Holidays during Ramadan part 1: Australia: Time with Grandell and Pappy Pete

Margaux and I spent a total of 17 blissful days in Australia, most of them spent with at least one grandparent. The weather was certainly a LOT cooler than we'd been experiencing, which was wonderfully refreshing:

Mum was all over Margaux like a rash from the first moment they were together; Margaux was a little more wary, but she came around soon enough. Dad was more content for Margaux to come to him when she was ready, and it was lovely when she did.

Margaux loved exploring all the sights, sounds, and smells of Mum and Dad's place in Carmel. She became reacquainted with Harvey, visited the sheep, imitated kookaburras, spotted red tailed black cockatoos in the bush, went for many exploratory walks, picked mandarins, and generally enjoyed being able to muck around outside - something that is simply not possible in Dubai!

And then there was Dabakarn! With the 'Wonky Warming' (the inauguration of the straw bale house) fast approaching there was work to be done and fun to be had at the farm, which Margaux loved getting involved in.

Whether it was at home base, at the farm, or travelling between the two, Margaux seemed to really enjoy the time with her Aussie grandparents - and they clearly relished their time with her! Here's a little vid to give you a bit more of a glimpse: Fun with Grandell and Pappy Pete

Holidays during Ramadan part 1: Australia: The journey over

The word or notion of 'summer' in the Middle East is frequently followed by 'holiday'. I know I put this screen dump in an earlier post, but I feel it's relevant to iterate here. Keep in mind that humidity is at least 50% every day.

Unfortunately Thomas couldn't take time off since he'd only been working for the company for a couple of months, but we made plans for Margaux and I to spend some quality time in Australia. A whole 17 days of Aussie relaxation - I couldn't wait!

We decided to tell our immediate family about our pregnancy news, but keep the twins bit to ourselves until the 12-week mark had been passed. I told my parents and one brother who was visiting them when we spoke, and swore them all to secrecy. I wanted to reveal the news to my other brother and sister when I saw them in Australia. Ha! That secret lasted less than 24 hours, courtesy of my Mum revealing it to my sister, but I tried not to cry for too long over that spilt milk.

So on July 10 Margaux and I jetted off Perth-bound. I was very pleased it was just the one flight, but when my very active toddler slept for just one of those 11 hours I really felt every minute of it! I was in the habit of taking Margaux to a play area or doing some activity with her every day; being stuck on my lap in a metal tube with scores of other people was hardly comparable. In fact, one of the other passengers remarked to me, as I was running behind Margaux down the aisle for about the 50th time, that we may as well have walked to Australia!

Feeling tired but happy to be on home soil, Margaux and I disembarked in Australia. We were greeted by Mum, much to my surprise... it was nearing midnight, but I should have known that not much will keep this grandma from her grandchild(ren)!

Of course Maggie crashed in the car but was ready by the next morning to explore her new surrounds.

Would you like to move to Oman?

This is a short but important post, if I'm going to keep things chronological.

So a few weeks after I found out I was pregnant Thomas was summoned by the head of HR in Oman, who suggested Thomas might like to move to Oman.

Thomas pointed out that he had initially agreed to go to Oman but at their directive had moved to Dubai at the 11th hour. He included that he had found a home, paid the year's rent (that's how it works in Dubai: you pay for one year's rent in one cheque up front), settled in, and... his wife is pregnant and needing specialist care. So no, we wouldn't like to move to Oman.

We thought that was that.

As you can imagine, it wasn't. More about that in a little while though... for the mean-time, Margaux and I had some globe-trotting to do!

Double trouble but twice as nice...

Thomas and I immediately started investigating hospital and specialist options for me. After some initial fears regarding not being covered by insurance were allayed, I decided on a relatively new, private hospital close to where we lived.

I had my first appointment with the gynaecologist without Thomas, unfortunately. He was working and had obviously seen an ultrasound before, so it was a shame but it wasn't like it was going to be a brand new experience.

Well. Neither of us expected an ultrasound like this:

My gynaecologist discovered one sac, and soon afterwards realised there was a second one in there. I was shocked beyond belief. I didn't know whether to be happy or scared or anxious or nervous or terrified or delirious... so I think I kind of felt a bit of everything!

TWINS! So it turns out that twins can be a spontaneous occurrence (in the case of identical twins) or hereditary (if they're fraternal/ non-identical). Men can carry the 'twin gene' and pass it on to their daughter, which is why it sometimes seems that twins skip a generation in some families.

You can see clearly from the photo that there are two sacs there, meaning we're going to have non-identical twins. There are no twins or multiples of any kind on either Thomas' or my side of the family, so we are just lucky! No time like the present to make genetic history.

After being delivered this shocking news Margaux, the twins and I snuck into the staff eating area (remember, it was still Ramadan so the hospital café was closed) and had a secretive lunch. I called Thomas, who was excited beyond all belief. At least one of us was! I still didn't know what to think.

Luckily, my gynaecologist specialises in high-risk pregnancies - which is how a multiples birth is automatically categorised - and she was very matter-of-fact about this whole thing, which was a great relief.

Everything felt like it was going smoothly... we had found a home, made some friends, I was being medically cared for by great specialists... what could possibly go wrong? Ha! Our lives were about to be turned on their heads again.

The Dubai Aquarium

On July 2nd, Margaux and I headed off to the Dubai Aquarium with a couple of other Mums I'd met through playgroups and their tots.

The Aquarium is situated within the Dubai Mall, and is clearly identifiable by the multi-storey-high aquarium of fish and coral. Margaux was delighted to be able to finally enter the inside of the structure she had spent so long gazing at from the outside.

The fish fascinated her; the jellyfish terrified her; the starfish intrigued her; the octopus frightened her; and the King Croc (imported from Australia, no less!) was a bit too much to handle. She kept returning to one of the initial displays: a tank with massive goldfish-looking fish. I don't know what it was about them, but she couldn't get enough of them! In The Dubai Aquarium video you can see a bit of what I mean...

The King Croc, which weighs 750kg and is 5m long, is the prize possession of the aquarium... in keeping with Dubai's desire to have record-breaking everything, the croc doesn't disappoint.

It was a really enjoyable morning; Margaux was full of cries of delight and awe (and fear, depending on the display) as we passed from one fish tank to the next, and it was lovely for me to spend some time with some Mums outside of the soft play areas.

"She doesn't need to do the x-ray"

One innocuous afternoon in late June, Margaux and I headed off to a designated clinic to have my medical tests done - the final stage towards getting my UAE residency card.

I don't mean to complain, but it's important I feel to point out that it's always a bit of a hassle getting around with an infant. Since I don't drive it requires getting everything ready and then wandering around in the heat trying to hail a taxi driver, who will hopefully know where he's going. I always pack activities and food for Margaux, but it's a bit of a gamble as to whether either or both will be successful.

In the late morning on this day we met Thomas near his office to collect some final paperwork from him regarding the residency process, and Margaux took the opportunity to have her day-time nap in the pram. Personally, I would have preferred it while we were in the waiting room of the clinic, but I don't really have much of a say in when sleep takes over...

We eventually made our way to the clinic and waited around for what felt like forever with Margaux tearing around the waiting room, before I was called in to have my blood test done. I hate needles. Once that was over, all that was required was a quick chest x-ray (no idea why) and all would be done. Hooray!

There was just one brief form to fill before we did the x-ray: to declare upon my mother's grave and everything that I hold dear that I am not pregnant. Well. I knew I wasn't. I'd been pregnant before, so obviously I knew what it felt like. Yes, technically I could have been but I just wasn't. But, since I couldn't categorically say that I conclusively wasn't pregnant, the technician asked me to do a (ahem) urine test just to be sure. (If you are pregnant then you are exempt from the x-ray, due to possible damage to the foetus from radiation.)

So back Maggie and I went to the main building to request the test, only to discover that the lab shuts at 2:00pm. The time was 2:03. I'm not even exaggerating. No, it was absolutely impossible to do the test and have the results today. I pleaded my case, using Margaux as my prime leverage, but it was to no avail. I would just have to come back tomorrow.

That night I did a pregnancy test myself just to make sure, and the results were that I wasn't pregnant. No big surprise.

The next morning my intrepid companion and I headed back to the clinic for the fateful test. We waited about 15 minutes for the result, and then a lab technician came and said, "We're not certain of the results."
"Pardon me?"
"Well, there are traces of pregnancy in the urine."
"What do you mean, 'traces of pregnancy'? I can't be a little bit pregnant!"
"There are two options here: you come back first thing in the morning in two days' time and we can re-do the test then, or you can do a blood test now and come back tomorrow to find out the result."
"So I have to come back, no matter what."
"Yes."

Not wanting to risk a second ambiguous urine test result, I settled on the blood test.

The following day, for the third time in three days, Margaux and I made the trek out to the clinic. One of the men working there went to fetch the results. He returned and spoke directly to his colleague, not even acknowledging my presence, with the following, life-changing comment:
"She doesn't need to do the x-ray."
Me: "Hang on. What was that? Was that me you were talking about?"
"Yes."
"I don't need to do the x-ray? Because I'm... I'm... pregnant???"
"Yes."

All of a sudden I felt rather light-headed and like I was in an alternate reality. But what about the pregnancy test I'd done at home? Then I remembered that the same result had happened with Margaux, so maybe I shouldn't have been too surprised.

I didn't know where to stand or where to sit. Or what to think. Or anything, much. Margaux was disappointingly nonreactive to this news. And then I started thinking about all the implications... my mind was on overload. Yes, we'd been intending to expand the family, but I wasn't quite ready to find out. And especially not like this!

Of course I immediately called Thomas, who was over the moon about the finding. It was time to find some specialists.

Ramadan

In 2015, Ramadan began on June 18 and ended with Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) on July 17. The point of Ramadan is that the general observing Muslim population spends one and a quarter moon cycles appreciating the life of those who are on the poverty line (or at least really poor).

Ramadan happens at the same time every year on Islamic calendar (the 9th month), but as the Islamic calendar is lunar and the Gregorian one is solar, it appears to the western world to move forward about 11 days every year.

It is illegal - yes, illegal - to eat, drink, or smoke during daylight hours if you an observing Muslim. If you aren't observing but live in a Muslim country (like the UAE) it is still illegal to do any of the above in public, except in specially designated places. Some food courts have limited outlets open; others are closed entirely. Some hotels have a segregated dining area open, but this is covered with blackout curtains so that eating is invisible to the passing public. Some workplaces have a designated eating area for non-Muslims; others don't and the employees are forced to sneak into the bathroom with their bottle of water!

 

 

This sign reads:

One can consume food only inside this designated area.

It is not permitted to eat or drink in any of the mall's corridors.

In case a person is found eating in public places, legal action will be taken and fines will be levied.

Eating in this area is restricted to non-fasting and kids only starting at 12:00 noon.

 

There is also a real spirit of giving during this time. And, since those fasting will be feeling more irritable and tired due to their lack of food and water, everyone is encouraged to be more considerate towards others. It is also a time for dressing more modestly, engaging in more prayer/ reflection, not playing loud music, and not showing any public displays of affection.

 

Observing Muslims who are exempt from Ramadan are the poor, the elderly, the disabled, children, and pregnant women. And women who are menstruating. Those people who are temporarily incapacitated are encouraged to observe Ramadan at another time; it is suggested to the rest that they give financially to a charity or generally act in a charitable manner during this holy time.

 

Working hours for Muslims - and, depending on the workplace, all employees - are truncated during this period. Those fasting shouldn't drive at sundown or other times when they are feeling particularly tired.

 

All of this is very interesting and I was really happy to be on observer of such a culture for this time. Unfortunately for Thomas, his workplace issued a memo with adjusted hours for observing Muslims and no change for the others. Margaux I think was fairly oblivious to the whole thing. I was affected because I had just discovered I was pregnant (more about this to come!) so I was a) ravenous every waking moment, b) not looking like I was pregnant, and c) unable to tell anyone about it. There was a lot of sneaky eating and drinking on my part!

 

Dubai becomes a bit of a ghost town during Ramadan - especially when it's in summer - because the temperature soars to 40+*C daily and is really humid. Compound that with the fact that you can't even drink water between 07:00-19:15, and you have a population keen to be elsewhere!

 

Taken on July 9, 2015...

 

 



Overnight in Fujairah

On June 27 we intrepid three headed off for a night away from the commercialism of Dubai. Our destination was Fujairah, a village on the east coast of the UAE.

Delightfully, the hotel we were staying at was on the beachfront (although there wasn't much point being there if it wasn't to at least have a view of the ocean), so we made the most of the pools and beach.

There was an outdoor play area, which Maggie and I briefly braved and decided against, and a much more summertime user-friendly indoor play area, which we spent some more enjoyable time in.

Here's a little video to summarise our time there: Overnight in Fujairah and of course some photos... :)

Thomas and I snuck away for a quiet meal together and spent our precious 'us-time' pouring over the most recent plans for our Project, as provided by Helene. It's been really fun as the plans evolve, and we've had some wonderful brainstorming sessions together.

By the following day we were feeling thoroughly refreshed and ready to take on Dubai again, so back to the Big Smoke we headed...

A Margaux photo montage

Since I'm only writing about the major happenings during our time in Dubai there are a lot of adorable photos I have of Margaux that have no home... and it's been a while since I did a photo montage of her.

So here we are...

Margaux has discovered the joy of putting things on her head - whether they be headbands, undies, or floaties... if it fits, it counts as head gear!

Did you know that it's possible to sleep and eat mango simultaneously? I don't have the footage here because, well, it's potentially embarrassing and that's not the point of the blog, but Margaux has successfully had a catnap while eating the flesh from around a mango seed. Incredible.

Now, on to the next adventure!

Getaway to Oman

We settled into life in The Greens (as the suburb is called) relatively easily... Thomas predictably headed off to work and Margaux and I spent part of almost every weekday at an indoor play area. It was simply too hot to do ANYTHING remotely outside, and it's no fun being cooped up in a little apartment all day.

Due to the huge gaps of time between then and now - and the fact that photos are much more interesting than text - I'm going to focus on the outstanding activities and adventures we had, starting with a short sojourn to Oman!

One unfortunate aspect of Thomas working in Dubai for a company based in Oman was that he was required to travel to Muscat (the capital) on a fortnightly basis. Usually it was just for a couple of days, but on one occasion in June he was required to spend the week there... Miss M and I took up his invitation of spending a long weekend with him from June 5-9, where we had a great time exploring Muscat and beyond - though briefly.

We made the most of the hotel pool and also had a swim at the Dive Centre, which is actually a private beach. Despite the fact that the ocean water is supposedly cooler in Oman than the UAE, I can verify that in summer they are equally bath-like!

The bath-like beach:

 

 

 

The delightfully temperature-controlled hotel pool: 7:30am and already 36* outside!

On the Friday we went to a highly recommended souk (also spelled souq - it's Arabic for market) in a little village called Nizwa, a couple of hours' drive from Muscat. Unfortunately we went just as the market was closing, which was also in the heat of the day - and we're talking 41*C here! - and was the start of the midday call to prayer. Still, having made it that far we were determined to see what we could.

Friday is the holy day of the week for Muslims, so everything basically shuts down from midday onwards.

Anyway, here is a little collage of our trip there. In the picture with the text 'date souk' all of the bags are filled with, unsurprisingly, dates. I never realised how much of an industry it is here, but it seems to be about the only fruit-bearing vegetation that exists naturally here so I suppose it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.

We managed to miss the goat sales (can't say I was too disappointed at that) but there were a couple of mangy looking goats wandering around.

 

 

We were staggered that the village still existed... it's a bit hard to tell from the photos, but the old buildings are seemingly made of mud and rocks that have been crudely shaped into walls and doorways. There must be something in it though, because they have survived the sun and sandstorms for all those years.

 

Anyway... beyond the buildings and dates, we saw some lovely native pottery, a fruit and vege section that was closing, and some stunning views over the mountain range that surrounds Nizwa.

 

While Thomas was at work Margaux busied herself by very successfully charming all of the hotel staff. She and I spent part of a day at the famous Muttrah Souk. We haggled (me) and charmed (Margaux) and were undoubtedly ripped off, but I console myself with the fact that we could have been ripped off more so.

 

We stuck out like sore thumbs amongst the sea of people in traditional dress - especially with Maggie's blonde mop - but it was great soaking up the atmosphere. It has so many different areas to explore - fabric and traditional clothes shops; sheathed daggers; gold and silver jewellery; tacky, plastic toys and homewares; Omani touristy souvenirs; incense and perfumes; and trinkets of every other imaginable kind.

 

 

On our last night there together, Thomas and I made use of the hotel's babysitting service and he treated me to an unforgettable meal at the luxury hotel The Chedi. Bliss! On top of the amazing meal, it was wonderful to walk around outside... I didn't realise how much I'd missed seeing stars until I saw them that night.

 

 

 

Margaux and I bade farewell to Thomas a couple of days later and took the thankfully short flight back to Dubai without a hitch.

 

Apartment 2002, Golf Tower 2

After a few days of hot, fruitless searching in various suburbs across Dubai with an assortment of real estate agents Margaux and I were trumped by Thomas. He came back from work via an apartment viewing and proceeded to describe a brilliant place he'd just viewed. Upon his description certain elements began to sound surprisingly familiar, and when he suggested I go and see it, I replied, "I don't need to - you've just described Hannah's place, which I love!"

And so we happily moved in to Golf Tower 2, just a few floors above our new friends.

It's in an area close to the Dubai Marina, with views across a swanky golf course (hence the building name) and the sea on the horizon. It's full of light, which is particularly awesome if you have curtains... we got as far as hanging some up in Margaux's room, but haven't quite managed to do so with ours. I sleep with an eye mask on, in case you were wondering...

It's a bit hard to tell from these photos, but the main photo and the top two photos on the right form a bit of a panorama from the living area looking out. The sea is on the horizon, but you have a to squint a bit - or just trust me. Then there's the swimming pool that services Towers 1, 2, and the villas, but we swim there every day and usually meet the same crowd... We have a lovely routine of Thomas taking Margaux down when he gets home from work... he seems to meet a lot of people out at that time with their respective toddlers, giving the kids a final opportunity to expend their leftover energy and hopefully sleep through the night!

And the final photo is of a lake basically at the bottom of the Towers, which is bordered by a path that leads to the local community village. There you can find a supermarket, pharmacy, a couple of cafes, 2 beauty parlours, a bookshop, a couple of restaurants, and an optician. Perfect!

I've just realised that the bottom photos also form a bit of a panorama... you can see the little fountain in the top right hand corner of the left photo, located in the bottom left hand corner of the right photo... if that makes sense.

Anyway, that's the view.

This collage encompasses moving in over a few days... I don't know why Margaux was wearing the skeleton of a lampshade as a hat, but it was hilarious.

So there it is! Our lovely home.

As for the outside... Well, if it's before about 09:00 then I can take Margaux out for a swim or a play, but after that it gets too hot. We have had a routine of Thomas taking Maggie down for a swim when he returns from work, which we've all enjoyed. Most of our friends in this building have come from encounters by the pool or in the lift; it's been wonderful to have a number of other friends with young kids who come from such a multitude of backgrounds... we all understand without needing to express it the pluses and minuses of moving away from home, ostensibly as a trailing spouse, with at least one kid under your wing. That's quite special.

This collage shows the lovely walk around the lake to the shops near our apartment, plus the three swimming pools and the outdoor area:

Here's a little video of Maggie on the outdoor play equipment: The self-entertainer (outside) - taken before she stacked it down the brick steps and ended up with a lump the size of an egg on her forehead. Poor thing.

Getting to know you: friends and activites in Dubai

Before I begin this post I must apologise for the SHOCKING time delay between the last post and this one... however there has been a very clear hiatus between having Rosa take care of Margaux in Portugal and Margaux starting nursery here - i.e. I have just a wee bit of time to myself that I can spend in front of a computer!

So, back to the blog itself:

The friend I mentioned in the previous post I met through Louise, a fellow Mum and Mums and Tots in Cacais. Her sister, Hannah, lives here with her husband Duncan and their daughter, Emiline, who's a couple of months older than Margaux.

Hannah and I got along famously, as did the girls. And through Hannah I discovered another playgroup which meets at Cheeky Monkeys. Splendid!

Most days since we have arrived I take Margaux somewhere to play. It's simply too hot to do anything outside, but there are a huge number of indoor soft play areas - at least one in every mall (and there's one of those on most corners) plus some other 'free standing' ones.

She's pretty good at keeping herself entertained, to be honest. She started with great trepidation at the soft play areas but now she gets immediately involved, like the old hand that she is.

Here are a couple of videos of her mucking around: The self entertainer 1 and Cheeky Monkey.

We ventured to the beach one evening with Hannah, Duncan, and Emiline. Margaux loved it, even if the water was like a sticky, salty bath.

Margaux and I also began going to a couple of Mums and Tots sessions a week, which has been great for both of us. Unlike Portugal, however, they are hosted at an indoor play area that has, in addition to two soft play areas, loads of games and rides for older kids...

Anyway, here she is at a variety of indoor play areas over the last few (!) months - some with Mums and Tots, some with Thomas and me, and some with just me:

And in case that hasn't whetted your appetite enough, here are a couple of movies: The Self Entertainer 2  (includes some non-soft play stuff) and Mini Monster (filmed at a place called Mini Monsters...) 

It was through accidentally attending a coffee morning instead of Mums and Tots one day that I had the fortune of meeting Lindsay, a bubbly Canadian with a very classy sense of style. She and I hit it off and it only seems right to mention her in this post, even though I have no photos of her. Actually, that's a lie. In the above collage she is seated behind Margaux in the photos where M is playing with play-dough... I just have no photos of her face!

Regardless, she and I have spent some lovely days together, and two memorable dinners - one hosted by Thomas and me, and the other by Lindsay and her husband, Matt. If I get hold of a photo of us together I will be sure to include it somewhere!

Right now, though, it's time to introduce you to our apartment!

First impressions of Dubai

We landed in Dubai on May 8 and our first impression - which I think would be the same for everyone who arrives between May and September - is HOT! HOT and HUMID and STICKY!

We also observed that some people (mostly tourists, from what I can gather) have a very liberal interpretation of conservative dress! Most of the western population is respectful, and then there are the Muslim women. Most wear burkas with their face showing, but a large minority have just their eyes showing, and I've even seen some with a full veil. What I appreciate though is that the stipulation to cover your hair, and to your neck, wrists, and ankles is expected of both male and female Muslims.

For the first month we stayed in a hotel in Downtown Dubai, a stone's throw from Thomas' work but right in the thick of the pollution. We all got a shocking cough, which disappeared as soon as we moved out, and Margaux and I developed gastro (food poisoning?) from drinking the tap water.

Honestly, this city is the most opposite to the life we intend to create after we leave here than I think I can imagine. Maybe Houston. Perhaps Beijing. Still, it's a daily reminder of what we're aiming away from!

We spent a significant amount of time in the hotel's swimming pools, with Margaux growing more confident every day. The water is temperature controlled so that it is 'swimmable' all year round - in summer it's usually 29* or 30*...

It feels a bit like Dubai is a little kid trying to be taken seriously by the grown-ups, by impressing them with all sorts of facts and statistics.The running joke in Dubai is that it holds the world record for the city with the most world records... including the world's largest mall (The Dubai Mall), tallest building (Burj Khalifa),  longest graffiti scroll, largest billboard, longest fireworks display, tallest hotel (JW Marriott Marquis Hotel), longest 22-karat handmade gold chain (made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Dubai Shopping Festival, of course), first indoor mountain resort, and the largest sticky note mosaic. To name a few.

Thomas dived into work, while Margaux and I began to explore what the city has to offer. We were living literally across the road the The Dubai Mall, so we set out to see what all the fuss was about. Loads of shops - all designer-labels, loads of shoppers, a massive aquarium, a huge food court, a cinema... the whole thing is ginormous.

Margaux and I also spent a fair bit of time hitting the real estate pavement, trying to find somewhere for us to live. We had the hotel apartment for a month but we were fairly keen to get out of there. Our criteria included that it had to be close to a metro station and close to a creche/ nursery - and not downtown! - so that limited our choices a bit. I can't even count the number of places we visited on our quest for the perfect place, before we ended up living in the same apartment complex as a lovely woman (girl? About the same age as me, anyway) who I'd met through one of the Mums in Portugal... more on this to come!

Final days in France... and on to Dubai!

Following our delightful getaway we had just a few more days in France before we headed off to our new home - Dubai!

Thomas and I hosted dinner for Julien, Magali, Alex, and Quentin, which was great fun. Alex and Quentin also brought their sons David and Arno... you can see Alex with Arno in the bottom picture.

Although a lot of the conversation was obviously lost on me not all of it was. Hooray! It was lovely to catch up with everyone and to see Thomas so happy with his friends.

Margaux had been really enjoying finding unusual places she could sit, (which I'm hoping will bode well for potty training) and I managed to capture a few of these at Thomas' parents' place:

We maximised our time with Mammy and Pappy, including a trip to the market in drizzly Lille, but before too long, as usual, it was time to bid farewell. We left a teary Rita waving to us in the driveway as Jean-Paul drove us to the Lille train station.

And here we were! Ready to jet off to Dubai - and more than ready to shrug off our winter clothes!

Four days in Hardelot

After a few days back in Lille, we three packed our bags and took off to Hardelot, a couple of hours' drive away, to spend 4 days with Marie, Scholastie, Hippolyte, Josephine, and Violette.

It was SO much fun. The kids had a ball together - going to the park, walking through sand dunes, drawing with chalk on the road, cycling or scootering around, making sand castles at the beach... heaven!

It was wonderful to see the cousins' friendships grow even stronger... It would be great to spend time with them more frequently, but alas. For the foreseeable future it isn't going to happen.

I think this post will be better expressed visually, so allow me to introduce Hardelot, April 2015:

In it we have footage of Le Jardin Pour Les Enfants (The Garden for Children), which is where we went soon after we arrived. All of the kids had a ball - playing with each other, on the equipment, and with other kids.

The following day we all went for a long walk through the sand dunes that extend from the township to the beach - where we found some relics of WW2 weaponry and barracks. I can't remember the specifics so I won't post half-truths, but apparently this spot of coast was seen as a potential battleground and entry-point to France; the concrete structures that are still standing (in parts) are a testament to it.

We walked to the ocean and then decided to return via the beachfront, which was terribly windy but great for the kids to run around on. Actually, although there's a little repetition I'm going to include a separate video called Dunes Walk. And I'm including a photo collage. Lucky you!

The next morning Scholastie, Josephine, Margaux, and I headed off to the fish market to buy some fresh sole for lunch. The girls loved spotting birds and boats, and the atmosphere was great. Margaux slept in the car and for a significant part of the shopping expedition, but what she saw of it I think she enjoyed. Marie cooked up a storm for us and we had a delicious meal.



We adults took advantage of the babysitting capacity of one of the teenagers Scholastie and Marie know who was holidaying pretty much next door, and headed out for a meal together. It was so great to spend some quality time with them, even if it was just for the length of dinner.

And, like all holidays, it was over too soon... Until next time, Hardelot!

A romantic weekend in Paris...

For three precious days in April Thomas and I left Margaux in the capable hands of Jean-Paul and Rita, and took off for a romantic sojourn to the City of Luurve... Heaven!

We did all sorts of touristy things but mostly we just enjoyed being together. Together alone. Ahhhh.

Paris has the bike-hire thing going on where you take a specifically designed bike from a bike rack and drop it off at any other rack that's close to where you're going. It kinda looks like this:















Anyway... we used that system to get around the city, which was very effective and quite fun, as long as you avoided the traffic!

I made another little video of our time there, called We'll Always Have Paris, if you're interested in a gander.

Upon entering Le Notre Dame for our obligatory tourist visit, Thomas saw a flyer for a classical concert to be held there the following night... Perfect! It was a stunning combination of 3 soloists plus the organ and a couple of other classical instruments. It was so beautiful visually and acoustically.

A Very Significant highlight though was an accidental happening upon Le Notre, an award-winning patisserie near the Opera district. The food, needless to say, was exquisite, the atmosphere tranquil, and the service second-to-none.

Speaking of Opera, we also visited Le Palais Garnier, Paris' Grand Opera House - and oh, was it grand! Not a franc was spared in making this building the most decadent of its variety, with marble throughout, chandelier-lit hallways, busts of performers or composers... there's too much to describe and I'll never do it justice. Here are a couple of photos, in case it helps...

After three whirlwind days of pure indulgence we took the TGV back to Lille and joined Margaux and her grandparents. Apparently she had been a delight... let's hope that was the truth!

Cousins time!

Margaux absolutely LOVED spending time with her three French cousins. Both before and after our romantic escape to Paris (more on that to come!) they shared some quality time together at Jean-Paul and Rita's place - with Marie and Scholastie, of course!

Incredibly, given the typical weather in the north of France, there was a spot of sunshine each time, so we all enjoyed some outdoor time together.

Hippolyte and Margaux have got along like a house on fire since they first spent time together in Corsica last year, and nothing has changed. They both have such fun in each other's company.

It was lovely, then, to see Margaux and Josephine get to know each other better. Margaux would potter around after Josephine, but often when she (Margaux) started doing something - for example going down the slide face-first or checking out the stones stuck to her foot (in the photo above) Josephine would join in. There was a really sweet dynamic between them, which continued as they spent more time together... read on for more of their adventures...

Unfortunately I have no pics of Violette but never fear, there are some to come!

The three older cousins Loved having a bath together. I'm not sure how much longer they'll all fit in the same tub though...

I'm so happy that, even though we're so far apart geographically, they are able to be together for significant stints of time, sporadic though the opportunities are.

Margaux at home: A photo montage

It's been far too long since I've made a photo montage of Margaux and she's been up to all sorts of things, so here's one from our time in Cascais...

She's growing bigger and stronger every day and, try though I might, I never capture nearly enough to demonstrate it.

In the above montage you can see that she began a love to sitting in whatever she could... under her highchairs, in a suitcase, and even the bidet!

There are a couple of examples in these photos of her walking, but she really took off when we were in France. More about that to come!

First stop: Lille

We arrived in Lille without a hitch - and without Mammy and Pappy to greet us, as they were in Corsica.

By the time we arrived at Jean-Paul and Rita's from the airport in Brussels it was about midnight and we were exhausted. We settled Margaux into 'her' room and collapsed ourselves into the adjacent one - respectively Marie's and Thomas' original abodes.

When morning came we were happy to be by ourselves and without the stress or upheaval of leaving Portugal. Finally, we were on holiday! For the next 5 weeks we had nothing but fun to look forward to, before Thomas began his new job in Dubai. Hooray!

We enjoyed the intermittently sunny (though invariably cold!) weather that was offered to us, with Margaux enjoying using the slide, playing outside, going to walks, and even meeting some neighbouring horses!

Too much time has passed for me to remember the days' activities exactly, but the important point is that we had a few days which we could devote entirely to ourselves. Bliss.

Again, I had a little video for you... basically I've already made them and it seems a bit silly to do photo montages when these gems are available:

First stop: Lille

Leaving Cascais... and onward to France!

It was with a bit of a heavy heart that I boarded the plane with Thomas and Margaux out of Lisbon. In the end, although we (especially I) loved living there, there were more reasons to leave than to stay.

I will miss so many things: my friends, their kids, the beaches/ the Tejo River, the signposted Anti-Stress Zone just down up the street from us (complete with a deck chair on the sign and a chess table in the square), the summer weather, downtown Cascais... and so many more that I'm sure will become more obvious as time passes.

But there it was. The movers had been and gone, so we took our belongings for the next couple of months with us to a hotel for our last night. Thomas headed off to work for his final day on Thursday, April 2nd, while I had a delightful, impromptu catch-up with Margaux and some of my Mums and Tots friends (with kids, of course!) in the Marechal Carmona Park... yet another place I'll miss.

Miss Maggie and I headed off to meet Thomas and we made our way to the airport - thankfully comfortably making our flight. You just never know these days... I'd like to call it the 'Margaux Factor' but in reality it's usually me who's the issue. And off we went, for Margaux's 31st plane flight!


Here's a little video of it, for your viewing pleasure :) Goodbye Cascais...

Sarlat-bound, via Paris...

We set off on May 6th to go to Sarlat for 10 days, stopping overnight in Paris so that Thomas could get various French documents authenticated in the UAE Embassy in Paris... after all, Dubai was our next destination and we had to have all our ducks lined up if we were to get his visa hitch-free!

Margaux enjoyed playing in a sandpit/ play area in a park near to where we were staying, however her daredevil antics lead one Frenchman to describe her as a kamikaze! They also thought she was a boy, despite her pink tracksuit and pink shoes... honestly, stereotyping has some serious implications. Yes, girls do go hurtling down slides face first; they do try to climb down elevated, near-vertical stairs without assistance; they do literally roll in the sand; and they do try to use equipment and games that are designed for much older kids!

I have a 'thing' about her being called a boy ALL the time. Thomas tells me I should get over it, but it still hurts a little. Unfortunately she pulls out any clips or headbands I put in her hair, and I'm not ready for her to have her ears pierced, so maybe I will just have to succumb to the perceptions of others. What a pain.

Anyway... Here's a little vid of our time there - Margaux playing, our trip to the Eiffel Tower, and a couple of views from a day-time walk we did.

We set off early the next morning for the rest of our trip towards Sarlat, where we arrived at a lovely hotel essentially opposite our land. Thomas had secured a child minder for the days that we would be in meetings, so we left her (rather unwillingly, from her side) with Maeva. After the initial hesitation Margaux loved spending time with her. She took Margaux to a place that was catered for childcare, and Margaux was able to play with a boy who was about her age. We booked Maeva for 4 days, and by the end of it Margaux was unwilling to leave!

Thomas and I had two very productive meetings with Helene, the architect, and one with Moilamain, the Permaculturalist.

With Helene we had some very exciting throwing around of ideas regarding the layout, structure, and content of the gite. It's still to be finalised, but we came a long way. Hooray for us!

We met Moilamain on our property, where he literally pegged out the house and gite, which was rather exciting, to be honest. We could actually walk through what we know will be a bedroom or the kitchen or whatever. He also indicated where there would be a drive/ path from the house down to the marshy area - for a possible amphitheatre..? Well, it's not really marshy, it's just got a pond and not a whole lot of sunlight.

Anyway... The fourth meeting was with Phillipe and was all rather technical so I pottered off and did my own thing while Margaux was in Maeva's capable hands.

While we were in Sarlat I made contact with Enasha (seen in the main picture of the collage above with her husband, Steve, and their son, Xavier). Enasha is British and moved to Sarlat a few years ago, and we all got along like a house on fire. It's lovely to have already made a connection there; after all, it's the people who will make you feel like you belong (or don't) whenever you settle somewhere.

After 10 days our trip was up and it was time to make the 8-hour journey back to Roncq. With Thomas at the helm we arrived back to Jean-Paul and Rita's in time for dinner. Perfect.

Moving Days - and Margaux's first word..?

Tuesday, March 31st...

Having spent the previous night packing and sorting the basics - and dispensing with even more of our food and other contraband goods to friends - we were set to go when the movers arrived.

Margaux had a ball. The 5 or 6 burly movers thought she was a little star and didn't (seem to) mind that she was running around everywhere. There was one man who would make animal noises and entertain her while packing at the same time... she thought he was great. And of course all of them were saying 'Ola' to her... and then she said it back! Well, sort of. Enough that it gave the guys the impression that it was her first word. :) And she kept on saying it, much to everyone's delight. They even kindly co-ordinated their lunch break with Margaux's nap!


Wednesday, April 1st...

April Fool's Day was thankfully prank-free! It was amazing how quickly the men worked to get everything bundled up... obviously it's their job, but I was impressed nonetheless.

I hurriedly signed the paperwork at about 3:10 because it was my last chance to get to the bank before it closed at 3:30, and left confident that the movers would finish soon and be gone before Margaux and I came back. It was about an hour or so before I returned... where I found all of the men waiting outside the apartment building!

As I walked up the hill my surprise gave way to the assumption that their knock-off time was 4:30 so they were just going to hang around, which was fine by me... until they explained that they thought I'd left without taking my key and they didn't want me to be locked out! I don't know how they were hoping to help since they didn't have a key either, but it was such a gorgeous gesture. And ALL of them were there, even though they were travelling in two trucks!

And just like that it was over. Our home was back to an unfurnished flat. The fact that our departure was imminent was becoming obvious - and I wasn't feeling that excited about it, to be honest. Still... every day is an adventure waiting to happen, and the next day was certainly the case for us!

A touch-and-go in London

Unfortunately I don't have any photos from the little sojourn I had in London the weekend following Sarlat with Bronwen... finally, we were having our exclusive girls' weekend!

It was so much fun spending time together without distractions like our kids and husbands... :)

We really appreciated walking around multi-floored shopping centres sans a pram (where you don't have to find the elusive lift, if it even exists, or cart your pram up and down the stairs); at going out to eat without having to accommodate a pram, feeding our respective baby in situ, and being upstairs - restaurants rarely have lifts!; at being able to sleep uninterrupted; at not having to make considerations for nappy changes/ clothes changes/ wriggling babies etc... oh, the bliss!

I arrived on Friday afternoon and navigated myself (mostly successfully, I might add) from the airport to our accommodation, My book and I enjoyed a lovely dinner, and I appreciated living in an English-speaking country. :)

Bron arrived on Saturday morning, so we took the opportunity to visit the Covent Garden Markets, which I hadn't been to before. Oh, it was so great! The atmosphere, the smells, the hustle and bustle between the market-goers and the vendors... and it was certainly more enjoyable to move within the packed space without a pram.

We met up with a Perth friend of Bron's, Mel, and after a delightful pre-dinner catch-up we headed off to a Chinese restaurant, where we intended to have a quick meal before seeing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the West End... except that the meal was anything but quick. We got through our entree and then had them turn our mains into take-away food that we ate in the salon during the interval of the show! Three hungry girls slurping greedily (and probably noisily) on lukewarm Chinese food in the luxurious salon of the Theatre Royal... not an everyday sight, I'm sure!

The show had amazing special effects but and choreography but unfortunately it was difficult to understand the actors and I felt like the show relied on the special effects to entertain you. We did, however, have the cutest kid sitting behind us, who at the relevant time cried out 'he's got a golden ticket!' and one or two other comments during the performance. Hilarious.

Bron and I enjoyed a lazy Sunday together and headed off to our separate airports at about 18:00.

To be perfectly honest, I was absolutely delighted to see Margaux and Thomas on Monday morning, but I quite enjoyed my weekend of selfish pleasure.

It was a splendid weekend with wonderful, unforgettable memories. The next adventure was already knocking at the door... stay tuned for what was lying around the corner for us..!

Plans to leave Cascais...

This is an Important Post that has slipped out of the chronological order of things... it was during February that Thomas accepted an offer from an oil company based in Oman, meaning we had some serious planning to do before the start date, which was due to be April 15.

Over the next few weeks we planned, researched, organised, and prepared ourselves to move to Oman. Initially I was a little hesitant until I discovered more about the place... everyone I spoke to who had lived or visited there raved about it. Oman has decided to preserve its history and use that as its tourist attraction, rather than the glitz and glamour of other countries in the Middle East, which appealed to both of us immensely.

However, once we had done all of this the company turned around to Thomas and mentioned that they had been doing some departmental reshuffling, so he would now be working out of Dubai. That really threw us both for six... Dubai?? I read about it and quickly came to the conclusion that it was a very superficial and therefore essentially an uninteresting place. Seriously, I read an article about a woman who had her hair botoxed. Ugh.

Since then, however, we have become really excited about the move and the opportunities Dubai has to offer. We have come to realise it is a place full of diversity, multiculturalism, excitement, and opportunities. And it's a direct flight to Perth and Paris, which is no small benefit! We've discovered that the desert is only a couple of hours' drive out of the city, which we're hoping to escape to when needed to get out of the commercialism of Downtown Dubai, and that with such an international community we are sure to find our niche.

Already I've made contact (through a Mum at the Cascais Mums and Tots) with someone from the Mums and Tots equivalent in Dubai, who has a daughter about Margaux's age and who has insisted I contact her when we arrive. Hooray!

More on this to follow, as I'm sure you can imagine...

Landwarming in Sarlat

The following weekend (Thursday March 20- Sunday 23) we took off Sarlat-bound, where we went for a brief sojourn to our property.

The weather was very kind to us and we had a lovely time exploring our land in spring-time. I love how each season brings a completely new spin on the place... this time the chestnut trees were pretty much bare of their leaves, and we had wild daffodils growing. Wild ones! I was so excited and so, so happy to see all of these perfect flowers growing so happily all by themselves. I'm sure they're harbingers of good fortune. :)

Thomas went to a meeting with the architect on Friday while Margaux and I pottered around the town, which was important for him and delightful for us. We spent a good chunk of Saturday at the markets, and thoroughly relaxed on Sunday. Perfect!

A weekend in Madrid!

Thomas, Margaux and I set off for a special fare-thee-well trip to Madrid, arriving at about midnight on Friday the 14th March and leaving on Sunday the 16th, ostensibly for Thomas to say goodbye to the friends he made while he was there. It was lovely for Margaux and I to be there as well; I had a great time seeing my teaching compatriate Rebecca Groesbeck and saying goodbye to various other friends I'd also made.

The above is a montage of photos donated by Rebecca... and here is a video link you might enjoy: https://www.magisto.com/video/PwAFMgAHSjowXxFgCzE

SATURDAY:

We had a lovely lunch on Saturday - including a rather potent gin and tonic (for me) at the Mercado de San Anton with Sandra, Maryline, Rebecca, and Naagla, followed by a delightful walk to the Parque el Retiro - making the most of the crisp but sunny weather there.

That night we had some quality family time at a wonderful restaurant just next to our accommodation... decent family time was something we hadn't done for quite a while, it seemed!

SUNDAY:

 

Sunday was another very social day - as of course it should have been, since we had only two days to cram in as many people as could to say goodbye to!

This time we went to Plaza Dos de Mayo, where we met up with Seb, Ditte and their two girls, and Rebecca again. We braved the chilly outdoors for a while, before conceding that inside the little restaurant we were dining from was a much better idea.

All this was going very well, with Thomas and I taking turns to entertain Margaux in the play area associated with the plaza... until Margaux, under my supervision, went down a slide on her tummy face-first (her usual way) and careered straight off the bottom onto the sand below. She must have bumped her chin as she hit the flat bit of the slide, because suddenly her mouth was flooded with blood and, understandably, she was crying uncontrollably.

Seb and Ditte kindly offered to host everyone back at their flat, which was just a short walk away, so that Margaux could have a snooze and we could all relax a bit... it was a wonderful idea that we took up immediately! Joining us at their place was Helene, a volleyball friend of Thomas', and Enrique, his former Spanish teacher. We all had a delightful afternoon, and we were quite satiated when we took the plane back that evening.

You'll be pleased to know that Margaux's bitten lip recovered relatively quickly, and that no teeth or any further damage was caused. And yes, she still goes down slides face-first...

Our ideal weekend...

Thomas and I developed a very indulgent weekend routine, whereby we would eat a buffet lunch on Sunday at a rather gorgeous hotel (Farol) in Cascais overlooking a stunning part of the river, followed by a casual walk home.

I don't have any pics of the breakfast, but I made a video of one afternoon in the park on the way back. I, being a bit of a daft monkey at times, labelled it as Our Perfect Saturday, but you get the idea:

https://www.magisto.com/video/IVQYOAgKCDI9AQBpYw

I hope you like it!

A visit from Mammy and Pappy! Ten days in one post...

For 10 days in February Jean-Paul and Rita came to visit us... well, when I say 'us' I mean Margaux. And Thomas and me. I think this must be the same for grandparents the world over, though!

Hopefully this link will work... in lieu of photos I will try to insert some mini films I made of some special times together:

https://www.magisto.com/video/MQdAZAIMRTZrRBBpYw

The timing of it was dreadful, however. Thomas was shipped off to Reading, England for three days for work purposes - all organised after his parents had booked their tickets, of course. We three got by with our various levels of English/ French and the aid of a good dictionary!

On the whole, the grandparentals and I divided our time with Margaux. We went for some lovely exploring walks together around Cascais, making the most of the crisp but sunny weather. They were very happy to be left with Margaux for a few hours each day - and Margaux and I were pretty happy with the arrangement, too!

LISBON

Before he left, however, we all spent a glorious day in Lisbon - travelling via the comboio (the above-ground train that runs between Lisbon and Cascais) of course! The sun was shining, the seagulls were circling, the river was glistening... Bliss. Margaux loved every minute of it, or so it seemed... enjoying all of the sights, sounds, and smells to quench her curiosity; being pushed around (in her pram!), fed, and entertained by her grandparents; having lunch together in a cute café... what's not to love?!

OBIDOS

In our time together without Thomas, we all enjoyed one lovely day at Obidos, a Medival walled city about an hour's drive from Cascais. It was such fun exploring all of the little alleys within the city. After lunch in a tucked away little restaurant we split ways: Rita and Margaux went shopping while Jean-Paul and I headed off to explore the perimeter. (Oh, if only I had the photos to show you!) Jean-Paul and I took some rather precarious routes to walk along the wall itself - as high as it could go for as long as it was possible, which afforded some spectacular views but was a little bit hair-raising at times!

We adults indulged in shot-sized chocolate cups filled with traditional Portuguese cherry liqueur (Ginja), for which Obdios is famed. I think Jean-Paul and Rita enjoyed the experience...

(I do apologise for this entire week of fun being crammed into one post, but that's the way it's going to have to be if I'm ever going to catch up!)

SOME SPECIAL FAMILY MEALS

On one of their last nights in Cascais I had dinner at Kari's and left the French contingent to have a night together with Margaux. Apparently it all went very well.

And for their last night, Jean-Paul and Rita - with my help for the practical arrangements - treated us to a sumptuous dinner at Hemingway's Restaurant. Oh my... the food there really is second to none. Margaux slept for a good portion of it (bliss!) but by the time dessert came she was awake and demanding attention. The lovely staff there let us take our desserts home - giving them to us on the restaurant plates! Never fear; we returned them a couple of days later. :) It was a delightful dinner full of fond memories.

And all too soon it was time to say goodbye. The morning of their afternoon departure saw us enjoying breakfast at their hotel, followed by a lovely walk up to the Boca do Inferno and back. We knew it would only be a couple of short months before we would see them again in Lille, so it was a very temporary farewell...

Woah... a Massive catch-up is due!

Well. Through a combination of busy-ness, (slight?) procrastination, and having our computers and other electronic equipment nicked, I've managed to let 5 weeks slide by. Oops.

So much has happened! And having all of my stuff taken means that all of my photos - that I'd been diligently uploading from my phone to my computer in case I broke/ lost the phone - were wiped.

We finished our week of skiing with the Charlessons, with me having completed my private aim... to ski down a slope by myself. Hooray!!

We then had a week to wind down before Thomas' parents arrived for 10 days...

Let it snow! Avoriaz with the Charlessons: WALKING!!

While we were in Avoriaz our gorgeous daughter learnt to walk!

She had been standing up for a while now, but not had the confidence to let go of her supporting furniture. Well, all that changed right before our eyes.

I was so happy that Thomas and I were both there to witness her first steps. She was understandably hesitant at first, just going from a chair to a couch about 1 metre away, but she upped her confidence and her ability in no time, happily tottering between Thomas and me (about 2 metres apart).

It was like she could do it as long as she didn't stop... when she stopped to regain her balance (or think about how awesome she was for being able to accomplish this major milestone) she'd collapse immediately.

Then came the challenge of how to get up! At first there was heavy reliance on sturdy furniture, but she slowly developed the ability to regain balance all by herself.

Now (as I write this about three weeks later!) she hardly crawls at all. Where before she became very upset if she was left alone in a room - even if I were just getting a toy from around the corner - she can now follow me so she's a much happier Poppette. Happy days...

Let it snow! Avoriaz with the Charlessons: Skiing lesson #2

We awoke the next morning to an unbelievably gorgeous view - clear skies with loads of powder snow!

Bronwen and I decided that individual lessons would probably be a good idea, so I headed off with Jean-Francois for my beginner's class while Bron benefited from the teaching of Nicholas for the morning.

It was SO much better than the day before! After he had me on the baby, baby slope (not even the bunny slope: this was for the 4-8 year-old kids that come skiing with Club Med or whoever) but it was at just my level. :) Jean-Francois had me slightly turning left and right with inconsistent ability on my part until he was confident I could brave the 'big slope' (i.e. the bunny slope!).

By the end of the 1.5 hour lesson I could (still inconsistently) turn and I didn't fall over too many times. I didn't - and still don't - get the whole 'turn the way you don't want to go' motto for skiing... I've worked out my own way which seems to have sufficed - it may even be the right way but I just came to that position partly of my own accord.

In the photos below... the top one is the reception for our accommodation after the night's snowfall; two views from our balcony; the gentle incline of the slope nearest our accommodation... I am wearing the fluorescent orange jacket.

That night Margaux was determined not to go to sleep. I tried relaxing her and putting her into her cot 5 times before I gave up and let her cry herself to sleep. It's the first time I'd done that and I felt awful, but after about 5 minutes silence reigned in the bedroom.

Let it snow! Avoriaz with the Charlessons: Raclette in all its cheesy glory

The boys spent a long day skiing (from 9:00am-3:00pm!) and were ready to crash when they returned - as opposed to Bron and I, who had spent a lovely day together with our kids and were now keen to get on the slopes and practise what we'd learnt.

Bron took off like she'd been skiing for ages... I slipped and slid down the slope, snow ploughing all the way and trying not to crash into the fences, but I only stacked it a couple of times so it was progress... silver lining and all that.

What was rather exciting though was that it was snowing while we skied! Throughout our stay there was frequent snow, which really added an extra element - and I understood why skiers and snowboarders loved powder.

Our main highlight that day though was dinner... Thomas hired a raclette from reception (of course) and educated us in the art of  melted cheese, meat, gherkins and potatoes - permitted only to those who have endured the slopes during the day! Seriously, there isn't a whole lot in there that can be described as healthy and it does serve to replace any fat you may have burned off while skiing...

Let it snow! Avoriaz with the Charlessons: The arrival

After a week at home in Portugal Thomas, Margaux and I were bound for a week of skiing in the French Alps with Bronwen, Jonathon and Flynn Charlesson! Madness, I know. Thankfully we had that week in Portugal to help our bodies (Margaux's and mine) acclimatize from the 37* day we left in Perth to the -4* day we arrived in France...

We arrived in Avoriaz (the intentional skiing village we were to stay in) at about 3:00 that afternoon... via train, bus, and cable car.

The scene was incredibly picturesque - in fact, pictures will never do it justice.

We arrived at our accommodation, which was truly astounding. We had quite a large apartment, plus access to a heated swimming pool, a ski room, a daycare centre (for kids aged 3+, unfortunately), baby kits (highchair, travel cot etc.) for each infant and a menu for daily bread!

Margaux immediately set off for an explore around the apartment and we settled into our room. She discovered, much to her delight and our concern, that the microwave was the perfect height for her to push all of its buttons and twist all of its dials. Thankfully the combination of buttons and twisting was too complicated for her to get it working, but she was determined to try!

We had our first dip in the swimming pool, which Margaux simultaneously loved (the water) and feared (the bubble jets). She tried to climb face-first down the steps into the pool, but we put a stop to that!

The Charlessons arrived at about 8:00pm, having driven up from the bottom of the mountain - craziness! They uploaded all their gear and shopping, and we settled in for a tiny beer and Bronwen's home-made fajitas.