week two

How are we fitting this all in??? I told you about the heat, well now I want you to send Snuggies. We had a big storm overnight and the temp dropped about 20degs., with the Louisiana version of a Westerly. We went off to soccer and that nasty old wind came sweeping down the plains. The boys played a last minute replacement team ... of GIRLS.....who we swear were descendant from the Amazons, they were older, AND they had hips and elbows, AND THEY BEAT US!

We had had a private party for Chif on Fri.16th which is his birthday, and Canette made a supa doopa Humming Bird Cake [no Madeleine, we did not use actual Humming birds, just eggs and flour etc] and then on the Saturday night, we had the party proper, to which the world and his wife came. It was a lovely, lovely night and we met the entire neighbourhood. Luckily, the wind dropped and even though it was cool, it was great.

Monday was very special. We went to the boy's

school where they were giving awards for the Honors Program and both the boys received the Principal's award for achieving straight A's. We were very proud. Then we went off to view the two schools Canette and Christopher are considering for James next year. You know, I had never realised that these big schools are all "inside" You go in the front door and along these wide corridors lined with lockers and it is all in there; the classrooms, the music rooms, the gym and the canteen. They don't use lockers any more, there has actually been a ruling because of kids bringing bad stuff to school, in some schools you have a set of books which you keep at home and another set for you to use in the class room. It was all very orderly because of it being open day.

BUT TODAY NEW ORLEANS It was the most picture perfect day, the tourist office must have been in heaven. We parked near the river and had a little walk along the Mighty Mississippi, past the Paddle wheeler, Natchez, stopped for cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde , walked through Jackson Sq; took a peek into St.Lewis Cathedral, and went to the Cabildo, the museum which tells the history of the settlement of Louisiana and and everything I have always wanted to know about the South and its customs. A brief flit through some shops [where I purchased the obligatory tee shirt to wear to the gym] and then into the car for a trip to see

what progress had been made in the restoration of New Orleans. There are still huge areas of abandoned houses, but in places things were looking up and the little shotgun houses have been repaired and painted in all sorts of fabulous colours, and then of course, we did the drive up St.Charles Ave to gaze in wonder at the beautiful homes there.

This Friday we are going up to the Lake, so that will be a whole new adventure.

We are fighting fit, and hope you are all safe and well.