Back to Work

Well I started back at work two weeks ago. Still at Cadburys, I am now IT Director - Western Europe, based out of the Paris office which is actually South of Paris on the peripherique. It's very close to where Malc works with Pfizer so we drive (what a scary experinece that is)together in the mornings dropping Bella off at the Creche (Dansons la Capucine) along the way. Bella has a French nanny, Genevieve, who collects her at 3pm and brings her home via the park at the Eiffel Tower - how Parisien a childhood is that.

As for work it's good. I have a nice office with a view of the Paris, and the Peripherique) I went to Spain in the first week back. I am off to the factory in the Loire Valley next week. Am confident the travel will be manageable, but Malc and I do need to co-ordinate carefully.

Bella is all settled in at the creche and happily runs off in the morning now.

Be my Valentine

en Campagne

We went away for a night to a Chambre d'hote, a bit like a B&B, although actually a stand-alone place. It was in a place called Perche in lower Normandy, a bit like a place that time forgot. Oh yes we went in the car we brought over from the States. Hmm how not to blend in with environment.

We called in at Chartres along the way. The place we stayed in had a main room/bedroom, plus a separate bedroom and a "winter garden" Very cute.

The owners run an organic farm so we went to see it, after a short walk in the winter sunshine.

And then there were eight and a half

Matt, Cath, Poppy, Paul, Jenny and baby to be all came to stay for the weekend. Was great to see everyone. We went up the Eiffel tower for lunch, it was a beautiful winter's day. The guys went down the sewers, and the girls went shopping - plus ca change. Isabella and Poppy had some lessons in sharing, and everyone was exhasuted.

Learning to share

Here we all are, exhausted after a long day.

A visit from Granny and Grandad

Granny and Grandad came over for a week in Janary. As it happened Malc and I both had to travel away that week, so it worked out well, as Granny and Grandad has some intensive Bella time. Everybody had lots of fun and Isabella was very happy.

Bathtime with Granny

In the park on the Champs de Mars, unlikely to go missing in a flourescent green tracksuit. Not exactly Parisien chic...