Crikey, we are marching towards Christmas and I haven't written our Toussaint blog, nor even finished our summer one! Summer is OK because I kept a written diary, but for the last short and sweet holiday together, I have only photos and memories... And I know we had a great time together!
Friday, 22 October: London to France aller retour
A quick trip in the morning to France... I went to the school to see the children and meet Ruby's new teacher. The children came back to the house with me to pick up their passports and Finn wanted to pick up his new Man U bag as he was going to be playing football in London. A quick goodbye and we were off to Girona. We arrived back very late at night (and were even later because of the massive queues at passport control) but fortunately Dave was there to pick us up, so we had a really stress free trip into London. (Thank you so much Dave!)
When we got back to our apartment, there was all the usual excitement... so no sleep!
Finn dancing, celebrating - as he does - and very happy in his new Spanish football kit!
Saturday, 23 October: London
Rebecca and Jonanthan came over in the morning and then we all went for a delicious lunch at Le Pain Quotidien with Jonathan and Rebecca (and their new SLR).
Sunday, 24 October: Brazilian music at Southbank
We had a nice relaxing day in the morning, just playing at home. Finn got into his car parking/racing game.
This child is just so gorgeous! And I say that quite objectively, of course!
In the evening we went to a night of Brazilian music and dancing at the Southbank... Ruby really got into the dance tutorials towards the end - she absolutely loved the music and dancing! And people came up to her afterwards to congratulate her on how well she did learning the steps and positioning herself right up the front to really study dance well. She has quite a lovely, natural dance rhythm to her...
Walking back to the bus via Trafalgar Square... with a play at the fountain, of course!
Monday, 25 October: Day One of Little League Football Academy and Dramarama
Today was a day of much excitement as it was the first day that Ruby and Finn were going to attend their acting and football schools. Both schools were being held at the beautiful South Hampstead High School, which has quite spectacular facilities. Finn was really pumped up - but he had his mates Max and Zac to accompany him - whereas Ruby was a little more reticient... alhtough keen, going to a big unknown nonetheless... so, it was wonderful to watch her progress over the week and to share in her intense pride in performing in a production on the stage at the end of the week.
The South Hampstead Theatre, where Ruby did her acting classes.
Thursday, 28 October: Little League Football Academy and Dramarama continue...
Getting Ruby and Finn up was getting to be hard work every day - they were expending an enormous amount of energy - running around and studying (Ruby learning lines for her production.) But they were both so loving it!
In the evening we went out for dinner with Dave to Cafe Rouge... (actually, he took us out, which was really nice). Cafe Rouge was Ruby's pick. Finn said he preferred Pizza Express but Ruby promptly told him that if wanted to be going there he'd be on his own. Result: we are going to Pizza Express for Finn in December!
Friday, 29 October: The Finale!
Today was another big day with Finn's prize giving and Ruby's show. Five days of really hard work and fun coming to an end!
After the prize giving I took the children to meet Stuart and go and see Ruby's show. Kimberly and Abigail came along too, which was really sweet of them.
The production was Beauty and the Beast. It was an incredible production considering it represented just 41/2 days of work, with singing, dancing and acting. Ruby had several lines to learn as well as the words to several songs. She did incredibly well. I was so proud of her and especially of the way she created a "cahier" of the occasion... carefully putting away the play with poems she has written. (The documenter like her Mother, I guess!)
Sunday, 31 October: Finn's birthday and Halloween
Sunday, 31 October: Finn's birthday and Halloween
Today was an even bigger day (if that is possible!)... here is a beautiful card that Ruby made for me one afternoon at Gabi's.
It was Finn's birthday party combined with Halloween! Hooray! They were both so excited! We made some scary cakes... with green icing and cobwebs and skulls and monsters and Boo!
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And then it was time for trick or treating! Off we went with our buckets and baskets... some treats were sweets, some were dancing or singing... and at the end of the trick or treating, we had dancing and singing in the Mews with John!
Tuesday, 02 November: St Mary's School Hampstead and then back to France
It was Abigail's first day back at school after the half-term and Finn and Ruby weren't due to start back at school until Wednesday, so they were able to go with Kimberly and Daniel to take the beautiful Abigail to school. And doesn't she just look like Madeleine?
And that is it! A happy end to a very happy holiday! See you at Christmas my little darlings! XXX
Please update more often! Looking forward to seeing R+F soon for Christmas celebrations at our place xx
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