From New York to Paris - The End

So the New York to Paris chapter is over now. We knew Paris was likely to be a temporary stop-over, we have some good memories all the same. We're hoping to stay a little longer in Switzerland.

Happy Birthday to Jane

Sorry we couldn't make it, hope you had a good birthday.

Mickey who?

So the plan was hatched and Disneyland it was to be. Believe me it wasn't long ago I NEVER thought I'd see the day I voluntarily chose to go to Disneyland. In fact Malc and I had had a number of conversations about whether Bella was too young to go. I thought she was too young, Malc thought not. Anyway being the sort of person I am I did the research amongst the English mummy club of Paris, and it became apparent that with a suitable game plan, we could go and have an enjoyable day. So we booked a nearby hotel for two nights and lunch at Mickey's cafe. We weren't entirely sure until the last minute whether we would actually go in to the park or whether lunch at Mickey's would be enough. Well we got swept along with the excitement at the hotel (I think Bella was a bit disappointed when she discovered it wasn't actually our new house). Who can resist those Mickey ears and princess dresses (???) so we decided to go to the park. It was a beautiful sunny day, we were there as the gates opened, and rushed off to Fantasyland. We went straight to Alice's teacups. It took Bella a while to adjust herself to the craziness, but by the end of the first ride she was smiling. The joy (I think) of going with a pre-schooler is actually they don't want to go on the big and popular rides so you don't spend all day queuing. We had a couple of family goes around a Small Small World. Malc and Bella had a ride on somebody's train (Casey Jones maybe).

It was then time for lunch at Mickey's. This is where you get to see the A-list crowd (Mickey, Goofy, Pluto etc.). By this time we had the obligatory autograph book and pen. It was going well until Prince John, a rather large lion and from Robin Hood and Mickey visited our table at the same time. Now we all know Bella and lions don't have the best of relationships. So we had some tears. She recovered enough to give Mickey a kiss, but spent the rest of the lunch behind the safe protection of daddy, with her back to the wall. Daddy did a good job of collecting the autogaphs.

After lunch back in to the park, where we went to see the other bits. Sebastian woke up and met Gideon. I only know he's called Gideon 'cos that's the name he signed in the book. Not sure what he does when he's not signing autographs. We saw Cinderella but the queue for her autograph was about 500 little girls long, so we skipped that one. We did meet the mice who made her dress though. I took Bella up Robinson Crusoe's treehouse. I have to say there was a heck of a lot of steps and not much up there, and I'm sure he lived on the beach. By the time we got to Adventureland Bella fell asleep. We stayed for the parade, mainly to see Minnie, before getting the shuttle back to the hotel for another peaceful night's sleep in a family room for four...

Leaving the Apartment

Well the packing days came as planned. It didn't take as long as they thought, although they managed to spread it over two days anyhow. Am sure the neighbours appreciated the team of blokes going up and down the stairs all day and having a smoke in the courtyard. Bella went to creche as normal. She baked some cupcakes to take in on her last day, and had great fun icing them (and eating them). Sebastian accompanied by Jill watched everything get packed. The last thing to be packed was his beloved duck wheels and playmat. He's sitting pretty well now, although he will tumble backwards with no prior warning. He seemed pretty happy to be moving. Bella coped with it pretty well, although she had her moments for example when she wanted to lie on the sofa that was no longer there, and wanted to put on the fairy dress that had already been packed.

We came up with a cunning plan to fill the in between days...we decided to go to Disneyland Paris...

Meet Tom

You may remember the day before Bella was born we bought her some NY Art as her birth present. Well we weren't so organised in Paris, so thought we'd better go and get him something before we left. He really likes watching Juliette, the springy steel lady statue made by a French artist Magni, so we bought him a little boy statue called Tom. Bella hasn't shown much sibling rivalry with Sebastian, however the first morning Bella saw Sebastian she later announced to me that Tom was for Sebastian and Juliette was for Bella. When I asked Malc if this is what he had told her, he said not. Hmmmm. Here's Juliette and Tom together

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Last Weekend in Paris

and what did we do? Well we made something of an effort and went to see Montmatre, as we hadn't been since we got here. Saturday evening Malc and I went out and ate foie-gras, steak and chocolate mousse. The rest of the time we spent organising the house ready for the arrival of the packers on Monday. The plan goes something like this...

Monday Malc goes to work and takes Bella to creche. Packers arrive early, and commence packing. Nanny arrives to look after Sebastian whilst I direct the packers most of the day. Tuesday same again. Wednesday packers finish and set off for Switzerland with our gear. Thursday gear goes through customs. Friday, gear arrives at Big Yellow Villa as do we. Friday and Saturday unpacking. Saturday mum arrives to babysit whilst we frantically buy storage and wardrobes as house has none. Rest of the week we argue over flat-pack furniture assembly, whilst Bella keeps asking us when we're going back, and Sebastian settles in to the idea of becoming a Swiss resident.

We have a bit of a hole in the plan as we haven't decided what we're doing middle of the week. Depends on how the packing goes. For the time being we have put everything we need for a week in one bedroom, not to be packed. Small flaw in plan could be disappearance of internet on Tuesday, when I cease to function as no longer know how to find telephone numbers or make travel arrangements without internet. Good news is we finally get to use the Touareg we brought from the USA. It's still got NYC plates on it, as the French bureaucracy got the better of us. Anyway it'll be more at home in Switzerland, and will be our transportation for a while. Now about getting those Swiss plates...

We're all going to the zoo today

Another day, another zoo to visit. This time we went to Thoiry, part zoo, part safari park, oh and part chateau (but we didn't bother with that bit..).

In the zoo there were plastic covered walkways that let you get close to the lions and tigers. A little too close. I don't think it did anything to help Bella's fear of animals, as both the tiger and the lion roared and slapped the window their paws. Even Malc was a little concerned.

As we went around the safari park bit a big brown bear climbed on to the car behind and ripped it's windscreen wiper off. Hmmm we certainly got close to nature.

Seb's 5 month check-up

Sebastian went for his should be 6-month but we're moving so did it early check-up. Was thinking as he had had sickness and diarrohea, followed by a cold, that his weight gain might not have been so meteroric this month. I was wrong. He had another injection. He cried, and the Doctor said it was because he was all skin and bone and had no protection, demonstrating he did have a sense of humour after all. For the record here are his statistics:

5 months 1 week

8.6 kg (enormous)
66cm tall (above average)
44.8 cm head (very big)

So we continue Sebastian's exercise regime. He can now push backwards across the room on his duck wheels. He's not keen on dieting though. He's happily eating all the mush we give him, and complains when he doesn't get as much formula.

Family in town and a new Town

Had a visit from my brother Phil and Helen, with Christmas presents (we don't see each other so often - although suspect Geneva may be more en their route going forward). Phil took lots of photos but we haven't seen them yet, as he's not the point and shoot type, attention is paid. Then mum and Alistair came out for their last visit before we move, and to help me out whilst Malc was away. Bella and I took a day trip on the plane to visit the new house in Founex (10km from Geneva) and collect the keys. We also visited a school and interviewed two nannies. Fingers crossed we'll have positive news on both soon. The day went pretty well. Bella was exhausted by the time we got back, and starving as bad mum during the day fed her 3 apple pots, a box of raisins, a yogurt, some dried banana, some japanese rice crackers and a chocolate brownie. Hmmm maybe a bit light on the protein there.

Here we have a picture of the two of them practicing for move day.