Abuelo's birthday weekend #EnsembleC'estTous

In so many ways, not having my phone (no photos, whatsapp, facebook, instant emails, calls, texts) is a   t.o.t.a.l.  n.i.g.h.t.m.a.r.e.  but in some small ways, it's also quite liberating: I have to wait for people to call me, there's nothing to look at while I'm waiting for the bus so I look around me, I have to be super efficient and manage my blogging and email time better.... Well, you can see how that's working out seeing as I haven't blogged for a week...but mostly that's to do with not having instant access to my photos. I have to rely on other people taking them or downloading them on to El Puma's computer and then him sending them to me. It's such a hassle. 

But of course life carries on, even when it's not recorded.

Last weekend was Abuelo's 68th birthday, inspiring many, many Gonzales' to fly in and celebrate. There was Moon, Tia Rosita and Pekka from Sweden, Philipp from Berlin, Tio Wipe from Nuremberg, Tonton LeDruz and Maêlle from Brest, and Pacotio, all the way from the other side of Paris.

The same weekend Small Fry also had his bestie's birthday parties - which led to an action-packed, chocolate-filled and over-excited weekend.

It was great fun though and a good opportunity to see everyone before we head to the UK for a Kelling Christmas. And we are SO ready for that. Everyone's exhausted and needing a good holiday. But first, the big smoke awaits...

Small Fry and Tia Rosita

Guisheng (family friend) showing what a good grandparent he's going to be...one day

It's not a weekend without the park. Small Fry showing off his specially requested pink skateboard that he got for his birthday

No family resemblance at all, no, none.

Phoneless #raging

Last Tuesday, Paris experienced a really, really heavy downpour. I got stuck out in it because I had to pick up Small Fry from school at 4pm. I'd only made it half way when I felt the water seeping through my jacket and soaking my skin. And I was wearing one of those parka jackets with a huge fur-lined hood. As the fur got wetter it got heavier, and eventually reached my nose, so I had to keep pushing it back off my face so that I could see, which kind of defeated the whole purpose of wearing a hood.

Anyway, it was all a disaster, but at least we could get home and put on dry and warm clothes. 

But I still lost 2 things in the deluge: my jumper (which had stained red from the dye in my coat), and my iPhone, which was in my pocket and drowned. It really was that wet.

And I hate dealing with phone companies. I pay them a ton of money each month and there's never anything they can do to help me. I never have the right documents and even when I do, they pretty much shrug their shoulders and say 'too bad'. I don't think they are brilliant anywhere, but I do find the French versions particularly frustrating.

I always feel like I'm going along to them begging for mercy, for help, for a sliver of kindness. But I rarely get it. I even brought along Fingerling to charm them, but all that happened is that we both ended up waiting, and getting tired and frustrated, for 45 minutes until the staff had finished with their other customers (why why why does it always take so long?!).

And sure enough, they may possibly be able to do something to help me (but they'd only go so far as to suggest that the best they can do is send it off to see if it can get fixed. Whether it actually gets fixed or not is not up to them), but for that I need to provide umpteen papers and proof of purchase and...wait for it...the original box the phone arrived in. Sorry, does it look like we have enough space to keep every box we get through the door??!

The whole set up is useless, and in the meantime they've given me a sony to replace my iphone. A Sony!!! Who knows how that works?! 

So I have no photos I can take (over Christmas! in Scotland! When we're all together! I could have cried...) as I can't download them on to my laptop, and I have no other apps like whatsapp, and..dum dum dum...I don't even have anyone's phone number. OK, so that bit is my fault because I failed to check whether all my phone numbers were being saved to the SIM card or the phone. And of course they are all on the dead phone.

And for all this, all I got was a shrug of the shoulders from my dear service provider (Bougyes, in case any of you want to avoid them in the future). So you'll have to forgive my random blogging for the next few weeks - I am completely reliant on other people's photos.

I felt a bit pathetic to realise how reliant I was on my phone. But I don't care any more, I just want it back!

Weihnachtsmarkt #Ausgezeichnet

Tell me, what is Christmas without the Christmas markets in Germany? It is a sausage-less, low-mulled-wine, much warmer affair than what we've just had. Because you ain't done Christmas properly until you do it the German way.

And that meant first getting to Germany. 1 parent, 2 children = zero reading time. Especially as I'd forgotten the DVDs. Small Fry can manage to entertain himself for the most part, but Fingerling only wanted to walk and walk and is quite a determined little lady.

Thankfully, Oma met us in Mannheim and accompanied us the last section to Graben.

Ah, much better!

In Germany, everywhere feels Christmassy. The streets are decorated, the houses are decorated, even the palace's are decorated.

Schwetzingen Christmas Market

Schwetzingen Schloss

First dampfnudel

And once night arrives, it's all about wurst, glühwein...and Santa.

 

He even paid us a visit.

Ah, I get how this works. Give the red furry guy a hug and I get a present? Open up Santa.

bye bye

We had the wine to warm us up. Fingerling had to be wrapped up as snug as a bug in the chilly air. Which is why when I tripped over pushing the buggy and her arms were trapped in this, she totally face planted on to the pavement. 

Anyway, I know we must have all had a great time as there are a lot of tongues being stuck out:

Except for...

Stoic as ever. Must.Not.Have.Fun.

2 parents: 2 child ratio = hello good book!

Thank you Tante Helga, Onkel Frieder, Meike, Tabita, Frank, Nelly and Antonia!

Living History #Startingyoung

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) is being held in Le Bourget, about 10km to the north of Paris, from 30 November to 11 December. The aim is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to an increase of 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Although I can't get into the actual negotiation pavillion, a huge Generations pavillion was constructed near the private Le Bourget airfield. The pavillion showcases a number of environmental solutions currently operating in many countries, science and climate related games, and a great fish and chip bar. There was also free juice...but you had to pedal to get it. The music came from solar power and the place was boiling hot thanks to the fancy environmentally-friendly recycled air heating systems.

The logistics of getting there were slow but straightforward, with buses provided from Le Bourget RER (overland train) stop to the venue. Then things got horribly messy while all visitors had to cram through one set of double doors before entering the security check area.

And that's why you should always travel with a baby.

A few screeches and we were in. 

Us with my Irish friend Kelley-Anne and her 10 month old Clara

And boy did those kids steal the show. 

Until at least 14h we were the only people we could see with kids, although eventually we saw a couple of pushchairs too. And as the morning was nice and quiet we could let the girls roam around the stalls, revelling in the attention of the bored stand hosts.

We were pursued by TV cameras (focused on the kids: 'their future' type thing), photographers, tweeters, and eventually did a 30 minute interview with Sud Radio!

At the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme stand) they kindly provided a swing. 800 photos or so later, we could eventually leave.

The main pavillion had the toilets, restaurants and information desks, and the three side pavillions had all the stands and projects. As we entered one of the pavillions, we could see a big hullabaloo  in front of us. We continued to follow the kids as they crawled and stumbled around, but the noise from just a couple of stands away was getting louder and people kept rushing over with cameras, microphones, iphones and radio mics.

The crowd amassing

And then just like that, the President of France, François Hollande, appeared right in front of us at the stand we happened to be waiting by. All of a sudden we had a front row seat, so of course I also whipped out my phone and snapped him meeting the stand hosts along with his Enviornment Minister, Ségolène Royal. 

Fingerling's new friends

And then security came and ushered us through the jostling throng with the girls, warning us that it was about to get quite messy. And so it was. I cannot imagine how the man lives like that - with people pushing and shoving to get closed to him, forced to make small talk and keep a fixed smile on his face, meeting only the people he's been scripted to meet...because of course he would've have actually really wanted to meet our babies...

Us from our safe vantage point behind a plant as the mad rush encircles him as he exists

And with him gone, we could get back to looking around the pavilion. The girls had a super time being sung to by a Congolese man at the project Terre d'école, having the wind blow in their faces from fans as they learned about wind power, touching hot rocks at the temperature they would be below the earth's surface, and trying to make waves in the wave machine.

Touching the rocks

I also downloaded the free app called One heart One Tree. It measures your heart rate using a nifty gimmick and you can then buy a tree (for between 3 and 10 euros) and select its location (one per continent). Your tree is projected on to the Eiffel Tower and grows in time with your heart beat, sending out a message of your choosing. All the trees purchased together will eventually virtually cover the Eiffel tower. And next year they'll plant the same number of trees that have been purchased, in the various locations. 

We'll have to see what sort of deal we end up with for these future generations, but for now it was just great fun recording this historical moment.

Cop21 #Intheirshoes

So, the COP21 meeting has been able to do what even the threat of climate change has been unable to achieve: a virtually car-free city centre with people travelling instead on foot, by bike and public transport.

This is due to the incredible way the police have carved up the city and its immediate surrounds. 

They've basically shut the whole périhérique to the west of 2pm, right around until 6pm on a clock face, also closed the main road in from the airport (which goes past Le Bourget airport where the conference is held), and all traffic on the main thoroughfares marked in red has been diverted. The centre of Paris is carved along a north-south axis from 12pm to 6pm. East-west traffic can only cross at certain checkpoints. Parisians have been encouraged to work from home on Monday and Tuesday. and to not make any unnecessary journeys.

Along the axis, all crossroads have been sealed, making it really impractical to travel by car over the next couple of days. Instead, all public transport is free and trains are running every two to three minutes. Which is so not an incentive for staying at home.

The axis runs between home and Church, home and work, home and our Thanksgiving Dinner etc etc

Attention will now be on Paris for the next couple of weeks, but for different reasons than a couple of weeks ago. In light of the events of 13 November and the ongoing state of emergency, all marches were cancelled. So here is how Parisians showed solidarity for the climate change conference: a silent march of sorts at the Place de la République. Quite powerful.

It's quite an emotional time to be living in Paris really. As we emerge from the horror and terror, we turn now towards the future: towards advent, preparations for Christmas and the future earth our children will inhabit.

Yes, well, those children were contemplating shapes, colours and numbers by the light of our Christmas tree this morning: 

Got it! #Ohwait...

A roundup of our week #Ifeelflucomingon

Apologies for this rapid update of the week. I feel the flu coming on and I'm off to bed.

Fingerling sleeps in the sling wearing her cosy new hat and scarf

On Tuesday I went to see Cirque du Soleil with some friends. There was a moment of hesitation (lots of people, in a big tent, in the middle of a field: sitting ducks!) but I'm so glad we went: it was really amazing. I'm a big fan of acrobatics and this is seriously artistic, musical and feminine (70% of the cast are women).

Thanksgiving: tick! Now that it's out the way, the Christmas trees have arrived! That's our Saturday afternoon sorted...

Night night!

Turning 3 with friends #Iwannabe3

11 friends, their parents and some of their siblings, plus Pacotio, Moon and Abuelo all joined us for Small Fry's 3rd birthday party, held in our Church hall.

This was the cake. It's not super clear in this overhead shot, but it's the number 3 as a race track (the party theme was Disney's cars). The number 3 was made of 3 layers of cake in red, amber and green (like traffic lights) and the rest of it is only 2 layers high (amber and green) and covered in dessicated coconut (i.e. grass). And I lined the track in jelly tots because, you know, everyone loves jelly tots. 

And it was only just enough for us all.

The boy, showing off his loot (favourite aeroplane, Fireman Sam's boat and wooden guitar not pictured).

And so I spent Saturday evening organising toys - collecting old/broken/ge inapproporiate ones and bagging them up or storing them for later, and the same for the books. I'll cycle them every so often so that there is some change, but still plenty to keep both Small Fry and Fingerling occupied.

I'm going to quite enjoy getting him into games like 'snap!' although I think he's going to quite enjoy trying to break his arm on his new pink (his special request) skateboard!

Reflections on faith #beingcertainofwhatwedonotsee

Taken from Trocadero, looking towards the Eiffel Tower

On Wednesday morning we were woken by the sound of helicopters flying overhead, and we knew that something was going on somewhere. We could only hope that it wasn't that close and it wasn't that serious. But, well, it was close enough and serious enough.

I think that the raids in Saint-Denis did make some sort of a difference, even though public transport, parks and Paris in general still feel half-empty. On Thursday, Wendy's mum and I went to an expo in a large expo-venue on the edge of Paris. I was a bit scared before I went, but it felt good to be out and about - and see other people being out and about. 

It was also very good to chat with someone else about all the conflicting feelings that have been swirling around this week, and to share encouragement, faith, trust and hope. I think that is what this week has been about: counting the loss amongst friends of friends and mourning those who have been lost, injured and affected. It has also been about accepting a certain loss of control, and our thoughts are now also with those in Brussels. But in both these things, this week has also been about talking and sharing together. And that has ultimately kept pointing us back to God. Not just because of the promise of eternal life, but knowing that we need not be afraid because God is with us; that he loves us and nothing can separate us from that; that he hears and answers our prayers; that he is good and he protects us; that he has already defeated the powers of darkness. This is our hope. This is our faith, even when it doesn't always seem it or feel it. 

Today we celebrate life! #love #gratitude #hope

O God, our help in ages past #thehymnsstillsayitbest

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

Within the shadow of thy throne,

Still may we dwell secure,

Sufficient is thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

Frome verlasting thou art God,

To endless years the same.

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be thou our guide while life shall last,

And our eternal home.

We choose life and hope #prayforhumanity

There are so many conflicting emotions in my soul today. I feel such revolt at the scale, mercilessness and injustice of the carnage. We may be at war, but people in bars and concerts are not soldiers of that war. I am overwhelmed by the stories and images of those who lost their lives, and of those who risked harm to help others; the stories of kindness and compassion even by the injured. I am grateful that us and those whom we love in Paris are safe, but was painfully reminded at Church this morning at how many have lost friends, colleagues and family. Above all, we must live our lives, not our fears, remembering that our trust in God is not futile.

We search for comfort and meaning in the sacred, in relationships, in community, in solidarity. So I offer another thought from the Anglican Church, this time the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

The sorrow in Paris is heartbreaking and the evil of those who planned and perpetrated the Paris atrocities is beyond measure or words. We weep with the victims and with the bereaved. 

France is deeply wounded but will prevail with that courage and strength she has always shown. Wherever there is such wickedness Christ suffers afresh in the suffering of every human being. In solidarity let us be the source of consolation.

The violence of this evil group brings terror to all, including in the Muslim world where its cowardly acts are opposed by many. This is a global and generational struggle against an evil cult that chooses death and fear. 

We choose life and hope, to overcome their hate with the power of God's love. In solidarity across all faiths and none, and with all human beings, rather than in the victimisation of any, we will find the way to defeat the demonic curse of terrorism. Christians are called, like Jesus, to stand with the suffering and broken and to oppose evil and fear with all their strength.

Darkness will not overcome the light #mayloveriseup #prayforparis

Today, my children woke up in a different world to the one they went to sleep in.

Yesterday evening hundreds of people were killed and injured, and hundreds more lives will never be the same again. What kind of world will our children grow up in? What about the children for whom death, carnage, loss and suffering are daily occurrences?

We pray for peace.

All of us are shocked. We are in mourning. We grieve for our innocence and frivolity. The Charlie Hebdo attacks in early January were unnerving, but they were somehow still separate. Last night, a way of life was attacked; bringing chaos and fear. The fear of simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Today, all municipal buildings are closed and activities suspended. This morning, the streets were silent. We hardly slept at all, following social media and news reports until there was no new information to share. Instead we responded to kind friends and family who wrote beautiful messages of support, reminding us that we are not alone, that we grieve together, that love is still stronger.

It was only when the kids went stir-crazy mid-morning that we left the building and went to join friends for lunch. Being together always trumps being alone. I heard children shouting and playing in the street. I saw people eating their lunch on the terraces outside restaurants. Others went about their usual weekend lives of food shopping and bread buying. I found all of these symbols reassuring. Because as much as killing innocent people was a symbol that no-one is safe, there were many, many more symbols of solidarity on our street, in our neighbourhood, in this city, the whole country, and even from across the globe.

El Puma called me last night from his rehearsal studio in the 10th, not far from the first shootings. He said he was staying put in their underground room until it was safe to leave. He finally got home around 4am. By the grace of God we were together again, safe and unhurt, though not emotionally unscathed. In the Lord our God we put our trust and hope. And we pray together:

We grieve,

for the lives lost in senseless violence.

Our tears are shed

for those who have been wounded.

Our hearts ache

for those who are consumed by hate.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy,

Lord have mercy.

Lord give wisdom,

to those who must make decisions.

Lord give your strength,

to those who seek to protect.

Lord give guidance,

to those who must respond.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy,

Lord have mercy.

Amen.

Bed head #gettinggirliehair