Hi blog, it's been a while eh? Sorry life got a little bit busy...
I can't even remember where I left off, New Found Glory I think? Anyway I'll start from there. That week was the usual hum drum until the Friday, another new tradition, this time a Dutch tradition, Sinterklass. It's essentially secret Santa but it's not because it's Sinterklass; but it was lovely, there was plenty of wine and pizza involved too which is a plus. The thing I loved about Sinterklass was that you have to write a poem to accompany the gift; there was laughter, tears and lots of love in these little poems! My gift- a perfect shade of lipstick and chocolate, well done Sinterklass!
Then the weekend included a tradition that I grew up with, Christingle. Christingle is an English Church tradition, it involves an orange and a candle and children. I love Christingle. I have missed it for many years now so it was super special to take part again. It was a stunning moment when the congregation all stood in a circle with their lit Christingles singing 'Light of the world', without getting to cringe I will remember that moment for a long time.
Then came last week, the busiest week I've had in Paris (yet). I volunteered to do the costumes for the church nativity, lots of animals and angels, so I was at church most daytime free time I had. I can't moan though, yes it was busy but I loved it; it was so nice to be using my degree skills away from stressful uni environment! And there was alway excellent company at the church. Evenings were taken up by catch ups and playing (really rubbish) first aider to Head Wound 2.0. Neither of these were chores either, my Friday night was spent watching Buffy and eating cheesecake and it was beautiful.
Then Saturday came around and I woke up feeling awful. The little girl I look after was sick then the mum was so it was my turn, just really rubbish timing! Not one to ever let a sniffle stop me off I trotted to nativity rehearsal, which went like a dream. I mean it, might have something to do with 3 adults stepping into missing roles by the end... Then I met Steph for an explore round the proper Montmartre which was so nice but wet, really really wet. We loved the area and explored as much as we could handle in the cold wet rain but I was done by the time we got on the metro. Highlight of the trip, me suddenly realising I had been there before then spending the next 15 minutes telling Steph I definitely went for a drink on that street after NFG, I never did find the bar. After warming up slightly and again deciding I wasn't that ill I made the loooonnnnngggg ass journey to Zoe's to help with the mountain of food she had for her housewarming. By help I mean eat. So that was fun, gin and tonics soothed the cold for a while but not enough to stop me being in the first group to leave, I'm so disappointed in myself. There was another good reason though, my 8am start for nativity yesterday.
So we have arrived at yesterday, the longest day ever, I left the house at about half 8, I got home at half past midnight. Yet now writing about it, it never felt long, it was the nicest day (minus feeling like death at a few points and finding quiet sofas to power nap on) Morning service was nativity time, thank goodness for Gemma to be dresser whilst I sat face painting animals. Of course this is France, everyone is late in France, those on time had beautiful faces, those whom arrived 5 mins before went on stage with a nose and whiskers. Anyway it was beautiful, the little ones were all angels and danced like divas and the older children rocked their characters! 2 weeks work over in 10 minutes, yet I don't feel like it was a waste at all; the reactions from the kids over their costumes and then the thanks I got from parents after made it all worth it, for sure. Lunch was a calm point of the day, well once we'd figured out the broken cooker. Good food, good friends and rest, we needed it.
Carol service preparation started mid afternoon, 1000 mince pies and 4 vats of mulled wine, obviously I helped with the mulled wine. Whilst it was a stressful afternoon for everyone at times it was fun and there was definitely Christmas spirit around (and cognac) I spent most of late afternoon bricking it because I said yes to doing a reading at the service. The service that has about 700 people attend in a church we borrow for it, beautiful but flipping enormous. So yes whilst doing a reading got me front row seats in between two lovely gentleman who tried their best to distract me, I didn't really enjoy the lead up to the service or the first few carols. However after my reading (which went well, I managed to stifle my giggle when the microphone got switched on halfway through) I fully embrace a beautiful, simple carol service. I miss home's carols by candlelight but here's alternative was pretty wonderful. After I served mulled wine whilst drinking it and then decided to just drink it instead. I got to the point where I couldn't work out whether I felt horrible, fine or tired. I decided it was hunger, thank goodness for Zoe and her willingness for late night food!
Monday's not normally much to talk about but today has been pretty cool for me and my French family. First off I had an easy shift, just E then I and A came back early. Literally I had her for an hour alone. When I came home she showed me all the video's of E's choir performance ce martin. Normally I disappear into my room for a little while before dinner but not today, I sat out with the children making Christmas things and writing Christmas cards, whilst I told me how little I'm working these next few days! Then over dinner I told the family about Sunday and shared some left over mince pies with them. 7 au pairs and I'm the FIRST to give them mince pies! They loved them so obviously now I have to make some with the children. It's evenings like today when I remember why I offered to stay until the 23rd because the are so damn lovely.
I don't have a topic of deep thought right now, I'm trying to work out which one of the endless trains of thought in my head I should write about next. Maybe I'll blog again in a few days about something.
I can't even remember where I left off, New Found Glory I think? Anyway I'll start from there. That week was the usual hum drum until the Friday, another new tradition, this time a Dutch tradition, Sinterklass. It's essentially secret Santa but it's not because it's Sinterklass; but it was lovely, there was plenty of wine and pizza involved too which is a plus. The thing I loved about Sinterklass was that you have to write a poem to accompany the gift; there was laughter, tears and lots of love in these little poems! My gift- a perfect shade of lipstick and chocolate, well done Sinterklass!
Then the weekend included a tradition that I grew up with, Christingle. Christingle is an English Church tradition, it involves an orange and a candle and children. I love Christingle. I have missed it for many years now so it was super special to take part again. It was a stunning moment when the congregation all stood in a circle with their lit Christingles singing 'Light of the world', without getting to cringe I will remember that moment for a long time.
Then came last week, the busiest week I've had in Paris (yet). I volunteered to do the costumes for the church nativity, lots of animals and angels, so I was at church most daytime free time I had. I can't moan though, yes it was busy but I loved it; it was so nice to be using my degree skills away from stressful uni environment! And there was alway excellent company at the church. Evenings were taken up by catch ups and playing (really rubbish) first aider to Head Wound 2.0. Neither of these were chores either, my Friday night was spent watching Buffy and eating cheesecake and it was beautiful.
Then Saturday came around and I woke up feeling awful. The little girl I look after was sick then the mum was so it was my turn, just really rubbish timing! Not one to ever let a sniffle stop me off I trotted to nativity rehearsal, which went like a dream. I mean it, might have something to do with 3 adults stepping into missing roles by the end... Then I met Steph for an explore round the proper Montmartre which was so nice but wet, really really wet. We loved the area and explored as much as we could handle in the cold wet rain but I was done by the time we got on the metro. Highlight of the trip, me suddenly realising I had been there before then spending the next 15 minutes telling Steph I definitely went for a drink on that street after NFG, I never did find the bar. After warming up slightly and again deciding I wasn't that ill I made the loooonnnnngggg ass journey to Zoe's to help with the mountain of food she had for her housewarming. By help I mean eat. So that was fun, gin and tonics soothed the cold for a while but not enough to stop me being in the first group to leave, I'm so disappointed in myself. There was another good reason though, my 8am start for nativity yesterday.
So we have arrived at yesterday, the longest day ever, I left the house at about half 8, I got home at half past midnight. Yet now writing about it, it never felt long, it was the nicest day (minus feeling like death at a few points and finding quiet sofas to power nap on) Morning service was nativity time, thank goodness for Gemma to be dresser whilst I sat face painting animals. Of course this is France, everyone is late in France, those on time had beautiful faces, those whom arrived 5 mins before went on stage with a nose and whiskers. Anyway it was beautiful, the little ones were all angels and danced like divas and the older children rocked their characters! 2 weeks work over in 10 minutes, yet I don't feel like it was a waste at all; the reactions from the kids over their costumes and then the thanks I got from parents after made it all worth it, for sure. Lunch was a calm point of the day, well once we'd figured out the broken cooker. Good food, good friends and rest, we needed it.
Carol service preparation started mid afternoon, 1000 mince pies and 4 vats of mulled wine, obviously I helped with the mulled wine. Whilst it was a stressful afternoon for everyone at times it was fun and there was definitely Christmas spirit around (and cognac) I spent most of late afternoon bricking it because I said yes to doing a reading at the service. The service that has about 700 people attend in a church we borrow for it, beautiful but flipping enormous. So yes whilst doing a reading got me front row seats in between two lovely gentleman who tried their best to distract me, I didn't really enjoy the lead up to the service or the first few carols. However after my reading (which went well, I managed to stifle my giggle when the microphone got switched on halfway through) I fully embrace a beautiful, simple carol service. I miss home's carols by candlelight but here's alternative was pretty wonderful. After I served mulled wine whilst drinking it and then decided to just drink it instead. I got to the point where I couldn't work out whether I felt horrible, fine or tired. I decided it was hunger, thank goodness for Zoe and her willingness for late night food!
Monday's not normally much to talk about but today has been pretty cool for me and my French family. First off I had an easy shift, just E then I and A came back early. Literally I had her for an hour alone. When I came home she showed me all the video's of E's choir performance ce martin. Normally I disappear into my room for a little while before dinner but not today, I sat out with the children making Christmas things and writing Christmas cards, whilst I told me how little I'm working these next few days! Then over dinner I told the family about Sunday and shared some left over mince pies with them. 7 au pairs and I'm the FIRST to give them mince pies! They loved them so obviously now I have to make some with the children. It's evenings like today when I remember why I offered to stay until the 23rd because the are so damn lovely.
I don't have a topic of deep thought right now, I'm trying to work out which one of the endless trains of thought in my head I should write about next. Maybe I'll blog again in a few days about something.
