Although some things in life are entirely predictable (like Air France losing my bag which did happen as I said it would) children are at times brilliantly unpredictable.

As I stood waiting for my luggage which I already knew wouldn’t arrive Olivia barged her way past four security guards (carrying machine guns, it’s a dangerous place Montpellier airport) to the passenger area and threw her arms around me. Her first comment (very loud it was too) was about my new hair. “Will it fall out when you have a shower?” she asked. I had just made a new friend on the plane from Paris who looked amazed and moved a little further away from me. I’ve a feeling we won’t be seeing her again.

Next in was Leonardo who put his chubby little arms around my neck and said: “Did you got my shoes? Where is them?” Sadly ‘they is’ in the case that went missing, but a lady from Air France assured me it was not lost just “delayed.” I love the concept of my suitcase being delayed, rather like it has a life of its own. Next it will be ‘on the other line’ or ‘eating lunch’.

When I got home Bea told me she had a present for me and that it was under my pillow. I opened a package stuck together with about two metres of masking tape to find a small rubber goldfish and a pair of nail scissors, just what I always wanted.

I’m so looking forward to seeing them all tonight, Bea will be doing handstands in the kitchen as I cook, Leo will be playing with his new cool pick-up truck with surfboard from Laguna Beach and Olivia will be doing her homework and telling me I don’t understand it (which I normally don’t). Rupert will be lighting the fire and pouring me a glass of wine. All is as it should be. Maybe the suitcase will show up in time to eat too. Now that would be unpredictable.

Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2007