Not a normal job...

...you can't call in sick!

So, this week I have been a bit under the weather. I can't really explain it but I have got really horrible stomach pains, feel like I'm going to be sick all the time - but I haven't been - a stinking headache, and no energy. This got worse last night and I went to bed super early and watched Nanny McPhee! It is actually brilliant! I wish I had magic powers sometimes!! Anyway, this morning when I woke up, I felt awful. And its Wednesday. The horror. I have such a bad head and SO little energy! But what can you do? No-one else is going to look after the children. Thankfully, F took pity on me and took Toby to creche...and Alice's flute lesson isn't till 4.30pm so we have the whole day at home. It is a bit of a rainy day too, so I feel no obligation to encourage outdoor activities. However, I still feel awful that the kids are just sat in front of kid's TV. However, this is a rarity, and under the circumstances, one of my only options right now as they don't seem to understand that when an adult is unwell, they don't want to start painting the cellar, or doing crazy games. Oh dear... Anyway, their Mum is back from her business trip late this afternoon, so I am very much looking forward to that...and tonight when I can sleep!!

Sorry, moan over.

Onto some more happy things:

Yesterday Alice took part in this big inter-school races thing all round the park. I went down and watched. She was running in a race with about 200 other girls her age, and she came in 11th! As she crossed the finish line, I actually had a tear, I was so proud of her!!

Parc Brasserie 

Getting ready for the race...

On Monday, the clock change thing was a struggle, as it felt like we were getting up at 5:45am - I'm sure a lot of you non-students felt this pain! However, for us, it mean that the children didn't get up ridiculously early, and this has continued throughout the week! :)
However, I started to feel pretty ill half way through my French class, and excused myself to go home for a sleep. This didn't make me feel any better. Picking up the kids went ok later that day, as this seems to come in waves of feeling sick, but the energy levels were not good. You need a lot of energy getting those kids home, I can tell you. Stanley has also been having quite a few tantrums lately. Not fun.
I still wanted to go to choir in the evening as it always makes me feel better and it's always great to see people, so I ate some dry bread and went to meet Betsy for the bus. We had missed the earlier one, so waited for the one that gets us to choir just a little bit late. However, it drove straight past us! These bus drivers can be slightly crazy!
So, we decided it being a beautiful evening that we should go have a drink and a chat somewhere and skip choir as the next bus would've got us there really late. It was so lovely to be walking out in the light and it was a beautiful evening. We met two of Betsy's course-mates as we were walking, and we stood around chatting in French for quite a while (although none of us actually are French!) It is quite amusing speaking to South American's in French as they have such a strong accent!
Anyway, we had a really lovely evening chatting and getting to know each other more. Betsy is such an awesome girl and I want you all to meet her! She is the most amazing friend and we feel so blessed to have been placed in each other's lives in this place.

The last two-and-a-bit months have been so life-changing for me, and I know there is so much more to come. things have been tough sometimes, especially like now, being poorly and not being able to do anything about it. But it has also been so blessed and I have had some amazing times and met some amazing people. I think when things are harder, you really learn to appreciate the good things in life and the amazing things that can come out of hard situations. I was meant to be having a visitor this weekend, but that fell through. Although it makes me sad, I know that it means that I can spend more time with people here, and that going home in 3-and-a-bit weeks will be all the more special for it!

Anyway... please forgive the rather disjointed blog! I have heard that lots of people are reading this, which makes me really happy! I hope that you are all well :)

lots of love xxx

My favourite flowers in a little garden I found in the park...

Un nouveau boulot!

So, I'm sitting here and it's 8pm and it's still light - this makes me happy :)
This weekend has been pretty nice and relaxing. Yesterday, was a normal lazy Saturday. It was raining all morning, but late on in the afternoon I headed into town and met Betsy at one of the Irish pubs, where we discovered an amazing drink... biere with grenadine and lemonade. It is so nice! We had a couple of those, and then went for a walk around the park. It had got really still and warm and there were so many birds singing. It was just beautiful to be out and not be cold. the simple things.
I had to babysit last night, which was a bit boring, but fine, though I was sad not to go out with the church youth. Oh well, it was a good chance to read and relax, and the children were really good and went to bed really nicely :)

Today was also a nice day. I woke up feeling pretty disorientated about the clock change...my phone had re-set itself in the night, and I had reset it before I went to sleep, so it ended up being two hours ahead and my alarm woke me up far too early! Anyway, made it to church on time, and even had time for a pain au raisin with Betsy before we went in!

This afternoon, I went over to the house of a child in Stanley's class. I can't remember whether I have mentioned this, but his parents had asked me if I could help 3 of their SEVEN children with their English!
It was great! The children aged 16, 12 and 11, were all very good at English, and we ended up having conversations for over 2 hours! They are a really nice family, and live in this amazingly huge rambley house really near to me! They want me to come over sometime every week and are going to pay me 10 Euros and hour, so that's a bit of a bonus! It is also a really great opportunity for me to chat to the parents in French! All in all, a great opportunity!
Right after, I went to meet Betsy and her course-mate, Laura (from Finland) for a drink at one of our favourite bars. We sat outside under the blossoming tress and another of the new favourite beverage was consumed! We ended up having this amazing conversation about culture and world issues for ages which was so awesome. Then I walked home in the light!

I hoep everyone has had a good weekend.
Grosses bisses to all :) xxxx

Miss you...

This is just a little dedication to some of the amazing people back home who have made me smile this week...

I don't think I could love this man any more if I tried right now! Thank you so much for your completely un-expected phone call tonight. You are such an amazing friend and I miss you so much! xxx

Best sister ever! Love our random facebook chats. You're amazing and I love you very much. xxx

My lovely mother, thankyou for your sweet card and skype chats! You are amazing and supportive and I love you so much xxx

You are such a lovely friend! Your letter made me so happy. I miss you, be happy. Love you xxx

Thankyou for all your support and for always being there for me. Love our phone chats. I love you xxx

Thank you for your support and for your email today. I miss you. Love you always xxx

Total beaut! Love skyping you and thanks for your letters! :) Miss you very much Trowbo chum xxx

 Wonderful grandparents! Thank you for your lovely letter which came today! Love you xxx

I hope you all have a really lovely weekend.

xxx

20oc

Today was super warm so I went to the park and started reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' ...I've heard it's a classic!

I felt really alive today...like aware of everything. This seems to come to me only when I'm completely content in my own company, something I'm learning to be :)
I was also pretty happy after a phone call with one of my favourite people!

It's the children's mum's Birthday today. We made her a cake with strawberries on and they're going out to dinner tonight, so I'm having Betsy over for dinner!

Nothing much interesting to report, just that I'm so glad that winter has gone :)

Springtime...

Out of the mouths of babes...

I have already told a few people about this, but this is so sweet:
On Monday, I was giving the children their tea as usual. Stanley had eaten lots and lots (I had made quiche - his favourite!) I was asking him how full up he was, and if he had any room for desert. When we were kids, Arthur and I used to say that we were full right up to our chests - with just a tiny bit more room for desert! I sad to Stanley, 'are you full up all the way to here?' pointing to the top of my chest. And he replied, 'If I was full up all the way to here' (pointing at his heart) 'then Jesus wouldn't be able to see!' I was slightly confused and asked why, then he said: 'Because Jesus lives in here' (pointing at his heart again.) It was just the sweetest thing ever!!

Also yesterday, I was picked a huge bunch of dandelions on the way home from school with the instructions that they were just for me, no-one else! Stanley can be such a sweetie sometimes!

So I'm sat here, and it's already Wednesday, again! These weeks go fast. Wednesdays are getting more and more relaxed as I realise that the children love to amuse themselves for the most part, and I only need to get them moving to go the Conservatiore for Alice's flute lesson and to take Stanley to the children's library.

Last night was the English Bible study which involved running like loonies for trams, lots of Krista's good food, great fellowship and another very good Bible study.

  

Big thanks to the lovely Krista and Jonathan yet again!

...and one more bit of news: I have been invited to go skiing with the amazing Nicki in 3 weeks time - super bonus! I'm very excited! :D

I hope everyone is having a good week. Missing some of you very very much... xxx