Paris and then South

We arrived on Friday evening in Paris and drove straight to Phoebe\s house!  Mia stayed with Phoebe until Sunday afternoon.  So me Jarle and Ben spent some time in rainy Paris, shopping, walking and eating.  Cold and rainy weather.  Sunday we set off for Beaune in the Burgundy area of France, about 3 hours south of Paris.  We stayed at a lovely hotel called Hotel de la Paix then continued South in the morning.  The weather improved en route and we stopped for lunch and some chocolate and wine shopping in Tain L`Hermitage.  If you ever see ValRhona chocolate in the shops, that is where it comes from!

Monday evening we arrived at the flat and have settled in for some relaxing days.  Yesterday we spent a few hours at the beach, the sea temperature is still quite warm, even for me.

As promised

Photo of Mia with horse.  This was "Merkur" and last week she rode "Leira".  All the horses at the stables are Iceland Horses, very sturdy and chunky.  We went for quite a long walk in a nearby area.  I wish I was on a horse!  I was trudging through the mud and trying to keep up......  Mia did very well, even when Merkur kept trying to eat grass and trees!  Oh and the weather was gorgeous, 20C and sunshine.

Horseriding

Mia has taken up another new hobby, horse riding!  I got a bit of a shock when we turned up for the first lesson and I had to be involved, leading the horse around in the mud and poo through a forest.  Just as well I had put on my wellies!!  It was quite good fun though.  I was a little worried the horse would push me over or step on my feet but it didn't.  Only problem was that the girl taking the class didn't seem to understand that Mia and her friend Maria were complete beginners.  She didn't show them how to hold the reins, how to start and stop the horse, nothing.  Just get on and ride and of course I was no help.....

Afterwards the man who runs the place came over to talk to us and he understood that Mia and Maria were complete newbies.  He took them (and us, me and Maria's dad) aside for a little helpful instruction.  Phew.

Next time it should go a bit smoother and I will probably just be watching them as Mia will manage on her own.  Quite exciting.

Forgot to take my camera.....

Football and Rain

Autumn in Stavanger is always wet.  It is raining again today and there is no point in checking the weather forecast because it is going to rain every day for a long time.......

Mia is enjoying playing football with her classmates.  It is a girls team and although most of them are beginners, they are competing in the local league and also some tournaments.  The last two Sundays were spent cheering them on.  Today they have a match miles away which involves a ferry to get there.

Although they didn't win, all teams got trophies for good effort and contribution.

Autumn.....?

Weather is very changeable right now.  It was 19 degrees yesterday and today it is twelve and wet wild and windy.  Walked on a beach locally known as dog beach with Carolyn, her husband and daughter and dog Tilly (Zizou's favourite dog in the world) Mia and Zizou of course, this morning.  Zizou didn't stop running for an hour and a half!  We met loads of other dogs but Zizou only has eyes for Tilly.

It certainly blew the cobwebs away!

Last weekend we were down at the cabin Saturday to Sunday.  Mia had her friend Rannveig with us and they enjoyed catching crabs and starfish etc.

We are already planning the next holiday.  Not long until the autumn school holidays......  We are off to Paris and Antibes.  The flat is empty the whole of September if anyone is interested in renting it.

Back to School

Monday next week is the first day of school after the summer holidays.  Ben is starting at a high school down town and Mia is starting in 5th class with a new teacher.

Other news, last weekend we drove to Bergen for the weekend to celebrate Jarle's sister's 50th birthday.  We had a lovely time and the weather was fantastic.

The proud parents, Asta and Erling

Are our sunglasses big enough?  Me and Linn

The birthday girl Lisbeth with her big brother

Mia 10 today

How time flies....