Children

We're starting to think about the future. We've got a month and a half left approximately of this trip. It's gone fast and we've started to think about what we're doing when we go home. We've also started to think about the highlights so far.

I'm reading a book I found on the shelf today. Can't put it down for long as it's getting the brainwaves firing. It's called "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. The bit I'm reading is talking about being in the present. Meaning living life now rather than worrying about tomorrow or yesterday. It made me think these were the best bits of this trip.

Tonight as Bella and Henry were resisting bedtime they started playing a game. They are so inventive, well without the TV on. I love watching TV but I always notice how it dulls their playfullness, sometimes that's a good thing but mostly it just shuts us all down and makes nice little zombies out of us!

They got the basket from the bathroom which is used to hold the spare toilet paper and brought it into the lounge. Once emptied it was big enough for Bella to get into and have the lid close. Henry was very gentle and she didn't mind being his pet for a while. Hiding from people or being carried onto boats or planes and put into the overhead luggage was very funny. Then they decided they'd go on holiday so they packed all their belongings (cushions, cent coins, soft toys, newspaper) in and said goodbye. I asked them where they were off to and they said "the South of France", good choice. They arrived (in the kitchen, very appropriate) and unpacked. Soon they were back from their adventure and telling us about it. Then they packed up to take the train to Rarotonga under the sea for 118 days.

Henry said "I've got my credit card and another one so we can go to any machine" (they've heard us talking about how one machine will work for our cards and another will not. Next we sent them off to do their boring tasks of teeth brushing and getting changed for bed. They came back out nude and crazy. They are such funny monsters I think we'll keep them for a bit longer.

Another moment I remember is the amazing Undie fish. We were staying at a converted farmhouse outside Siena. It had a beautiful infinity swimming pool. They all thought we were mad as it was only 25 degrees or something like that. Henry and Bella were paddling away splashing around then Henry came up with a game. He took off his undies and started throwing them into the deeper water. They bacame...the Undie Fish...duh da duh da. There was a leaf scoop which they used chasing the undie fish around. Very very funny

Earlier today we went to the local restaurant which has been going for over 100 years. Mary Moodie's husband made a doco about it which is here. The food is good hearty food like your grandmother made. Today we had

1. Entree of rustic bread and alphabet soup,
2. Followed by sauteed cabbage with salami, pate and gherkins,
3. Next the main of mique? pork, potatoes, carrots, cabbage all boiled with a big dumpling on top, served with a slice of dumpling,
4. Next a selection of delicious cheeses: goat; camembert, and two other local cheeses
5. Then a choice of desserts: for the kids ice cream for Wendy cheesecake and for me Creme brulee
6. This was topped off by coffee and of course wine was included! You are given a bottle which must be at least a litre and for a table of two that's a good amount to get through (we didn't finish it!)
   

Phew. It wasn't the most gourmand food and it wasn't all tartily presented but it was good honest local fare which would keep you coming back. It was E12.50 each which is a great bargain. We felt like outsiders initially but once all the busyness was over the lovely staff came and chatted to us and complemented Wendy on her excellent French. I stood quietly in the background pretending I was mute. I didn't want to let the family down after that comment. I can understand quite a bit but not if people talk too quickly. Happily I've found I can speak enough to make myself understood, even if I do get some odd looks until I discover I've ordered a train to Marseille instead of beef.

After, we met a very friendly big dog down the road who just wanted to jump. I nicknamed him Tigger he was so jumpy. Wendy went into fits of laughter when he started racing round chasing Henry and bouncing. Tigger was very friendly and wasn't going to hurt Hen but I was a bit concerned that Hen might get knocked over. Once we'd shaken off Tigger Henry and I continued on our plan to walk back through the pooky woods back to the village. (Hen once said pooky instead of spooky and we thought it sounded funny so it's stuck)

We walked past rabbits, sheep, ducks, geese, chickens and really loud dogs. Into the woods where we practiced our Indian tracking skills. Hen loved following the fresh tracks of a dog and a man. We looked for broken twigs when they had to go off track, leaves turned over and scratch marks. Hen said tonight it was his favourite part of the day. Nice