17.1 - Kristins birthday dinner

The first time I woke up it was 6.30 am as I went to the toilet. I heard some noise from upstairs. The children were already getting awake. I quickly put on my earplugs because I were still seriously in need of more sleep. Despite some noise, I slept surprisingly well also aftewards and woke up happily at 11.35. The house was quiet because the girls were just at their poney class and Martin was doing his homework downstairs. Martin and Clé came then straight to give me a hug when they saw me. When all had come home we had lunch, salmon, spinach and pasta. Afterwards all left in different directions. Anthony took the girls to their gymnastics class, Céline and Martin went to Lille to an l'AFEP (Association familiale des enfants précosses) meeting and I staid a while at home before going to Iaras place with the clio.

Iara was alone at home the whole weekend. Pat came just after me and we staid for a while drinking tea before we left to Lille. In Lille we went first to a printing shop because Iara had to scan and print some papers to send to her university in Spain. Then we met with Tia at grand place and went all together to "the muffin place" (Honey & Pie). On Saturdays there's always a stand also outside the cafeteria and there are more choices of muffins, they are all really fresh and there's a good offer of two for 3€. Today you could also get real belgian goufres, or then I haven't just noticed them before, so Pat and I had to get ourselves one. As filling you could choose between: nutella, speculos, dark or white chocolate, caramel sauce or whipped cream. I hesitated with the fillings and the seller told us that we could get two if we wished so I got one with dark chocolate and nutella and Pat one with nutella and speculos.

We chatted in the cafeteria for a long time and soon also Luise joined us. Pat and Iara went back home to Iaras place to rest a bit before we were going to Kristins birthday dinner tonight. Tia, Luise and I staid and went just to look around in Euralille and the girls needed to buy something in carrefour. 

I waited for Lindsay to arrive to Lille so we could go together then to Kristins birthday dinner. Tia took the same tram but Lindsay and I got off at Le Quesne to first get to Iaras place to take the car. Then we all four, Iara, Pat, Lindsay and I went to Kristins place. No one of us had been there before so we had slightly hard first to find our way there, so we got a bit late.

When we arrived at Kristins house, Sofía (Spain) and Sanna (Belgium), were there already and her family was also at home. Kristin turns 20 and her family and she had prepared everything very nicely with delicious food, appéritifs, tapas, salad, tartiflette, mud cake and wine and the atmosphere was so pleasant. The family joined us and they are very kind and chill. It was also very nice to meet friends I haven't met for a while. We ate well, chatted, had interesting discussions and fun. It was a very enjoyable night. Incredile that Kristins host family did this for her, but it's still only once you turn 20 and she will leave in a month.

We left around midnight. I dropped Iara, Pat and Lindsay on the way and then I found out that I can connect the iPad and listen to music from the iPad in the car. I listened loudly to Satellite Stories and sang out loud to avoid falling asleep. It felt awesome.

I feel that It's here where I really have learned to drive better. I don't feel that nervousity and pressure of driving a manual car. I feel more confident but I pay of course attention.