A walk down memory lane #Batignolles4Ever

Just can't stay away it seems.

It felt like old times, yet so much of Batignolles is now new: Parc Martin Luther King is now complete and a lovely (but still busy) park, especially in beautiful autumnal sunshine.

And of course something for everyone meant dinner out in a restaurant. Which we also realised is still not fully fun with small kids around.

And our final stop before taking Oma to the airport was a photo outside Small Fry's old school.

No regrets though.

The irony is that of the 4 mums I've met at the school gates recently (they've approached me after hearing me speak English to the kids) all 4 have spent time in the UK (hence why they spoke up) and all 4 have moved from Batignolles (the 3 streets surrounding our old home) to Nantes in the past 2 years.

Turns out we were just early movers!

Calling the tooth fairy #4toothbonanza

Small Fry has 2 wobbly tooth, as does Fingerling. Which means the tooth fairy is going to soon be skint!

I want to be a Star #shesaid

5 years #stillwellwithmysoul #parentallegacy

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part, but the whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend

Even so, it is well with my soul!

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

Two Thirds of a Constellation #ShoutouttoAnita

Twenty three years and counting. 

That's how long I've known Shirley. And I'm not even going to try to count all the places that we've lived in (and met in) during that time.

But this was a new one, and only 1.5 hours between our respective (semi-permanent) locations, which has got to be a first since at least the year 2000.

And we are now a massive joint group of 13 people when all present. And the fact that Shirley and Bertrand can host us all has got to be an indicator of success in life!

Plus we had a great time, with crevette calling all 7 boys her 'friends'.

The fun times from which good memories are made.

Sustainable Retail Summit #Hybrid #Worstofbothworlds

 It was the Consumer Good Forum's Sustainable Retail Summit. It was held in Paris. It was in-person.

And it was rubbish.

Well, not total rubbish. But it was a hybrid conference, and for most of us, our first physical conference. But I think they should have made a bigger deal out of highlighting that it was in fact hybrid and that well over half of both speakers and attendees were actually on-line. Although there were some big names to make the online bits more interesting (like Richard Curtis speaking on the value of making sure our pensions are invested in sustainable and ethical choices).

They managed it well using technology, but there was a marked difference between the engagement the facilitator and audience had with people physically present compared to those online. But overall I was disappointed as work paid a lot of money for me to attend and I was hoping to connect with a number of speakers, who turned out to not be there at all.

BUT, the people I did meet were really interesting and so it did remind me again of the importance/necessity/usefulness of meeting new people face to face. I just wish it would be either/or and not trying to do both by only having half the people actually attending and the other half on a screen.

Still, it was in Paris. I wasn't bored.

And I didn't have the chicken pox to deal with.

Coming of age #Chickenpox #finally #Thankyouschool!

10 day's ago we got a letter home that there had been a case of chicken pox in Crevette's class. Actually we were hoping she'd catch it this year before she gets too much older, but obviously the wait somehow meant she ended up getting it bad, poor thing. Hundreds and hundreds of spots, some fever, and a little grumpy for a week. 

I, of course, was enjoying working in Paris from the day I first spotted the spots.

Lifelong #Jany

One of the special things of living in Nantes is reconnecting with some parts of Mamie's life that we knew about, such as her best friend, Jany, who embarrassed us totally in our jeans and t-shirts but turning up beautifully turned out - the most glamorous great-grandma we know!

Pacotio's coming to town! #andEveline #longtimenosee

 It's been 10 months and 10 days. 

He's been to 10 countries (I think) in that time.

In a campervan.

But it's still Paco-T-I-O, Paco-T-I-O, Paco-T-I-O!!! Always a winner in this house. 

And Eveline of course.

Got a busy month coming up #loveit #Kith&Kin