One Gal Band

See this? This was my morning. Cue sound effect: kerching! Marie had communion at 8 this morning, so I successfully had all three girls at school by 8. 

I also feel I should tell you my amazing feat last night, involving… very little. Instead of Mother Hubbard, it was me going to the cupboard, to discover it was bare. Also the fridge, and nothing in the freezer. And everyone just seemed to expect me to cook tea. THERE WAS NOTHING. So with my incredible materializing skills, I conjured up a family meal with rice, but then realised there was only one burger left - our last piece of meat. Unless I count the dog but I think Marie would have noticed sooner or later... So I cut up this tiny burger into small pieces and mixed it in with a tin of ratatouille. I’m officially the New Paul Daniels. (Although whilst he could make big things into small things, I can turn small things into feeding the 500.) 

So getting back home at 8.15 in the morning was certainly a bonus, and I set about entertaining myself with Juliette's guitar. I can’t believe she’s got THREE and I’ve never had the urge to even pick up one and see how bad my skills are. 

I also made time to meet up with friends, sit in Starbucks complaining about the French in general, and moan about how our families committed some serious false-advertising or misleading adverts when we were first searching for a host family. Let me decipher some now for you. The kids eat lunch at home means: find a different family because there goes your free time during the day. Pets mean: they will also, most likely become your responsibility. It's too bad I'm allergic to their vile dog, but more truthfully, I'm just allergic to all things that I don't like. Part of the family means: we want to feel comfortable enough with you to ask you favours without having to pay you extra. And Strong willed/lively/vivacious means: ...it means that you never want to hear or read this from a parent who is describing their child(ren). 

Caroline was still hanging around this evening, and decided to make full use of the fact I only work in the week by asking me to 1) do food shopping ‘for breakfast and meat’ and 2) fill up the car, all before picking the girls up in 40 minutes from Tennis. I’m starting to believe that all my wails and moans of frustration and despair would soon attract a shoal of killer whales to the shore if I was anywhere near water… I did the shopping, but then she burst into my room later in the evening demanding what the hell I’d bought - breakfast food and meat! She couldn’t understand why the fridge was still empty, even when I explained that I didn’t have much time, she strictly (STRICTLY) told me to buy ONLY breakfast foods and meat (and I’m pretty sure it’s the same in France and in England that cereals and bread live in the cupboards) and meat, which is in the fridge and freezer. I shouldn’t have to be stocking up the house for a weekend banquet!