The washing machine works!!!!!

Am so happy; can now do washing whenever I want and it comes out clean and spun everytime!!!

Last week (my third week) I worked 26 hours. This week, apart from one guided tour training session, all Im doing all week is surveillance and commentaries - no kiosk, office or boutique. Yesterday I did the morning commentaries (4 in french, 1 in english). In the avo yest from 4.30 till 7 I sorted through all the papo figurines in the underground reserve. NOT my fave job! There are two tiny windows in the storeroom, and no light and there was a storm raging outside so I could barely see what I was doing. Had to read the delivery list to find the codes, use the codes to find a pic of the figurine in the catalogue, search through 13 different cardboard boxes to find one example of each to take back to Cecilia in the boutique to register in stock. Grrrrrr

Anyways last week I worked weds to sun as mon and tues were my day off.Just worked six days in a row so grateful for my day off today. Other day off this week is sat. Last weds I did commentaries, had 2nd training for guided tour, and did ground floor surveillance. Thurs did morning commentaries, helped out in the boutique (doing stock) and did more groundfloor surveillance. Fri helped out in the boutique (in store) did first set of avo commentaries and helped out Claire and Mme Folio in the office. This actually involved setting up a function room for the kids art/creative workshops tomorrow.....and did more surveillance - first floor, this time. Oh joy. Saturday just worked the morn which was cool. Espesh as was knackered as had only got 5 hours sleep. Observed at the kiosk from 9.30 till 1. Sun was a fairly easy day, too. Morning commentaries and 2 hours of groundfloor surveillance in the avo, so finished early.

Was a surprisingly busy week socially too. Cecilia, the boutique supervisor who s only a year older than me has just bought an old house with her boyf. Theyre going to do it up and rent it. They have some SERIOUS work on their hands - is in complete ruins. Been empty since 1973 everything is rotten - huge holes in roof and upstairs floor. Gonna cost them a hell of a lot to renovate, and must have cost them a lot to buy in the first place - was owned by a well-off family, in the Dordogne region. Cecila must have rich parents! In December she bought herself her first car - a shiny new silver Toyota. Anyway, on thurs night she invited every round to see it and have BBQ outside on the huge pile of mud! (is in the middle of nowhere, of course) Obv we couldnt use the house in any way lol, so Laurent switched on the CD player in his car and we faited la fete a bit until his battery went flat!

Fri night we went to Perigueux (an hour away) to go to the cinema to see Harry Potter. Had yummy meal in a pizzeria nextdoor beforehand. Film started at 10.15 so didnt finish till 1 so didnt get back till about 2.30am. Couldnt get to sleep for about an hour and had to be at work at 9.30. Saturday night was Bastille day, so Mel took me to Montignac with her to meet up with a few of her friends for food, and afterwards we watched the fireworks on the riverbank, which were pretty damn cool!

Tuesday nights are becoming Greys Anatomy nights, as there is a triple-bill every week. Monday its Lost (les disparus) and Sunday its ER (urgences). I dont actually watch ER or Lost, though. Or Greys Anatomy - but I have tried to get into it a bit since Ive been here at least. Last monday night I watched a DVD with Mel - Leon, which was good. Dont think this week (or any week in fact) is going to be as exciting as last week! Mel and I are thinking of havin a gathering at ours some night next week though.

I would just like to take the opportunity to let all of you who doubt my culinary skills know, that Mel thinks im a really good cook! Lol. She s nearly 27 and is even lazier than I am when it comes to cooking (or crap, I dont know, as I hardly ever see her cooking 'properly'). Anyways, I havent done anything special really she just seems to think Im good. First week I lived off mince and cous cous for most of the week, the next week it was turkey curry and cous cous, last week it was 'creamy ham and mushroom risotto' and this week its chilli con carne!

I have a reputation here for being stupidly calm and laidback. The French, as a rule, are stressheads - and everyone here loves my placid English temparement!

Right, gonna go sunbathe - its actually a nice day AND my day off. A first!!!!!!