It's not easy having yourself a good time...

It’s been a long weekend this week.

On Friday afternoon I had my first play-date. I met up with a group of three Mums, one of whom I know a little bit via the crèche, and we let our children run around a play park while we sat on a bench drinking coffee, eating muffins and chatting about various subjects.
I really learned a lot. Like what I should always have in my bag whenever I’m around Catriona, how to keep her entertained on a plane and the best way to treat a tantrum.
After we left there was a substantial downpour; rain, sleet, thunder, lightning, the lot. It was a huge amount of fun! Catriona seemed to have a good time at the park but it’s very hard work trying to be sociable and aware of what your child is doing at the same time.

Saturday is usually a good day as I get an hour extra in bed. It started with Lorna and I, armed with a dispenser of Hubba Bubba each, trying to teach Catriona how to blow bubbles with bubble-gum. This was followed by a trip to the local town recycling point and then to the shops. First we headed to Jumbo - which is a sort of Swiss Homebase - for weed killer and then off to Migros to get a weeks supply of shopping and some ingredients to allow me to do some batch cooking for my lunches for the next few weeks.
In the afternoon Catriona headed round to a friends house. About six-ish Lorna came back saying that Catriona was spending the night at her friend’s place. ‘Bonus!’ thinks I, since Lorna was doing another run on Sunday and it would mean I could go with to Bern (where the run was) with her and get Catriona when we get back to Belfaux. We also decided to go out for dinner. Sadly, just before we got anything to eat, we got a call saying that Catriona didn’t want to stay the night after all.
Oh well. Easy come, easy go.

On Sunday we all headed to Bern very early in the morning and while Lorna did her ten-kilometre run, we had a play in a park. After we met Lorna – who did her 10k in under 57 minutes – I had my second ever Starbucks experience. Once in Edinburgh and once in Bern. Good times.
In the afternoon we went swimming with Catriona’s friend. Another stressful time, trying to watch two children, one of which isn’t yours, in a swimming pool. Personally, I was glad to be out!

So here I am, lying on my bed at five in the evening. I’m very hungry, very tired, in need of a shower and I still have my French homework to do for tomorrow. This semi-parenting thing is hard and I have the utmost respect for people that do it full time.
Of all the things that I have learned in my month here is that I am not ready for kids. Not by a long shot. It tiring and demanding on your time.
The only way I can really end this blog entry is by say this:

Thanks Mum. Thanks Dad. You must have gone through hell.