Holidays and Birthdays

Holidays and Birthdays - pretty much sum up this post.  This post starts with the school holidays which were spent mostly with Janet, who currently lives in London.  Her, myself, my flatmate Lucy and her flatmate Emma spent 4 days/3 nights in Paris, having a grand old time.  We stayed in one of my favourite parts of Paris, Montmartre, and spent the first afternoon leisurely enjoying this happening area. The next day I led the girls on a walking tour for the afternoon, in which we saw pretty much all the must-sees of Paris. We were stuffed by the end of it and then had our pre-booked tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower, so we gave our feet a rest and took the Metro a couple of stops from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower.  Where, despite having pre-booked tickets, we still had to queue for ages on the second floor of the Tower to get to the top.  So by the time we got to the top the sun had already set.  However, having now seen the view during both the day time and the evening I totally recommend the evening view.  The lights are so pretty and it is actually easier to see the monuments because they are flood-lit.

The next day we went to the Chateau of Versailles, which never ceases to amaze me and this time I got to see the Hall of Mirrors in all its glory, as the last time I was there it was being restored.

That evening we ate at a classic French restaurant just off the Boulevarde des Abesses, where there is lots of atmosphere.  Here I finally tried, for the first time, escargots (snails) and I actually quite liked them!! They were yum.  The four of us girls spent the evening with my friends who are based in Paris and it was a great evening.

Then it was back to L'Aigle. Janet accompanied us and stayed a couple of days.  Unfortunately, in the end we didn't go to see Mont-St-Michel but there was always a possibility that was going to happen due to Janet's work committments.  That's ok because I will have plenty of opportunity to go there but it was a bummer for Janet.  In the end, we rented a car for the day and we went around the local area and visited farms.  Went to a farm where they make cider, cider vinager, pommeau, poire and calvados.  Enjoyed sampling the goods and bought some products.  Then it was off to Camembert, yes, where the cheese comes from.  We visited a fromagerie and bought cheese from the only place where they still make it by the traditional method.  Then we meandered the area, visiting a Normandy Battle war memorial, chateaux and fortresses along the way.

That was holidays, to finish with birthdays. Well, I had been waiting impatiently for the arrival of my new niece or nephew and finally SHE arrived!!  So on Nov 2nd, beautiful Amelia Violet arrived.  Such fantastic news, but I have to say it was the first (and so far only) day where I really felt homesick and just wanted to be back home.  That combined with a bit of a cold, tiredness and the come down from all the adventures and the looming Rentree (first day back at school/work for the new term) meant I was a bit miserable that day.  I just wanted to be back home so I could be with my family and cuddle my nieces and actually be a part of this big change in our family.  Well, the Rentree and going out with some of my colleagues on Thursday night helped me to move on and distracted me and then Friday was my turn to have a birthday.  I invited some of the people I've met here and we had a fantastic evening, making crepes and eating good food and socialising.  I was very spoilt too with them pooling together to gift me a back massage!! 

Next...? Fri 11th is Armistice day and a public holiday - so a long weekend, so I'm going to be tripping somewhere for that but not sure where yet.  Watch this space...