Our trip to Belgium seems like a lifetime ago, even though we only got back ten days ago ! We timed it just right though as they have reinforced their Covid measures this week, reducing the number of people who can be in any place at any time (I would guess this means even bigger problems for the attractions) and, if you eat in a restaurant, you have to leave your contact details so that they can get back to you if there is an outbreak. You also have to wear a mask all the time when outside, but we were doing that anyway, as were most of the others. Our trip to the UK is looking less and less likely unfortunately. We've been watching the news on Covid measures and were happy to see that the 2-week confinement on arrival has been lifted, but now, we've discovered that the ferry and Channel Tunnel prices have gone through the roof - paying about £400 instead of £50 just seems totally wrong, especially as there's no justification. You have to stay in your car all the time in the tunnel so there is presumably no change to the number of cars that are using it. We'll have to wait and see. I haven't seen my family since February so we're a bit gutted though.
So, what did we get up to this week? Not much really ! Our big dejunk continued !
Sunday 26th July - Sophie has been making smoothies all week, using combinations of fresh and frozen fruit, and they have all been delicious. Even better, Juliette and Pierre think so too, so there have been vast quantities of fruit being consumed this week ! This has been a great way of using the food mixer that the kids bought me for mother's day. :)
Monday - We had a big sort-out in the living/dining room, going through all the drawers in the cupboards and dejunking the shelves. We had so many mugs and glasses that never get used, it was a bit ridiculous ! After tackling Pierre's room before going to Belgium, I have bin bags and boxes of stuff all over the place now though, to throw away when there's room in the bin or to donate. It's a total mess but at least it will get better soon. We finished off walking the dog along by the canal. Plants have sprung up everywhere since the last time we went a couple of weeks ago.
Tuesday - We needed to replace our printer ink so I headed to the big local supermarket with Sophie. She always makes me buy totally random stuff ! This time, she found fresh aloe vera and, as it wasn't very expensive, I said she could buy it. You can eat it, drink it or use it in beauty treatments, according to the label on the shelf. Right now, it's still sitting on our kitchen table though !
Wednesday - Today's photo is of the canal in Dunkerque town centre and it suddenly made me realise how similar it looks to Belgium. I had my appointment at the bank to sort out the kids' money from their "inheritance" and it took forever. For a start, the woman who deals with my account was forty five minutes late for the appointment and didn't even apologise ! Then we spent an hour filling in the paperwork for the money transfers. We got Sophie's sorted out fairly swiftly (about half an hour) but for Juliette and Pierre, it's more complicated because they are under 18 so it's all "highly protected", as she explained. I wouldn't care but this is literally moving money from my savings account to their pre-existing savings accounts, so it surely can't be that complicated ! At the end, she said that she'd fill in all the remaining paperwork for them, send it to me by email and I could drop it back in at the bank. *sigh*
Thursday - We're in the middle of a heatwave and the kids asked if we could buy a swimming pool for the patio. Well, why not ?! It'll make up for missing out on the usual summer holiday ! We popped to the local B&M store (about ten minutes away on foot) and found everything we needed at a reasonable price (the pool, pool cover and a pump to blow up the top part for about £40 total) then Juliette and Pierre spent the whole afternoon in it. It's a good size - they can both lie down in it. The yellow rubber ring is one of the big ones that an adult can lie on, for an idea of size.
Friday - Juliette and Pierre spent the day in the pool again, while Sophie and I cracked on with sorting out the living/dining room. We reduced the size of the table, taking out the add-on segments so it is now round rather than long. Having already emptied out Pierre's cupboard in his bedroom, we moved a huge pile of games and puzzles upstairs. We found a big bag full of stuff (official documents, ticket stubs, plane tickets, travel plans written out by Madhouse Daddy) from his year as an au-pair in America, which was nice for the kids to look through. We finished off cleaning the floor and the windows and the room looks so different now ! We finished off walking the dog along the canal, just as the sun was starting to set. I love this photo with the moody reflections in the water, but I still can't work out why we can see three suns !
Saturday - Having received a message on my phone, asking for me to go back in to the bank to sign the papers (that we had decided she was going to email to me - grrrr !), we popped back in at 11.30am as arranged. The bank closes at midday and she finally appeared at ten to twelve. No comment ! I signed everything ... then discovered that this was just the official request to transfer money. (So what was all the stuff I signed last time ?!) I'll have to go back in again next week once the request has been authorised, to sign more papers to finalise the transfer. Talk about making a song and dance about it ! Just as well I'm on holiday at the moment with all these appointments. We headed to a pizza restaurant for lunch afterwards which was nice, but the pizzas weren't as good as usual. The eggs were overcooked (they're supposed to be runny but they were rock hard !) and they just lacked a bit of oomph. We popped into a shop (our version of HMV) where Pierre wanted to spend the end of his birthday money on a pair of headphones. He found a pair in the sales, €10 instead of €24.99, and was utterly delighted when, for some reason, they went through with a bonus €3 reduction so he got them for €7 !
What a palaver with the paperwork! And that woman sounds very rude. Some minor bureaucrats enjoy their little power, and make everything to inflate their importance. I was clearing out the kitchen stuff earlier this week, and decided I also need to get rid of many mugs that just collect dust, mostly the freebies or promotional mugs. Just need to find the charity shops which take donations now. Well done to Pierre on his bargain purchase. The smoothies look tasty. I also prefer a runny egg on pizza, so can share your disappointment. The pool looks lovely, hope you have enough sunny days to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThe bank woman is actually really nice - she's just totally useless with sticking to times ! She's OK usually so maybe it's to do with covid restrictions? I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and just grumble in private ! lol. Yes, most of my mugs were freebies from bloggy things too !
DeleteIt does sound like you timed your trip well. I am so glad they haven't enforced wearing a mask outside here. I just about cope wearing it around the shops then ripping it off when I get outside. Eek! That is really unfair about the Channel Tunnel prices.
ReplyDeleteThose smoothies looks so good and the plants are so pretty.
I hope you find a use for the aloe vera. I wouldn't have a clue what to do with it.
What a faff with the appointment at the bank. How rude of the woman not to apologise for being late. It sounds like it's really being dragged out.
The pool looks fab and was needed over the last few days. x
I have to wear a mask all day at work so I've got used to it now. It's not great on a really hot day though ! I'm still tentatively holding on to the hope that the prices will go down for crossing the Channel - we'll see !
DeleteL9ving ! Your smoothie looks so delicious
ReplyDeleteWhat a shambles trying to get their money transfered and no thought or consideration of your time or feelings. This year is just a nightmare isn't it. I've not seen my parents since last September, I had to pay £XXX to change my flights to 2021, just hope Jet2 don't go bust in the meantime now #366
ReplyDeleteYes, that's another worry ! The money I paid towards our planned holiday to the Dominican Republic is not being refunded - they sent an email saying it can be used next year for the same destination and same hotel. I was also thinking that the hotel may not even exist next year ! We'll see what happens :-/
DeleteSuch a shame that your trip to the UK is looking less likely – it’s so hard not being able to see family because of the restrictions and price rises. Those smoothies look very nice – glad that the children are all enjoying them. The bank stuff all sounds incredibly frustrating. I hope it all gets sorted out soon. That swimming pool looks great. How lovely to find the bag full of stuff from Madhouse Daddy’s year in America to look through. That three suns photo is brilliant – I can’t work it out either but it does look very cool. #project366
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to just take a day at a time and see what happens for now. Everything is so uncertain at the moment. Aaaggghhh !
DeleteGreat Photos, Will be interested to read what you do with the Aloe Vera. My mum drives me mad waving that stuff at me for every ailment possible
ReplyDeletesounds like you timed the trip well. No justification in making the Chunnel so expensive apart from greed on their part. I hope you do manage to get to visit the family here.
ReplyDeleteWow at MH Daddy being an au pair.....not something I would consider hiring a man for, very ignorant of me, many many men make great child carers. Nice for the kids to look through a bit of history
The au pairs were all just out of secondary school, taking a year out before going on to uni. I'd say there were about half and half for guys and girls, from the stories he told. :)
DeleteSorry to hear that you won't get back to the UK, we were supposed to be travelling to France next month but have cancelled it as cannot afford to quarantine
ReplyDeleteAaagghhh it's a nightmare, isn't it ? :(
DeleteOh my word that is a huge hike in the price of the channel tunnel, I totally get why your reluctant to visit the UK. That's great the kids are enjoying those healthy smoothies so much. Sorry to hear your pizzas weren't as good as usual! Although they still look tasty in your photo!
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with prices going up is that they rarely come back down again :-/
DeleteYou certainly did visit Belgium at the right time! Shocking that prices have sky rocketed so much, I get it... however it isn't actually helping anyone or the situation! Glad you managed to get away and enjoy a breather though!
ReplyDeleteThe lady in the bank sounds like a right one! How rude is she?! I'd find it hard to hold my tongue, however, that doesn't help anything, hope you are seeing more movement now! Daft woman... she could at least apologise!
Those smoothies look amazing, such a fab way to consume more fruit! Hope you are all having a lovely week! Sim x
LOL You made me laugh about the bank woman ! I feel better about it now ! I need to buy some more fruit to make smoothies with, hmmm !
DeleteOur neighbour arrived back from Belgioum the day before the new measures began so she was relieved! I think these things should have been done much earlier. How frustrating about the bank, I wouldn't have stayed quiet! #project366
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you had such a run around with the bank! But on the bright side those pizza's look absolutely delicious!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shambles trying to get their money transfered. This year is just a nightmare hasn't it. xx
ReplyDeleteWell done on the timing of your trip and so sorry about the UK restrictions. We are just back from France (early) so we can quaratine before the beginning of school. So sorry it means you may not see your family. Sorry the bank is being so time consuming.
ReplyDelete