Work picnic is over for another year

And probably the last one we'll ever go to.

The day that I live for all year has come and gone. I love Picnic!

Sarah got to our place just after 10am and she was bearing gifts - a bottle of bubbles for each of the girls and chocolates for MK and I. That girl is so sweet. We got away just after 10.30am and hit major road problems. Took us nearly an hour to get to the other side of Lausanne. Some sort of bike race going on around Ouchy, MK said. I was getting anxious - Picnic was starting (11am) without us!

Eventually got there just before noon, after one pee-pee stop for Lily. This year there were no t-shirts for the kids and the welcoming drink was juice, not bubbly. Plus no carousel or rides set up out the front where they usually are. Actually, there weren't many rides this year at all. All I saw was one odd looking bike ride for older kids - peddle the bike up a tall pole.

But, I think the rides budget must have gone to the sushi and freshly shucked oyster stands! Got MK in line for the sushi (long), while I got the girls and Sarah some food. Then later I got 2 plates of oysters for MK and I (8 per plate). After that, 2 plates of freshly cooked prawns. And I think that was the end of the savouries for me. I started on the chocolate crepe and chocolate gaufre (waffle). Both absolutely delicious and freshly made. Then some desserts (the selection of patisseries is always good), another waffle (couldn't resist), some fresh fruit (a fresh fig, some strawberries) and I don't think I could fit anymore in after this.

Unfortunately the rain came to Picnic, as it does traditionally. And I forgot to pack appropriately. This being our 5th Picnic in a row you'd think I'd have learnt by now. So Lily and Charlotte were in sleeveless summer dresses and I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and it's raining. Ugghhhh. But we sheltered in the big shed where they had (low-tech) games set up for the kids, which the girls enjoyed.

It was good having Sarah as she was able to do things with the girls. But we also encouraged her to eat and drink...no point in going to Picnic if you don't do that. She doesn't smoke so she wasn't interested in the free cigarettes that were on offer on the tea and cofffee stands. She took the girls to get maquillage (face painting) and later they did some painting. Plus spent time in the big shed with the games. Shame the rain was so constant as it stopped them going out and about more.

We saw Christine and Stefano, Irma is back, Clare and Mike, and caught up with a few other people I know. MK and I both agreed we missed seeing Don and Mandy...and where were Jackie and Steve? Robyn and Michael (our Australian twins) weren't there also.

As usual we stayed to the bitter end, and the end had come when Charlotte did pee-pee in her pants for the second time. I'd already used her spare dress and knickers for the first episode, so I had to move on to Lily's spare dress and no knickers (Lily had needed her spare knickers). Yuck. We got away just before 6pm.

The girls are just getting out of the bath after toasted cheese sandwiches for dinner. Nothing for MK and I.

Even without the rides of past, I'm sure we'll never experience a work family do as good as the one at Montricher.