Fun in Paris

We have just had the most amazing two days in Paris! On Friday we all walked down the Champs Elysees and the teachers all had a wonderful lunch at the George V restaurant. I had a delicious strawberry, pineapple and banana juice and a croque madame. The sun was shining and we were all chatting and it was a very happy time. We met up with the pupils to visit the Arc de Triomphe, then it was off to Trocadero to get a great view of the Eiffel Tower. Then Montmartre where we strolled the narrow streets and me and my pupil with autism had drinks in a cafe in the Place du Tertre. It was great watching the artists and soaking up the atmosphere. Going by coach from place to place was ideal because tramping around Paris can be very tiring, so being picked up at pre-arranged meeting places was a life saver. Our bus driver is extremely knowledgable about Paris and gave us a fantastic commentary about all the places we passed. He was training up the other bus driver and when he drove round the Arc de Triomphe for his first time we all cheered! Then Saturday morning we went back into Paris to go on a river cruise then up the Eiffel Tower. The sun came out just as we got to the top! Davie hasn't been in Paris since he was two so he was having a ball. Them we began the long journey home. At Dover I moved to Bus 2, after saying farewell to pupils and colleagues in Bus 1, and when I arrived on my new coach the staff had set aside seats for me and David with signs that said "First Class" and chocolates & drinks on the seats! We all had a good laugh and chat for the hour and a half journey to Heathrow. The drivers very kindly dropped us right at the Sheraton which I had reserved. More farewells then Davie and I checked in to the hotel. I have such mixed feelings about the trip being over! It was thoroughly exhausting & hard work but also tremendous fun and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! 

Disney Days

Well here I am, three days into our school trip to Paris and I have decided to nip down to reception in the hotel to do a wee bit of blogging now that all the pupils are asleep (probably). This is taking longer than I thought because some of the keys seem to be in different places on this French keyboard, the "a" is in a very annoying place and so is the full stop. Anyway, we have spent the first three days at Disneyland and it has gone really well so far. Of course, like any school trip there have been a few minor injuries and behaviour issues, and it takes forever to get the pupils to settle down to sleep, but it is great fun and the pupils are loving it. I am very proud of my pupil from the base in particular who is coping very well, and Davie is being a great help and also having a brilliant time. Davie and I have been to Disneyland Paris twice before, so there is a pleasant familiarity about it, and I have revisited lots of favourite rides including of course my all time mad favourite; "It's a Small World"! Over the three days we have visited both parks. I have started each day accompanying a group and then later I meet up with my colleagues for lunch and the teachers all go around together in the afternoon. I really like the group of teachers that are on this trip; I knew some of them well already but not all of them, and it has been nice getting to know them better. We have a good laugh about all sorts of things. Although I have experienced Disney before there is still a bit of magic about it! The fairytale castle, the rides big and small, the parades, children hugging the characters; whatever it is, it is all done very well. As we were about to leave tonight I walked over to the end of the Main Street for a farewell look at the castle, bathed in a glow of rosy evening light. Tomorrow we are off to Paris! 

On the bus to Paris

We're on our way to Paris, on a school trip. David is also on the trip to help me to support a pupil with autism. It's 2 a.m. and we have just gone back on the motorway after stopping at Toddington Services which I am told is near Milton Keynes. We have been on the road since 6.30 p.m. but the pupils show no signs of flagging and are still laughing and talking! After watching a pleasant enough rom com "Just go with it" I managed to get a bit of sleep, maybe just over an hour. And now I'm wide awake so I thought I would blog. I can hardly believe that I will not be back home until 17th July - due to our family holiday being immediately after this Paris trip. David and I will make our own way from Dover to Heathrow on Sat 25th June. David is sitting happily chatting to the pupils across from me. It has taken a lot of preparation both at home and at work to be ready for this trip so I'm glad that we're on our way. After I said goodbye to Jamie and Ally today, Jack cat met me at the front door and rubbed against my legs as I patted him. I'm sure that he knew we were going away because he watched me packing and he knows what suitcases mean! He watched from the front steps as we headed up to school by taxi. At least he will still have the other three of us for company this week, then I have arranged for Hugh to feed him. I decided that despite being a bit lonely he will be happier in his own house at his age than in a cattery by himself without Jill. I would like to blog when I'm on holiday but I think it will be too expensive from my phone so I will see if I can get Internet access from hotels. I'm feeling sleepy again so will try to have a snooze.