We decided to go to the famous Angelina’s for breakfast. We had to take a detour via Champs Elysées because the road in front of the President’s residence is closed for certain hours. We found a short cut through a little park with cute sculptures. Angelina’s opened at 9.00am and when we arrived at 9.20am it was already two thirds full. Good decision because for the morning/afternoon tea they are famous for there would have had long lines. The girls loved the bread and ordered double servings! They are both over hot chocolate as it has been so rich and thick.

As we were already on rue Rivoli all we had to do was cross the street and enter Le Jardin des Tuileries. They are so beautiful. There was a summer carnival as well as the usual trampolines and carousel. We explored it all. Such a thrill to be trampolining next to Le Louvre. Lots of activities, sculptures and fun.

We walked back to the hotel to have a little rest and to get ready for the afternoon at La Tour Eiffel.

When we arrived there were people everywhere as well as security fencing, check points etc. There had been lots of extra security installed at the beginning of June for the soccer. We discovered my arrangements had meant we had our own guide who escorted us through special accesses so we had very little waiting. The first part of the tour was across the road under the Champs de Mars where the bunker is. So we went down underground and saw lots of archives and we heard lots of numbers and history. We enjoyed going up the tower and the views! We also got to see behind the scenes in machinery rooms up the tower. So we have really done the tower!

Afterwards I had planned to visit Musée Quai Branly which is not far from La Tour because the aboriginal woman who did the paintings Kate and I have, painted a ceiling in there. This was a disappointment as it is in an administration area and so we couldn’t see it. I had planned on spending time there and had booked dinner at the L’ombres restaurant on the roof of the museum as it has fabulous views of the tower. The girls weren’t fussed as they has found some craft work in the museum bookshop which they begged me for. So we cancelled dinner and had a drink and some sorbet at the cafe. Then the problem was how do we get a tax as by this time we were all hot and a bit bothered. As we stood on the side of a very busy road along came one of the bikes/rickshaws which we hailed. We had a fun 15 minute ride back to the hotel.

The girls wanted to eat dinner in our room which we did. They spent an hour working on their new craft projects.

Another successful day. Check out our video of the day.

Our voyage here was a long one but no real drama until the last bit of Singapore to Paris leg. Sarah accidentally knocked a half cup of hot chocolate over and it managed to go down the front of me, over her suitcase and unfortunately into the end of her suitcase plus carpet in the plane. We cleaned up as much as possible in the plane.

We got a taxi to the hotel. It was wonderful to just walk out with only carry on luggage. We arrived a little early – 7.00am Paris time. As we felt so travel weary I decided to book in the half day early. The staff were amazing. As soon as we walked in they greeted me by name and asked the girls which one was Charlotte and which one was Sarah. Then the girls were introduced to the male cat Pharaoh, the female Cleopatra was with the housekeeper. The girls saw the room where the cats are fed. All very special treatment.

We went to have a drink as they finished getting our room ready. A drink turned into a second breakfast!

Housekeeping whisked away the clothes with chocolate over them.

Our room is wonderful. There was a special treat waiting for the girls which they loved. Those rabbits are having quite a time. The girls have made beds for them, they come out on walks, to meals etc.

Olivier was great. He took us everywhere. Who knew there had been so many revolutions in Paris! The girls were typical tourists – took photos of everything but with no people in them!! We will try to do a little better as the days go by. At the end of the three hours he dropped us at Sephora on Champs Elysées where we bought shampoo etc. Then we walked back to the hotel. The girls wanted room service so after a late lunch in the room it was off to the pool.

We decided to go for a walk along Rue Faubourg St Honoré and lo and behold we came to Hermés! Who could resist. It was such fun choosing. The girls each have a new vintage scarf. The vintage ones are smaller 70cm square and a little softer silk. They know that the scarf has to be folded after use, kept in the box and only dry cleaned.

We took a slightly longer way back and stumbled onto a Sushi shop ‘Planet Sushi’ where we had a small meal. I had tempura prawns which I liked. The girls are sushi experts so knew exactly what they wanted.

We were all very tired. So the girls did their journals for a while then we all went to bed.

A great first day – tomorrow afternoon it is private tour of La Tour and in the morning maybe Angelina and there is a summer carnival across the road in Les Jardins Tuilieres.

Check out our video.

Lots of the family were on the move this month and two of us are having a birthday.

Happy Birthday to Sarah Buchanan born 28 May 2001

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Happy Birthday to David born 29 May 1971.

Last week Liz came down to Melbourne for a board meeting of the Rosy Batty Foundation. She brought Baxter with her. A babysitter looked after him in the afternoon from our place. After work it was Grandma and Opa plus Uncle Peter and Aunty Bec who bathed Baxter. He was as good as gold. He sat up with us for dinner then went to bed without a peek.

I did a separate video for the Run in the Blue Mountains. It was good to have Kate and Sarah back in the country. I was sorry I didn’t get a change to catch up but I will be going to Thiam Siew Avenue on our layover in Singapore on our way to Paris.

Maddie is now working at Planinsek Property Group on Thursday afternoons for4 hours. She is studing full time so has limited time to work part- time.

Liz went to Phuket for a health break. We saw that David has been in Jakarta having 8 million rupiah dinner catching up with friends. Sounds so much!

I am inching closer to starting the podcasting series. I am aiming to have 4 in the “can” by end of June so we can launch early July. I think I will have more. I have found a guy in Spokane Washington who is helping me and it is making it so much easier. I interviewed Sarah Galvin on Monday about what its was like finding a place to rent.

Peter is still selling and is very positive. I think generally the market is going to slow.

There is still talk of a 10% reduction in prices

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PJ and Bec removed the garden shed and the courtyard now looks so much bigger. They are doing more of the wooden flooring but there will a some grass as well.

Today I had my third chemo of the third round so I am half way with three rounds finished. I am still feeling OK.

Still in progress – note the video is up

Sometimes things happen which make you stop and think. I sure have been doing some thinking over the past three weeks as I moved through the medical problem. I am now on the solution – wellness side so am thinking of fun things I would like to add to my life. Less work and more fun. I think Sophie would agree that it is best to have the hospital over so both she and I are girls looking to have fun.