Paris...with no kids nonetheless...oh my!

I won't go on too much about just how good a time we are having here. It might get boring, and a little in your face, but OH MY STARS are we having a good time!

Boxing day we spent out and about - took the metro to Notre Dame and had a little look around there. The weather has been bitterly cold, but brilliant blue skies and sunshine which just makes this city look even more beautiful if that is possible! We walked to the Luxembourg Gardens which is known as a park for kids - pony rides, great equipment, a little pond with toy boats that can be raced...Daisy loved it. Then a short walk to Isle St Lois for a spot of lunch then home again on the metro. Daisy has been SO good with all of the travelling about in the day - in the cold - on the trains and back in and out. She is in love with my sister and her boyfriend and is being completly spoiled by all the attention all the time. I am enjoying not having to entertain her and watch her so happy. It is everything I thought this trip would be and so much more. I am loving coming home to our beautiful warm apartment after a day out in the cold, opening (another!) bottle of french champagne, getting Daisy into bed early and enjoying sitting around having a good meal and company and adult conversation and then early nights in bed followed by other people playing with Daisy first thing in the morning. Did I mention we are having a good time??!

Yesterday my sister decided that she and Chris would look after Daisy for the day while Rob and I spent the day together. Um...ok! It didn't take long for me and Rob to get dressed and get out of there. We walked arm in arm through the magnificent streets of Paris, together, without a child. It was AWESOME. The last time I came to Paris I was a backpacking through uni holidays and was wearing awful clothes, staying in a backpackers hostel and drinking (lots) of cheap beer. This time I am actually walking the streets and feeling half decent. I mean the French women know how to dress. They have style. I don't. But I feel half way decent, like I can walk into some of the shops and noty be laughed at. I even struck up enough courage to go into Christian Laubourtin (sp?) yesterday. And the woman SMILED at me. I must look good! HA!

So...Rob and I walked down Rue St Honore for hours, slowly walking and soaing it all up - stopping for coffee along the way until we got to the Pompadou (sp?) modern art gallery where we wandered around for a few hours withour child. Bliss. It felt like the days of old when we used to do things like that on Satursday afternoons only SO much better because we were in PARIS! We then had lunch and took the metro to the Eiffel Tower where we met my Sister, Mum and Chris and Daisy. The day couldn't get much better - kisses from my Rob and Daisy under the Eiffel Tower which was glowing in the afternoon light and looking just as pretty as it could ever look. It was FREEZING cold, but so so so beautiful...I just know that if my life was ever to flash before my eyes that scene would feature. Kisses. Cold air. Tower. And Daisy saying over and over 'higher tower! higher tower!'

We then walked home and managed to thaw out with some (more) french champagne and a good home cooked meal. We then headed out for a drink while Mum stayed home to look after Daisy for us. Really...does it get any better?

Today (Sunday) we are off to Mass this morning and then not sure what the afternoon will bring us. Tomorrow we have a big day planned at Disneyland which ohmygodiamsoexcitedabout and then more goodness in this city.

A very Merry Christmas Indeed

So here we are boxing day morning in our divine apartment. The first 2 days that we had de-jetlagging were as good as can be expected...lots of resting and trying to get on Paris time. We were staying in Montmarte (excuse the spelling) which was a great spot...lots of good food and walks to do. Our second morning we were up early with Daisy and walked up to the Sacre Cour where we watched the sunride over this beautiful city. It was such a special moment with Rob and Daisy - we practically had the place to ourselves - it was quiet, and dark, and cold and oh so beautiful - all the things I knew this place would be.

On Tuesday we arrived at the apartment. It is everything I hoped and knew it would be. It is even actually bigger and better than what I thought it would be (if that is possible) with lots of space for us all - LOTS of kids DVD's for Daise to watch and even a little bed for Daise. We celebrated the arrival of Mum and Lucy with lots of champagne (French of course!) and an afternoon walk through the local fresh produce markets. I mean honestly....how lucky can we get? We spent Christmas Eve doing last minute shopping, constructing a tree, and storing up on supplies for Christmas day. Lucy's boyfriend Chris arrived on Christmas Eve night so we were all home safe and warm in our house ready for Christmas Day. Daisy was SO into Christmas...I didn't think she would be as she is so young but she was totally into Santa and presents (of course the presents) but also putting her stocking out (she called it Santa's toes) and leaving out some biscuits for Santa to eat. SO sweet!

Christmas morning we were awake early with Daise desperate to see Santa's toes and to see the biscuits. We opened presents...had some more champagne for breakfast...and then went for a walk to the local (beautiful) Parc Monceau. Daisy played in the park, we walked around and enjoyed the perfect crisp weather that we never usually get to enjoy Christmas morning. It really felt like Christmas should be. We had a beautiful lunch - roast duck and vegies - plenty of champagne and wine - macaroons for dessert and after lunch a walk in the cold afternoon down to the Eiffel tower and down the Champs Elysee to look at all the amazing lights - oh my stars the lights here - it is like nothing I have seen before!

Anyway, so now we have so many days ahead of us...cold weather forecast...and I just know so many more precious memories to savour. I think we are going to go to Disneyland tomorrow which my sister and I are so excited about although I know that Daisy will love it as well. Today a trip to the Luxemborg Gardens to see if we can sail some boats around the lake, and a walk around St Germain. Oh yes, PLENTY more good times ahead.

wacky french keyboards

We made it! Safe and sound and in one piece;;;;abd here i am trying to make sense of the wacky french keyboqrds where qll the letters are in funny places qnd i can;t for the life of me find the shift key!

Anyway;;;this will be brief;;;plane was hqrd work but all things considered daise did well: it was "- hours door to door and to say we were exhausted when we got here was an understqtement;

Had a good nights sleep qnd spent the morning out and about this really is the most beautiful place in the world: We get our apqrtment tomorrow and sister:s laptop so will update when <
HA§!

Should be...

Washing
Packing
Shopping
Cleaning
Resting

But just thought I better get in one last little post before we head off. Yesterday was such a disappointment but I have woken this morning ready to start the next phase of my life and I have plenty to distract me from the nerves and fear that will kick in big time in January. Yes, all that worry can wait...I have a trip to go on!

I have most of all of our stuff out...not yet in bags but on the bed ready to go into the bags. It's good that the seasons are completely different so I don't have to be washing like a mad thing and not have anything to wear because it's already packed. I have had my hair done - very important! And just have a few last minute things to pick up in the morning, then all the stuff into the bags and then we are off!

Daisy's sleep is already so upside down that I hope the transition to European time will be a walk in the park (!) that or she is soooooo tired that she will sleep the entire plane trip (!) HA!!!!!!!! A girl can dream can't she? She has been waking outrageously early....every morning for the past 2 or more weeks...like 4.45am early or if we are lucky we might get an occasional sleep in till 5.45am. And I can't seem to change it - later bed times and she is still up - so she has been going to bed earlier. I honestly give up on sleep and trying to work it out!

I have been checking the Paris weather forecasts like a woman possessed. I have emailed, texted, facebooked my sister and Mum like a crazy woman. And as soon as Rob has finished work tomorrow night I will well and truly allow myself to get excited about this. It IS happening. We ARE going. Happy Holidays indeed!

So, here I am

At my last day of work. In the office. Alone. Talk about depressing!

I have been looking forward to this day as it marks a full stop. The end of an era. Doors closing, chapters doing something else and all that. I have also been dreading this day. After this there will be no more regular pay placed into my bank account each month(but regular bills still coming in). There will be no more contact with our client's that I have worked with for the past 5 and a half years. (For the meantime) there will be no professional contact with other colleagues. I will be just an unemployed Mum. It scares the breath right out of me.

I have always had a job. I have always had a really good work ethic, I give a job my all even if I can't stand what I am doing. I am loyal, a hard worker and I really believe that I am an asset to whoever is lucky enough to employ me. Maybe for all these reasons THAT is why I am feeling so down about leaving here. The whole 'being made redundant' thing has hurt my feelings. I know that I shouldn't take it personally - that it is a business decision plain and simple - but I just feel pissed off that for all my hard work, effort, sacrifice I have put in...here I am alone in the office on my last day at work. No send off. No over sized novelty card signed by the team. Zip. I will just close the door this afternoon and that will be it.

So with a bitter taste in my mouth (could be the coffee that I just had) I am indeed closing the doors here and moving on. I can almost feel the physical weight being lifted from my shoulders. While I have loved it here - it has been draining, demanding and very hard at times. There have been many times when I should have left, but stayed - for others. When I look past the dread and fear that I have about not having a job I think I can see light. Hope. Something better out there that will suit me a whole lot more than this place. I know that this is for the best...but right now I will just wallow a little K?

But...only for a little while because for the love of sweet baby Jesus we are off to freakin' Paris in 3 days times!!!!! Funny how the planets aligned to give me the send off and celebration that I really deserve isn't it?

Sunday Snaps

Christmas Catch-ups

Boy have we had a hectic social time these past 4 days! LOTS of visiting friends and family, swapping presents and celebrating Christmas before we head off THIS (!!!!) week. I have well and truly got the Christmas spirit and although we have been in and out of the car more times than I care to remember and Daisy is exhausted we have had a great time.

Thursday
I caught up with a few friends and their kids who were all part of a book club group. One of my oldest friends from school - Jude- was over from Singapore for Christmas with her new little lady Scarlett. We drank lots of tea, ate lots of cake and sat around oohing and aahing at the kids. Looking at the pictures from the morning I must say that I came away thinking...one minute we were all kid free and getting drunk, having fun and now look at us! When did THAT happen?

Scarlett, Daisy, Juliet, Charlotte and her new brother Angus

Friday
We caught up with some old friends from high school. I also managed to borrow some fabulous winter clothes from my friend (for both Daise and I) which will be so good to take away. More cake was consumed, more tea and LOTS of chatting/gossiping

Daisy and Julian sitting under Flick's beautiful Christmas tree

Saturday
We had our Christmas with all of Rob's family - his brother and sister in law and their three girls as well as cousin Kate and Mads. It was a lovely afternoon...the girls played well together and enjoyed swapping all their presents...and despite the 34 degree day it worked out well.

Sunday
We had our final family Christmas catch up with my brother and his kids and at Mum's place. We ate great food, drank well and for the first time that I can ever remember the kids all played so well together while we were able to sit around and converse like adults! Amazing! Daisy had a ball being a fairy with her new Christmas outfit, and learning all the ins and outs from her older (3yrs) cousin Mia.

So...now onto this week. The week we leave week. I have woken up this morning with butterflies in my tummy. I am excited, and nervous and anxious all rolled into one. I have 3 days left at work with SO much to get done before I leave. I have bags to pack, clothes to wash, money to exchange MORE people to see...it's going to be one busy week.

4.30am starts to the day...

Equals sleeping toddler at 9.03am...when will she ever learn?

So there's this

In amongst all of the excitement of the big trip I guess I may or may not have been NOT thinking about the whole transit thing of actually getting there. The whole 24+ (yes you read that right) plane trip from Australia via Hong Kong to Paris thing. Yep. Denial.

Most people have been telling me how hard it is going to be. I have been of the attitude of - well it's only 24 hours out of our lives how bad can it really be? Lately we have had some pretty tough 24 hour periods with her anyway so how different can it be? AND when we get there we will be having the best time that surely that is worth it? Other people have been telling me that I should build it up to be SO bad so that when it's not you can be pleasantly surprised. I know that every time I have caught a long haul flight that along with the cramped space comes a kids crying - it just blends into the whole flight experience.

So...I am looking for any advice that anyone has on travelling on a plane, long distances with a toddler. Daisy is 22 months now, but pretty content to sit and play if she has something that takes her interest. I have been told that we should get her some new toys - wrap them up - and every few hours let her open a new one. I also have drugs (don't tell me you have never heard of this!) up my sleeve but I really need to test those before we go as I have heard terror stories of the drugs having the opposite effect! I did also read (thanks to Mum) that we should create a little routine on the plane - book, stickers, card game, snack, walk and repeat. Sounds good in theory...

Our itinerary looks like this:

Departs Syd 11.50am (should get some sleep during this time as she normally has her arvo nap)
Arrives Hong Kong 6pm (just got to stretch her out till we get to the plane)
Departs Hong Kong 11.30pm
Arrives Paris 5.50am

HELP!!!!!!!

Next week...

We are heading off! To Paris! NEXT week! NEXT! As in just the one after this one! You could say that I am starting to get just a little bit excited. I feel like we have turned a corner and are in the home stretch now...and there is SO much to do.

Packing for a start. Actually no, not yet. Prep for packing. At the end of winter I tried to get as many bargains as I could from the sales and at the time I thought that I should have enough. Now it seems that I hardly have anything at all. I need to seriously get it all out on the weekend and find out where the major holes are and try and get them filled. As I won't be able to get anything from the shops as it is summer now, I think the best option will be to borrow from everyone.

Last night I booked transfers from the airport to our hotel, and today I have to book another hotel close to the airport on our way home. Yesterday in the car on the way to work we listened to our french CD to try and brush up our skills (Rob's can be brushed, mine actually do not exist). I speak (a little) Italian and I keep breaking into that rather than french when I try and think of the words I need. And the only thing I can confidently say in french is that my name is Beth. I live in Sydney, Australia. I am 13. It's from year 7 and somehow I don't think that this will cut it.

The excitement between my sister, Mum and I is also reaching fever pitch. There have been many texts (16 sleeps till I see you type thing) and phone calls to Mum discussing bits and pieces. Mostly though there is just this nervous, exciting feeling in my stomach when I start to allow myself to think about it. To realise that we are actually going. That I get to see my little sister for the first time in 15 months (the longest we have ever been apart) and that I will be overseas with my Mum for the first time. I am SO pleased that we decided to take this trip - after all the dramas of work this will be quite the celebration for all my hard work over the past 5 years. I can't believe on a hot morning like this that we will be in the freezing cold. That we will have to rug up to head outdoors, and that when we do get out there that we will be surrounded by the most beautiful city in the world. Galleries. Buildings. Christmas decorations like I have never seen before. And with all (OK actually only 6) of the people that I love the most. How lucky am I?

Oh...and a little taste for you. I give you our apartment that we have booked in Paris for 10 nights.

Location
This charming apartment is located in a very quiet street close to the place des Ternes, a few steps away from the Arc de Triomphe, the Parc Monceau, the avenue des Champs Elysées, the rue du Faubourg St Honore and the Russian Cathedral of Paris. The area thrives with select restaurants, stores and shops of all kind, from upmarket antiques to electronics (Fnac, Darty, Sony…) to clothes (Gap, DPAM, Lacoste…), to shoes (Weston, Church etc) to food (patisseries, Paul, Hediard, Allosse –alledgedly the best cheesemonger in Paris-, supermarkets. Music halls (salle Pleyel, salle Wagram…), theatres…All is available within a few 100 meters. Overall, it is a quiet peace haven in a lively area, one of the best and extremely safe areas of Paris. It is extremely well located for metro, trains, buses with direct lines to all train stations, touristic places and business districts inc.

Standing
This pure Art Deco (1925) building has kept its original charm, yet is adequately equipped with all modern amenities and security (elevators, a full time house keeper, a security code plus an intercom...) It was the home of Capitaine Dreyfus from 1928 to 1935. It is located minutes away from the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, and the Parc Monceau… The flat is located on the 4th floor (with elevator). It has been tastefully refurbished mid 2007, to combine the art deco style and modern comfort. It has French classic wooden floors through out all rooms (oak in all rooms; bamboo in the bathrooms). The kitchen floor is tiled.

4 days of bliss...

We are back to reality with a thump after 4 days of pure heaven at Rob's Dad's farm EIEIO. It felt like we were well and truly in summer holiday mode...and then we had to turn around a come home...sigh...

Daise and I left early Thursday morning and managed to get up there about 2.30pm. It was a 6 hour trip which is always hard work but we had Rob's Dad Alan with us and he drove the whole way which made things about a trillion times easier for me as I could distract Daisy in the car and keep her entertained.

We spent the 4 days relaxing by the pool (and I mean really with a pool like this how can you not?!). We ate great food, drank plenty of good wine, played croquet, went for walks and saw cows AND kangaroos (Daise was SO impressed to see a 'hop' in the flesh!). Rob joined us on Saturday morning (he flew up) and was able to practice his fly fishing on the lawn - the river was too high so couldn't go down there. We ran Daisy around and around with the dogs...each night she was exhausted! I also couldn't get her to sleep in the porta-cot which will mean that things will be interesting in Paris as that is all she has, and she looked like quite the princess in a king size bed nonetheless! She was spoiled rotten by her grandparents a (and great-grandmother) and I was able to actually spend some time alone at times, reading, walking by myself. The gardens were just looking divine...so green. It felt like a slice of summer given to us early.

It really was heaven. I feel recharged. Ready for the busy times we have these next 2 weeks. It really is tonic for my soul up there and we are so very lucky to be able to go there whenever we want.


Daisy with Micky (Sue's Mum) and Sue


Rob on the fly...suffice to say nothing was caught!


Daise and her new best friend Minx

Sitting in her chair..in the pool! How resort like...

Showing us all how to play lawn bowls and croquet

I mean honestly... it is perfection! Bliss!

HOW could I forget!!!???

My head seems to have been so lodged up my own a*** of late that I totally forgot to mention how smart my husband is!

My husband is SO smart!

No really! A few weeks ago we found out that a documentary film he has been working on has been nominated for an award at the International Sport Film Festival in Palermo, Italy. How good is that?! Here is the link to the site - scroll down the page and look for his pretty face (nominated for best photography AND best foreign film). The awards ceremony is due to be on the week before we headed over to Paris so I convinced Rob that he just had to go along...it would be pretty funny I think...in Italian and all...AND they were going to put him up in a hotel for a few nights and I mean really, how often is it that we are in Europe? He just had to go. We tried to change his ticket for Paris but alas it all became too hard. They would have had to cancel the whole ticket and then try to re-book the seats and some of the flights were already booked and had people on standby by blah blah blah so he won't be going which is such a shame for him. I am so proud of him as he worked hard on the film, filmed & edited the whole thing himself and it's funny and looks good and someone even thinks it's worth a nomination. That is something to be proud of. He has submitted it to a few more festivals that they are waiting to hear back on and if they get the go ahead on those I really hope he can get to those. So well done Rob!

Oh and he can also make one hell of a good elephant out of play dough. In fact he can make good anythings out of play dough. I mean look at the attention to detail? I was so impressed I just had to take a picture and you can clearly see just how impressed Daisy is. We are some lucky girls to have him in our lives...

Hello December!

It is SOOOOOOOOO good to see you! I can now officially say that summer is here. That THIS month we are going to Paris for Christmas. All wonderful things! But in the same breath I can also say that in 3 weeks time I will no longer have a job. And that scares the breath right out of me. It's the perfect explanation of where I am at at the moment. High one minute with excitement, and anticipation, then in the next I am scared and in a full panic attack. But let's focus on the positives for now at least.

We had a GREAT weekend. It was so good because Daisy was feeling better and was back to her old self. She also slept well. We have had 3 nights in a row now where she hasn't woken in the night. This hasn't happened in well, months now, so it has been a real treat. I wouldn't be so stupid as to say that things have turned a corner because as soon as you do it turns to shit and you jinx yourself, but I will say (as Rob pointed out to me this morning as historical fact only) that she has slept well for 3 (!) nights and for that we are truly grateful.

We had some good plays at the park. Rob has started going down to the local basketball courts and shooting some hoops for exercise and fun. Daise loves to run around the court after him, and I love to sit on my lazy bum and watch them both doing this. I must say it all looks quite urban doesn't it? So we did that a few times, ran around the courts and the park and had many, many turns on the swing.

We had friends over for dinner Saturday night. It seemed like an age since we had entertained and it was so much fun. It helped that Daisy was asleep! We drank far too much wine, but I cooked (if I don't mind saying myself) some fabulous food, and with great company of some close friends Fraser and his partner Matt we felt almost like grown ups again! It was a great antidote to the shitty week that we have had. Yesterday we had our morning brunch as mentioned below, and another great afternoon at the park....followed by another good nights sleep.

So here we are at December. It really is exciting to be here...to be on the countdown to the trip, to the end of work, to Christmas, to the end of the year. Later this week we are heading up to Rob's Dad's farm for 4 days and I am truly excited about that. We are driving up Thursday and then Rob will fly up and meet us Saturday. Daisy will have so. much. fun. She has already started talking about her best friend Sue (Alan's partner) and we will have lots of swimming, and playing with the dogs, and looking at the cows. It is going to be GREAT fun. Something else to look forward to. We really are very lucky indeed.

* The spots on her face are not related to the unknown sickness but to a greedy mosquito that found her little juicy cheeks in the night to snack on