On holiday in Bargara, Queensland

Just a few snaps of Hayden my older son, his lovely wife Vanessa and the adorable Lily Grace. I don't look like a thing of beauty and a joy forever but hey, it's about Lily!

Back to almost normal.

Yes, despite a very patronising young man at the helpdesk - he may live to rue his manner towards this old lady as I responded to a survey afterwards related to the service I received - I now have Broadband installed! First time since France. And I have stopped vomiting and leaking from other orifices also! You will be pleased to know that I'm quite sure. :-)
So where were we? Should I post some coming home photos? I was most taken with the Butterfly place at Singapore Airport. You could live at Singapore Airport for a few days if you had to. There is heaps to do and it's very calm and relaxing. And as I mentioned previously I had the good fortune to have been travelling with two lovely young women and having good company makes such a difference. Well, it does to me. So... some photos. First of all, sunrise from the kitchen window of 106 Route de Bonneuil Matours, Poitiers, on the morning of my departure. And the promised photo of moi lookig possibly a little forlorn as I await the TGV at Poitiers gare, to speed me off to Paris and thence home. (Home? Where is that again?) Some butterflies, and that's about it.




I've been back for 3 weeks now - a long time and also not very long at all. I know that I made the most of my time there and I have no regrets in that regard. Yes, it was hard at first but it would have meant a lot less had I not had that initial struggle I think. And I know that I was always only going to be there for a year and had I stayed on things would have been different. But I would have coped! Honest, Miss! I am still grappling with emotional stuff about leaving to be honest. But hey, you could never say that I lead a dull life! I am tuff! (Little did Steven at the Xtra helpdesk know with whom he was dealing!)
Oh, did I mention my presentation to the staff at school? It went quite well I thought. Certainly no-one got up and left. I could have 'presented' for twice as long really, but they probably had plans to eat tea that night so I took pity on them. Lol! I tossed in a few photos and videos for variety and hopefully that made things much clearer.
I plan to do some scrapbooking using photos and all the other bits and pieces I brought back, like touristy pamphlets, my bus pass, carte de sejour etc etc. We mustn't forget the celebrated carte de sejour! I'm looking forward to doing that.
And soon I will post another entry here with more of an evaluation of how things went, specifically related to the award.
So it's goodnight from me and it's good night from.... well, it's still just me.

Update.

Yes, I'm still here. Still without Broadband and still a bit disorganised. Toby and Rachel and the wee girls left for Brunei yesterday and I couldn't take them to the airport because I was sick!! I had spent most of the night before (and the following morning) losing great amounts from both ends. Vomiting is just not nice I can tell you. Now I have stopped but have slept for the best part of a couple of days. Goodness knows what it's all about - a mean bug of some sort I guess. But I WILL get myself into gear and I WILL post more photos and I WILL write a reflection on my year away. Just not sure exactly when! :-)

You'll be pleased to know that.....

.....today was better! We still have a wee way to go but there have been some lovely moments. Thank goodness!