After quite a late night I woke at 6:30 and have had an early morning coffee. I am listening to the sounds coming up from the street as I have opened my windows. It looks like another lovely spring day in Paris - more like a summer day really. Today we are off to the Arc de Triomph. I am going to take Gail as she is getting so difficult to deal with. We are wondering whether this is not a factor contributing to the kids' poor responses. She so sooooo irritating. She just has no idea. It is like having a very large 4 year old with you all the time!! Last night I sat opposite her a dinner in a typically small French restaurant. She complained about the chairs, how cramped it was and told us yet again that she eats earlier than this. Then during the meal when we decided to share starters to try a variety of traditional dishes she was so afraid of not getting her fair share... It was pitiful. Then she went to the toilet and on her return told us in excruciating detail how her innards were working on the trip. Then she told us about her finger - again - she has some sort of infection in her nail bed and keeps attacking it with a needle to check for pus--- all this while we are eating. Then just before we left she asked whether she should put her jumper on!! Can't she just step outside and decide for herself???? She even asked me the other day how much money she should draw when we reached an ATM!!!!! so this morning I shall need an extra measure of grace to deal with her on the champs Élysées . I have realized afresh that Gail has no friends because Gail has no social skills. Sad hey....

That little vent helped me get it off my chest... And is the reason I would prefer the blog to be private!! Love and miss you both....wish you were here