The Capuano's

So I went off to St Raphael to see the Capuano's for the final leg of my very long holiday....

I spent a night in Nice by myself (so independent). I left the hotel in good time to catch my 08.08 train at the train station "10 minutes walk from the hotel" at 07.10 (being fully aware I always get lost and so giving myself MASSES of time).....and then spent 45 minutes walking round and round and round a motorway. "Parlez vous anglais???........" NON..............."Ou et St Augustin train statione???" ......3 different people sent me in trois different directions. I tried to run in my heels in the wrong direction down a strictly-cycle-path-only.......so I swapped them for my pink pumps and ran like the wind and found myself back where I started 10 minutes earlier.....in the middle of a motorway....slightly sweaty in my maxi dress......I realised I was totally lost and was gonna miss my train so I sat down on the pavement in the middle of the motorway and had a little weep.....I quickly pulled myself together and made my way to the airport and slumped in a cab. "St Augustin train statione sil vous plait" was answered with a snort - I gathered the taxi man was trying to tell me it was a 5 minute walk away so I burst into tears and let the snot run down my face and re-enacted my morning so far in hand gestures...........he went and had a chat with his mate and then (I thought very chivalrously) set off for the station - over the motorway in heavy traffic. 3 minutes later we arrived at the station. I was very grateful and handed him the only note in my pocket - a 20E.....and was handed back 5!!! Not very chivalrous at all!!!!!

But anyway - I was there just in time to see my 08.08 train pull away. After much sympathetic tolerance of my appalling Franglais from the nice lady at the desk I did eventually get a train and looked forward with great expectation to my much awaited spectacular journey along the scenic Cote d'Azur..........but the french have designed the train so that you can't sit by the windows and you have to crane your neck to see the coast.....and even then the train windows are pimped out with grey shades!!!!????

So far, so not good............mental note - never travel alone - independence is fine but no use whatsoever without any sense of direction.

But it was all good in the end...............it was really quite marvellous to see Linz - one of those fine friends who you can see just once a year and its always like it was just yesterday. Lindsay is beautiful and smart as ever.

A quite accomplished mother and wife (who would ever have thought it possible) and now she has her own wheels (eeeck)

Gaia and Charlie are utterly scrumptious, tri lingual, beautiful, clever, funny and totally engaging.

Within 5 minutes you are best friends - there are huge over the top Italian cuddles and kisses and they think you are hilarious - like you spend every single day with them!!! Luca is very Italian..............and completely gorgeous.

Lindsay and Luca are properly In Love which is something I can't imagine but it seems to be lovely for them. We went to the beach, swam in the pool, played in the playground, had a little girls night out and had beautiful food.

Lindsay gave me instructions on how to Be Content......something I am going to work on.

I stayed in my little hotel all alone (so independent) which is a 1 minute walk from The Capuano residence (so over coming the poor sense of direction). It was glorious - comfy bed, lovely little pool and Vin Rose on tap. I went for a run on the beach, had breakfast alone reading my book (Submarine - I sympathise with the main protagonist far more than I would like to admit), I sipped rose on the marina (writing my blog) and thought about how wonderful life can be sometimes just all by yourself.