Sabbitical to Europe

Bonjour
On our last full day in Paris we got up early and went to the Lourve to try and see the Mona Lisa. We arrived there at 9am opening time and there was a queue. Every first Sunday of the month it is free entry so there were alot of people!!! We thought it did not look long but little did we know that around the corner was another huge court yard and a long queue. OUr feet were frozen by the time we got in. Anyway an hour and more later we arrived at the entrance. We went to the Mona Lisa along with all the other people and had a look then went on to look at many other painters. Then on to Michelangelo and that was enough for us. We decided to leave and find a place for lunch. Yum more french bread!!! and pastries.
Then the kids went to the apartment to have a rest and J went for a run. I decided to go walk about. The shops were not open as it was new years weekend and it was Sunday. Everything was closed but I saw some markets and a few shops. It was nice to walk though and I had a lovely afternoon.
For dinner the kids had burgers and went back to the apartment. J and I went put for dinner. We had noticed a place nearby that had queues all week so thought we would try that before the queues started. We got sat at a table of four with another couple. It was quite cosy and interesting. We forgot to take our camera! They were from Peru and Holland so very interesting to talk to. They had never sat so close to another strange couple either so we got chatting. It was more traditional French food. J had wild boar, foie grais and I had tomatoes with cheese and pork... all very delicious!!! We shared a apple tart for dessert. Of course we had rose and rouge vin with dinner. It was a wonderful experience for our last evening.
The next day was an early start to drive to the airport with croissonts in a plastic bag for breakfast. The navigation lady in French got us to the airport (how J understood it all in french is beyond me!) We made it to the car return place after a phone call and got a ride to the airport. Yay!!! Then British airways wanted our bags to be the right weight so we had to open our bags and take things out in front of everyone. We made it to the right weight then had to sort out our hand luggage. We had nine pieces so oh dear had to throw some things out but made it eventually. I think we had 40 books to bring back home. It was a stressful start.
On arrival at Heathrow in London we made it to the right terminal and were very relieved to see the star alliance counter and a lounge yay!!!! Then it got better. Our flight from Heathrow to LA to Auckland went well with way too much food and movies and some sleep!!! We made it home!!!
We got a wonderful welcome from my parents and our dog snowball who was wearing a welcome home sign!!!
Oh I love my own bed!!! My girlfriend surprised us and met us at the airport with flowers and home made Christmas cake!!!
Well we are back in NZ and its so lovely to see our friends here. We miss our village Capestang and the friends we made there. We miss the lifestyle but our life is here in NZ and we are settling into the warmth and holidays here. J has had to work and I have started with less hours as the kids are home.
The kids and I have had our first swims here and have found it so warm. We must have got used to the cold weather in France.
Thank you to everyone who has been following our adventures with us.
I will post our final photos later.
Bonne Annee!!
Love from all of us!

It is 2011!!!
Last night we went walk about. We left after 830pm. We walked along the Champ Elysees which was amazing. There were thousands of people all walking to and from the Arch. We managed to get to the arch making sure we held M's hand. It was closed to the public. There were so many police around with all their gears on and I felt much safer knowing they were there! We made it to the Arch then realised that that was where the fireworks would be at midnight. We also saw the Effiel tower lit up for 5 mins on the hour. It was amazing. We have taken lots of photos but they do not do justice to what we were saw. Walked back to the apartment and got some dessert then tried to stay up until midnight. The kids went to sleep at 1130pm and J and I managed to stay up. Eve and Snowy drank all the champagne!!! Yes it is true as we have photo evidence.
Slept in this morning until 10am then on with the day.
We decided to do the Montmartre walk where Picasso and Van Gogh lived with other famous artists. There were many walking tours there too. We saw Moulin Rouge windmill and the cafe Amelie worked at in the movie and many other historic sights. W had light rain but all good and very interesting. I'm not sure it meant much to the kids but we hope they will remember it when needed one day.
We had lunch then onto our next venture. We found out that Kate who we met in Capestang (from Wellington) was playing Bach at one of the churches in the 4th district so off we went. Alot of walking but good for us. She plays the violin and its Baroque music. There were violins, Cello, Harpsichord, organ, Oboe, and Bassoon. A group of musicians had got together for the concert. It was fantastic as the instruments and music were Baroque. We loved it. Then we met Kate and went out to have a bite to eat and vin. Guess what was next door to the church but Au Pain Quotidian (yes the place we loved in NYC). We of course went there. It was great and lovely to chat to Kate. She studied in Wellington and Holland then has been playing in Belgium and France but she also loves NZ!!
Said our goodbyes then walked home through the lit up streets. We had Effiel tower shaped pasta and Ratatouille for dinner with bagutte and salade. Also vin from Capestang. Off to bed early today as had a late night last night.
What a cultural day we have had today!!! Love to you all.

Hi all
We are safely in Paris now. The drive was about 8 hours but then it took about 40 mins to drive 5km to where we were staying as there was much traffic. Not a great place to drive in. We made it though and it was great to be out of the car. J is doing such a great job of driving!!!
Dinner out and the kids found hamburgers with frites!!! They were so happy. I had a salad with chicken as could not face a hamburger. They were good burgers.
J found croissonts and baguttes for breakfast yum!!
Happy new year!!!
You are all in the new year now. We are still waiting.
Had a great day yesterday as we went to visit the Effiel tower along with thousands of others!!! Literally. There were so many queues and went to the shortest which still took us ages. It was to only walk up the stairs not an esculator. Oh well that will do. It was great though then down we walked again. Amazing queues!!!! We had tried to gat there early and just as well we did as half the tower soon fogged over and we had got the best views.
Then went walking to find lunch as it was after 1pm and we had left the apartment at 9am. Hungry we found a great place for lunch with great coffee. Then headed back to the river to check put the boat tour. Yes there was one leaving at 230pm and it was 225pm. We made it. The Effiel tower was really clouding over. Saw the small version of the Statue of Liberty. Great comparison as we saw the real one on NYC. This was quite small. They could not go as far as the Notre Dame as the river was up very high. This is very unusual!!! I think it flooded this week as well. Any way we had a good trip and it was good to get orientated with what was what along the river.
Then we found some Christmas markets so ventured there for some mulled wine and candy floss.
Walked home and cooked dinner which was nice. Salad and smoked salmon, bagutte, and steak for the kids. Followed by fresh nutella crepes from a shop not far.
Then sleep!!!
Up again today and off to Notre Dame and Ste Chappelle. Amazing after freezing in yet more queues. And it literally was freezing. I could not feel my feet at all. But we managed and were in awe of what we saw especially the stain glassed windows. Also we were standing on the island from 3rd century BC!!!
So much to see. Now it was after 1pm again and the kids were starving so stopped to eat then walked back the apartment. J and I went out for coffee by ourselves.
Had roissotto for dinner with chicken and now haeding off along the the Champ Ellyslees to the arch and back in teh freezing cold to look at the lights etc. My idea!!!
I will post photos on later. Happy new year!!!

Hello again! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Boxing day!
We headed to Carcasonne to take my friend Shirley to the airport on boxing day. We had been for walks in the morning in the cold weather then had croissonts before heading to the airport. Dublin Airport had been closed on Christmas day so we were not sure if Shirley would make but all good and she got there safely. Unfortunately I just found out that the water in her hotel turned off during the night due to a birst pipe so no hot drinks, shower etc until she got home 24 hours later. Oh dear what a trip and its cold and snowy in Ireland!!
It was wonderful to have her here with us over the festive season.
On Sunday afternoon we started packing our things and clearing out what we needed and what needed to be given away. The family we have become friends with have a son and partner who are going to NZ in March so they offered to take some things for us. I have given them some of our 40 books to take over for us. That was very helpful of them. We had sausage, cheese and baguette for dinner and salad of course.
This morning Monday here I went for a walk and found the canal iced over. It was amazing. The ducks were stuck on the other side and the beaver rat was swimming along the edge. It was cold and I had two pairs of gloves on! I had taken my camera so took photos. As I was walking a barge came along crackling through the ice. The people were waving at me to say hello and I was thinking they are breaking up something very beautiful! Anyway on my way back I saw that they had helped the ducks to be free in that they could swim across and around. So that was good.
I spoke to a lady who was walking her dog and she said that it was rare for the canal to freeze up like this. I came home and told the kids and J so they went up to have a look and feed the ducks.
The J and D went to Narbonne for a swim so M and I carried on packing and cleaning. When they got back we went up to the Bar de Gruille for lunch to try the le menu. We had salade, carbonnara or steak with chips and dessert. Lots of wine and cafe. It was lovely and we finally got it right in terms of experiencing the le menu. We got chatting to a retired English couple next to us for about an hour. The kids took their 7 year old golden retriever dog for a walk. They invited us for drinks at 6pm.
We got home then realised that it was time to go out and see the friends who we over for dinner last week. They were not feeling well so we stayed for afternoon tea and said our good byes. It was lovely to see them though and we look forward to seeing some of the family in NZ soon. Got home in time to park the car and head over for drinks with the couple we had met earlier. They were waiting with cocoa cola, salmon on bread and wine. It was a fun eveing with lots of chatting about NZ, rugby, travels, medicine, children and dogs. We had dinner at home at 9pm!!! Egg, chicken and bread with chausson au pomme for dessert. I feel very full today..... I wonder why!!!! Too much food and wine today.
Well packing and cleaning tomorrow then driving to Paris on Wednesday which will take 8 hours. We head back to NZ on Jan 3rd from Paris.
Hope to write soem of the blog in Paris if we have internet access otherwise the last entry will be in NZ. Three months have gone fast and thank you to all who have joined us on this journey. Love from all of us.

Happy Christmas to all all our family and friends who are reading our blog!
Sounds like you are having a lovely summer in NZ. Its cold and windy here so wonderful to be indoors with the heater on. It would be better if we had a fire place as it would be cosy.
On Friday morning S and I went for our 10km walk in the cold wind and it was nice to get back home into the warmth. J went for a run. My fingers were not happy even with my gloves on! It was good to have some exercise though.
I went and got the chicken from the butcher and there was a queue of people buying all sorts of meat and goodies. Pate and sausage etc. One lady bought a piece of beef that looked very good for 51 euro. Let alone all the other things she bought. It was wonderul to watch everyone getting into the festive spirit. Amazing to see how much work the butcher had put into all his produce.
We had lunch then went to buy some wine from Moulin Gimie for the Christmas weekend. He chatted to us and gave us a very nive wine mix of merlot and Syrah. Very nice.
The all of us went into Narbonne. The boys went swimming and the girls went to look at the shops and Christmas markets. Santa was supposed to arrive by boat on the river Robine at 5pm. We had a great time and met the boys for Cafe when they finished. We went home at about 6pm. A lovely way to spend the late afternoon with all the Christmas lights and the festive activities. Home to a pork cassolet and baguette with wine. We watch Chocolat on TV which was a reminder of village life here in France. We even ate some chocolate. It is lovely having Shirley here to share all our experiences with us.
Christmas Day!!
M woke up first on Christmas morning and had managed to find her presents from Santa. She really wanted us to wake up so that she could open her presents. She eventually got to open her presenst and was very happy with what Santa had gievn her. J got up and went to the patesserie to get the croissonts for breakfast and the chocolate log for dessert today. It was all exciting with queues at the Patiserrie.
We had croissonts, berries, bacon and french toast and maple syrup from Boston for breakfast. Then presents M said yay!!! D even got coca cola in his stocking!! I was very spoilt with so many presents. Some I had some idea of but Michelle has been trying to get us to forget anything we saw and heard previoulsy by brain washing us!!!! ha ha. Showers then J had a walk organised for us in the hills nearby. It was cold but wonderful.We had 35km winds. Great to be outdoors and see some sun. Home to cooking our Christmas dinner. We had green salade to start with baguette then roast chicken, potatoes and fresh carrots for main then the chocolat Buchette. We finished at about 6pm with a walk to feed the ducks in between and taking hot cupcakes to the neighbours. Also read the Christmas story from the Bible and our new book about Paddington bear's christmas. One of the neighbours brought us an Italian dessert which was very nice but we were full. Any way we have had such a wonderful day with food, presents, walks, movies and chatting with family and our lovely friend.
We hope you all have had a lovely Christmas. We have only got three more days here in the village which is sad so will make the most of it!! I will post photos tomorrow. Love to you all as at this special time of the year.