Retrospective after a few days

No deadlines. We had to make it the the EuroTunnel departure area on time for our train, but since then there have been no deadlines. Tonight we've got to get to where Charlie & Sam are staying at 7pm, but it's only a couple of miles away. That's it, until we need to get the Eurotunnel home. I hadn't realised how much of my life was being lived to the clock - getting trains, getting work done, getting out at 8:30 on a Thursday evening etc. I pretty much stopped wearing a watch 4 years ago in France for the same reason, but over the intervening years I've started wearing one again - right now it's wonderful not having one on.

Snoozing on the train. I hadn't realised how much I enjoyed my 45 minute nap on the way home. I need to work this into the holiday somehow.

Sitting up late, having a beer. Then another. I can't do this at home, even at weekends it feels as though Monday is close. Now, if I wake up 1/2 an hour late, so what?

Walking home, and seeing something down a side-street that looks interesting, so going to take a look. I walk to places at home, not just for the pleasure of walking and enjoying my surroundings, for the journey rather than the destination. I need to look for more side-streets to go down. Last night we were putting the key in the lock when we heard what sounded like an 'Oompah' band playing down the road, so we went for a look. Fantastic group of students playing in a rag-tag band.

Enjoying the company of the family - we're missing Sam & Charlie, but we're also enjoying being 3 for a while.

Stats

Kms: 4300
Hottest temp: 40degrees C
Champion swimmer: Ted
Pool champion: Ted (despite J claiming to have been the U21 Sheffield champion in her day). Ted's tactic of potting no balls and waiting for his opponent to foul on the black worked pretty much every match.
Table tennis champion: Dad
Table football champion: Dad
Question asker champion: Sam
Coped best with constant teasing about giraffes: Sam
Most physics books read: Charlie
Champion Bronzer: Mum
Champion suncream applier, to self: Charlie
Most annoying catchphrase: Ted
Champion waspcatchermaker: Mum

When did that happen

One of the many things that have struck me over the holiday (and it links to the previous eating post) is the size of my kids. But guess which of these legs belongs to J...

Le Gargantua

Their pizza's defeated J and I, But the boys finished theirs easily. End of an era.

Been around a Chateau today, bit odd. Doors all locked, we had to ring a bell 3 times to summon the wrinkled retainer. Had a private tour, in French. Pictures to follow.

No pool, but the Loir river

Buster's first happy foray into water. 4th for Jules.

Hottest day of our holiday

And we've no longer got a pool...

Dorgone

But not forgotten. In the Loire now for a day and a half, 300 miles from Calais. View is from our bedroom window, a town called Fleche.