After far too many hours of flying it felt amazing even to change my clothes, have a quick 'baby-wipe shower' and find somewhere to sit and eat while I waited for the check in for my Paris flight to open. I ate bruchetta with tomato and drank a huge cup of tea in a fancy little cafe while fantasising about all the different people I will have met and new places I will have seen when I am here again in 7 months on my way home. I love the sense of freedom and choice that I feel like I have.

My suitcase was half a kilo over the weight limit so the British Airways lady told me to take something out - just taking my lonely planet guide book was more than enough!

Flying to Paris I had the most amazing view or London, the country side and coast of England and then the same for France and Paris! It was quite a surreal feeling since it was only yesterday I was admiring the view over the Tamar as I flew to Melbourne (I waved to Nan and Da's house!) on the other side of the world.

Getting into CDG at night was weird because there were no people around, and I just collected my suitcase and walked out the door and there they were! I saw Caroline first and she said 'Ah, there she is.' in a very French, brisk manner and I didn't even see Mathias until he started walking with us to the elevator. Louis and Aurore were very cute, Aurore was shy and quiet, just smiled at me, Louis was bouncing off the walls and grinning at me while talking a million miles an hour (I couldn't understand a single word of what he said!)

We went to get in their car, and they were talking away in French, putting Louis in his seat etc. Caroline asked me if I could understand what they were saying.. I really had no idea at all! It was then just a twenty minute or so drive back to their house, filled with constant questions from Louis and exclamations over every bus that we saw! When we finally reached their house, I got a quick tour, was presented with a picture of a kangaroo that Aurore had drawn and shown Louis' pride and joy - the alphabet snake (cardboard flaps joined together with something starting with that particular letter underneath) he is very proud of the fact that 'W' is for wallaby and 'K' is for kangaroo! I then quickly called Mum and Dad to tell them I was safe and sound and then finally lay down for some desperately needed sleep.