Dear Kitty,
welcome to the first day of the new Christian year! And, oh, what a marvellous weekend it's been. I spent yesterday selling crackers and singing carols at St George's Bazaar, which was trememndous fun - although we got some very weird looks when we sang 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' on the Champs. The rest of the day, I had to stand in front of an enormous display of crackers and shout 'Crackers! Specially imported from England! Fun for all the family - unless you're under three because they've got small bits in them! Handmade cards - three euros each of five for ten! Buy anything and get a free carol!'
I sang a LOT of carols. Father Richard and Father Matthew were very impressed. Father Richard spent most of the bazaar cradling vrious bottles (all either Christmas presents or antiques, he assured me) or carrying things over and saying 'Look, Chessie! Isn't this marvellous? Have you found anything on the clothes stall yet? Oh, look - what a gorgeous inkwell. Do you rollerblade? They've got a pair just over here.' (I bought them - along with lots of presents, like a record of 'The Barber of Seville' for Alex).
When I got back, it was straight back to work for me. I spent six - eleven looking after Etienne and his nine-month-old cousin Hannah, who is adorable. She was a perfect angel - we put her to bed and she went straight to sleep. Etienne was a pain for a bit when I told him that he had to calm down around Hannah and that I had to keep a really close eye on her, so couldn't play any of the usual games. He watched a film after tea, and then went to bed - so I spent two hours sitting on the sofa, and running upstairs every ten minutes to check that Hannah was still alive.
Today, we did a lovely Advent service - including the Advent responses that we did at Oundle last year, and I got the solo for part of that; I think Peter was making up for yesterday when he spent all day telling me that I looked like an elf. I didn't really mind, though. To be honest, my new playsuit makes me look like a combination of 'Dig For Victory', an elf, and (according to Marie-Pascale) a 50s pin-up. All good - I think...
I went skating this afternoon, and I'm definitely improving. Aside from that, I have watched two films and done not a lot else. Marie-Pascale's away all week now, and I'm dreading it - I only found out today because nobody bothered to tell me. So I have to do lunches all week, and the boys hate my cooking. This should be interesting. Of course, Laurent didn't bother to tell me what I was doing for the rest of the time, such as in the evenings, but getting a sentence out of him is an achievement in itself. I'll pick it up, hopefully.
Alex got back from Florence today, and he's quite sad, I think. He'll be alright, though - he's that sort of person. He'll huff about it for a few days, and then think 'argh - Oxford!' (did I mention that he's got an interview? I am a v. proud girlfriend right now)
Fifteen days til hols...
Speaking of which, I've now got them until the third of January! Hurrah! (But also bum because I had to pay 86 euros to change my flights. Putain. At least I'll get longer to see Mum and Dad)
Yours,
Chessie
P.S The youngest person in choir has to do the solo for 'Once In Royal'. I've always wanted to do that!!!!
welcome to the first day of the new Christian year! And, oh, what a marvellous weekend it's been. I spent yesterday selling crackers and singing carols at St George's Bazaar, which was trememndous fun - although we got some very weird looks when we sang 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' on the Champs. The rest of the day, I had to stand in front of an enormous display of crackers and shout 'Crackers! Specially imported from England! Fun for all the family - unless you're under three because they've got small bits in them! Handmade cards - three euros each of five for ten! Buy anything and get a free carol!'
I sang a LOT of carols. Father Richard and Father Matthew were very impressed. Father Richard spent most of the bazaar cradling vrious bottles (all either Christmas presents or antiques, he assured me) or carrying things over and saying 'Look, Chessie! Isn't this marvellous? Have you found anything on the clothes stall yet? Oh, look - what a gorgeous inkwell. Do you rollerblade? They've got a pair just over here.' (I bought them - along with lots of presents, like a record of 'The Barber of Seville' for Alex).
When I got back, it was straight back to work for me. I spent six - eleven looking after Etienne and his nine-month-old cousin Hannah, who is adorable. She was a perfect angel - we put her to bed and she went straight to sleep. Etienne was a pain for a bit when I told him that he had to calm down around Hannah and that I had to keep a really close eye on her, so couldn't play any of the usual games. He watched a film after tea, and then went to bed - so I spent two hours sitting on the sofa, and running upstairs every ten minutes to check that Hannah was still alive.
Today, we did a lovely Advent service - including the Advent responses that we did at Oundle last year, and I got the solo for part of that; I think Peter was making up for yesterday when he spent all day telling me that I looked like an elf. I didn't really mind, though. To be honest, my new playsuit makes me look like a combination of 'Dig For Victory', an elf, and (according to Marie-Pascale) a 50s pin-up. All good - I think...
I went skating this afternoon, and I'm definitely improving. Aside from that, I have watched two films and done not a lot else. Marie-Pascale's away all week now, and I'm dreading it - I only found out today because nobody bothered to tell me. So I have to do lunches all week, and the boys hate my cooking. This should be interesting. Of course, Laurent didn't bother to tell me what I was doing for the rest of the time, such as in the evenings, but getting a sentence out of him is an achievement in itself. I'll pick it up, hopefully.
Alex got back from Florence today, and he's quite sad, I think. He'll be alright, though - he's that sort of person. He'll huff about it for a few days, and then think 'argh - Oxford!' (did I mention that he's got an interview? I am a v. proud girlfriend right now)
Fifteen days til hols...
Speaking of which, I've now got them until the third of January! Hurrah! (But also bum because I had to pay 86 euros to change my flights. Putain. At least I'll get longer to see Mum and Dad)
Yours,
Chessie
P.S The youngest person in choir has to do the solo for 'Once In Royal'. I've always wanted to do that!!!!
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