One week to go

Thursday we left the comforts of St Remy and headed into Languedoc region. With one week to go it feels like our European travels are drawing to a close. We have set up in a tiny settlement called La Nautique, just east of Narbonne.

we pitched our tent late and were horrified to discover the campsite ground is hard as rock and with very little grass. Not only this but it is swarming with large mosquitos seemingly immune to our industrial strength repellant. The site comes with our own private toilet and shower (this is a first for us), however this had been left for some time and we found the snails and other small rodents had moved in. D gave it a good cleanbefore we felt safe to use it.

The night was a comfortable one though and the next day the sun shone and we relaxed in the surrounds. Later that evening as A was having her bath D was surprised by a little green head poking out of the drain pipe. 2 more green frogs joined the first before D decided it was all to much. So while A giggled to the sight & sounds of Mum chasing and killing mossies, David was able to negotiate a cabin for us down from 43 to 35.

So now you find us in a 'luxury' cabin comfortably away from mosquitoes with Alexa enjoying the freedom of the lounge floor to through her toys around and try to crawl towards. She has come on in leaps and bounds - but not yet crawling. She can still get around but is more of a shuffle.

An average day

Our days vary, but an average day would be like this:

Between 6 - 6.30 Alexa wakes and one of us stretches thru, unzips our side, picks her up and brings her through to our section. It's normally still dark so we have the torch on and play with 2 finger puppers - lion and monkey (thanks Fiona). I b'feed A then dress her and I before getting out of tent at 7ish. Alexa is on the mat and i begin the b'fast routine of cooking A's rice porridge (she loves this!) on the little gas stove. When that is done, and while it is cooling I put on the coffee using our little bialetti stove. With coffee ready D either has it in tent (lazy bones) or joins me on mat and we feed A while discussing what to do that day.

9 - 9.30 we bundle into the car and off to our day's site. This timing allows A her morning nap of btw 30-60mins, plus we have learned that most shops close up at midday for a couple of hours and if we haven't purchased our food from patisserie/marche by then we are forced to go to restaurant. 11ish a coffee stop for D and i, we get a Noisette (espresso) often with a little morsel (it's hard to resist the variety of pastries the French have to offer). 12.30ish lunchtime - usually driven by when A gets hungry, altho recently she has taken to falling asleep which interrupts our patterns. Alexa is a good little eater and usually has cooked veges from evening before with rice or red lentils.

Afternoons vary but usally there is a drive somewhere else or back to camp allowing A another snooze. 5ish A's dinner, dark falls, 6ish our dinner, 7ish A's bfeed and bedtime routine with her usually asleep by 8pm and D&I climbing into the tent too.

Of course sometimes we do stay out later if we are going to a restaurant, but typically will be in bed quite early. I can see the adjustment when we return to London for a few days will be tough!

Three weeks in Provence

Oh how we love Provence. The food: fresh local veges at the marche, pain, fromage, noisette (espresso) & vin; the weather: grand soleil and occasional mistral that gets gasps of excitement from Alexa; to the views: golden fields, green hillsides, ochre earth, sprawling vines that stretch as far as eye can see and cover any space of ground.

Provence is a fabulous land to explore. Some highlights inlude: the bustling & arty Aix (thanks to Helen for suggestion); Vaison la Romaine arriving on market day and finding Feijoa's for sale!! Yes we thought of you Peta; hill top villages - Gordes, Rousillon & Oppede le Vieux where we explore the village cobbled lanes & surrounds carring Alexa at times when the mountain buggy could go no furhter. St Remy - lovely campsite, watching the ABs v Eng in Le Grand Cafe Riche amongst locals happy to see ABs take the lead and 'high fived' David at end result shouting what we can only assume were encouraging words.

Alexa has grown so much - she loves meeting newpeople and bestows her cheeky grin on those who stop to chat or 'cuckoo' at her. She has been a wonderful traveller mostly dozing off to sleep when in the car and very few late night wake-ups. She has grown taller and much heavier since we arrived and i think has more blond hair atop her head.

David and i are happy to adjust to the slower pace of life.