Hopefully now we're back from France, and I'm settled into Rachel and Will's home and wifi, I can get into a better routine. Today I'm hoping to pop into the shops to attempt sorting out why I can't still send emails. Receiving them is fine, but even the Australian brilliance of setting up a gmail account so I could communicate back on emails, isn't working here.
Euro Disneyland is h-u-g-e ! I had been to Disneyland (Los Angeles) in the 1970s and my lasting impression had been that it was such a clean and joyful place. The Paris one is extraordinary. According to Rosemary, who seems to know most things, it still isn't showing a profit. Admittedly it must employ a huge number of staff but when the gates open at 10am there are already queues of people that take about 20 minutes to just get through the turn stile. (and where we were, there were 10 turn stiles alone.)
Rachel had orchestrated the four days we were there - from which of the rides we were to do first to what restaurants we would eat in each evening.
Our hotel was within the Park confines itself (though outside the turnstiles and security X-rays) and we had three rooms between us - I shared with my niece Gabriel and her two boys. The plan had been that she and I would top and tail in one extra large double bed, and the boys (6 and 8) would share the other or we'd have one boy each. However on my flight over I must have grown an extra head, because for the first time in my life neither child liked, or particularly acknowledged, me - and I got one double bed to myself for the full time we were there. Result!!
By the time we left, the only child who was unable to go on the tower of terror, parachute drop, or variety of roller coasters was Henry - and that was only because of height restrictions. So (overkill I admit) Philip, Rosemary and I jostled for pole position with him at the Slinky Dog ride, Dumbo merry go round and assorted similar rides. We often queued for over an hour for a two minute ride without complaint from Henry - but I think both Philip and I realised our folly when we found ourselves sitting up straight and behaving nicely together on one ride, while Henry and Rosemary were in the aeroplane ahead. After that, I was official photographer of sorts - though I took them on my camera rather than this ipad, so I can't prove my worth at this juncture.
All of us were taking photographs of everything we did, saw, smelt and ate it seemed and Gabriel is going to make us a shared website for all the photos and she'll make Rachel a photo album over the next couple of weeks.
We tried to send her photos and comments as they happened, but sadly we couldn't get them to go through from France - until we came out from the Chunnel in the train on our return trip. Evidently she was then inundated with texts and emails from us all.
Rachel continues to be in hospital, and there appears to be a timetable for visiting. I saw her that first night but it was late, she was tired and I was jet lagged. I'm not sure when I'll get back to see her again because it's an hour and a half's train ride back into London, not to mention the time it takes to get to and from the station and hospital.
But Kitty and Henry and I get on very well together and today I'm being allowed to look after them for the whole day. Alone! There are 42 stairs in this house - and 3 and a half levels!! Could be fun! That's possibly only because Sarah and Nick (the oldest daughter) arrived from Africa yesterday, spent the day with Rachel and arrive in Cirencester today. The children are then going to a sleep over at a friends house and I shall go across to Philip and Rosemary's for SUPPER (read "tea").
I'm set up in the guest room at Rachel's - and we're all still hoping that she will get home before I leave. It's been 10 weeks now, since she first went into hospital - a private one, just off Harley Street ($4000 equivalent a week) where she has her own room - with coloured lights brought in by a friend and an Exercycle in one corner which she is determined to keep using. It certainly proves the worth of medical insurance at times like this.
At that point Henry appeared - 5am - so task aborted. More tonight.
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