Paris 22 Juillet

We were up early to breakfast around the corner. We then had our stuff packed so we could leave when we finished at Le Louvre. Stephanie came and collected us and we went across the river to Le Louvre. She was great with the girls again though we were really feeling all the walking on marble floors. I found my joints ached. We saw the highlights and the girls received little gifts from her so it was great. Then it was off to the Ritz.

Our room wasn’t ready but I didn’t complain as for some reason we were upgraded. It is hard to describe the luxury of the suite. It is amazing. There is a huge living room with a huge couch, several easy chairs, a desk and a bed for me. The girls are in a king sized room with their own separate toilet. There is a powder room off the foyer. We love it!!

I had no luck with the 2 shops off Place Vendome that I wanted to visit. I went to Charvet – an exclusive French shirt maker to find a tie for Erich but despite there being 100s to choose from I came away empty handed. The same happened at a designer dress shop where I have bought before – nothing in my size.

Late in the afternoon I had organised a private lesson in a home on how the French set their tables. We enjoyed it. The girls now know that they need to stand when I enter the room and that I should be the first served at the table (provided that there is not an older woman there). The woman who took the class is taking us on a gourmand walk on Sunday.

Tomorrow in the morning we have a professional photo shoot and in the afternoon we are being taken on a family shopping tour to kids shops. We were disappointed today as we walked to where the oldest toy shop in Paris was meant to be but apparently it closed a couple of years ago but it still in all the books on kids’ things in Paris.

The girls have been amazing. The occasional spat but all worked out fairly quickly. Charlotte seems really comfortable and can mostly say what she wants without hesitation. I have been amazed at how much they have played with the soft toys. They have made furniture, beds etc for them and play for ages with them. Only 2 days to go. I am going to sleep for a week when I get home!