So, the first 12 months: virtually no health problems. So far, two weeks into the unlucky 13th month: running total up to two illnesses already. The cold of the first week was swiftly followed by conjunctivitis in the second week. Not nice, and getting antibiotic drops into the tightly closed eyes of a screaming, struggling toddler is no easy task. She's somewhat off her food and more easily moved to tears than normal, but most of the time shrugs off the discomfort like the brave little soldier she is.
She was perfectly behaved when we took her out for dinner on Saturday evening, the day the infection became evident. The occasion was the fiftieth birthday of a friend of la bienheureuse. Our rheumy-eyed little girl wowed the dinner party guests before being put to bed in the travel cot upstairs. No complaints then and only good humour when we woke her up soon after midnight for the journey home. Very pleasant evening overall, even if the foie gras took about 2 days to digest, but perhaps it was the following night that we three suffered. Three times mama & papa had to get up to comfort la petite malade. Monday morning was hard, and despite a subsequent undisturbed night, Tuesday was even tougher for la travailleuse as she was awake at six to set off for a three day trip to Milan.
More tears shed in the wider world, following the shocking murders in Toulouse. Hard to avoid the feeling that they were of the crocodile variety from some politicians in particular, with the presidential campaign being overshadowed. The candidates all declared a 'ceasefire' in campaigning, which seemed a rather hollow promise as they all promptly made appearances designed to keep profiles as high as possible. And now the supposed killer has been found, having been forced to keep fairly quiet by initial suspicions that the perpetrator was of a similar far-right persuasion, Mme Le Pen has been quick to try and turn events to her advantage. It's going to be a long 32 days…
In Lyon the rubbish isn't just political. The real stuff hasn't quite piled up and putrefied enough to bring tears to the eyes, but it won't be long. La grève des eboueurs is into its tenth day and no end yet in sight. And the warm sunny weather is back after a brief return to seasonal temperatures and our first rainy day in weeks…
