Back in the olde country 3 weeks now.
Aside from the monsoon-like weather the first week, the hand-delivered demand from the tax-man (never forwarded to me) and layer of filth left by the departing tenants....it has gone pretty well.
According to the letter the tax-man actually called to the door looking for me!
Never ceases to amaze me, since I haven't earned a crust in 6 years, how I always get the tax demands and hubby always gets the refunds.
Our adventures in France seem like a dream. Really it feels like we never left.
Which is worrying.
The kids have slotted into their new schools happily.
Princess reports that Tara in her class "Mammee, she speaks the same language as me!"
I'm back to work...which after nearly 6 years as a Stay-at-Home-Mom and general master of my little universe...comes as quite a shock. I am really really blessed to have the option of returning, as work is as rare as hen's teeth for anyone right now.
Work has shocked me out of my middle class bubble.
My first walk across the car-park on induction day, I saw a junkie beating the crappola out of his girlfriend/sister/fellow queuer.
Today we had a 3 hour talk on non violent crisis intervention....AKA how to protect yourself when being attacked without injuring the patient. The tutor had plenty of war stories about his experiences including being out of work for 4 months after being beaten by a patient with a crutch. My classmates also had some hair raising tales of their experiences at the hands of confused, drying out, and definitely un-grateful patients.
Oh yes we're home sweet home.
I've enjoyed blogging.
This is my last post so OVER and OUT!
Thanks for reading Ann!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Finally...The Journey!
My First Sight of Irish Soil...and Yes I was pulled over by Mr Neon Jacket.
30th August 2009
I was promised some lone time with the dog, 1300km to be precise...but with the medical emergency and some sleight of hand I ended up with the kids for 15 hours driving and 20 hrs on a ferry in what the Captain euphemistically called " moderate seas".
I guess hubby felt he was a better bet for the 5 hour coast to coast dash accross the UK, caused by the need to get the dog home too. Contrary to french speed camera records I am a slow driver and I get lost easily. With the UK ferry times, there was no lee-way for getting lost, according to hubby. So I got the kids and the fancy car.
All went extremely well...until...you got it...the last minute.
As the hundreds of passengers were bailing down the Titanic-like stairs of the ferry to retrieve their cars...Sonny disappeared, completely.
I couldn't move as I wanted to stay where he had last seen me..I had lots of baggage (because it was a disorganised departure...I.AM.A.GOOD.PACKER)
I had to appeal to the other passengers...who mostly had husbands and such.
They were FANTASTIC. The whole area started a big search for a 5 year old boy with glasses. He was found in the reception area under the supervision of staff.
He reported himself missing apparently.
We disembarked the ferry, to low grey cloud and lashing rain (see photo) and were pulled over twice from the exit queue by customs and the Dept of Agriculture. DOA wanted to know where our dog was and if I had hidden her in the car because her passport was dodgy. All I could say was grrrrrrrrr.
I gave him the key to check the car and didn't move to help. I think he recognised a woman on the edge and let me go without any major search.
Then customs stopped me for a grilling about the car. You might remember I was supposed to be driving my car with dog, instead I am dishevelled wreck driving an "executive" car with 2 potentially traffiked kids. All red flags seemed to go up for me and Mr white tracksuit-white baseball cap in the BMW in front. Mr. Customs was more concerned about hubby's car than any kiddie traffiking, I was prepared to surrender them there and then...no quibble.
Anyhoo got to Dublin that lunch-time to a fab meal laid on by the out-laws.
Returned to the old Homestead...which is looking a bit grimy. Funny how other people grime looks alot worse than your own.
Because of the forced separation of the two cars..we didn't have a complete set of "stuff". So kids and I had to sleep on the beds with no sheets or pillow cases.
Kids insisted on sleeping with me..ds in a sleeping bag on the floor, despite 3 other empty bedrooms.
Got a late-night call from somewhere in the English countryside from hubby to say he was lost. He had passed signposts for Havant and Waterlooville (oh noooo), it was dark and no one about. I had no map or internet access so had to pass him on to his Dad and brother...who talked him back on the right road and onto the right ferry ...on time.
So lunch-time on Tuesday morning, 3 days after I left Bellentre, we are all finally home together.
WHAT A YEAR!
Homeless & Hospitalised
So clearly we are NOT going to make the ferry that hubby booked soooo many months ago. We don't know what day we will be discharged from the hospital...could be up to 8 days they say. So how do we keep our ticket alive? Do we have travel insurance....ummm rummmage rummage...doesn't look like it.
Do we have health insurance...quick call to our top of the range...top dollar insurance company....ummmm NO...stayed too long in France...fcukers!
Princess and I had food and shelter ...although a shortage of clothes (still in my skanky cleaning gear 2 days and, yes, one night later) ( had a little camp bed beside princess in the ER...had to keep my kit on..princess decided she wanted to sleep with me. Her bed was MUCH bigger but didn't reckon I'd get away with sleeping in it with her. So as Roz says...lots of squeezy.
Looks like Princess will be fine, so time to focus on the mundane things like personal hygiene and shelter for the other half of the family.
One of our friends living closest to the hospital offered hubby, sonny and the dog a bed...still nearly 200km from the hospital though...so lots of driving for hubby.
Friend's cat was traumatised by the present of hound.
Hound was totally discombobulated about the sudden change in scene and disappearance of Princess and I.
I was afraid sonny would be traumatised too as the first day...the day we had planned to leave the country, he found himself alone (with friends) and the rest of the family disappeared. But no he was happy as a clam...no abandonment issues what-so-ever.
So despite the ban on mobile phones...I had lots of business to do while sitting around waiting for Princess's Pancreas to pull itself together.
The ferry company, irishferries.com were simply fantastic and allowed us to rebook our tickets at a modest fee (€15) Only problem was the first slot for a dog was 10 days out!!!
So it was decided with much angst and gnashing of teeth that hubby would get the ferry to England ....drive across England and get another ferry 5 hours later to Ireland. Hubby and hound rarely get such bonding oppourtunities!
Meanwhile...back on the health insurance front...by a miracle I managed to locate Princess's European Health Insurance Card . Remember all our worldly treasured are packed tight in the back of the Zafira. Turns out this will pay 80% of our bills. THANK YOU!!! the Irish government and the EU!
Leaving 20% of €1200 per day to deal with.
Pondering this issue I remebered the insurance we bought for the ski season...Carte Neige The back of the card says family lesiure insurance valid til Oct 2009!! What is trampolining but a family leisure activity. I give them a ring and hey presto ....no problem.
I have to fax them the details...I write up a fax and ask the cleaners to check the grammer...causing much debate between them.
So travel sorted, payment sorted, pancreas sorting.
Do we have health insurance...quick call to our top of the range...top dollar insurance company....ummmm NO...stayed too long in France...fcukers!
Princess and I had food and shelter ...although a shortage of clothes (still in my skanky cleaning gear 2 days and, yes, one night later) ( had a little camp bed beside princess in the ER...had to keep my kit on..princess decided she wanted to sleep with me. Her bed was MUCH bigger but didn't reckon I'd get away with sleeping in it with her. So as Roz says...lots of squeezy.
Looks like Princess will be fine, so time to focus on the mundane things like personal hygiene and shelter for the other half of the family.
One of our friends living closest to the hospital offered hubby, sonny and the dog a bed...still nearly 200km from the hospital though...so lots of driving for hubby.
Friend's cat was traumatised by the present of hound.
Hound was totally discombobulated about the sudden change in scene and disappearance of Princess and I.
I was afraid sonny would be traumatised too as the first day...the day we had planned to leave the country, he found himself alone (with friends) and the rest of the family disappeared. But no he was happy as a clam...no abandonment issues what-so-ever.
So despite the ban on mobile phones...I had lots of business to do while sitting around waiting for Princess's Pancreas to pull itself together.
The ferry company, irishferries.com were simply fantastic and allowed us to rebook our tickets at a modest fee (€15) Only problem was the first slot for a dog was 10 days out!!!
So it was decided with much angst and gnashing of teeth that hubby would get the ferry to England ....drive across England and get another ferry 5 hours later to Ireland. Hubby and hound rarely get such bonding oppourtunities!
Meanwhile...back on the health insurance front...by a miracle I managed to locate Princess's European Health Insurance Card . Remember all our worldly treasured are packed tight in the back of the Zafira. Turns out this will pay 80% of our bills. THANK YOU!!! the Irish government and the EU!
Leaving 20% of €1200 per day to deal with.
Pondering this issue I remebered the insurance we bought for the ski season...Carte Neige The back of the card says family lesiure insurance valid til Oct 2009!! What is trampolining but a family leisure activity. I give them a ring and hey presto ....no problem.
I have to fax them the details...I write up a fax and ask the cleaners to check the grammer...causing much debate between them.
So travel sorted, payment sorted, pancreas sorting.
Life's what happens while we are busy making other plans...
Ain't that the truth.
3 year old princess came into our bed for a cuddle on the morning of our departure. After a few minutes she started to complain of stomach ache and quickly became unable to speak due to the pain.
I knew pretty immediately it was serious, thinking appendicitis.
I pulled on my cleaning clothes from the previous day and skanky pair of shorts and a dirty t-shirt and carried her to the car.
In the ER they suspected a gastric bug...but I was dubious.
They asked me about trauma and what she'd eaten the previous day....but of course for the last few days we had farmed the kids out to various friends while we got locked and loaded. I rang the friends asking them about the health of their kids and what princess had eaten. Almost by the way, I mentioned trauma and T said she did have an incident on the trampoline and had been crying but settled and was fine afterwards.
I told this to the doctor and he looked grave.
By this point Princess had been vomiting for 4 hours...was grunting and couldn't speak with pain and was curled up on her side on a trolley in the ER.
She had an abdominal x-ray and blood tests, he came in and said the tests results were not normal and he would be back to explain. Immediately I began catatrophising...Leukaemia. E v e n t u a l l y, he returned to say it was pancreatitis. I almost kissed him, he said it was very serious and very rare in children.
He would transfer her by ambulance to the nearest pediatric centre, 50km away.
The SAMU or proper nee-naw ambulance was not available so we got a private ambulance.
Princess was very sick and loosing conciousness getting less responsive.
It was the white knuckle ride of my life. The road are narrow two way mountain roads...the driver over-took with on-coming traffic, with cliffs down the left side of the road. I was obviously scared and he kept reassuring me. The paramedic in the back with Princess was telling him to hurry up, while trying to hide that from me.
On arrival in Albertville, Princess had an ultrasound of abdomen and a CT Scan immediately. The said she needed to be sent onwards to the major teaching hospital (another 120km) and the results of the scan would indicate whether it was by helicopter or ambulance. The scans indicated no internal bleeding so she was transfered by ambulance again. Doing a little better now and more comfortable.
We arrived in the CHU Grenoble (Centre Hopitalier Universitaire) the french code for very important hospital and stayed for 4 days. The treatment was fasting and fluid replacement with IVs. They taked about feeding through a drip, but Princess blood tests improved rapidly and she was allowed to start eating a low fat diet.
That child LOVES her grub and fasting for her was torture. For the next 2 weeks her question for any doctor was when she could eat pizza. I'm delighted to report she had 2 slices last night....with chips....HURRAY.
3 year old princess came into our bed for a cuddle on the morning of our departure. After a few minutes she started to complain of stomach ache and quickly became unable to speak due to the pain.
I knew pretty immediately it was serious, thinking appendicitis.
I pulled on my cleaning clothes from the previous day and skanky pair of shorts and a dirty t-shirt and carried her to the car.
In the ER they suspected a gastric bug...but I was dubious.
They asked me about trauma and what she'd eaten the previous day....but of course for the last few days we had farmed the kids out to various friends while we got locked and loaded. I rang the friends asking them about the health of their kids and what princess had eaten. Almost by the way, I mentioned trauma and T said she did have an incident on the trampoline and had been crying but settled and was fine afterwards.
I told this to the doctor and he looked grave.
By this point Princess had been vomiting for 4 hours...was grunting and couldn't speak with pain and was curled up on her side on a trolley in the ER.
She had an abdominal x-ray and blood tests, he came in and said the tests results were not normal and he would be back to explain. Immediately I began catatrophising...Leukaemia. E v e n t u a l l y, he returned to say it was pancreatitis. I almost kissed him, he said it was very serious and very rare in children.
He would transfer her by ambulance to the nearest pediatric centre, 50km away.
The SAMU or proper nee-naw ambulance was not available so we got a private ambulance.
Princess was very sick and loosing conciousness getting less responsive.
It was the white knuckle ride of my life. The road are narrow two way mountain roads...the driver over-took with on-coming traffic, with cliffs down the left side of the road. I was obviously scared and he kept reassuring me. The paramedic in the back with Princess was telling him to hurry up, while trying to hide that from me.
On arrival in Albertville, Princess had an ultrasound of abdomen and a CT Scan immediately. The said she needed to be sent onwards to the major teaching hospital (another 120km) and the results of the scan would indicate whether it was by helicopter or ambulance. The scans indicated no internal bleeding so she was transfered by ambulance again. Doing a little better now and more comfortable.
We arrived in the CHU Grenoble (Centre Hopitalier Universitaire) the french code for very important hospital and stayed for 4 days. The treatment was fasting and fluid replacement with IVs. They taked about feeding through a drip, but Princess blood tests improved rapidly and she was allowed to start eating a low fat diet.
That child LOVES her grub and fasting for her was torture. For the next 2 weeks her question for any doctor was when she could eat pizza. I'm delighted to report she had 2 slices last night....with chips....HURRAY.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Last Day
The View From My Kitchen Sink
They are still in their beds...I'm having a peaceful cuppa alone, in a mostly empty house.
The guy who came to buy sonny's old bike woke me. He wanted to come by at 6.30 AM to see it. I said I really don't do mornings..so I'll leave it in the front garden and if you want it, take it and leave the money in the post-box.
He must've pulled up in a truck...the thing was growling and lots of big door sliding going on. I went out and collected my €20 from the post box as promised :)
It's difficult to believe the amount of stuff we got into my car yesterday...every nook and cranny is stuffed with something. I should've taken a photo. It'll be just me and hound in that car. I just love that car...its so versatile for an active family (is that us?) it's as ugly as all hell, but a real work-horse.
Of course hubby and I had a row about how to pack. In my defence I say loud and proud...I.am.a.great.packer. I like to travel light light light. Hubby is a squirrel and wants to keep everything...even the bulky packaging on things. His catch-phrase being..."that won't take up much room..."
But he did it, got everything but the kitchen sink in!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Bump in the Night.
A rainy night in Paradise, well Gran Paradiso National Park, to be precise. Getting in training for home I guess. Camping in the rain. Wasn't heavy enough to test the tent for irish conditions though. We remain confident camping will be possible...with the addition of wellies and rain-gear!
But we had our dinner in the tent, 5 adults...with 3 kids asleep in the same tent.
A bbq is challenging in the the rain...The Jones's camping gaz stove was definitely more impressive,effective and nourishing in these conditions. So anyone looking for up-coming birthday ideas for hubby! No pressure.
The first night the dog kept waking us, growling and worrying about something. I was not very appreciative of her protective instincts. Anyhoo the second night as I brushed my teeth in the rain and spat into the ditch in the dark...a fox came walking through the tents, calm as you like, and got to about 10ft of me before my dog spotted this trespasser from the previous night, and lept after it. The fox heeled around and fled crashing into a near-by tent and escaping into the forest. The occupants of the tent, didn't get out to investigate the low-level crash. So the next day as hardy climbing types emerged from it I explained what went bump in the night.
EDITED TO ADD:
The potty was fantastic...bring one, bring one...even if you only pretend its for the kids :)
But we had our dinner in the tent, 5 adults...with 3 kids asleep in the same tent.
A bbq is challenging in the the rain...The Jones's camping gaz stove was definitely more impressive,effective and nourishing in these conditions. So anyone looking for up-coming birthday ideas for hubby! No pressure.
The first night the dog kept waking us, growling and worrying about something. I was not very appreciative of her protective instincts. Anyhoo the second night as I brushed my teeth in the rain and spat into the ditch in the dark...a fox came walking through the tents, calm as you like, and got to about 10ft of me before my dog spotted this trespasser from the previous night, and lept after it. The fox heeled around and fled crashing into a near-by tent and escaping into the forest. The occupants of the tent, didn't get out to investigate the low-level crash. So the next day as hardy climbing types emerged from it I explained what went bump in the night.
EDITED TO ADD:
The potty was fantastic...bring one, bring one...even if you only pretend its for the kids :)
Lovely Neighbour Gravely Ill
Our neighbours and grandparents to one of princess's classmates invited us for aperos this evening chez-eux to say adieu.
We sort of rushed home from our trip to Italy to be here on time and found a note stuck to the door, from her daughter, that A had a major problem in her brain and was in hospital and it was very serious, that it was difficult to explain in english.
Its so sad, I hope she will be alright, although it sounds very ominous. Hubby was talking to A's hubby (who was very emotional) and it seems she is in a coma and gravely ill, following a ruptured aneurysm. (discussion in french so hubby not confident he got it straight) She is a fit and wiry lady, although looks older than her 60 years, probably due to the typical local mixture of sun, cigarettes and black coffee.
She is a fluent english and german speaker and told me at our party that my french had improved hugely. They have been married for 32 years which is a major achievement in these parts. She loves kids, and really enjoyed all the little kiddies at our party. We often met them dropping and picking up their grandkids at the school gates.
Dunno what to do to help out her hubby. If things were less chaotic here, I could do dinners for the freezer. But that could push me over the edge right now. Any ideas welcomed. Please say a little prayer that she will pull through.
Sunday Morning
I just stopped her husband, to ask how she is and he said she died yesterday.
Poor man was emotional. I didn't know what to say...especially in french.
Hard to believe we were sitting together on Tuesday and on Saturday she's gone.
We sort of rushed home from our trip to Italy to be here on time and found a note stuck to the door, from her daughter, that A had a major problem in her brain and was in hospital and it was very serious, that it was difficult to explain in english.
Its so sad, I hope she will be alright, although it sounds very ominous. Hubby was talking to A's hubby (who was very emotional) and it seems she is in a coma and gravely ill, following a ruptured aneurysm. (discussion in french so hubby not confident he got it straight) She is a fit and wiry lady, although looks older than her 60 years, probably due to the typical local mixture of sun, cigarettes and black coffee.
She is a fluent english and german speaker and told me at our party that my french had improved hugely. They have been married for 32 years which is a major achievement in these parts. She loves kids, and really enjoyed all the little kiddies at our party. We often met them dropping and picking up their grandkids at the school gates.
Dunno what to do to help out her hubby. If things were less chaotic here, I could do dinners for the freezer. But that could push me over the edge right now. Any ideas welcomed. Please say a little prayer that she will pull through.
Sunday Morning
I just stopped her husband, to ask how she is and he said she died yesterday.
Poor man was emotional. I didn't know what to say...especially in french.
Hard to believe we were sitting together on Tuesday and on Saturday she's gone.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wrapping Up
Well with all our cleaning and organising the house looks worse and worse.
It's like a body that's been disemboweled....everything's on the surface.
Hubby bought a 450litre roof box yesterday to help.
Then in a fit of anti-help he removed 60% from the stack of DVDs I laid out to give away....grrr.
Nobody has called to buy our stuff.
Less than a week left and we are getting really booked up.
I promised my neighbour (the one who minded my kids while we climbed GS) I'd babysit for her this week, but she hasn't given me a day...so we have been invited for aperos (drinks) two evenings with french neighbours. We are supposed to be going to Italy camping for 2 nights...now. But princess has the trots...since yesterday.
Camping and 3yo diarrhoea are not a good combo. I need to get my grey roots disappeared before I go. Costs me €70 here and €170 at home...so gotta make time for that...so my friend and hairdresser is coming at the same time as the rental agency are doing the "etat de lieux" (literally:the state of the place)
Our going away party went great.
We had a buffet...which apparently means "stuff your face" in french :)
Suitably elegant non? We had 50;50 french/english speakers.
Gotta go kids have made a mess with paint and hubby is having a seizure...Over And Out.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Dog is Gone!!
Ended up a bit of a tug-of-love over the abandoned disabled pup, between two neighbours. So next-door came and collected her today...Yipee!
My stress levels remain high, as we have our going away party in one hour.
About 30 guests maybe...
Usual concerns about amount of food.
I'm tired and sweaty and my feet stink.
I've nothing to wear.....better have a shower anyway...........
Whose idea was this anyway...some days I wish I was an introvert.
My stress levels remain high, as we have our going away party in one hour.
About 30 guests maybe...
Usual concerns about amount of food.
I'm tired and sweaty and my feet stink.
I've nothing to wear.....better have a shower anyway...........
Whose idea was this anyway...some days I wish I was an introvert.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Col de l'Iseran
I should really let hubby write this but ....he won't.
He cycled from our house to the Col D'Iseran today.
It's the highest road in France (2700 m)45km from our door and a really really really hard cycle. He had a crash in a dark tunnel, got blared at by a passing motorbike as he pulled himself together and shouted at by another passing motorist.(hope his mom doesn't read this bit) He's all bruised and scratched and got back on the bike and continued on another 25km.
One of his goals for this year was to be able to cycle as far as Val D'Isere and he's managed to go 17km beyond to one of the biggest Cols on the Tour de France.(Click on the title to get a description of the Col from other cyclists)
I am officially impressed.
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