The Point of Sunflowers

The first fields of sunflowers I saw were out of Oamaru on the way to Kakanui.  Since then I've been lucky enough to see them in Italy and France on a much much larger scale.   

But the fields of sunflowers are very quickly disappearing around us.  From the time we arrived here, they have been everywhere, and I have been fascinated watching the fields change from yellow to black as the sunflowers die; they are now being harvested.  The combine harvester-like machines go up and down the fields and chop of the flower heads halfway down the stem, and then another tractor comes along in the next day or so to cut down the flower stalks to leave an empty field.  The harvester apparently shakes the seeds out of the flower heads and there are trucks of seeds driving through the country roads, that are piled up and look like a mound of topsoil.     

A harvested field on the left, and drying flowers on the right. 

Beautiful images of fields of hundreds and thousands of these yellow flowers I have always loved, but it's only now that I have really started to think about what the point of it really is.  Oil and seeds. 


Drooping flowers but still stunning with thousands in a field

We must have missed the sunflowers in all their glory by a week or so, as they had droopy heads when we arrived.  The leaves have been changing from a yellow/green to a shrivelly brown colour.  The faces of the flowers have got darker and blacker.  I have wondered why some flowers are so much bigger than others.  Is it random, or different seed varieties?  Surely it makes sense for the farmer to have the bigger flowers with more seeds and a bigger yield at crop time.  But there are so many little flowers.  I need to do some proper googling on these questions I have.  Or practice some French about sunflowers and find someone to ask. 

Discarded flower head from the harvesting. The seeds just shake out so easily...although the husks must be taken off in another processing step

Gregg and I have wondered why NZ doesn't have more sunflower crops.  Is the value of the yield too low compared to our land values compared to over here? 

But, they are beautiful at all the stages I have seen.  It has made me think more about the whole lifecycle process and processing of the seeds.

Small sunflowers drying out

Walking through the now empty fields we have collected a few flower heads...examined them, peeled the seeds, tasted them.  The ones around here are mainly used for oil production.  The seeds are so much more oilier than the ones I'm used to out of packets. 

Bit of a random post - but when I'm on holiday like this I have time to watch all these things happening around me, and mull over the "why" about it all.     

When we can get this up close and personal in the sunflower fields and not just drive by and see them from the car, it is quite cool to see the changes over a few short weeks.

         

Narbonne and Narbonne Plage

Today's adventure saw us heading to Narbonne, which dates from 1 BC.  We are amazed by the age of this country with both its history and also the structures that remain from centuries later than that.  I could tell you a bunch of historical stuff - but you can read that elsewhere.  We looked around the 14th Century church - well part of the church as it never got finished.  Apparently the harbour silted up around this time changing the course of the Aude River so the town was not such a good place to have the capital of Gaul. 

Our standard set up for getting around - Mountain Buggy and buggy board for the kids, generally pushed by Gregg.  The buggy board gets a lot of stares and comments as we go anywhere. 

As a city fix on a pretty rural holiday so far, I loved it.  The buildings curved out from the ground, not straight and flush.  You glimpse old medieval churches everywhere, up little 'rues' (streets).  The restaurants and cafes and bars spew onto the streets - again with the chairs defining the outdoor spaces of each one.  The modern boutiques are housed in old, old buildings.  It was amazing to wander around....and indulge in a little bit of shopping.  I know it is commented all the time a bout how French women are chic, they ARE!!  From a people watching exercise, it was fun.  All ages of women looked fab, with scarves that looked so haphazardly thrown around their neck, what for most people would be mis-matched stripes just work for these ladies.  How??  They even walk differently it seems - that makes even the short chicks like me seem to be tall.  Oh, to emulate!!!!

We had a picnic on the side of the Canal de la Robine as that is easier than the cafes and restaurants I would love to be doing!!!  But Jonathan and Elena have different ideas about what makes a cool lunch.  The Canal is concreted in, rather than riverbanks.  It almost reminded me of the Thames on the Southbank of London. 

Avenues of trees are everywhere.  Elena wanted to wear her 'running shoes' today, and they got put to good use around the city.

The Cathedral and Archbishops' Palace in the background, with the canal just beyond me and the kids.

Canal de la Robine with some amazing buildings running alongside.  The ground floor of these house bars and restaurants, and shops and banks. 

While I write this, Gregg is talking about how the power of the Church in Europe in those time.  He sees small towns with ample agricultural advantages, but yet massive cathedrals and wonders how these were built and what the locals sacrificed to have these.  The wealth of the Church must have been amazing.  It's probably also worth noting that the area we are in is know as Cathar Country (think Templar Knights, Di Vinci Code etc) - so everywhere you go is some amazing church or Abbey.  But we digress........ 

The square in Narbonne. 

Passage de l'Ancre - a cool street of medieval arches and cobblestones

Narbonne is cool, and I look forward to going back a few more times given it is so close down the road.  'Cool'....goodness, I do need to come up with some better descriptions!!   

Part two of today saw us at Narbonne Plage (beach).  Given that Narbonne itself is no longer near the water, this was about a 15minute drive from the city.  Through vineyard country.  The temperature is showing 27 degrees as we see the bright blue water of the Mediterranean as we come through the dry, rocky landscape.  It really is beautiful.  Unfortunately no good stopping point for a photo...you will just have to believe me. 

Lower down as we get to the beach it is 28 degrees.  It is perfect for being at the beach.  A quick change at the car for the kids and us into our togs.  Then off we trot across about 150m of lovely sandy sand to get right up to the water where we set up camp.  Past the bare breasted ladies of all shapes and sizes, the leather brown skin of the sun lovers, and everyone else. 

Happy Jonathan

Jonathan is just a beach baby!  He LOVES it and will not keep his sun hat on because he is so busy walking off into the water, or throwing sand around, or throwing it all over his head.  Elena has the spades from the sandpit at home and is making a moat.  She has been paying attention at the Castles we have been visiting. 

Yes, the views are amazing as we look back over stunning blue water to the Pyrenees.  The water is still a bit fresh as you get into it.  Lovely once you are in.  Very much like at home.  We do have amazing beaches in Auckland.  And it's one of the things that while I would like to live over here for a lot longer, the lifestyle of NZ with the beaches so close by - just as beautiful - will draw us home.  We are so lucky being able to walk from home to the beach.  Our old house was just a 10 minute walk down the hill to a couple of the best beaches.  It's something that I'm sure many of us take for granted.  The road to the beach today was full of fast cars, impatient people all trying to get to where we were.  It is interesting the differences between here and there. 

Elena having fun. 

However, it was a lot like Mt Maunganui.  And so familiar.  I think give our kids a beach anywhere in the world and they will be the same.  We, as adults ooh and ahh about where we are.  The kids just want water sucking the sand from their toes and sandcastles.   

A great day all round.  City to surf (well, little waves that caused much delight).  One the way home we stopped at a roadside stall selling wines from the Vineyard right next door. 

Gregg choosing the wine.  A 12 euro 5 litre box of Rose (yes we are reliving the 80's and are drinking wine from a box!!

And PS.  The sunhat throwing off by Jonathan does not stress me as much as it would in NZ.  The sun is not as harsh and I'm already getting lots browner (yes, white pasty me!!) with not an inkling of sunburn after hours in the sun.  Imagine life in NZ without the ozone layer depletion!!!! 

A rare moment with Jonathan and his sunhat.

So we are planning our next beach outing....tomorrow.  And then perhaps a visit to San Sebastian in Spain soon too. (It is so cool to be able to even contemplate).  (and there is that word 'cool' again.)  Get me the Thesaurus.

PS.  there are heaps of cool photos that I will get up and link to...but Gregg's laptop has started freezing webpages after an update....so I can't do it now. 

Au marché, au marché

The other day on the way to the market, I taught Elena 'To market, to market,To buy a fat pig; Home again, home again, Jiggedy jig; To market, to market, To buy a fat hog; Home again, home again, Jiggedy jog'.  It made me think about how when that little rhyme probably was made up, it was when village markets were the way of life for everybody - and perhaps some frazzled parent made it up to keep their kids excited about going to market??!!  And now they are becoming a key thing we do as part of our week.  And I think it is pretty cool that Elena can associate that rhyme with something we do.    

The village markets were one of the things we were looking forward to before we came away.  On my previous travels in Europe I hadn't really done the market thing so much as we moved to a new location every day or so.  Of course the ones that remain in my memory are in Barcelona and in Venice.   

I guess it what excited me coming away was being able to go back to the same markets regularly, try different things every time and also find favourite vendors.  We haven't been disappointed, and I love spending the morning at the marché. 

Our favourite has been Mirepoix which is about a 25 minute drive from us, and held every Monday morning and is a great way to start the week.  It is set in 14th century village square, where the vendors sell their wares alongside the covered 'verandas' (where the second floor of the building juts out to create the cover, rather than something jutting out from the building.  A picture might explain that better.

The tables and stalls of goodies wind their way through Les Halles and alongside the centuries old church.  Under the 'verandas' outside the restaurants and bars are tables and chairs, each with their own look that defines which chairs belong to which establishment, and throughout the morning and heading into lunchtime and the winding up of the market, the tables are filled with people having a snack, a coffee or into lunch with some wine and something more substantial to eat.  I could watch the activity for hours and hours...but alas, with two kids in tow, we generally have to move quickly and onto the next thing to keep their interest up, or to find the next yummy thing to eat. 

Mirepoix market.  Gregg ambling through with the kids.  Often the picture changes and the buggy is empty of children and full of shopping!  But it shows the 'verandas' I was trying to explain.  I must find out what this is called. 

The vendors are just as interesting as their produce.  They are helpful when we must look a little overwhelmed at what to choose (or even how to choose it - some select your fruit and veges for you - others have bags for you to fill your own that they hide away up above your heads, so when you stand there waiting to be served you look like a goober), the name of things are in French - and even reading the name labels out our accent often causes a giggle - but we always get there, they are friendly to the kids - who are often handed a grape, an olive or piece of dried fruit or slice of salami.

Our favourite vendor is one guy - but he has multiple names - the olive man, the dried fruit man, the sundried tomato man, the vege chip man.  We love his things and always come away with what we think is enough....but never is!  Luckily we have found him at both Mirepoix and Limoux so far, so can get a double weekly fix if we need to. 

The stand with man with multiple names that we have given him.  It was one of the first stands we went to at Mirepoix market.  The most commonly used word at his stand is 'plus' ie, more.   



Eeek.  Didn't like this guy and his buddies.  I had kept walking and Gregg and my brother Joe who was with us this day in Limoux stopped!  Why? We all were watching our pockets and bags.  Another guy was showing Joe a rope trick where he pulled it around his neck.  Creepy. 

Mirepoix not on market day. 

Mirepoix on market day

Back home with our first market shopping.  

Our first market visit we came away with some basic things, but now we know what can be found at the markets we are leaving with more goodies...I got powdered vanilla and vanilla pods the other day; and just devine herbal tea taken out of a big canister and packaged so nicely in a little bag for me.    We have realised the bottom of the buggy is just nowhere near big enough for our shopping so have bought a basket (that can also double for taking towels to the beach, or picnics out).  Since we have bought that it is always filled to the brim with du pain (bread), des legumes (veges), des fruits (fruit) and lots of other goodies.  And everyone I talk to seems to have a new recommendation for a vendor to visit, or where to get the best olives or other regional product! 

We are seeing some of the same vendors at a couple of the different markets.  Another one we like is on Friday in Limoux (home of French bubbles and another blog tale!!).   It doesn't seem as compact or intimate as Mirepoix and is spread over the village square, a couple of streets and into an inside hall, but in reality is probably about the same size.  They had some chickens and rabbits in cages...not for pets, me thinks...

There is a market close by for every day of the week if we want it.  Sometimes we go once a week, sometimes twice.  It just mingles into your way of life here, and it is great to see the markets obviously full of local residents as well as holiday makers from near by, as well as tourists passing through.  We can get a lot of what we need for the week and it makes going to the supermarket really for the non-food things, or non-perishable items.  It is a lovely way to be able to live, and also then cook.  We don't have a fridge full of things that get bought with good intentions as part of a full supermarket trolley, and then get wasted as they don't get used.  It is filled with things for the next few days...and then we know we'll be off to market again.  We have tried in NZ to get to markets more often than we actually have.   

We hope this will be a habit we do take home with us.  Jiggedy jig!! 

       

A new place to call home

When we decided that we were coming away for 3 months (which turned into not quite 4 months by the time we sorted out flights and a few other things), we knew we needed a base to call home.  Travelling with two young kids (aged 3 and 1), we knew they would need a bit of stability and normality in the midst of all the change.  So we looked for somewhere we could rent for the whole time we were here, knowing we'd have some trips away, but always somewhere to come back to. 

We also knew we wanted to be in the general South of France region, but were not set on where.  So we found a few places we thought would look good to stay in, and  figured out from there whether it was a village/region/ etc that we wanted to be in, and that would have enough close by to keep us busy enough (when we wanted to be busy!). 

This is where we ended up....Domaine Les Tisseyres ((here's their website), and their Facebook page that has cool photos of it too, just outside of the village of Fanjeaux; but also close to so many other villages and a few cities too. 

Snapshot of the large old school map in the house showing Fanjeaux and surrounding area.  We are slowly getting to all the places of interest!

How French is this place!!!

Close enough to head to the beach, and close enough when the seasons change to head to the ski fields if we want to.  And if you're looking for somewhere to come and stay we would thoroughly recommend it here!! 

Our hosts, Ed and Emily, with their two young girls are great.  They are originally from the UK but have lived here for the last 3 years.  The have been so welcoming and have a great knowledge of the surrounding area and what to do (especially with young kids).  The house itself is split in two - bit of  the part they live in and the part we are in.  The original part of the house was built in around 1830 (before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed to put that in a bit of historical timeline context), had a tower added onto in in the 1930s'; and the barn was converted to a residence about 20 years ago.  It's just what you imagine a big old French farm house to be....three levels, large, exposed beams (many just look like the trees they once were), tiled floors, wooden floors, window shutters, big old French furniture, chandeliers, fireplaces, walls of bookshelves filled with books, wide staircases (that aren't quite level), walls as thick as the length from my hand to my elbow, pool, old fruit trees, gardens full of herbs and old stone tables and so much more.  Have put a bunch of photos in here.  

How is that for a beam?  I stare at it all the time just fascinated by it.  

It is so amazing just walking through the house - every time noticing something new and interesting.  Every window has a scene out of a painting, although it is constantly changing with the clouds and the sun and the light and whatever else the weather is doing.  There is a little wood that Elena and I chase butterflies through, and at the end of it you peek through the trees to the hill with Fanjeaux perched atop of it.  It is at the end of a skinny, winding road that passes through fields of sunflowers and crops.  It is just like out of the books you read about where the author loves the area so much they stop and buy an old villa to do up!

I've already put some photos up on Facebook of 'Chez Nous' - and will probably add to that album over time with pictures of the things I love about the house.  Here's a link (click here) that you can use even if you don't have Facebook.

We've walked through the fields of sunflowers near the house, although the Mountain Buggy which made the trip with us hasn't been the easiest thing to push through the long grass.  Elena say 'uh oh.  long grass.  can't go under it, can't go over it, got to go through it.  swishy swashy swishy swashy'.  It puts exactly where you are on the map in perspective when you can see the villages in the distance.  My plan is to go for some runs through the fields more and explore different directions.  Alas, there have been no runs yet.  Jonathan has been in the back pack or front pack depending on his state of sleep, so not conducive to going jogging.

We have been sleeping in a lot.  In part because the kids have had interesting sleep patterns after travelling half way across the world (ie waking lots at night), in part because I have been so sleep deprived since Jonathan was born, but mainly because of the Shutters!  They are better than black out blinds, and on sunny days at 9am you'd think it was the middle of the night.     

It's exactly what we hoped for, and so much more.  Our home for three months.

Things that need getting used to

It's one thing to get on a plane and travel half way around the world, and know you are coming to another country, with another culture and other ways that things are done....but it's another thing to experience it.  (Again).  I was last in France in 1997...and while some things have come back like it was yesterday, others haven't.  I travelled with two good friends, in a Eurolease car (a little blue/green Renault Megane) for a couple of months.  This time I travel with a husband and two kids, in a Eurolease car (a Renault Grand Scenic).  There will be a little less spontaneity on this trip.      

Driving 
As we loaded up the car at Nice airport, there was a road above us.  The cars were going so fast.  Our Renault lady loaded our destination into the GPS.  I made sure the language was set to English.  Not quite ready for driving instructions in French...although I do want to get to a comfort where I can change the language.  That busy fast road I had seen was our first road out of the airport roundabout.  No easing into it on slow road.  Wham.  Straight into it.  I drove.  Gregg looked out windows and into the lanes and helped tell when it was safe to merge, change lanes, pass etc.  Seems silly, but trying to re-get used to a manual car, driving on the wrong side of the road, really fast - it was all a little overwhelming.
 
We chose to travel on the toll roads as we wanted to get right through to Fanjeaux the same day to get the kids settled in at our new 'home' (check out Chez Nous here Chez Nous - our place in France).  So we missed out on some fantastic destinations along the way and some amazing scenery.  It's a trade off - but we'll back track while where're here!

First stop was the petrol station.  When I went inside it was so familiar.  The grocery section.  The bottled water.  The 'fast food' of baguettes filled with ham and cheese and tomato.  Out came the French.  Handed over the credit card so we could fill the car with gazole (diesel).  I asked for coins for the tolls (as we had had a disastrous toll booth experience a little earlier on the motorway), and I now got told the booths take notes - which we had....refer below as to why this is relevant. 

The speed limit on the toll motorways is 130km/hr.  When I got on I said to Gregg we would not be driving that fast. It just seems wrong.  After coming from 100km/hr speed limit in New Zealand, and travelling with precious kiddy cargo, it was a concept that just seemed wrong.  However, after an hour or so, there we were cruising along at 130km, passing tucks and slower cars.  It still freaks me out some of the fast cars.  With a speed limit, there are always those that break it...and they must have been going 150km/160km.  Eeek!  Out the rear vision mirror one second there was nothing, and then there was this fast fast car.  Now we are at our little village and have local roads around us, we avoid the toll roads where possible (not because you pay - but you only see France at 37,000ft that way).  Apart from the speeds, the toll booths cause a stupid amount of stress....far more than they should - it's not 'cos I'm particularly tall - but you'd need to be Dutch tall to work those damn machines.... 

Sometimes Jonathan wants to drive

Driving on the right side of the road

Toll booths
The worst part of our driving to date.  And I'm not sure yet whether the stress associated with them will subside to a level they actually deserve.  When we picked up the car and I asked the lady about toll roads, and did we need coins, she told me to just pick the credit card lane and use that.  Seems ok.  At the time, we forgot about exchange rates and credit card fees that would probably be more than each toll, but brains weren't working properly.  Otherwise we would have totally thought about the cash option more.  So we get to our first booth we have to pay the toll.  Pick the line with credit card option.  Plonk it in the booth machine.  Message reads...Carte Non Accepta.  Eeek.  You don't even need to know French to know that you are in the poop.  Tried another card.  Same message.  Cars lining up behind us.  Try again.  And again.  Same message on the machine. (running out of cards at this stage...)  I pushed the Help button and in very bad French attempted to say "J'avais une carte non accepta" ie I have a card that doesn't work in the machine.  The voice came back asking where I was.  Who knows.  I was looking for a booth number, a location name place.  Nec minute a young guy is next to the car window.  By this time we've taken out some money to give him, which he then feeds into the slot on the machine.  Where on earth was the cash slot when WE were looking at it???!!!  Magically disappeared.  Blindness hit us.  It just wasn't there.  Amazing what stressful situations do to you. 

Then there is the driving up close to the booth machines to get tickets, or pay the money (which we know how to do now).  I can never get close enough.  I have to open the door.  Then the car stops when you open the door or put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch.  Another stress!!!   But then it starts automatically again.  Arrrgh.  So toll booths are definitely NOT a favourite of ours.  And no matter how familiar they become, our first experience with them will probably mean they will stress us out forever.  Gregg thinks they are hilarious - Not helpful.. %$#*

Unmanned Petrol Stations
Another bad part of driving so far.  Although our credit cards are chipped and up to date, the machines at the petrol stations, most of which are 24/24 (ie unmanned) they don't blimmin work in the machines.  And the machines don't take cash.  So we hunt for the petrol stations with people.  And generally pay for the luxury.  But we have been lucky.  We clocked about 900km before the petrol light came on...a full tank of diesel would be about 70euro, approx. $125 NZD.  Our car had 1111.1 km on it this morning and it had only just been filled up. 

Speaking French
I know a little bit of French, although I can probably read it, and listen to it far better than I can actually speak it.  So the transition to making the words come out of my mouth from my head has been interesting.  Mostly I have been able to make myself understood.  Sometimes there is hilarity as no one understands. I have been (pleasantly) surprised at how little English is spoken where we are.  Either that, or they are humouring me and pleased I am making an effort.   In the last few days I've had to buy medicine for a sick little girl, buy sandals (out of season) for Elena, visit tourism offices and ask about the Dinosaur museum (although my Kiwi version of Dinosaur was not understood, but pretending to actually be a dinosaur was understood.  Deeenosaaur, not Diiiineosaur... Of course!!! Have got a new phone number for France.  Hired a cleaner for our house.  And lots of other things with so little English that I am proud of myself.  I need to practice, and remember new words.  But after a week here, French is becoming the automatic language for some of the things I say.  The kids understand those little phrases.  Gregg knew no French before coming here.  And I have been so proud at the way that he has learnt some key phrases and words and is happy to rock up to a shop and get what he needs.  Kind of like NZ - they don't always get him though...

The Sunday Shutdown
Everything is shut on Sunday.  I knew this, but had forgotten this.  And because we are on holiday, and not tracking the days, it all just sneaked up on us.  It also happened to be the day we decided to go to the supermarket for a big shop.  Typical.  So we gave up on shopping, but decided with so little food in the house we should eat out before going home  Ordering.  Went ok.  Three filled baguettes and some drinks.  By the way - what is with the fake cream put on top of cappuccino's??  I need to change my coffee of choice here.  Paying.  Gregg went up to pay after we had ordered a round of icecreams.  We must had hit a staffing change over, because as he was trying to pay chaos ensued!!  They kept trying to give him three more baguettes.  He kept giving them back. (This happened about 10 times...) Remember he cannot speak any French!!  They kept telling him it was already paid (which he knew it wasn't) and he kept saying ..' non'.. then trying to give him the baguettes again after 10 minutes of this he could have ended up with sandwiches - fortunately he had the common sense to keep saying 'non' - although when I got to the counter some of his drawings for them were quite comical! I am oblivious to all this, as it goes on, as I deal with two kids and dripping ice-creams - they had, in fact let him pay for..... so now we had a split bill and language barrier......  It all looks jovial so I leave Gregg to it.  But really all I wanted was him to come back to the table so I could get some napkins for the drips ( thinking he's found someone who wanted to practice their English....)!!  Little did I know he is trying to play charades, and mime that he has already eaten (OMG can you imagine it).  When I eventually came along, I didn't have much more luck until the word 'deja' came out!  Our learning is pay as you go!  Watch out for staff changes.  Buy groceries before Sunday!  Know what day of the week it is. 

Was interesting trying to ask for a 'fluffy' for Elena.  Turned out ok. 

Starting to need the napkins but Gregg was playing charades

Sundry things to get used to

• Amazing wine, cheaper than soft drinks at home
• The price of beef.  So expensive.  We have it so good in NZ
• Du Pain - Bread. Yummy.  So cheap.  Gregg at a million corporate breakfasts in NZ has never gone near the pastries.  There is no stopping him here.  I have to fight him to order from the shop keepers.
• Midday shutdown - needing to time eating vs shopping vs anything else as there is generally a shut down between 12 - 2.  Although you know life goes on behind the shutters, as you hear chatter and clattering of cutlery and smell yummy cuisine
• Being called 'madame'  - it makes me feel old. 
• Lazy time.  So relaxed.  No need to rush anywhere or feel like we need to be anywhere at anytime.  Although I do need to collect my brother Joe from the airport tomorrow as he flies in from the UK. 
• Time with the kids with both of us.  And not just the standard weekend rush to fit things in.
• Writing a blog.  Lots of ideas in my head to get down 'on paper' but finding the time.  The kids have not been the easiest to settle at night.  Jet lag has hit them a bit and we are all paying the price.  So evening time to ourselves has been a little bit lacking.  But I think we are coming out of it now.   
• Shutters.  Sleeping in because although it is glaringly bright outside, it is pitch black in the bedrooms.  Is good, but is bad. 

So many things that are probably just becoming the norm now.  We are loving it.  Getting used to things is just part of the whole experience we have come here for.  We could not ask for anything more. 


PS Gregg added a couple of words to this, and says...'Here you go, it is funny now'.  This isn't supposed to be a funny blog, I don't profess to being a comedienne.  There might be the odd amusing thing, but really these are just ramblings from me.  Hope you enjoy anyway.   
    
 

Au Revoir Nouvelle Zelande, Bonjour France

What a wonderful journey to get to France we have had.  It was a busy busy time leading up to our departure on Monday (2 Sept), with Gregg working right up until the Friday beforehand.  It was his last day at ING/OnePath/ANZ, and we had to finish packing up our house and put it in storage...and pack over the weekend.

As I start to write this Gregg is watching some French tv.  His goal is to improve his French 100% every day.    From his starting point of 'Allez allez' and 'Leo le chat' it is a pretty achievable goal at the moment.

Here are some photos...and when I get more used to this blog thing again they will relate more to the words, but in order to get this up and going, they are all here at the start. 

At Auckland Airport ready to go

At Melbourne Airport in transit.  Great kids play area. Little Elena is up way past her bedtime and her little cheeks are flushed red.   

In Dubai hotel restaurant.  After a sleep.  

41 degrees out of the water, probably 35 degrees in the water.

2am and in the hotel corridor overlooking the airport runway.  Off for breakfast

High fives all round.  This guy was from Burma. 

At Dubai to check in.

Yay for strollers at the airport. 

Coming into Nice.  Sleeping baby boy, excited little girl. 

Stage one of our journey was Auckland - Melbourne - Dubai.  Elena is a born traveller and seems to have loved every moment of the planes and airports so far.  We boarded the plane and she chose her seat as soon as we got to our row, settled in and was stoked when she got the kids pack and her buddy for the flight from the Emirates crew.  The meals on trays in special boxes, the entertainment screens in her seat arms (we had bulk head seats), the head phones, all of it - just excited her.  Add into that all the neat things that Nana Jan and Nana Rose had got for her for her airplane carry on luggage. She was soooo awesome to travel with.  Jonathan, not so good for the whole trip...just most of it.  He didn't have a seat, and because he is a cling on to me at the moment, he was on me pretty much the whole time.  Although Gregg dealt with his fair share of the time he spent screaming his head off as we descended into Melbourne (sorry rest of the plane) but apart from that he has been great too.  He slept a lot - 6 hours in one stint...on me, so I was glad when he woke up and I could move again.  He too liked the packs from the flight crew and the Nanas.  He gobbled down things from Elena's kids meals as well as ours.  Met a Spanish girl going home with her 7 month old son.  She lives in NZ with an Italian hubby - who she met travelling to NZ for a holiday. 

Trying to enter Dubai was interesting.  We got into the slowest line in the world ever at customs.  Then we had a women who didn't even look at us when we got to the desk, kept talking to her friend across the counter, yawned so hard we could see into her stomach and as good as fell asleep at her desk.  Then we thought there was something wrong as it was taking soooo long, then she called over what looked like a supervisor...and she threw a piece of screwed up paper at him.  She did wake up at one point to smile and say 'Hi Baby' to Jonathan with lots of enthusiasm.  As we waited in the very slow line to even get to the sleepy lady, we had time to wonder about what the men wore under their 'white dresses' and where Gregg could get some of the lovely rubber Japanese-toilet (aka drag queen) like sandals.  So their was a little amusement at least at 6am.  But....Welcome to Dubai.  Yeah Right.

We stayed in an airport hotel overlooking the runway at Dubai airport. Where they were very welcoming.   After a quick visit from housekeeping to make a little bed for Elena and bring a portacot for Jonathan we snuggled into bed about 7am.  A few hours later we went for a swim on the roof top.  I had planned to go back and take some photos overlooking the city from the roof, but our next little nap (supposed to be for an hour) turned into a sleep marathon and it was middle of the night when we woke up again.  So our sleep clocks are doing odd things.  We had breakfast at 2am at the café in the lobby.  Jonathan had all the staff lining up to do high fives with him as he toddled around.  And then headed back to the airport for the flight to Nice. 

Another successful flight for us.  Although, every hour does seem to drag when you are holding a wriggling toddler, a sleeping toddler or a hungry one.  (Sigh.)  We sat next to a French girl with her 9 month old son who live in Dubai.  She was off to a surprise hen's do in Monacco for her friend Stephanie.  Nice.  But there were a lot more kids on this leg.  Behind us was a family with 4 kids...the older boy and girl seemed to be looking after the younger two.  At one point I did peek-a-boo over the back of my seat with the little boy who then seemed to calm down.  Did a quick walk down the aisles and came back to drama where another passenger had been yelling at the family with the 4 kids.  I later met her during another aisle walk (there were lots of them with Jonathan) and she said she had watched for hours as the parents had done nothing to look after their kids or help them calm down, and it 'drove me nuts' to see 'your baby entertaining their little boy'.  On other walks, Jonathan and I met a bunch of guys who all wanted to do high fives with him, and in another part of the plane near us, two other burly guys played with paper drinking cups that Jonathan kept handing to them.  So nice of them.  And more high fives! 

And then we arrived in Nice.  A hot day, hot airport.  We got our bags (very slowly) and then found where to pick up our lease car.  We are leasing a Grand Scenic Renault for our holiday.  Elena is now forward facing in the car because in our haste to unpack the car at Auckland airport, we forgot the tether straps to keep her rear facing.  She is loving being able to see where she is going rather than where she has been.  A quick GPS introduction, and we loaded our destination into it.  Fanjeaux.  And away we went at what seemed like the wrong way round the round about and down the wrong side of the road, at over the speed limit.  More of that later.

Sorry for the long time getting a first post up.  I'll probably include links to photos on facebook (but will include the public link in case you aren't facebook members you can still see them).  Will love to get any comments, questions or suggestions!!!