Claire's Birthday

The table before the gang arrives, before we all tucked into souvlaki, cheese pies, Greek salad, tzatziki, ratatouille and, wait for it....the cake.

Me, 20 minutes before the gang arrives, sipping a cool frappe, on the balcony of the family flat where we stayed.

The sisters and Dad gathering round to see her open some presents.

Zipping around in a pretty dress on her zippy scooter.

Opening her fab pop up Peppa Pig tent from Grandma and Granda.

The deluxe, pull-out-all-the-stops, Snow White scene on top, pink-frilled light and fruity cake from the Greek cake shop (great Greek word: zacharoplasteio).

Missing from these photos are any of the Greeks! They were there, I swear. The next blog post will show more of the holiday and extended family.

The Fifth Emegency Service

The other day I was on the phone, having a mild rant about the children, to stop myself shouting at them (apologies to jennifer's answering machine).

When I got off the phone I heard Heather whispering to Ailsa "She's phoned Supernanny".

Yeah. Watch your backs pretty little girls.

In other news, we are back from a great week in Greece, Claire turned 3, we spent another week off school, stuck in, in the rain and SNOW. But today was a gorgeous sunny fall day and we went for a wonderful walk in the grounds of Crathes Castle, collecting leaves and acorns, and being "ding of da dastle" on every single tree stump.

I promise to try to get some pictures up.

Eh ben oui

Yes, we met up for a wonderful weekend in Paris. Merci a Bernard et Marie Odile pour l'acceuil et l'hospitalite. We went to a Spectacle de Flamenco at the Arabic Cultural Centre, boat tour along the Seine, meandering through streets, hours shopping in the fabric district (I really wanted to roll all over the bolts of luscious, colourful fabrics), stopping, drinking, eating, trains, trains, trains, metro, metro, metro, peering at famous Van Gogh and Manet paintings, listening to fabulous Parisian chansons in a little crowded supper club, wandering through a fab new museum with a fab famille, just superbe.

To all blog readers, Bethanne will happily offer the service of an accompanied, guided, bilingual Parisian weekend. And she always has a big bar of Cote d'Or chocolate in her bag which she freely shares. I give the Reynolds/Coutty Tour 5 Michelin stars.

A Bientot


A bientot mes filles, mon mari. Amusez vous bien.