This morning I went for a run around the lake, not the whole way round, it is 18 kilometres, but for about 15 minutes. Suddenly it started pouring with rain. My instinct was to shriek and call a taxi. But then I thought; rain, there’s a novelty, let’s see what it’s like. And you know what? It was heavenly. I had the same feeling I sometimes have on a sunny evening wandering through a green field. It was really lovely soft warm rain that moisturised my body and soul. I am not sure after however many years we will spend in the desert, I will ever complain about the rain again. Which is almost genetically impossible for someone brought up in England.
Last night at dinner Leo announed he wants to be a “popular singer”. I wonder if it is possible for someone who calls it that to ever make it, but feel sure his rendition of ‘the lion sleeps tonight’ will help him enormously. The girls are so grown up and beautiful after their Roman holiday – they are speaking Italian and seem so much bigger than the boy. Olivia is in love with Europe and calls Abu Dhabi “the onion, because it makes me cry”. Bea is at her happiest with her favourite people in the world Norrie and Mary. My mother has been staying with them and today we take her back to Geneva and her flight to Rome. After a month with the ferals she is looking forward to sleeping for several days.
Unlike our last holiday, I fear we will not be losing weight. Here at the dreamy Chalet du Lac we have breakfast then a three-course lunch followed by a three-course dinner, all washed down with fine wines. We stay here until Friday before heading back home to the Languedoc. Although it doesn’t really feel like home any more. It will be interesting to see what we think of it and whether Olivia changes her mind about the onion. I hope so, because we are quite happy there.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2009
I think Leo already is a “Rock Star”
He is awesome, i can’t wait to entertain him when he is around 17
Ah well, you can’t keep losing weight.
BTW, I tried that thing of not eating after 6pm (well,7 if I’m honest!) and it did work! Says she who has just eaten 3 chokladflarn from the newly opened Ikea in Dublin. Guess who won’t be losing weight tonight!
Anyway, glad to see you’re happy in Abu Dhabi, and have a lovely holiday.
Oh, poor you, but we’ve all done that with flights in this part of the world to the extent that my travel agent now writes on the e-ticket “check in evening of….” ie the day before. But lucky you with RAIN! How wonderful. Where are you precisely, lac d’Annecy? If so, beautiful beyond words. Know Talloires particularly well.