Summer to spring

Two consequences of yesterday's adventures: first, Jemima didn't go to sleep until about midnight with all the excitement (when the "Mummy Mummy Mummy!" started I rolled over saying to Kevin as he's had a day off, he was on duty, so he was the one awake with her - I slept well...); and second, Kevin got bored home alone so had some fun googling, and as a result we are currently half way to a French theme park called Le Puy du Fou - we are going to finish this trip with a bang. It's slightly further west than we would normally be going to get home, but looks brilliant, with lots of historically-themed live shows, and an aire with a free shuttle bus for Beatrix.

So we are staying tonight in a tiny town in the middle of France, just off the motorway. Kevin did an amazing job of the six hour drive, while I read Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's entire oeuvre to Jemima. We started in a warm, sunny Genoan morning with everything green and lush; and went through the Alps with views of snowcapped mountains; into a France of grey skies and landscapes where it seems as if spring is only just starting. We have certainly left summer behind, but at least (hopefully) it is on its way - when we came home last trip, all we had to look forward to was winter. At least we have a few days of organised fun to look forward to. One more day of this driving, and the last hurrah can begin.

Our stop off:

Arenzano near Genoa to Chabreloche, not near anywhere: