On vacation!

Okay, it's only for 10 days...

We had a good weekend last week. I bought shoes for Davina (60 Euros!) and Talia (100 Euros!!!) They love them and guess why Davina was crying at her last ice skating lesson? She's a size 30, not 28. Poor thing, her feet hurt. Well, she wasn't crying this week...

On Sunday, the Liberal (like Reform) community celebrated Sukkot. Okay, it wasn't strictly on the day but it was still fun for the kids. We met some British/Polish children and I ran into some friends I didn't know were involved.

Here's an explanation, because I'm too lazy...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot

We then that afternoon, went to the Americans in Alsace Halloween party. The girls were princesses and Ronnie was himself. I'd love to post pictures but I didn't take any and the AIA website has entertainly been taken over by a casino add. Someone contacted me about joining during the week and I asked her how she got my name. She said off the International Church of Strasbourg website, which obviously needs updated. But was still entertaining in that the ICS is giving out my name, of all the names in AIA...

I bought an overpriced constume for Talia and when we got there, she refused to put it on. I decided to ignore her and then she changed her mind.

I'll take Trick-or-Treat photos on the 31st.

I was sick Wednesday through Friday. I'm still not totally back in form. Such a beautiful day today and I still can't move!

We are now on the Toussaint vacation. Nov. 1st is a holiday here. We have just been through a battery of Jewish holidays, just in time to have a whole 10 days off...

We had the English Club after school yesterday. All the kids with English speaking parents have this about once a month. We just have a snack, sing songs and read books. It's good to see that they're not alone at St. Jean.

The director came by. Pom Pom died! He was featured in some posts ages ago. Both girls had him in their classes. Turns out bunnies only live 4-5 years and that was what it was. The girls, luckily, weren't too upset.

Turns out that Yannick didn't get a visa to India. His wife Arlette did but not Yannick. They were going to go on this break, which is perfect timing weather-wise. To make it worse, they didn't supply a letter and the airlines are requiring it to cancel. They just sent his passport without a visa.

I chalk it up to Bad Karma because he didn't let Talia participate in the excursion four years ago. Serves him right! He bent over backwards two years ago to let a handicapped child participate but while Talia's not handicapped, she did have a physical problem that kept her from spending the night away from home. No, no, no was all I heard, yet he pulled out all stops and even had the mother tag along while he wouldn't even let me pick Talia up for fear that the other children would see and want their parents.

Yannick can stay home too this time!

Of my rant. We leave Monday for Paris. Finally I get to see Paris without Daniel. Trips to Paris with Daniel are his sister's, his uncle's, his sister's, his uncle's...and nothing else. I came last February with the kids and what happens?!? He shows up! Guess who we get to see??? Yes, his sister and uncle! I had to cancel something I had planned...Well, he's working so no showing up this time!

Don't get me wrong. They're nice enough but there are other things to see and do besides see his sister and uncle in Paris. That time, I agreed to have lunch at his uncle if we could leave afterwards. So I agreed...to have lunch. Turns out they invited his cousin over...at 4pm! I put my foot down. Kids, get your jackets! We went to the Jardin de Luxembourg and I had to hear "Well, I guess I better call Roland and tell him it's not worth coming..." Yes you better! Good idea! Bye!

Last night, he says to me "You know, you could call my uncle while you're there..."

The problem was the hotel. I had them tell me "Four people, no problem. We have two rooms..." Connecting? No. They don't do suites here either. We are staying at a hostel. Yes, a throw back to my travelling days!

http://www.villagehostel.fr/

We have a room, two bunks, attached bath...What else do we need? Near Montmontre. It might be fun, showing the kids how Mommy used to see the World.

By the way, I found something disturbing. My article on Flying With Children... Seems that there are some very dishonest people in the world. It was copied, my exact wording... someone posting on a travel forum and was taking credit for it.

Now, why would someone do that? They aren't making any money. It's very scary as this is a mom so you wonder what kind of example she's giving her children. I don't know. I'm not so much upset about being copied but the nasty way she did it. I've seen my tips copied elsewhere but that could just be passing them along. This was really...my words being claimed as her own. Ugh!