Bof!*

(Warning. Only read this if you are bored and the only other thing you could be doing is watching Celebrity Big Brother.)


Ooh la la! Sixteen glorious nights in the South of France. Oh my heart could weep at the thought of it all being over, but alas it is and I am back, mes amies! Missed me? What do you mean, "non"...

What a grape time we had (sorry...)

We went to the Charente region which is about half an hour from Limoges.

May I point out that this post isn't about my cherry tree shop purchases because they don't seem to have any in France (zut alors).


The weather hit 40 degrees and we had a long drive down to the gite. My lovely parents treated us to the fortnight (along with my sister and her hubby). Sadly my brother and his wife live in Chicago and it was too far for them to come. Still, I managed to scoff the croissants they would have enjoyed, so every cloud...

We were the first to arrive (we did the Euro Tunnel), swiftly followed by my parents (who went on the ferry) and then my sister Anna and Danny (who flew).

The gite was incredible. It slept about a billion people and the space was divine. I needed a map to find my bedroom the first couple of nights (those who know me know that I have the worst sense of direction in the world, like ever!)

Straight away we felt at home.

Part of the front of the gite

View of the gite from the side

 It was a massive rustic farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Vines laden with grapes were growing just over the other side of the lane and cows at the foot of the garden. Bliss.


At night we could hear cicadas churping, a warm breeze would sweep its way through the balmy nights and the pond full of frogs would become a concert of croaking creatures all trying to find a mate. The frogs would often leap out of the pond and wandered up to us. A bit freaky at first, especially when a toad-like amphibian jumps right up to your plates of meat, practically breathing on your big toe. But we soon became firm friends.

The garden was glorious and there was a herd of cows at the bottom of the garden who would come up every evening to watch the children on the trampoline.

Although I've just noticed there are NO cows in this pic. There are later!

The inside of the gite was just as lush - and it had five bathrooms which is probably why things were so calm!

I spy my little sis on the trampoline

There she goes again with the Prince. Like Tigger.

I think everyone was happy!

We found some dear little kittens with their mother who regularly visited us:

The pond, filled with the loveliest frogs I could ever hope to meet. 

We breakfasted on the patio every single morning.

My mum's amazing homemade granola

And the odd naughty bit of croissant too of course!

We were inland but there was an amazing swimming lake with beach that we went to most days.

The Princess made friends with two brothers who were English (and by some bizarre coincidence, used to live in my home town, although we didn't know them) and they had moved to France seven years ago. The threesome became firm friends for the fortnight.

Look at her, trying to play it well cool.

They taught her French (they are bilingual) and they spent their days floating on the inflatable croc we bought (which the Princess lovingly named Austin).

Austin took up most of our car so my dad offered to transport him to the lake daily. By the end of the fortnight, Dad was gagging to pop Austin.

We actually used Austin to re-enact the famous scene from Crocodile Dundee early one morning (you know, the bit with the skimpy thong, the lake and the croc) which was a silly idea I cooked up one evening. Sadly it can't ever end up on You Tube as everyone banned me from doing so, but let me tell you, the Husband is a very good sport and that's all I can say...

Ho hum, moving on. (Is anyone actually still reading this? Maybe Celeb Big Bro has been hotting up).

Happy as Larry as long as there is a lolly in hand

Perfect for the bairns

Fifty Shades of Mahogany

Sneaking in another cocktail with me sis (terribly stressful)

Oh go on then darlin', just one more
(it would be rude not to, huh!)

En famille (Rob, you were WELL missed)

Danny and the Princess "chillin'"

Lazing around en famille, why can't life always be like this?!

I used plenty of this:

Don't fret, I used factor 30 too!

We had a bit of a laugh for the duration of our time together, it has to be said.

The Princess with her Auntie Anna, being silly, as always.

Men being men. Barbecuing MEAT (said in manly voice)

 Anna cooking some nosh

Eat your heart out Nigella

The early evening visitors

View from our garden

Which one of you will read me my bedtime story?

"And then one of us jumped over the moooon..."

Thank GAWD we didn't have steak on the barbie....

They were so gorgeous. Don't mention the horseradish...

Excuse me pinny, I was being all domestic, like.

We spent a day in a wonderful place with its own fairytale castle. We ate, shopped and watched a wedding (the bride was stunning and the guests were tres chic).

Look and learn, Malory Towers, look and learn.

Eat your heart out Hogwarts

 You could dress up at the top of the castle:

The Princess was in her element. 

The Husband. Yes I know. Very worrying.

I spy ma and pa

My favourite couple in the world

Oh get a room, already!

Everything was devoured. We had to order more. Oh dear!

Proof. What pigs. Cochons!

We went on the Velo Rail. An old disused railway line which you can now cycle along, on a weird sort of wagon. You all go off individually and need to keep 50m distance between each wagon. Two of you cycle at the same time and it was flipping fab!

Bradley Wiggins, hereth I cycleth. Look at the bairns!

See, you all start in a row, waiting for the others to join behind.

Then you split. There's my family in front, Anna, Danny, Mum and Dad. 

Gotta love the baguette when you stop the Velo Rail for lunch

We went out for some lovely meals. My kids ate snails!!! FACT!

This is the Princess's  "new" cherry tree dress.
It's lush, will show case it properly another time

Anna and Danny - AKA Danna

 The Husband and I attempted to go out for a romantic meal together to the gorgeous town below but guess what, everything was shut (this happens a lot in France!) but still, I loved the view. 

It was wonderful to spend so much time with my parents. They've been married a very long time (38 years) and I feel very blessed to have had such a brill holiday with them both.

I think this pic was taken just after we gorged ourselves silly on patisseries at the lake

They are an inspiration to me. It was our tenth wedding anniversary while we were in France (thanks so much for your lovely messages/cards/emails, it meant a lot as it's a bit of a milestone). It was lovely to spend it all together, reminiscing about our big day.

The husband and I spent time alone enjoying cocktail sessions and in sunflower fields (my favourite flower - although I didn't have them at my wedding as it clashed with me colour scheme!). The south of France and sunflower fields go together like Kylie and Jason, biscuits and cheese, me and the Husband.

It almost looks fake!

Yo! (what a coy pose!)

Happy Anniversary, Flower (ooh cherry tree cardie alert)

Then unfortunately we began to notice a change in the Prince. Normally a cheerful chap, he went stroppy.

Look at that lip...

And grumpy. And subdued.

No he isn't wearing Rimmel mascara.....

Then his temperature went up to 40 degrees. So we nipped to a lovely doctor, I spoke my best French (i.e. crap) and after a couple of days (and forty gallons of Calpol) the boy perked up and we were back on track for more larks.

And finally...

There is one highly important piece of advice I picked up on this holiday.

When in France...


One egg is always an oeuf...

Geddit?

 So now we are home. The Princess starts a massive brand new middle school tomorrow which we are all excited about and the Prince starts preschool for the first time next Tuesday. I find that more daunting. He is rarely away from my side. I go to hang out the washing, he follows. I go to the loo, I don't go alone. He is my shadow and I shall miss him very much. It's the end of an era. The Princess is more outgoing and I know she will be fine, she is very excited.

And if that wasn't all mad enough. Guess what?

We move house in the next week or two!!! We've gone and bought ourselves a little house and all being well, we complete next week. It's been a crazy and stressful time but the holiday was our saviour and we now feel rejuvenated and ready for a chaotic few weeks.

We certainly don't do things by half in this family!

*Bof! is the title of this blog post because it's the only word spoken by a French character called Claud that my sister has invented. She does a great sketch of Claud smoking and drinking on his own in some French bar and at the end of this five minute sketch, he just waves a hand in the air and says "Bof!", in the aloof way the French carry off so well.

PS If you did read this to the end, crikey, go give yourself a high five. I truly salute you.