Busy weekend

Gone all day Saturday and Sunday, both daytrips into France but different locations.

Michael decided on the trip to Chamonix for his birthday and it was a good, but long, day. We didn't get away as early as we should have but that's often the case with us. Took us about an hour a half to get to Chamonix so we looked for lunch as soon as it we got there. Chamonix reminded me of Zermatt, but bigger. A very pretty ski village surrounded by mountains and living in the shadow of a well known mountain, in this case Mont Blanc. MK also said the buildings weren't as traditional as in Zermatt.

Lunch was in a very interesting restaurant kitted out in all sorts of bric and brac. Obviously a very well established touristic place. We enjoyed our 3 course meal and the kids their menu enfant.

After, we caught the train up to the Glace de Mer (Sea of Ice) which was a 20min trip up the mountain. Had a good view of the glacier, but Lily wanted to catch the gondolier down to the glacier. We agreed, and I'm glad we did. At the bottom we walked all the way down to the glacier (long series of stairs) then we were able to go into a tunnelled out ice cave. It was really cool, pardon the pun. Apparently a new one gets tunnelled every year as the glacier moves that much. The cave was lit in different colours and the walls were icy smooth. There were some ice carvings and we even had a family photo taken with a St Bernard dog!

Lily and I ran back up the stairs then caught the gondolier, more time looking at the view and a cystal display cave before catching the train back down to Chamonix. Things turned a bit messy for a while as Charlotte said she needed toilet. No probs, started looking for one but no luck. So I took her just off the platform at the Chamonix station. And waited. And waited. I thought she we were waiting for pee-pee (that's what she said) but no, eventually the end result was not pee-pee. Ewwwwww. So there I was bagging ca-ca and wiping her bottom. Luckily without much of an audience. A kind rail worker bought over a full watering can which got rid of the Mr Hanky handprint. Otherwise we left no trace of our Welcome to Chamonix dump.

Had a bit more of a look round town (so busy), picked up some things in the supermarket and headed home. Bit later than we intended - it was around 8.30pm when we got in - but a good day.

Yesterday was the Big Day Out for MK's contracting company at an adventure park in France on the way to Annency. Once again we got away a bit late, and then got caught in crawling traffic just as we got close, but I'm glad we didn't get there any earlier. It was a good day, but I didn't know anyone, the food was just ok, it was hot, Charlotte wanted to do her own thing (fine, but that didn't include the activities organised for the other kids admittedly for 3 years plus), Lily wet her pants and the music in the tent (where the shade was) was too loud.

But then it's impossible to compete with the multinational companys' family Picnic from the week before which is the event to end all events.