I got back from London and the weather continued to be absolutely beautiful. It felt like spring was really just around the corner and it motivated me to get back into the garden. Then yesterday, the heavens opened with the craziest hail storm I've ever seen. The weather doesn't really seem to know what it's doing at the moment. A bit like me!
So, I started my return to life in Pau with a Covid test. Catster had tested positive two days after getting back from London and I was a bit blocked up, but I thankfully tested negative. Legs was negative too. While I was away, I'd vowed to myself that when I got back, I was going to speak to the staff at the Galway about a job. I knew they were looking for an anglophone and figured I should finally throw my hat in the ring. Learn some new skills and improve my french too. I've spoken to them and given them my CV. They didn't seem that keen on me so I don't see it progressing but at least I've taken steps.
William's been swimming his heart out, or at least trying to. He's still going to the Stade Nautique every Wednesday and the woman who organises it called me to say that he's moving to Niveau 2 as of next week. I'm really pleased for him as he's been working hard and he's clearly much better than the other kids in his group. Unfortunately yet another school lesson was cancelled this week (as someone had spewed in the pool). That's 3/8 that have not gone ahead for one reason or another. Shambles. His tennis continues though and he still loves it. He did fifteen returns with the coach last week! They're away there at the moment.
In other sports related news, Iain and I are still smashing the gym three times a week and walking on alternate days. I'm feeling good. I actually benched a PB of 30kgs last week and I managed to finally weigh myself at the docs this week. I came in a 72.2kgs (11st 5lbs) but the doc said they weigh heavy so I'm probably closer to 71kgs. Whatever it is, I've now lost a stone, and I'm definitely down a dress size. My clothes are feeling way better on me and with the spring weather rearing it's head, I've broken out some clothes that I've not worn for ages. Some feel great and some are actually far too big for me now. Winning.
What I'm not winning at, is french admin. I'm currently juggling William's DCEM card, the refusal of the health insurance company to reinstate our policy, and various items around the house. My serve / return game is on point and I'm immediately putting the ball in everyone else's court but the jobs aren't getting completed at their end. My patience is wearing thin. I got so frustrated this week that I actually attempted a phone call to the insurance agent. Brutal.
My solace has come in the form of gardening. A neighbour asked if we could cut the ivy down as it's growing in her window. Sara and JP gave the green light and it triggered a whole load of tidying, repotting, moving, purchasing of a new trellis, trimming and sorting. Just when I got the place looking good (well as good as it can look when the place is essentially a building site) the weather turned and threw us right back into winter again. I'll be furious if those newly propagated geraniums die!
Last Saturday, Iain went to Soustons to see Orlaith who was here for a camp with the Irish Women's 7s squad. As the car hadn't been checked over by a qualified mechanic since the petrol/diesel incident, I elected not to travel, or take William on the motorway, in a car that might blow up. You'll be pleased to hear that it didn't combust and Iain made it home in one piece. While he was away galavanting, and in preparation for the arrival of OmanBrownPhotography, William and I scoped out the Pau bus service and went on a trial run to Idron playground. It was easy, and fun and it feels like another string to my Pau bow especially now that the use of our own car has been affected by the building works in the courtyard. I am actually a little ashamed that I've not worked out how to use them before my trip to London definitely helped give me the confidence to go and try something new in Pau.
The other thing that happen last weekend was that I realised the freezer was actually broken rather than suffering from a major design fault. In the space of about half an hour, I realised there was piece missing to hold the cooling system in place, that I could actually order a replacement online, but that the missing piece was actually sitting on top of the fridge. WHAT?! TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS BLOODY FREEZER AND THE PIECE WAS THERE ALL ALONG?!?!?!
As I sit here tapping away, it's all eyes to Tuesday and the arrival of Kathy, Steve and the weans. We're really excited about them coming to visit, so expect radio silence for a while then a load of stupid stories and a massive photo dump after they leave! Before I wrap up, here's some shots of the mental weather we had yesterday. Climate change eh?
Lorna :-)
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