But wait, there's more.....

I'm on a roll here!
I've always said that it's the little things that make up life's pleasures. And it's true. I decided this afternoon that I needed to post some stuff at La Poste. It would appear that I am going to be at school and/or uni all day every day this semester, so as I had an afternoon free I made myself get on to it. First of all I walked back to the Tabac and got my AFS stuff photocopied. I chatted for ages with the man, who told me that I was speaking much better than when he first met me. And do you know, I was! Sometimes it just happens. But he was really nice, and was asking me qestions about why I was here, about my family, what I will do when I go back, and the one I am always asked - at what age do people retire in New Zealand! I continue to mystify them. Anyway, I then walked to La Poste, which is sort of in the next suburb. There is always a long queue and I think I have talked about that before. Well, no queue! And not only that, I got the nice man who has served me before and who has gone to a great deal of trouble. I posted the AFS stuff and I also had resources and bits and pieces to send back home. (Gillian my petal, I have sent them care of you again! Hope that's OK.)He spent ages finding the right sized boxes/packets and helping me get it all sorted. I can remember once waiting at the Stoke Post Office and an elderly man who had waited for ages in the queue was given a form to fill out, and made to go away and do it and then join the back of the queue! I felt really sorry for him. Well, we don't do that in Poitiers! Certainly not! He just waited patiently while I filled in customs forms, addresses etc. Just as well there were other "tellers" or whatever they are. It cost a small fortune to post them, but I feel relieved that I've done it. Then I had a wee parcel for Hayden and Vanessa. He fiddled round for a while, then said, "Look, the best I can do is this packet and it will cost you 40 euros (on today's exchange rate about $110)to post. Much too expensive. If you go along to the bookshop and buy a packet it will then cost you 6 euros (about $16)to post." Well! So I went along the road and bought a packet very cheaply, after the kind lady left her post to help me and tried squashing the parcel into various sizes until she found one that fitted. And back I went to la Poste and in fact it only cost 5.50 euros.
I have some homework waiting for me which I am quite anxious about, but nonetheless I am thinking that it was a pretty good afternoon.
And oh yes, I know what I meant to mention, re my Middle Eastern holiday. (You can tell I'm avoiding my homework, can't you? :-))When we were in the Grand Palace Hotel in Al Ain, Sheryl and I were admiring the beautiful rugs/carpets for sale at astronomical prices. We asked the woman if many were sold at $60000 (for example.) She said no, but those that were sold were to Russians! I don't know why i was surprised, but I was. Fancy that!