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
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