Let the games begin

I guess it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for today to be perfect... I mean, what was I thinking? I have to say, it was pretty near-perfect, so I should really stop complaining. Yes. You read it correctly. A Wednesday, NEAR PERFECT. Go me! *Crazy dance*

Mission 1: Breakfast for the King...
I pre-laid the table last night for an extra head-start, and despite the girls waking up early for once and coming down, raiding the kitchen and sitting round the table in the kitchen, I wasn't too fussed. William didn't appear, and it was easier for me to clear up. I have to say though, I did show off my amazing waitressing skills when laying up the breakfast table... I'll try and get a photo tomorrow morning [the pressure is on...]. Mission accomplished.

Mission 2: Another dreaded dental appointment. The girls have more appointments than they have teeth in their mouth! It is quite ridiculous. However, I've got so used to the drive that I could do it with my eyes closed. Obviously I don't, but it's a drive that allows me to drive fast and skid round the beautiful monument that is Chateau de Vincennes. :) Also, I was feeling very excited, as it meant I could sneak off during the appointment and locate a few Space Invaders which were around Nation (Train line and place of dental surgery). Yes, I don't even need to go off on a trek around the backstreets of Paris - a simple trip to the dentist and they're right under my nose.

  

Space invaders: scored!

Mission 3: Lunchtime. So far so good! Everything running smoothly, each time I've gone back out to the car it's still in the same place, and all today there was plenty of parking round the front of the house. William cooked lunch, and I helped make Orange Salad... which is oranges and, oranges... Florence arrived as well, and it was a surprisingly enjoyable Summery lunch in the garden! No flies, beetles or wasps, and I had to rush off with Juliette and Margot so William cleared everything up and put the dishwasher at the hottest temperature (I like it at the hottest, and he likes it at 40 degrees, and if you saw the crap and raw meat they eat, you'd be switching it to 60 degrees as well...), and returned to a reasonably clean house. AND THEN, Marie announced to me that she didn't have ice skating! I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. WOW. So only two more dreaded ice-skating trips. So I spent the afternoon cleaning my room (again), chilling with the sun beaming through, and everyone HAPPY.

Mission 4: Dinner. Well, the 'run-up' to dinner. I sorted the annoyances of radio station-flicking by bringing one of those wonderful inventions called A CD with me, so there was no rubbish music or annoying incessant radio chatter. Slight dip of the day was ANOTHER brush with the police. One day they'll give me a fatal heart attack... I've already had a panic attack from them! I don't know how much more my arteries can take! Anyway, there's me, driving, wailing along to my CD and being a nice driver by letting people in front, including a Police Driver (although that was very intentional - my Dad once said 'I'd rather a police car in front of me than behind!'), and then it was all fine, 30 kph up the road, and then at the traffic lights when they'd stopped, THE POLICEMEN GOT OUT. Yes, I sat in the car, TERRIFIED. I was right behind them. OH MY GOD. I was actually driving carefully for once and they'd already found a fault. Walking towards me (had I been smiling too much?) walking... (was the music too loud?) walking towards... (did I look like too sceptical in my Ray-Bans?) walking walking... (noticing battons in their belts...), and then they continued walking PAST the car, and ambushed the car behind. OMG, what the hell did they notice in there???! Anyway, I was too scared to do anything or move at all, despite the lights now on green and I certainly wasn't going to break any pedantic French laws by overtaking the police car in the middle of the lane, so I just waited and waited. Fortunately they didn't take too long (they asked the lady to pull over into the lay-by... She MIGHT have been on her mobile but I didn't think it was illegal in Paris), and almost jumped out of my seat as he said 'excuse-moi' on his way past my window. (French police apologising?!) Ohmygod-sigh-of-relief. [Dodged Invader ambush...]

Returned home with two content girls, chilled, and was about to go down to cook tea at 7pm when BHAM. William. William's head round my door and him asking me to go and do the shopping. AT 7PM!! So after grumbling and moaning to myself, I went, and it turned out to be surprisingly better than expected! There was no rush to get back and make something of my day, it wasn't my 'free' time I was wasting, and they'd actually managed to stock up their shelves by near-closing time. Back at home, no one helped me with the shopping, but I'd actually rather be left alone to put it all away than have kids ransacking the bags for the biscuits. So that wish was granted. Then William and Florence went out, and I was left able to cook simple pasta with meatballs for the girls and not feel judged or pressured into serving up a Michelin-star meal.

Today: Accomplised. And it hasn't been stressful at all! :) People told me they'd get easier the closer I got to going home, but I didn't realise they'd suddenly go from worst day in the week to Best Day! *keep it up!* And onto the next level...