The Light…

The Lake…

The Locals…

And the Piece de Resistance….the sword!

We’re heading back tomorrow. I’ve got a ridiculously busy week to face, so our moment of calm is nearly over. Still, it’s been lovely to actually spend some time with the children and parents – secretly I think they’ve quite enjoyed being bundled out of London for a bit, even if it does mean having to talk to adults and sing “Scouting For Girls” songs very loudly on all our car journey’s.

Normal speed coverage should resume tomorrow.

I got back with the older two kids yesterday from the cafe, having left my youngest child in the care of my father, which is always a bit of a worry. “Oh look”, I said, “he seems to be running around with my dad’s Samurai sword”. “Don’t be ridiculous”, other son said, “he so wouldn’t have let him play with that”….

Just wait till I get back to London and I show you the pictures…Needless to say he survived.

I really need to learn French. It is shameful how bad I am at it. I blame the Indian teacher I had in Hong Kong, but even that excuse is beginning to wear a little thin. Maybe I’ll do classes on my return – I’ve tried CD’s – didn’t work – Dumdad, Marianne, anyone else – suggestions s’il vous plait x

However, now I’m feeling immensely cool because I’m in an INTERNET CAFE with my children! Previously, before I became a blogging addict I thought only drug addicts, homeless people and hooded youths used such cafes. It’s lovely in here. Lots of books, coffee, cake, chess – very civilised; I wonder where I can buy a hoody. I love embarrassing my children – they are sitting as far away from me as possible and are pretending they don’t know me.

I’ve been painting with the children too. My 7 year old did a lovely still life – carefully composed by me to include lots of one colour items like a cardboard box, rather than a bunch of grapes. “How do you draw blood?” He asked. “Grandma was talking about that little boy in the village who always draws blood when he bites someone”.

I have absolutely nothing to report. I have zoned out of London life and moved into life in the slow lane. The highlight of our day is buying pain au chocolat in the local village. It’s wonderful. I’m here to spend time with my children and my parents. My father is on chemo, but coping remarkably well (except for sore hands and feet and no taste buds) compared to my mother who is in constant pain with her back. She can’t walk very far without having to sit down – the sciatic pain is always there. It’s not at all easy for either of them and I am amazed that they both remain as positive as they do under difficult circumstances – I just hope we don’t stress them out by being here. My father says being on chemo isn’t as bad as everybody thinks. I bloody hope it works.

So far so good – the drive to the ferry was an easy run; we got an overnight ferry and my parents were there to meet us on arrival; It had been snowing in Brittany too, but the early morning light was beautiful.

We haven’t done much – which is perfect. It has taken us 2 days to learn the rules of the house – you can’t poo in the upstairs loo and you have to turn the hot water on for the shower at 6am. If you want to poo in the downstairs loo you have to do it when there is nobody in the kitchen otherwise it is deeply anti-social. I have advised the children not to go to the loo for a week as easier.

I am spending time helping my 7 year old read a rather too challenging book. I really stupidly bought the latest Anthony Horowitz book for my teenager – who very sweetly pointed out that not only had he been reading those books 5 years ago but that he was perfectly happy reading about Lawrence Delagglio. So, obviously my youngest child has taken up the challenge. He read a bit himself yesterday and kept chortling to himself “there’s this man in it who’s really small – maybe 15cm with a tiny head and there’s a whole load of camels in it. What it actually said was “very little of his head was on show because he had a beard and an eyepatch” and the group of camels was actually “a huge network of criminals”. “OMG” said my oldest, he’s completely dyslexic”.

We’re in a tiny village and they’re all very friendly – hopefully the kids will pick up a bit of French – got to go now x x x