VELIBE

I actually arrived on Tuesday and have been very very busy... hence the late post!

Been sorting out the usual tedious bits and pieces like bank accounts and phones etc, and the very important bike ride everywhere and anywhere! I LOVE VELIBES!!! Incase you aren't a velibe'er, or it hasn't yet come to your country/city, its a great concept! You pick your bike up for 1 EURO and then you have 30mins to get from A to B then you can change bikes again and you don't pay anymore than that all day! You can pretty much bike all day. Think I'll sign up for the years pass at 25EUROS! All you can cycle cycle pass!!!

I highly recommend the VELIBE experience!

Apart from being saddle sore though everything is chugging along nicely, but tomorrow I have my first phone interview......and I a just a taddle scared, I speak fluent French with people I know, and fluent French in general.....until you add nerves into the equation and my throat gets really tight and I jumble my words 'Je mache mes mots!'

So wish me luck!!!

Some of my favourite pics of Toulouse/France

Here are a couple of my memories of Toulouse and France, and reasons why I miss the place so much! You can almost smell the atmosphere!

Thats just the tip of the iceberg...and hopefully on my return i'll be able to paint a better picture!

A tout a l'heure! x

So much to do and so little time!

Well the days are flying in, and I realise I am leaving one week today. I have a list the length of my arm, and I don't how I will fit everything in. Although to be honest I am still pretty calm.....waiting on the stress and last minute panick to kick in. Wonder when it will happen!

My list consists of:

- Packing up everything for work.

- Fitting everyone in to say goodbye.

- Packing, Washing, Packing, Washing.

- Cleaning this apartment.

- Not forgetting anything!!!

Although in my defense we have got ALOT done....its amazing how much stuff there actually is to do when you are moving! Closing banks, gyms, internet etc etc The list goes on and on...but most of it is done! I don't even remember doing half of it, which is the scariest part.

Not only that but every door seems to be opeing up to make it as eay as possible to go to Toulouse, as if it is 'meant to be'! We had a gentleman taking our stuff over in a truck and he cancelled last minute..... mild panick ensued followed by another phone call from someone who could do it for us for almost half the price! I don't even know how he knew we were looking! Divine intervention! Hence panick smothered!

When we get to Toulouse the next list will start! Find a job, find an apartment, find furntiture, buy a car! I am gonna be one busy bumblebee! Hopefully it will be as smooth as it has so far been 'touch wood' at this end. The the fun really begins!

Here is one of my favourite little poems: helps me feel better about the dark days:

Bisous! x x x

Retour a Toulouse......8 days in counting!

Well I never thought the day would come when I would want to return to Toulouse!

Its been over a year and a half since I lived in Toulouse, and I was pretty damn miserable. They say to learn a language you should throw yourself in at the deep end, and sink or swim. Well that's what I had done....and I was drowning! That might even be an understatement! But there must be something about Toulouse, because in the last 6 months it has been slowly eating away at me to get back. Like a parasite under the skin. I really really really want to go back. There is something about Toulouse, maybe its a 'grower', takes a while for you to fully understand it and appreciate it. Thats probably the stage I am at now. Growning with 'La Ville Rose'.

So....thats what I am doing.....in one week tomorrow I am throwning myself back in! Facing those demons head on, and I can't wait!

I must admit.......I'm pretty nervous.

Will I find a job???

Thats my main worry, having handed in my resignation here, with what a lot of people would consider a 'dream' job...some might say I am taking a bit of a risk. But then again you don't get anywhere without taking risks. And thats probably one of my specialities! Last time I was in Toulouse (granted I didn't speak very much French) the interviews tended to take a nose dive.....and I am generally pretty good at interviews. This time, after having mastered French, I am hoping things will take a turn for the better...actually...they will! For some reason I know they will.

So this blog will really be the start of my 'return journey' to Toulouse, shame I hadn't started it before....that would have been amusing. But as they say - Better late than never!

So heres to my final days in Scotland, and the countdown to Toulouse! 8 DAYS IN COUNTING!

A Bientot! x