We’ve booked for 3 nights in the Hague, with Jo & Dirk & Mad & Dave & Lillian. I can’t wait. Mad & Dave have decided to return to Australia… I can’t believe it. We’ve missed lots since we moved from Glasgow, I tell myself that this would never have happened if we had all stayed in Glasgow, but truthfully, with a new baby everything changes and who knows what might have happened. Anyway, since we’re here, and they are there, and Jo & Dirk are in the Hague – Christmas together is the next best thing. I can’t wait.

After that, because we are so close, we’re staying another couple of days in Amsterdam. We’ve booked a hotel in the Jordaan called “Chic & Basic” which sounds about our style. Something else to look forward to… all this and a trip to Colmar next weekend for the christmas markets, and then London 2 weeks after that to see our favorite family and our gorgeous god child and his sister (who we consider our god child as well… even if it’s not official!). New Years eve will be here, at home, hopefully with a leg of lamb or some oysters, I haven’t decided yet. Then early in January with any luck we’ll get to Dundee and Glasgow for another brief visit. This trip is not confirmed yet, so it’s all still hush hush, but once we’ve confirmed we’ll let you know.

That’s the plan. Providing the SNCF go back to work soon, it will all be realised, for the meantime we’re metro’less, train less and pounding the pavements on our own in the cold. Sarkozy better hold out or it won’t be worth anything at all….