So last week didn't go quite as planned for several reasons:

1) CAF did not get sorted as apparently we are classed as students who work because of our MGEN social security, and they've never seen this before so don't know if we qualify. This must be a lie as other assistants have received money and definitely have been doing for years. French bureaucracy you are a frigging nightmare.

2) I came down with an Awful stomach bug on Thursday night which mean I a) had to phone in sick on Friday b) missed a birthday party on Saturday and c) couldn't go skiing on Sunday. I definitely had a miserable weekend and felt shocking. I think that's the most I've ever missed home, there's nothing worse that being poorly and stuck alone in a 10m square room for 3 days. Thankfully my friends were lovely and brought me various things to help me recover.


Luckily by Sunday afternoon I was feeling much better, and by Monday I was back to 100%, only to start with the sniffles and a cough later the same day. Seriously, I always have something wrong with me!

Monday has been my only day at work this week as Thursday lessons were cancelled due to a teachers strike, the government want to introduce school on Wednesdays for primary school in France (they normally have the day off) and the teachers aren't happy about this!

I haven't really done much with my free days this week, other than mooch around Pau in the sunshine, it was 18 degrees on Wednesday, in January, I couldn't believe it! Makes a change from the rain and cold, though I don't think it will last.

Tonight we went to the Zumba class that one of the teachers recommended for the second time. It was so much fun. It reminds me of the class I used to go to at home, and it's a smallish group of friendly women. I love all the Spanish songs, makes me feel very upbeat and lively!

Tomorrow I have work in the morning, and then I'm heading straight to the train station to catch my train to Bordeaux. I'm excited for the weekend, it's going to be fun.

I've also decided I need to start doing more french related things, as I feel , my comprehension has improved a lot but my speaking and reading skills are still not amazing. So I've borrowed Harry potter in French from abbi and I've started reading that. I've got to start somewhere, and reading a book that I enjoy and know well is good motivation.

After a bad weekend I've had a really positive week, and I'm looking forward to the weeks to come :)

Bises