied. Now that I'm not at school, it's easy to not really do anything all day in terms of learning, stretching your brain and increasing your knowledge! This blog is keeping my English at large, but I felt possibly the 'number' side of things needed working on. So I bought a little travel book, feeling like a total nerd. After spending half a DAY on the first SuDoku; having to rub my numbers out and start again TWICE even AFTER resorting to the 'semi answers' (the top row of numbers completed) and a peak in the main answers to see if the bottom number was correct, I now feel really stupid. My spurt of enthusiasm after completeing (finally) the first one soon ended when I madly decided to move onto the second grid, and gave up after filling in about 5 boxes and discovering I'd already gone wrong.
This morning (and yesterday) Marie kept asking me where certain belongings were. Why do kids do that? As if I'm going to know where they put something! You know in The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly is like: 'Where is that piece of paper I was holding yesterday?' Times that by three!
Where's my brush? I don't know.
Where're my shoes? I gave them to an old man.
Where's my coat? I ate it.
Where's my school diary? I turned it into a paper airplane competition.
Where's my computer cable? I was practicing hurdles with it.
Where's my iPod? On platform 9 and 3/4.
Bahhh!!!! And you know, ALL the times I went to find them, they were either EXACTLY where I'd said they'd be (aren't I amazing?), or where they'd left them.
So back at the house now, or rather, SAUNA! The heating is on full blast round the house - and I don't want to turn off or even turn down my radiator because it was so cold before!! - I don't want to waste the 'heat opportunity'! I am MELTING though... maybe I should turn it down ONE notch...
Today I decided to 'exercise the brain' and bought an 'easy' SuDoku book to keep me occupied. Now that I'm not at school, it's easy to not really do anything all day in terms of learning, stretching your brain and increasing your knowledge! This blog is keeping my English at large, but I felt possibly the 'number' side of things needed working on. So I bought a little travel book, feeling like a total nerd. After spending half a DAY on the first SuDoku; having to rub my numbers out and start again TWICE even AFTER resorting to the 'semi answers' (the top row of numbers completed) and a peak in the main answers to see if the bottom number was correct, I now feel really stupid. My spurt of enthusiasm after completeing (finally) the first one soon ended when I madly decided to move onto the second grid, and gave up after filling in about 5 boxes and discovering I'd already gone wrong.
This morning (and yesterday) Marie kept asking me where certain belongings were. Why do kids do that? As if I'm going to know where they put something! You know in The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly is like: 'Where is that piece of paper I was holding yesterday?' Times that by three!
Where's my brush? I don't know.
Where're my shoes? I gave them to an old man.
Where's my coat? I ate it.
Where's my school diary? I turned it into a paper airplane competition.
Where's my computer cable? I was practicing hurdles with it.
Where's my iPod? On platform 9 and 3/4.
Bahhh!!!! And you know, ALL the times I went to find them, they were either EXACTLY where I'd said they'd be (aren't I amazing?), or where they'd left them.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Now, THAT'S what I call The Parisian Life!
WHAT a wonderful weekend!! I feel like I've been taken out of a hamster-wheel and thrown into the beautiful, chic life of Paris! Broke the family streak of being late by arriving, quite unintentionally, an hour 10 minutes earlier than I'd planned to meet Granny at the hotel. 12pm rolled on, and still no sign of Granny... Just as I was about to crack open the popcorn and start a film on my iPod, she burst through the door beaming, 'I've walked ALL the way!' Good, and now my bum is stuck to the seat. Anyhow, the room was delightful, although the bathroom door was severely questionable - and more of a translucent sliding screen... In the afternoon we went out and had afternoon tea at the truly exquisite hotel, Le Meurice which is seriously incroyable, and seriously expensive but so worth it! DEFINITELY a high-heel-wearing opportunity! (And nothing shorter than 5 inches!)
I ended the truly fantastic day (and a LOT of walking) with a searing hot power shower and fluffy white clean towels, whacking on the central heating in our room, and collapsing into a big, comfy, white bed. With thick pillows. :) Today was nice, although we (madly) decided to walk from the hotel (one side of Paris) to a friend's house, who lives the other side of Paris. It was bitterly cold, and I was wearing the thinnest cardigan I could have possibly worn, and a dress which I'm starting to wonder if it's shrunk in the wash or I've grown 20 inches because the hem line seems to be getting higher and higher! Granny pointed out half way 'I think the sun's coming out!' and I thought, Is it??? Either I was so cold I couldn't GET any colder, or that my fingers had actually dropped off from frostbite and all my nerve ends had frozen up! If ever there was sun, it soon disappeared back in - and quickly.
I am OVERJOYED to discover upon arriving back home that Clooney has finally switched on the heating - and my, my, my - it is like SUMMER. I am sitting in a t-Shirt, (and no hoody!) for bed. I might not even wear my ski socks tonight! The radiators are blasting out heat, and there also appears to be underground floor heating EVERYWHERE! It feels like Christmas. :) Also this evening, Jean-pronounced-JOHN and Sabine took me out to the cinema in Vincennes, to see 'The Social Network', and OH MY GOODNESS is is AMAZING! SO clever, and interesting, and well-done, and inspirational!!! It's basically the story of the creator(s) of Facebook - some students from Harvard University. It makes you think that you could be the next lucky person - to stumble across an idea or opportunity, and be the next 'big thing'. You know, I wouldn't mind not having a film about myself... just a few big houses around the world please, a huge bank account, a personal cinema and gym, Christian Louboutin on speed-dial and a mini shopping mall. Ha - too much? Ok, I'll lose the shopping mall.
I ended the truly fantastic day (and a LOT of walking) with a searing hot power shower and fluffy white clean towels, whacking on the central heating in our room, and collapsing into a big, comfy, white bed. With thick pillows. :) Today was nice, although we (madly) decided to walk from the hotel (one side of Paris) to a friend's house, who lives the other side of Paris. It was bitterly cold, and I was wearing the thinnest cardigan I could have possibly worn, and a dress which I'm starting to wonder if it's shrunk in the wash or I've grown 20 inches because the hem line seems to be getting higher and higher! Granny pointed out half way 'I think the sun's coming out!' and I thought, Is it??? Either I was so cold I couldn't GET any colder, or that my fingers had actually dropped off from frostbite and all my nerve ends had frozen up! If ever there was sun, it soon disappeared back in - and quickly.
I am OVERJOYED to discover upon arriving back home that Clooney has finally switched on the heating - and my, my, my - it is like SUMMER. I am sitting in a t-Shirt, (and no hoody!) for bed. I might not even wear my ski socks tonight! The radiators are blasting out heat, and there also appears to be underground floor heating EVERYWHERE! It feels like Christmas. :) Also this evening, Jean-pronounced-JOHN and Sabine took me out to the cinema in Vincennes, to see 'The Social Network', and OH MY GOODNESS is is AMAZING! SO clever, and interesting, and well-done, and inspirational!!! It's basically the story of the creator(s) of Facebook - some students from Harvard University. It makes you think that you could be the next lucky person - to stumble across an idea or opportunity, and be the next 'big thing'. You know, I wouldn't mind not having a film about myself... just a few big houses around the world please, a huge bank account, a personal cinema and gym, Christian Louboutin on speed-dial and a mini shopping mall. Ha - too much? Ok, I'll lose the shopping mall.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Sneaking my way back over the English Borders...
Woke up this morning, and attempted to paint and dry my nails whilst getting the girls ready for school. A risky task, but successful in completion! I have clean, shiny, beige coloured nails with no dents, smudges or imprints (don't you just hate it when you paint your nails before bed and wake up with your duvet pattern imprinted on your nails??!).
Practically chucked out the girls from the car and then raced back to get an early train, which was just as well as the trains were SO packed, and took AGES. I don't know if it was the strikes, or just the morning rush, or general train problems, but OMIGOSH. Then there was trouble at Charles De Gaulle Etoile station, and HOARDS of people trying to get a particular train, which would arrive, two people would disembark and then about 30 people (per door) would try and push their way on! I eventually and FINALLY got to my destination where my Granny was staying. It was lovely to see a friendly face, although there wasn't much English speaking going on as the friend she was staying with didn't speak much English! However, I have to say I was very impressed by my French speaking today - it all seemed to 'come together', and I've never spoken more fluidly and quickly before! Ha!
We then met up with another friend, who is English, but speaks French just as well! Fortunately, and comfortingly, we kept our conversation in English. :) Amazingly, she is returning to England for half term by ferry, and offered me a seat in her car!! So, I don't need to worry about £200+ return tickets from Eurostar or bother about 'light packing' on the airplane (which, incidentally is just as expensive) - I can go on the ferry! :) I feel like I'm escaping from a concentration camp! Or an illegal immigrant sneaking through the English border in the boot of a car... Which means I'll be returning on 23rd October, and going back on 1st November. :) She also suggested I teach English out here to students for some extra cash. Not a bad idea! Granny gave me a huge bag of stuff, including broccoli which I've been missing like crazy (!), some cookbooks (you can never have too many!), kitchen scales, half of a Boots store (I gave her a rather large list of things I can't find here - such as RIMMEL! - and Boots thanked me for my loyalty!!), and such a cool hot water bottle! It has fish in it which go from purple to white if it's 'too hot' - although how you could have a 'too hot' water bottle is totally beyond me! And to answer your question Jen about heating at the house - yes of course we have heating, but, (are you ready for this??!) Crazy Caroline doesn't know how to switch it on, and Clooney doesn't put it on to save money. So when I return from Angleterre I'll be packing extra ski socks and jumpers!!! I'm also up to my ears in pashmina scarves from Granny, and anyone who knows her will know how serious I'm being!!!
Happiness soon came to an halt when it was time to rush back to collect the girls and start the evening routine. However, the most AMAZING thing happened (Good karma has finally arrived at last!) - Juliette got me into the Tennis Club fitness suite for free!!! :):) I have finally found a gym. It is such a relief - I was getting withdrawal symptoms! The machines were SO modern, although nothing quite beats my hometown gym... Building up the stamina to swim across the channel to England when things get really tough! :P
Practically chucked out the girls from the car and then raced back to get an early train, which was just as well as the trains were SO packed, and took AGES. I don't know if it was the strikes, or just the morning rush, or general train problems, but OMIGOSH. Then there was trouble at Charles De Gaulle Etoile station, and HOARDS of people trying to get a particular train, which would arrive, two people would disembark and then about 30 people (per door) would try and push their way on! I eventually and FINALLY got to my destination where my Granny was staying. It was lovely to see a friendly face, although there wasn't much English speaking going on as the friend she was staying with didn't speak much English! However, I have to say I was very impressed by my French speaking today - it all seemed to 'come together', and I've never spoken more fluidly and quickly before! Ha!
We then met up with another friend, who is English, but speaks French just as well! Fortunately, and comfortingly, we kept our conversation in English. :) Amazingly, she is returning to England for half term by ferry, and offered me a seat in her car!! So, I don't need to worry about £200+ return tickets from Eurostar or bother about 'light packing' on the airplane (which, incidentally is just as expensive) - I can go on the ferry! :) I feel like I'm escaping from a concentration camp! Or an illegal immigrant sneaking through the English border in the boot of a car... Which means I'll be returning on 23rd October, and going back on 1st November. :) She also suggested I teach English out here to students for some extra cash. Not a bad idea! Granny gave me a huge bag of stuff, including broccoli which I've been missing like crazy (!), some cookbooks (you can never have too many!), kitchen scales, half of a Boots store (I gave her a rather large list of things I can't find here - such as RIMMEL! - and Boots thanked me for my loyalty!!), and such a cool hot water bottle! It has fish in it which go from purple to white if it's 'too hot' - although how you could have a 'too hot' water bottle is totally beyond me! And to answer your question Jen about heating at the house - yes of course we have heating, but, (are you ready for this??!) Crazy Caroline doesn't know how to switch it on, and Clooney doesn't put it on to save money. So when I return from Angleterre I'll be packing extra ski socks and jumpers!!! I'm also up to my ears in pashmina scarves from Granny, and anyone who knows her will know how serious I'm being!!!
Happiness soon came to an halt when it was time to rush back to collect the girls and start the evening routine. However, the most AMAZING thing happened (Good karma has finally arrived at last!) - Juliette got me into the Tennis Club fitness suite for free!!! :):) I have finally found a gym. It is such a relief - I was getting withdrawal symptoms! The machines were SO modern, although nothing quite beats my hometown gym... Building up the stamina to swim across the channel to England when things get really tough! :P
Friday, October 15, 2010
Check out these Babies!
Finally set about making Lemon Drizzle Cake. As usual, spontaneous-me doesn't bother to CHECK if we have the equipment... I just discover the problems and hitches halfway through and battle it out to the other side.
I used my 'Fay's Family Food' book, and REALLY, the one thing I hate in cookbooks is when there is a mistake in the recipe. I mean, WHAT are you supposed to do? You are following this recipe, DOING what it says, and it tells you to put 50 grams of flour in. 50g! That's like, a table spoon. And I already have half a bowl of butter and sugar. Do you 'ad lib' and trust your instincts (i.e. pour more flour in until it looks right?) or do you follow this recipe, because you never know - it may just be a different style/ way. In the end, I added more flour. I'd already taken the 'soften the butter' a bit too far by full-on melting it in the oven, so what should have been 'light and fluffy' sugar and butter mix was brown gloop. If it goes wrong, I'll just buy a ready-mix (heaven forbid) and deny any knowledge. I was pretty wary when putting them in the oven - they looked very small and... not like cakes. With lemon juice in my eye, grated knuckles and melted butter on my fingers (save me quick) I just thrust them in and hoped for the best. More lovely smells after half an hour or so, and all my clothes now smell of lemons. Well, at least it'll keep the midges away! They came out looking quite superb (I almost went to buy back-up mix whilst they were cooking)! And I even managed to create a fancy cake decoration by cutting fancy coils with the lemon peel and drying them out in the oven. :) WHAT A PRO.
I'm really proud of them! And Juliette was pretty...FLABBER-GHASTED. :P Score! Tonight I'm improvising again, and hoping to make honey and mustard chicken drumsticks for the girls. Wish me luck - first time cooking chicken... Help me, Google!
I used my 'Fay's Family Food' book, and REALLY, the one thing I hate in cookbooks is when there is a mistake in the recipe. I mean, WHAT are you supposed to do? You are following this recipe, DOING what it says, and it tells you to put 50 grams of flour in. 50g! That's like, a table spoon. And I already have half a bowl of butter and sugar. Do you 'ad lib' and trust your instincts (i.e. pour more flour in until it looks right?) or do you follow this recipe, because you never know - it may just be a different style/ way. In the end, I added more flour. I'd already taken the 'soften the butter' a bit too far by full-on melting it in the oven, so what should have been 'light and fluffy' sugar and butter mix was brown gloop. If it goes wrong, I'll just buy a ready-mix (heaven forbid) and deny any knowledge. I was pretty wary when putting them in the oven - they looked very small and... not like cakes. With lemon juice in my eye, grated knuckles and melted butter on my fingers (save me quick) I just thrust them in and hoped for the best. More lovely smells after half an hour or so, and all my clothes now smell of lemons. Well, at least it'll keep the midges away! They came out looking quite superb (I almost went to buy back-up mix whilst they were cooking)! And I even managed to create a fancy cake decoration by cutting fancy coils with the lemon peel and drying them out in the oven. :) WHAT A PRO.
I'm really proud of them! And Juliette was pretty...FLABBER-GHASTED. :P Score! Tonight I'm improvising again, and hoping to make honey and mustard chicken drumsticks for the girls. Wish me luck - first time cooking chicken... Help me, Google!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Car #3
I am onto my third car. Seriously though, it is NOT ME that is making them breakdown!!! I haven't crashed any car or driven it completely recklessly. It's just that these cars are OLD. And everyone else drives them toorecklessly!
This morning, I was confronted by Caroline who told me that the car broke down last night, (see, I wasn't even IN the car this time!) and that I would have to drive another car this morning... (how many cars has this family got??? I wait for the day when I'm told I can drive William's Ferrari Porsche...) We went out onto the street, and I followed Caroline down praying it wasn't each car we passed... Hoping for a nice car. She stopped at an old, battered Opal Corsa, piled with... crap inside. Astonishingly, she said she'd get the car out of it's space, so then the girls and I proceeded to watch the whole 'stereotypical female car parking scene' happen before our eyes, where she inches the car forwards, bumps the car in front. Inches the car back. Bumps the car behind. Inches it forward again, slowly swinging the bonnet out and just catching the car corner. Well, at least it's out and I don't have two more cares on my conscience!
The car stinks of... stuffy cigarette ash and dust. There are scratch marks up the windscreen as if a cat's scrambled it's way to the car roof after several unsuccessful attempts. This is one of the times I'm quite grateful that no one knows me in France, as this is a serious piece of mangled junk. I feel like I'm in a Jeremy Clarkson ex-demo car, after numerous 'durability' tests. A wing mirror is attached with duct tape, and I don't dare touch the de-mister button when the window starts fogging up in fear of the whole thing erupting into flames!
FORTUNATELY, I no longer have to drive that car. (Or wreck, to be more precise.) It was only borrowed, so the girls are walking home from school this evening. *Sigh of relief* The plan this morning is to make Lemon Drizzle cake - one for the family here and one for my Granny and her friend tomorrow (although technically it's a surprise!), though the incident this morning has made me slightly behind in my schedule - I guess I just can't keep out of predicaments!!
This morning, I was confronted by Caroline who told me that the car broke down last night, (see, I wasn't even IN the car this time!) and that I would have to drive another car this morning... (how many cars has this family got??? I wait for the day when I'm told I can drive William's Ferrari Porsche...) We went out onto the street, and I followed Caroline down praying it wasn't each car we passed... Hoping for a nice car. She stopped at an old, battered Opal Corsa, piled with... crap inside. Astonishingly, she said she'd get the car out of it's space, so then the girls and I proceeded to watch the whole 'stereotypical female car parking scene' happen before our eyes, where she inches the car forwards, bumps the car in front. Inches the car back. Bumps the car behind. Inches it forward again, slowly swinging the bonnet out and just catching the car corner. Well, at least it's out and I don't have two more cares on my conscience!
The car stinks of... stuffy cigarette ash and dust. There are scratch marks up the windscreen as if a cat's scrambled it's way to the car roof after several unsuccessful attempts. This is one of the times I'm quite grateful that no one knows me in France, as this is a serious piece of mangled junk. I feel like I'm in a Jeremy Clarkson ex-demo car, after numerous 'durability' tests. A wing mirror is attached with duct tape, and I don't dare touch the de-mister button when the window starts fogging up in fear of the whole thing erupting into flames!
FORTUNATELY, I no longer have to drive that car. (Or wreck, to be more precise.) It was only borrowed, so the girls are walking home from school this evening. *Sigh of relief* The plan this morning is to make Lemon Drizzle cake - one for the family here and one for my Granny and her friend tomorrow (although technically it's a surprise!), though the incident this morning has made me slightly behind in my schedule - I guess I just can't keep out of predicaments!!
From Creperie to Cordon Bleu!
I have been cooking SO MUCH today. It does get you down when no one actually appreciates the meal, and you think they'd act completely the same (completely oblivious and uninterested) if you put toilet paper in front of them but I am SO PROUD of my efforts and successes today I've called practically my whole family to boast about my chips. Haa yes that's right - for lunch, I made CHIPS for the girls. Real, proper potato chips. They looked incredible. Even BETTER than Chip Shop chips. (And no, I did not deep fat fry them!) Baz, I'll come back home and make you some, because OH-MY-GIDDY-AUNT. I'd also like to add that it wasn't JUST chips for lunch, but they were my success. (Despite setting an oven glove on fire!) Only, the girls didn't seem to think so and sat there texting away, eating, but still texting.
Then, for tea, I made Shepherd's Pie. A real, decent Shepherd's Pie. I've only made it once before, and I put too many chopped tomatoes into the mince so the potato didn't sit on top. But this was b.e.a.utiful! Seriously. Another success on my part, but Juliette was 'too tired' to come down for tea. Sorry, if I'm 'too tired' does that mean I don't have to MAKE any tea??? >:/ The mash potato on top was perfectomundo - despite not having a potato masher. It had the fork ridges on the potato which sat perfectly, didn't burn and got a slight crispy edge on the ridges by last-minute grilling. I am going to be a FIRECRACKER at uni! Start signing up on my flat-mate list if you please!
On another note, I was driving to collect the girls from Tennis this SUNNY, HOT afternoon, (at 15.47 exactly), when John Lennon 'HAPPY CHRISTMAS' came on the radio... I may be in a different country, but Christmas is DECEMBER! In shock! Ok, so I was thinking about starting Christmas shopping early this year, but not this early!
Two FANTASTIC pieces of news this evening: 1. Seeing my Granny in ONE DAY. ONE!!!! and 2. Tomorrow I'm booking a ticket home on Saturday 23rd October. YAYAYYYY!!!! Don't worry though - I'm not running out of this house screaming just yet, it is only for half term! (I'm mad enough to still want to come back for more!!).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
French Strikes
I hear that the French are on strikes again for a day or two...
Perhaps I should join?! :P
Another early morning and in the car by 7.59 - pretty amazing! The solution this morning? PANCAKES. Gets them out of bed like a kid on blue smarties! First time making them as well, so I am very proud! If all else fails in life, I can be a crêpe-maker. :)
Perhaps I should join?! :P
Another early morning and in the car by 7.59 - pretty amazing! The solution this morning? PANCAKES. Gets them out of bed like a kid on blue smarties! First time making them as well, so I am very proud! If all else fails in life, I can be a crêpe-maker. :)
The Best of French.
Well, I've experienced the first 'official' French family argument! Foreign arguments are quite something! Crazy Caroline entered, red faced like there was a firecracker up her bum, screaming and yelling all sorts to Juliette and Margot, whilst I subtly tried to make tea and keep out of the way... One minute they were upstairs (and screaming), then they were round the table throwing washing and plates about (and more screaming), then back upstairs again (yet more screaming), and then they appeared for tea and were giggling. Erm, ok then! All-female families are completely different - they're so 'together' and stick by each other. Arguments are blazing rows stretching lung capacity, but then once it's out, it's over. Forgive and forget. They're now all currently watching a movie. Boys tend to hit each other, slam doors and then watch a movie (or battle it out over an xbox game), and others seem to remember arguments to the precise time and hold grudges for ever. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.
'Punishments' have been made, such as no laptops in bedrooms, tidying their rooms and putting their laundry away (still not a clue what the argument was about...) but to be honest I doubt the punishment or the actual DOING of the rules will last for more than... I'll give it half a day.
Anyhow, zonked, knackered, out of my head and shattered. Peace out. -_-
'Punishments' have been made, such as no laptops in bedrooms, tidying their rooms and putting their laundry away (still not a clue what the argument was about...) but to be honest I doubt the punishment or the actual DOING of the rules will last for more than... I'll give it half a day.
Anyhow, zonked, knackered, out of my head and shattered. Peace out. -_-
Bopping around like a Little Lark
For some reason, I was bouncing around at 6 this morning. Perhaps all the extra sleep I got whilst ill has caught up, although now, at 6pm, I am ZONKED. And today hasn't been easy, despite Marie being on a school trip for the week! *Three cheers*
Even with one child missing, Juliette and Margot seem to make up the 'extra' mess, although I don't think anyone could be quite as demanding or tiresome as Marie... Anyhow, today was no ordinary Tuesday. With me up early, I had ammunition to get the girls up on time, with the extra bonus of NOT having to run up and down the stairs between bedrooms trying to lure them out of their beds (Juliette and Margot sleep on the same floor), so we were actually out the door before 8am!! A record!
I was then informed that they both finish at midday today, for no apparent reason, so I was off at 12 to collect them including an entourage of friends. I gave up on the idea of making lunch, as we still have no food in the house. The mother seems to be conveniently 'out' when I need a cheque for the shopping, so I was not in the mood to scrape together a meal for five children when I have tea to cook tonight. They coped, but kindly left me a saucepan with pasta seared to the bottom of it. I tried telling Juliette to add a bit of oil into the pasta water to avoid it sticking, but mis-translation occurred and she replied 'I don't use oil', well YES, I can see that, OBVIOUSLY. I tried again, so hopefully she'll remember to put some in next time...? And, if this is the house where the cook does the washing up as I always end up doing, why isn't she doing it?!
I've spent the rest of the afternoon avoiding the cleaner, as she is absolutely CRAZY! She cannot speak a word of English, and seems to think if she raises her voice, then *miraculously* I'll understand her French. It usually boils down to her yelling 'Ca, Ca, Ca' (this, this this) with lots of vigorous and fervent hand actions at me... (either asking me to put the washing into the tumble dryer, or distribute all the clean clothes). It's tiring, and to be honest, it's not my job.
So now I have the task of cooking tea with... some limp lettuce, frozen pre-made mash potato (what on earth?!) and natural yoghurt. Hmm, sounds tasty already! We have no meat of fish for the girls, and they already ate pasta for lunch. Crazy Caroline is also 'descending upon us' this evening. Maybe if I cook a truly awful meal this evening she'll be throwing the cheques at me to buy food! Thursday is cake-making, and the girls have lunch at home again tomorrow, meaning I have an hour exactly (from the time the store opens to when I need to pick Juliette up from school) to do the shopping tomorrow.
Countdown to days of holiday, relaxation and seeing family: 3 days! *Can''t wait Can't wait Can't wait*
Even with one child missing, Juliette and Margot seem to make up the 'extra' mess, although I don't think anyone could be quite as demanding or tiresome as Marie... Anyhow, today was no ordinary Tuesday. With me up early, I had ammunition to get the girls up on time, with the extra bonus of NOT having to run up and down the stairs between bedrooms trying to lure them out of their beds (Juliette and Margot sleep on the same floor), so we were actually out the door before 8am!! A record!
I was then informed that they both finish at midday today, for no apparent reason, so I was off at 12 to collect them including an entourage of friends. I gave up on the idea of making lunch, as we still have no food in the house. The mother seems to be conveniently 'out' when I need a cheque for the shopping, so I was not in the mood to scrape together a meal for five children when I have tea to cook tonight. They coped, but kindly left me a saucepan with pasta seared to the bottom of it. I tried telling Juliette to add a bit of oil into the pasta water to avoid it sticking, but mis-translation occurred and she replied 'I don't use oil', well YES, I can see that, OBVIOUSLY. I tried again, so hopefully she'll remember to put some in next time...? And, if this is the house where the cook does the washing up as I always end up doing, why isn't she doing it?!
I've spent the rest of the afternoon avoiding the cleaner, as she is absolutely CRAZY! She cannot speak a word of English, and seems to think if she raises her voice, then *miraculously* I'll understand her French. It usually boils down to her yelling 'Ca, Ca, Ca' (this, this this) with lots of vigorous and fervent hand actions at me... (either asking me to put the washing into the tumble dryer, or distribute all the clean clothes). It's tiring, and to be honest, it's not my job.
So now I have the task of cooking tea with... some limp lettuce, frozen pre-made mash potato (what on earth?!) and natural yoghurt. Hmm, sounds tasty already! We have no meat of fish for the girls, and they already ate pasta for lunch. Crazy Caroline is also 'descending upon us' this evening. Maybe if I cook a truly awful meal this evening she'll be throwing the cheques at me to buy food! Thursday is cake-making, and the girls have lunch at home again tomorrow, meaning I have an hour exactly (from the time the store opens to when I need to pick Juliette up from school) to do the shopping tomorrow.
Countdown to days of holiday, relaxation and seeing family: 3 days! *Can''t wait Can't wait Can't wait*
Monday, October 11, 2010
More of a Nightmare than a 'bedtime story'!
Ok; so prepare to be shocked to an inch of your life with these photos below...
This is not the aftermath of World War 3, nor a repeat of the French Revolution with the Storming of the Bastille nor the back cupboard of a charity shop. THIS was my morning.
See below to be AHHHH-MAZED!
This is not the aftermath of World War 3, nor a repeat of the French Revolution with the Storming of the Bastille nor the back cupboard of a charity shop. THIS was my morning.
See below to be AHHHH-MAZED!
Fake It
I decided I wasn't going to spend the sunny day slowly dying in bed, so crawled out and got the train to Porte Dauphine to see the Musèe de la Contrefaçon. It's a small museum set up to advertise the risks and dangers of purchashing counterfeit items. The obvious things, such as handbags, CDs, DVDs, sports wear and printer cartridges, but then a load more things I never even considered would be counterfeit - like Evian water, medication, towels, coffee beans, tabasco and even push-chairs!!
Went back on the metro, stopping off at Champs d'Elysées to check out the new H&M (truly MASSIVE) and went home. Couldn't resist taking a photo of this cute cat taking advantage of the quiet Sunday sun... If only life was this simple!
Went back on the metro, stopping off at Champs d'Elysées to check out the new H&M (truly MASSIVE) and went home. Couldn't resist taking a photo of this cute cat taking advantage of the quiet Sunday sun... If only life was this simple!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Can we fix it? YES I CAN!
Feeling quite the computer 'techie' today - with the help from super-Aunt Jen, I have managed to fix up my laptop with entirely broken screen to an external screen (not too shabby either!) so I still have means of communication from my room. :)
Still feeling like DEATH, but yesterday I managed to crawl out of bed and get myself to Chatelet - Les Halles for some retail therapy. It did good. :P Also went to the cinema - it is SO relaxing just to sit in a big, dark room! Stayed awake for the whole film (not old yet!) and made it back home. Pretty chuffed!
Count down to seeing a friendly English face: 5 days.
Unfortunately I was too busy being ill to remember/take note of the whole 10/10/10 10:10.10 thing this morning. I'll be around when it's the 11th!
Still feeling like DEATH, but yesterday I managed to crawl out of bed and get myself to Chatelet - Les Halles for some retail therapy. It did good. :P Also went to the cinema - it is SO relaxing just to sit in a big, dark room! Stayed awake for the whole film (not old yet!) and made it back home. Pretty chuffed!
Count down to seeing a friendly English face: 5 days.
Unfortunately I was too busy being ill to remember/take note of the whole 10/10/10 10:10.10 thing this morning. I'll be around when it's the 11th!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Update for the day...
I've received A COMPLIMENT from Juliette! This is a big step forward, despite it not actually being to my face. I got the message from Clooney (AKA William), the father, who said I'd 'impressed her with my cake making/ cooking'. Yay!
Today was pretty calm and not too many hassles, which was good as I've been sitting in bed with awful tonsillitis. Not fun! I stayed at home during the school hours sleeping and watching 'Julie and Julia'. I love that film! For those who haven't seen it, it's about 'Julie' who starts up a cooking blog, writing about her progress, acheivements and failures whilst cooking her way through the cookbook of Julia Child. Her story line runs alongside Julia Child's 'story' set back in France 1950s. It's really hilarious, and Julie's blog is so witty! The bit where she's trying to stuff the chicken and it all falls onto the floor just makes me laugh out loud! Plus, I can totally relate to some of her frustrations... However I'd rather be crawling under my covers and sleeping for 100 years than drive the girls round to tennis lessons! Anyway, thankfully the evening sunshine was B.E.A-utiful, so I sat on a bench by the river for the duration of tennis and it felt like I was a million miles away. Clooney is taking the girls out for dinner this evening, so I'm having an early night.
My motivation for getting through this next week is that my absolutely WONDERFUL Granny and Aunt Jen have arranged a night at a HOTEL for me!! :D Granny is coming out to Paris next weekend, but has recently planned a EXTRA surprise for me, which is the hotel stay. I'm so excited! Big, fluffy towels, CARPET, clean rooms... I'm so happy. THANK YOU!!! (I'm also excited to be seeing her as well - a familiar face!!)
On another note, my laptop has officially broken, as from about 12 minutes ago. Fortunately Margot has a similar Dell laptop to mine which will get me through the next few days, and I have a contact number for a techie (it's been dying the death for a while now...), who may possibly be able to fix the screen (either temporarily or long-term). For now though, I'm trying to get to grips with these French/EU keyboards... The keys are all in the wrong place for my touch-typing!
Today was pretty calm and not too many hassles, which was good as I've been sitting in bed with awful tonsillitis. Not fun! I stayed at home during the school hours sleeping and watching 'Julie and Julia'. I love that film! For those who haven't seen it, it's about 'Julie' who starts up a cooking blog, writing about her progress, acheivements and failures whilst cooking her way through the cookbook of Julia Child. Her story line runs alongside Julia Child's 'story' set back in France 1950s. It's really hilarious, and Julie's blog is so witty! The bit where she's trying to stuff the chicken and it all falls onto the floor just makes me laugh out loud! Plus, I can totally relate to some of her frustrations... However I'd rather be crawling under my covers and sleeping for 100 years than drive the girls round to tennis lessons! Anyway, thankfully the evening sunshine was B.E.A-utiful, so I sat on a bench by the river for the duration of tennis and it felt like I was a million miles away. Clooney is taking the girls out for dinner this evening, so I'm having an early night.
My motivation for getting through this next week is that my absolutely WONDERFUL Granny and Aunt Jen have arranged a night at a HOTEL for me!! :D Granny is coming out to Paris next weekend, but has recently planned a EXTRA surprise for me, which is the hotel stay. I'm so excited! Big, fluffy towels, CARPET, clean rooms... I'm so happy. THANK YOU!!! (I'm also excited to be seeing her as well - a familiar face!!)
On another note, my laptop has officially broken, as from about 12 minutes ago. Fortunately Margot has a similar Dell laptop to mine which will get me through the next few days, and I have a contact number for a techie (it's been dying the death for a while now...), who may possibly be able to fix the screen (either temporarily or long-term). For now though, I'm trying to get to grips with these French/EU keyboards... The keys are all in the wrong place for my touch-typing!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Easy as Apple Pie!
Today is the day of my cook-a-thon. I went shopping this morning with another cheque; however the local store is poorly stocked (didn’t even have chocolate chips, let alone vanilla extract...). I have a large amount of bananas as it was (or still is) my intention to make my fabulous Banana and apricot bread. Unable to retrieve my original recipe, I am attempting to recreate my signature pud through improvisation.
In a kitchen with no tin opener, I’m slightly worried at the hurdles I may reach whilst attempting my cook-a-thon. I’ve decided to start with the easiest and most fail-proof recipe of rice crispy cakes.
After discovering that the kitchen is equipped with one cake-making related tray (a muffin tray) yet no muffin cases, I decide to make slab cake, and then cut it up into cubes or slices. Soon the chocolate rice-crispy block is sitting in the fridge, and the kitchen is still in a relatively clean condition! Now moving onto the banana bread... With no greaseproof paper, pastry brush or bread tin, this WILL be a challenge! Oh, and just realised – no scales. Slight moment of swearing, but I will NOT be defeated! The thought of making my own set of scales crosses my mind... but I can’t find anything that will balance properly. So here I am about to attempt a recipe with the oh-so-accurate measuring unit of ‘cups’. I find a beer mug big enough (I’m making a BIG banana loaf and of course, no jugs or measuring cups), and start weighing out flour. Too bad if the recipe wants it sieved – there is no sieve.
After discovering that the kitchen is equipped with one cake-making related tray (a muffin tray) yet no muffin cases, I decide to make slab cake, and then cut it up into cubes or slices. Soon the chocolate rice-crispy block is sitting in the fridge, and the kitchen is still in a relatively clean condition! Now moving onto the banana bread... With no greaseproof paper, pastry brush or bread tin, this WILL be a challenge! Oh, and just realised – no scales. Slight moment of swearing, but I will NOT be defeated! The thought of making my own set of scales crosses my mind... but I can’t find anything that will balance properly. So here I am about to attempt a recipe with the oh-so-accurate measuring unit of ‘cups’. I find a beer mug big enough (I’m making a BIG banana loaf and of course, no jugs or measuring cups), and start weighing out flour. Too bad if the recipe wants it sieved – there is no sieve.
Finally there are two banana loaves are in the oven. I changed my recipe half way through as I thought the dough needed an extra egg. How wrong can you get with cakes anyway?! How long it’ll need in the oven is anybody’s guess, so I’ll have to keep checking it every ten minutes. I think I’ll take a break and wait and see the outcome before attempting a cup-recipe for cookies!
If only I could ‘photograph’ the smells! The kitchen smells so yummy, and after checking the loaves with what I think is a fondue fork, the cakes are done! I poured out some icing sugar into a mug, and attempted the ‘sieving’ procedure by mashing it with a knife. Fortunately there IS water in the tap (!) so I was able to make icing sugar liquid very easily, and pour it over the cakes. UN-fortunately, the baking tins weren’t very deep, so these ‘cakes’ are more like ‘tiles’. Anyhow, once cut into slices (like those Lemon Drizzle slice things) I’m sure it’ll look (and taste) lovely!
Not for the faint-hearted!
Hold onto your seats Ladies and Gents!
*THIS WIILL SHOCK YOU TO THE CORE*
I was actually HELPED with clearing the table after tea. Not by tiny elves, or a fairy godmother (yes please!), or even Father Christmas. I was helped by Margot!
To those of you who haven't yet dropped off your chair in amazement and surprise, and/or suffered a minute heart-attack upon reading the news;
The solution? Listen up parents - take detailed notes!!! (If your limbs are still in operation!)
ROLLER BLADES! Despite Marie making a HUGE mess whilst getting them out (breaking a clothes dryer and leaving clean washing all over the floor), and then proceeding to LEAVE them out after playing with them, Margot then decided to roller-blade around, eat dinner wearing them, and then roll backwards and forwards from the table to the kitchen carrying the glasses and salt and pepper. I was AMAZED. This is a huge improvement! Sadly I don't think it'll last, as roller-blade will be 'yesterday's thing' and tomorrow's new hobby will probably yet more mess-making.
Also, *trembling with fear* I have to bake cakes for a 'school breakfast' on Friday with Marie. Sorry, breakfast? CAKES? Surely schools are supposed to be encouraging healthy meals, and not sugar first thing in the morning!! (Have they NOT SEEN kids on sugar? Or the words: Sugar Rush and consequently, Sugar Crash?) So tomorrow is another shopping trauma for cake/cookie ingredients. Whoopdidoop.
Wish me luck, girls and boys! I'm biting my toes in nervous-anticipation already...
(Google Image)
*THIS WIILL SHOCK YOU TO THE CORE*
I was actually HELPED with clearing the table after tea. Not by tiny elves, or a fairy godmother (yes please!), or even Father Christmas. I was helped by Margot!
To those of you who haven't yet dropped off your chair in amazement and surprise, and/or suffered a minute heart-attack upon reading the news;
The solution? Listen up parents - take detailed notes!!! (If your limbs are still in operation!)
ROLLER BLADES! Despite Marie making a HUGE mess whilst getting them out (breaking a clothes dryer and leaving clean washing all over the floor), and then proceeding to LEAVE them out after playing with them, Margot then decided to roller-blade around, eat dinner wearing them, and then roll backwards and forwards from the table to the kitchen carrying the glasses and salt and pepper. I was AMAZED. This is a huge improvement! Sadly I don't think it'll last, as roller-blade will be 'yesterday's thing' and tomorrow's new hobby will probably yet more mess-making.
Also, *trembling with fear* I have to bake cakes for a 'school breakfast' on Friday with Marie. Sorry, breakfast? CAKES? Surely schools are supposed to be encouraging healthy meals, and not sugar first thing in the morning!! (Have they NOT SEEN kids on sugar? Or the words: Sugar Rush and consequently, Sugar Crash?) So tomorrow is another shopping trauma for cake/cookie ingredients. Whoopdidoop.
Wish me luck, girls and boys! I'm biting my toes in nervous-anticipation already...
(Google Image)
Rejected by Technology!
Yesterday I went to collect the girls from school - Marie first, and then we waited for Margot and Juliette. Juliette had just got to the car, and I went to switch it on, and pfft. More key-turning, and nothing. And then the sudden realisation that I hadn't filled it up with petrol (have been avoiding the trauma of petrol-filling, plus I didn't know where the nearest station was...). Fortunately, the girls found it quite funny, and it was only just starting to drizzle rain whilst we walked back home (10 minutes).
After returning home, I feared my laptop had died the death when the backlight wasn't working. My laptop is my life. Maybe all the hitting and bashing my laptop in frustration had taken it's toll... [More slamming the lid and cursing Dell.] After a meal for the girls it sprung back into life, but giving my wild headaches through it's constant flashing screen, and very temperamental backlight. My camera battery is also currently charging, after 5 hours of use starting from a full battery. Technology hates me!!
It transpires that the car actually ran out of battery. And probably petrol after a couple more metres. Anyhow, today I used Jean-pronounced-JOHN's car (brother of Caroline), and was DELIGHTED to find parked in the garage for me a little Renault Clio. It is SO REFRESHING to be back behind the wheel of a tiny car. I'd forgotten how light and speedy they were! Still not as good at my little Fiat back in Angleterre, but easy to start, quick to go, good breaks, everything NEAR me! The only slight problem is that I'm finding it weird being so low to the ground, and Clio's really aren't designed for long-legs! We set off in the car this morning, and I was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other fiddling round for a lever under the chair to get it to move back. Suddenly I sprung DOWN to the floor, leaving out a small yelp of shock, and then flung back in the chair towards the rear of the car (In a completely safe and uninjurous way)! The girls thought it was very amusing, and I decided that the original position probably was the best! I think if it was actually possible to get the chair to the height I wanted, I then wouldn't be able to get my knees under the steering wheel. It does feel weird though having your legs almost straight out in front of you to touch the pedals - no 90-degree seating position or anything! It's very easy to drive though, and I've been whizzing it round like a madman flying up all the gears. I love it! I'll be sad to get that bashed-up Scenic back... it really is a heavy monstrosity!
After returning home, I feared my laptop had died the death when the backlight wasn't working. My laptop is my life. Maybe all the hitting and bashing my laptop in frustration had taken it's toll... [More slamming the lid and cursing Dell.] After a meal for the girls it sprung back into life, but giving my wild headaches through it's constant flashing screen, and very temperamental backlight. My camera battery is also currently charging, after 5 hours of use starting from a full battery. Technology hates me!!
It transpires that the car actually ran out of battery. And probably petrol after a couple more metres. Anyhow, today I used Jean-pronounced-JOHN's car (brother of Caroline), and was DELIGHTED to find parked in the garage for me a little Renault Clio. It is SO REFRESHING to be back behind the wheel of a tiny car. I'd forgotten how light and speedy they were! Still not as good at my little Fiat back in Angleterre, but easy to start, quick to go, good breaks, everything NEAR me! The only slight problem is that I'm finding it weird being so low to the ground, and Clio's really aren't designed for long-legs! We set off in the car this morning, and I was driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other fiddling round for a lever under the chair to get it to move back. Suddenly I sprung DOWN to the floor, leaving out a small yelp of shock, and then flung back in the chair towards the rear of the car (In a completely safe and uninjurous way)! The girls thought it was very amusing, and I decided that the original position probably was the best! I think if it was actually possible to get the chair to the height I wanted, I then wouldn't be able to get my knees under the steering wheel. It does feel weird though having your legs almost straight out in front of you to touch the pedals - no 90-degree seating position or anything! It's very easy to drive though, and I've been whizzing it round like a madman flying up all the gears. I love it! I'll be sad to get that bashed-up Scenic back... it really is a heavy monstrosity!
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