Forgive me, I’m just thinking aloud. In no particular order:
- Register Tadpole for pre-shool for September 06 at local mairie in case Lover turns out to be an axe murderer and we decide not to leave Paris after all (deadline 31 January)
- Purchase 2 camels, 1 donkey and several goats (www.oxfam.co.uk)
- Put magnum of champagne in fridge to chill for party tomorrow, make mince pies
- Ring UPS to convey “petite” to Ipod Hospital in Netherlands in her pre-paid envelope
- Choose new glasses frames (Prada?)
- Get passport photos for recruitment agency (black and white? more flattering?)
- Pack Tadpole’s overnight/weekend bags
- Pay nanny (tomorrow)
- Check current status of misbehaving digital camera – need usual Christmas photo of Tadpole with antlers developed in time for sending of Christmas cards
- Buy glittery pens for colouring Early Learning Center christmas cards with Tadpole
about
books
press
fbk
petite anglaise 
(3) – top stuff. Give me a shout if you want me to bring anything…?
Comment by JonnyB — November 30, 2005 @ 4:26 pm
Are you leaving Paris for good?
Comment by Rivka — November 30, 2005 @ 4:31 pm
Where cv photos are concerned b/w is best because more formal. But why spend bucks at a professional photographer’s if you can make your own with your – admittedly temperamental-digital camera. You wear a professional looking top and jacket and hairdo and slightly more makeup than usual and stand against
a uniform coloured wall while someone else takes a few shots. Then you photoshop them. Phantastic results, much better than from a totally indifferent chap who could not care two hoots. Try.
Comment by Angie — November 30, 2005 @ 4:39 pm
Are we all invited to the party too?
Comment by anne — November 30, 2005 @ 4:40 pm
JonnyB – Fairy Liquid. You’re on washing up duty.
Comment by petite — November 30, 2005 @ 4:48 pm
Damn you and your throwing things back in my face comebacks…
Comment by JonnyB — November 30, 2005 @ 5:22 pm
What, you mean that champagne wasn’t for my lunch? Oops.
Comment by Jim in Rennes — November 30, 2005 @ 6:08 pm
For a moment I wondered if number 3 was for a dowry – so glad I saw the oxfam thing.
Comment by Universal Soldier — November 30, 2005 @ 6:56 pm
Whoops meant number 2.
Comment by Universal Soldier — November 30, 2005 @ 6:57 pm
I too bought a camel, by OXFAM. :)
Comment by Michael — November 30, 2005 @ 9:19 pm
How many goats? What kind? Those nice ones with all the wooly hanging down stuff?
And glittery pens. Many colors. Sounds like a great idea for cards. Have fun doing that, post some here please.
Comment by joeinvegas — November 30, 2005 @ 10:04 pm
While Oxfam is a more-than-worthy cause, I do think that if item (2) had been for a nativity play… Tadpole would be even more excited for Christmas.
Comment by ludivine — November 30, 2005 @ 10:12 pm
I used to work as a dogsbody in a Recruitment Agency. If people put a photo on their cv, I was instructed to remove it before sending it on to any clients…
But I think it’s quite common to request photos in France, isn’t it?
Comment by anxious — November 30, 2005 @ 10:16 pm
I’m French and I was always told never to put any photos with a CV, unless the job you’re applying in modelling or TV presenting.
But I know many people do it.
Comment by Amélie — November 30, 2005 @ 11:02 pm
It’s all part and parcel of France’s fun fun fun employment rigmarole. There is no such thing as discrimination in France, so there is no need to eradicate it, hence, attaching photos is still expected, but since discrimination doesn’t happen, that’s not why people like to have photos with CVs. Lalalala, can’t hear you court of european human rights!
Comment by EasyJetsetter — November 30, 2005 @ 11:47 pm
very impressed with your organisational skills, I haven’t even begun to think christmas cards…
having read your two latest posts, I have to say that I’m relieved to see that my daughter is being brought up in a manner not unlike other kids her age (or at least similar to other expats), I too have subjected her to the reindeer antlers for a chritmas card, she was naked except for a little white cloth (got freaked out that my mail might be intercepted by a pedophile) and the picture is soooooo very cute, all baby fat, rosy cheeks, red nose and antlers…
And I too am incapable of waiting for christmas to offer her the gifts I buy so I now wait until about a week before Christmas to buy them…plus, I got fed up getting so excited about them all, offering them early and realising that she didn’t share my enthusiasm – best leave my disapointment for one day only rather than spreading it out all through december…
Comment by croque madame — December 1, 2005 @ 10:26 am
The new Chanel range of frames is lovely, I went glasses shopping with a French friend the other day….:)
Comment by Anne — December 1, 2005 @ 11:12 am
EasyJetSetter> So true!! Discrimination n’est pas français. God forgive me, no French employer would EVER discriminate someone on the grounds of their ethnicity. It’s just never happened. And when some politician tried to pass a law on anonymous CVs (that is, without names or photos), it was never voted because nobody felt the need for such a measure. We are the land of human rights, after all, right?
Comment by Marie — December 1, 2005 @ 12:13 pm
re photos – I have a problem with putting the fact that I have a child, my marital status, and even my age on a CV, but in this case I think it is just a prompt for the recruitment lady to remember who I am, nothing more.
Comment by petite — December 1, 2005 @ 12:54 pm
Aaaah – the joys of PA at lunchtime! Speaking of prezzies – my daughter (7) is asking for a BabyBorn/Nenuco/Annabell doll thing. Waddya reckon?
PLUS consider yourself lucky, Petite, that Tadpole is a girl; you can draw on own toy experience for prezzies. What on earth for boys????All is plastic violent yuck…
Comment by Lucy-Jane in Rennes — December 1, 2005 @ 1:13 pm
New glasses. Get rid of those atrocious Guccis and forget about Prada….so obvious. Those in the know are wearing SWISSFLEX. Mine will be ready next week.
Btw, do you wear glasses in your CV photo?
Comment by Parkin Pig — December 1, 2005 @ 1:26 pm
of course, they are compulsory for the serious secretary look
Comment by petite — December 1, 2005 @ 2:28 pm
I know Christmas puddings don’t exist in France but you might want to persuade your folks to take a trip to Sainsbury’s where there are the most excellent Christmas Pudding outfits for sale! I know it’s slightly cruel but she would surely look better as a pud than a Yule Log!
And how about you wear the antlers for your CV photo – that would surely make you memorable!
Comment by Prawn Cocktail Crisps — December 1, 2005 @ 2:29 pm
I think that you are using tadpole as an excuse – you just wanted those glittery pens to use on your cv!
Comment by m — December 1, 2005 @ 2:49 pm
1. So he’s only got to keep it all together for another two months? ;-)
Comment by Greavsie — December 1, 2005 @ 3:05 pm
And what happens if *she* turns out to be a psycho, eh? Nobody’s thought of THAT, have they?
Comment by Jim in Rennes — December 1, 2005 @ 3:22 pm
You put “married” (with one child) in your cv, don’t you? I reckon it would be suicide to mark “separated” or “estranged”. Ah, the charms of the job market …..
Comment by Angie — December 1, 2005 @ 4:14 pm
If I see a headline:
‘Man in Rennes twatted to death with child’s buggy’ I’ll put two and two together, promise. ;-)
Comment by Greavsie — December 1, 2005 @ 4:14 pm
You laugh now… It happens, they call it the “Maclaren necktie”
Comment by Jim in Rennes — December 1, 2005 @ 4:16 pm
I neglected to say anything whatsoever about my marital status/motherhood/criminal record/BDSM dungeon.
It’s none of their business.
Comment by petite — December 1, 2005 @ 4:46 pm
Lucy-Jane: I don’t know how old your boys are, but here are some non-violent non-yuck things my 11, 8 and 3 year old boys play with/have played with constantly. Hope the ideas are useful.
Lego – the top toy, no contest, for all ages.
Playmobil – fantastic range of sets including spacemen, pirates, Vikings, knights, dragon etc etc.
Thunderbirds – satisfy the need for rocket-type things that go whoosh, and the characters are all good role-model rescue heroes.
Little Tikes big truck and transporter – big and sturdy enough to be sat on, but fun to fill up with other toys and push around.
Brio (or similar) wooden train track. My 3 year old’s current obsession. He plays with all the stuff his brothers previously had, and you can get grandparents to buy pricey extra accessories or engines for Christmas presents.
Brio builder set – like Meccano but wooden and nicer to handle. Also pricey, but again you can start with one set and build up.
Geomag – magnetic sticks and ball bearings for model making, pricey but worth it, keeps them all entertained, and their Dad too.
Magic tricks and jokes – you can get magic kits of all shapes and sizes. Jokes such as whoopee cushions, fake dog poo, fake biscuits, fake vomit etc are always a hit (OK, they’re plastic and yuck, but not violent…). Which brings me to…
Beano Club membership – they get a pack of goodies such as a bag, Dennis the Menace hat, tricks and jokes, books and playing cards, then a special card sent on their birthday, and newsletters throughout the year.
Model dinosaurs – buy them along with a dinosaur-spotting book, satisfies the male urge for labelling and collecting.
The best present my 3 year old is getting this Xmas is Darth Tater – a Mr Potato Head with a Darth Vader outfit. It made ME laugh, so I’m sure the boys will love it!
Comment by Helen in beautiful Bath — December 1, 2005 @ 5:27 pm
Darth Tater. Wow!
*scurries off to add it to wish list. for self*
‹disappointment›Oh bugger, they only have Spud Troopers left. And they are a bit expensive.‹/disappointment›
Comment by petite — December 1, 2005 @ 5:29 pm
Would you like me to see if I can find one for you in Bath? I have finely-honed toy-tracking-down skills after years of experience…
Comment by Helen in beautiful Bath — December 1, 2005 @ 5:59 pm
My 11 year old and I were just searching online, and find-me-a-gift.co.uk claim to have it in stock.
But even better: see this and scroll right down until you find the video a guy called Ed has made of Darth Tater and friends dancing to Amarillo… genius.
Comment by Helen in beautiful Bath — December 1, 2005 @ 8:12 pm
OOOH Lego Lego Lego Lego
If you have a boy then Lego is definately a winner! At least it was for me when I was a nipper. Even now at 26 I still love playing with Lego. I had a HUGE collection of Lego and I even had some electric Lego with the little lights and stuff. It all got donated to litle cousins when I left home but when I go to visit them …
Comment by Liam also in beautiful Bath — December 1, 2005 @ 11:50 pm
I hate to be a one track mind but this is what I read instead for your number 10:
Buy glittery penis for colouring Early Learning Center christmas cards with Tadpole
forgive me.
Comment by nardac — December 2, 2005 @ 1:05 am
a glittery penis? now there’s a good idea…
Jim, I’ve got three tubes of glitter, red, silver and blue..I can send them to you if you fancy giving petite a christmas treat, with those colours you could even do a french flag effect…
Comment by croque madame — December 2, 2005 @ 10:03 am
gracious
Comment by petite — December 2, 2005 @ 10:24 am
my apologies…after reflection I realised the idea would not appeal to you at all, kind of on a par with greasy bums.
Comment by croque madame — December 2, 2005 @ 11:08 am
Sometimes the world can be a surreal place.
Comment by Jim in Rennes — December 2, 2005 @ 12:26 pm