........it is 21 December 2014 and I am in Paris. Yesterday I went to see my little teeny tiny granddaughter Alba in hospital, she is doing very well and should be home within a couple of weeks or so. Not yet 2kilos - but close - she will be allowed out when 2.2 kilos!
Yesterday was also my son Rob's birthday and he joined us late on in the evening which was also special.
And on Friday I completed SiS Catalyst and said goodbye to the special team of young people who have been working with me on it for the last few years. I will go back to work in January, but part-time to complete the final reporting of the project. So a couple of months to do that, then two weeks of Jury Duty and then off to Australia and India........ followed by the rest of my new life!
But before that we have Jimmy and Rachel's wedding on the 1/2 January - the biggest family gathering for many years - so also very special!
I do feel very tired........ I feel like I have got to the end of the marathon and looking back over the last four years that's what it has been. The last few months have also been an emotional roller coaster which obviously included the early arrival of Alba but also completing SiS Catalyst and saying farewell to the team etc...... a lot of stuff......... I also did travel an awful lot over the last few months.
Rob and I are staying here in Paris in an Apart-hotel which is great because it has a little kitchen etc so we can be independent, not to mention a very nice swimming pool with sauna etc. It is also just round the corner from Alex and Lara's so it is very convenient.
This morning we went to a really lovely traditional French market and stocked up with all sorts of delicacies and Rob and I are looking forward to cooking for Alex and Lara..... as the baby is still in hospital they will spend most of the day up there and it will be nice for us to feel useful. We will also be washing the many tiny little clothes she is now wearing..... baby clothes are so magic and premature baby clothes just make me melt with goooyness!
So the first days of my new life will involve cooking and looking after family - but also relaxing and being me - with not a lot of responsibilities - which is an amazingly good way for it to start - not in my own home though appropriately in a family home in another country with Lara's Mum Juaqui, so speaking Spanish (Juaqui has just left to fly home to Asturias) and shopping in French, with Rob over from Croatia and feeling good that we can be useful to Alex and Lara and the teeny tiny Spanish/British/French baby Alba. I do live a multi country life!
Thinking about my Mum but knowing that I will speak to her regularly, that as I write Jenny is with her and that she will a lovely Christmas at Ann's with Max and Tanja and that she is also really looking forward to the wedding.
.............. so what a joy..... feeling knackered but very, very, very happy.
