Fab sunny day!! Croisants by the canal, Markets , bought lots of fresh yummy produce for picnic (stinky cheese- gab wanted it, sausage, cherries, peaches, tomatoes...), Gabs tum improved (phew) by lunch. Headed to the beach by the lake- gorgeous! All stripped off and swam (undies for girls). It was so lovely just to chill, relax and enjoy the stunning natural beauty rather than walking and seeing a castle. Picnicked and then hung out by park as Lana and frank sle...

Arrived in beautiful Annecy. Big travel day after evening of gab up with diarrhea and a vom. Both of us tired. God she's bossy when crook!! Difficult to get the day started. So much banter about requesting for petit dejeneur early yet we didn't eat till usual 9 am. 6 hour drive , 2 stops. Phew no more voms, just a fair bit of complaining re how far! And lana hated the journey, took forever for her to sleep. All trying hard with her. painful for everyone. We a...

Last day in Loire. Gabs hogged me to spend time doing homework, visualization etc. Said she wanted me to have a 'gabi' day. Visited villandry castle, huge beautiful gardens, redone early 1900s to represent French gardens. Had a garden for all , cloud garden, sun garden, kids garden, pond, maze, kitchen garden full of vegies and herbs...more. Girls loved it apart from jaz being in the blues due to being left out. Fortunately she snapped out of it, and at lunch al...

All woke around 830, I kicked off with a quick swim, tagged with bettsy. Visited the chenencou castle. Stunning, best yet. Took a bateau on the river in the morning, only just made it in time. Gorgeous under the castles arches but it wasnt till we went inside the castle grounds and interior that we fully appreciated the beauty. Last few decades it was controlled by women and it has been left as it was in 15th century. Jaz loved the bedrooms, they are definitely ...

Relaxing day at our castle. Hung out with animals, visited the local castle azay de rideau, and had BBQ dins at home. Kids loved it. They needed some down time. Gabi harped on about wanting to be in bed at 730! She was also v keen to complete her homework, stressing about what raji might say. In bed by 8, gabi out, others couldn't sleep, as so accustomed to the later hours. Franks kept appearing.