Sunday, July 22, 2007

Hello again!

For the first time, I can understand the appeal of downing tools and flitting off to rural France to escape the rat-race. We had the best holiday imaginable in Bordeaux.

Well, apart from the journey there, when Johnny barfed on the way through airport security. Like any good mother I stuck out my cupped hands and then had to dump the vom and copious wet wipes thrust at me from well prepared women into one of the trays you are meant to put the contents of your pockets in to go through the x-ray machine. Great start - things could only get better...

The French attitude to life suits a slow paced, restorative holiday perfectly. We did very little of any consequence and a lot of eating, drinking, splashing in the pool, building sandcastles on the beach and playing in the woods. I was too lazy to even take many photos. The children thrived on 100% adult attention, with no distractions of work, the computer or chores to divert us from playing.



It's not real life, but it was sooooo good while it lasted. My O-level French held up pretty well on the whole. I even managed a note to the tooth mouse. Did you know they have a mouse and not a fairy in France? Mark is now totally front toothless, but he couldn't whistle anyway, so is not too bothered by their absence.

Arriving back to the UK was a shock - there's been a lot of rain and some bad flooding. One of the roads out of our village is submerged, but thankfully the house is fine. Which is more than I can say for the vegetable patch.

Looking forward to catching up with what you've all been up to (as soon as I've overcome the laundry mountain...)

20 comments:

Sasha said...

OMG Ali, only a mother would catch vomit with her hands! It sounds like a fabulous blissful vacation, how wonderful. Sorry about the veg patch.

Rebecca said...

Pleased to hear you had a wonderful holiday.

Can just imagine the flurry of wipes and tissues at the airport!

Heidijayhawk said...

oh the laundry mountain. yuck. sound slike a fabulous holiday!!

Anonymous said...

Welcome home! Sorry about the rain and floods and all that crap but your holiday sounds fabulous.

Anonymous said...

glad to hear you are back. Your vomit story will be a good one to tell at his 21st birthday.

Anonymous said...

Children just never let you down do they! Sounds like you had a great holiday - yes, well it rained on St Swithins' day didn't it (40 days and nights of rain on biblical proportions)

julia said...

Glad you had such a great holiday. isn't it great to recharge those batteries?

We once left a bag full of my stepdaughter's vomit in the top of an airport trolley. I often think about the poor sod who found it!

Julia x

Soo said...

welcome back! it's always good to escape the daily routines isn't it? sounds like a wonderful holiday!

Anonymous said...

oooh how fun!! and wow - such a wonderful mother you are! i guess i'm quite not ready to be a mom yet....
glad your house is ok.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Sounds like a fantastic holiday, though not nearly long enough. It seems to be flooding all over the world, we've been copping it here as well. At least here it is winter and you can expect foul weather. Bring on the sun, I say.
Oh yeah, I copped being vomitted on this week too, not in my hands though, instead it was all through my hair!

Angel Jem said...

Glad you're OK and that you're not flooded out (yet) but I did see that there are warnings out in your neck of t hewoods & just wanted to check you were OK.
Apart from the vomit, the hols sound good.... and the weather looks good too (How English a comment is that?)

greetingarts said...

Oh, so glad you had a great time (we'll just ignore the first part of it...!). There is a package on its way to you, FINALLY, thanks for being so patient!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you had such a good time, it sounds like the perfect holiday. Shame about the laundry mountain, where's the laundry mouse when you need him?!

dottycookie said...

It's lovely to have you back - welcome home! The weather is enough to make anyone want to scurry away again though.

Commiserations on the vomit catching - I usually end up with it all down my front and my husband giving me the "Why didn't you just put the child down instead of hugging it?" look. As if we could!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the whole family had a fantastic time...Glad the house was not flooded as I was aware that you live one of the areas affected and hoped you had not come home to disaster...

Anonymous said...

Hi Ali, good to have you back although I know what you mean about upping sticks and moving away to a warmer more relaxed place.

The flooding has been horrendous and although we've been moaning about the rain here we've not had it nearly as bad as some poor folks down south. I hope it stops soon.

Oh, the vomitis in a public place! I once had that in M&S with Lexie. She was in a trolley and we were in the foodhall....nice! I had to go and buy new shoes and a new bag as I was walking in front of her (pushing the trolley) - right in the line of fire!!! Had to get one of the shop ladies to go and pick a new outfit for Lexie to wear too. I can remember saying "anything, just get anything, anything will do!!!" in a panicked voice. Ah, the joys!

julie said...

Great to hear that you had a wonderful time. Well done for your quick hands - what us mums do in the line of duty! I'm glad your home is not affected by the flooding - it's really hit hard in some areas. Not much hope of getting that washing mountain dry at the moment either - whatever happened to the summer?!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my! At least the excitement of the trip was at the beginning of it all. It could only get better from there, right? Wow.

Glad to hear that you and your family are doing well with all the flooding. If I could take some of the rain from you, I would - we're actually in the middle of a drought!

Good luck with the laundry!

Anonymous said...

Glad you had a good holiday, veggies this year are not good anywhere - we've no floods but mine are so confused with the weather they're growing quite peculiarly!

It's comments like your vomit in hands experience that really make me think 'nooooo I really don't think I can do that mom thing' or maybe when you become a mom your automatic reactions change?

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! your trip sounds like it was wonderful (besides the vomit episode!)