Cuppa

Up early and off to East Lothian today to catch up with old friends, via the shoe shop to stock up on shoes for the kids. Today was mostly about letting the kids see their old friends, but conveniently lots of their friends' parents are my friends too, so I was kept well entertained all day.

First off, we just made school pick up (it was the same when I lived a two minute walk away, so I shouldn't be surprised at being a bit late when travelling for an hour or so). Lovely to walk in and see lots of friends: even after not seeing folk for over eight months, it felt like we were just picking up conversations we'd left off a few hours previously. Great as well to hear about community schemes taking off.

Conor met up with his best friend - who he has missed so much - but instead of racing off to play, as I'd expected, they just stood next to each other, occasionally casting sideways glances with little shy smiles. So sweet. Katherine, meanwhile, had joined a screaming group of girls all shouting their news at once. Happily, I was off for lunch with the two shy boys, while a friend had the joy of half a dozen crazed girls all afternoon!

My friend L, mum of Conor's best friend, had a baby not long ago - who is quite extraordinarily cute even when crying for her lunch! We managed, between show off visits from boys on sugar highs, to have lunch and catch up a bit, finishing with this rather fine cup of coffee.

Some mad dashing around to take Katherine to see her very very best friend, unexpectedly available for 30 minutes between school and ballet, and a cup of tea with another friend, then off out into the wilds for another gathering of screaming girls (with added kitten) and, inevitably, another few cups of tea.

Final trip of the day was to visit a cat (really) who was out when we arrived, so another chance for a catch up with friends, an invite to a 30th party (sadly turned down) and then finally, finally, home - full of tea and bonhomie to a Mr B roast chicken curry. Bliss.

Wonderful to see old friends again, but sobering to realise what we've given up by leaving that community. I think our life in France will be more insular, more family based. I hope it suits us as well.