Toussaint

Toussaint for those of you who aren't familiar with French holiday's is the half term holiday in October which has now officially started. Had a pretty stressful night with the boys yesterday which isn't a normal occurence, normally as I have often blogged they are good as gold! I think that the sweets they were given in school made them have a literal sugar high and low. They were so over excited and then it was like the sugar ran out and they were so tired. Poor N dropped a chicken nugget with ketchup on his jeans and burst into tears...so bizarre this would never happen normally! But after a full night's rest...for all of us the boys are their usual happy selves again :)

This morning we have baked pancakes and I have made shortbread biscuits with chocolate chips in for them this afternoon. At ten ish we are going to the park with Finish au pair and her two boys who are the same age...hopefully this might tire them out and perhaps a little afternoon nap will be possible. If we're lucky! Currently they are watching Thunderbirds whilst I am blogging away next to them.

For me the holiday hasn't really started but it will tonight as I fly back to the UK on Saturday morning, although with all the RER strikes and protests I am getting the Roissy Bus from Opera, means leaving my house here at 7.45 though...ouch. Fingers crossed all goes well but according to the flybe website my flight is looking okay. Also haven't started packing so must do that as soon as I finish work because I am seriously lacking organisation. Note to self - clean bathroom before I leave or there will be even more tarantula's when I return...eww.

Last little update - I have been to two Irish bars in the space of a week. Once of Saturday with Canadian, Texas and GB au pair where we met a group of very funny, very drunk english guys. I hope to go there again soon as it was the first place I managed to get cider in my 2 months of being here. I also laughed so much my tummy hurt. Then this Wednesday I visited another Irish bar...surprisingly full of French people but according to French Jacques they go there for the music because it's the best, I agreed of course :) The pub was in the Pantheon, a district named after the amazing structure that was built in 1790, originally it was just the rebuilding of the Abbey of St Genevieve but after many years it has become a secular mausoleum containing the remains of the most distinguished French citizens including Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. I have yet to go inside but after Jacques telling me all about it I can't wait to explore it. We had a very good evening talking in a mix of French and English (Fringlish as my friend's kid calls it) and discussed surprsingly our love for each other's countries. What made me laugh is that he absolutely loves Marks&Spencers so I have promised to bring back some hot cross buns from the UK. However the night went far too quickly and before I knew it I was catching the train at midnight and cycling home at a crazy speed because it was so so cold!