Paris in March with Pam, Jackie & Sally

Friday morning, Darrell and the kids left me at the airport before rushing off to take Steph to a birthday party (stress no. 1 -party was at an open venue, busy place, could she getlost? She didn't - Darrell was IN CHARGE!).
I caught my plane uneventfully - and really enjoyedthe next 7 hours, sitting around doing nothing, looking after no-one, just enjoying my meal, my glass of wine, a movie, a book.... I think it's the first time I've flown for ages that I haven't had to take anyone to the loo or wipe up their vomit or juggle their food trays or...you know.
I arrived in Paris before Pam, Jackie & Sally, so I had time to find out where they were coming in (big airport!) and when they came through I was waiting, ready to start the weekend. We had a shuttle arranged (bit disapppointed, Sally had promised a pink limo, but it was just a normal shuttlebus) and found our apartment quite easily. The apartment was great, we were so pleased we did that instead of a hotel, it worked out really well.
Once our bags were in the apartment, we left it and wandered through the streets in search of food and drink - wound up in a little place chosen by it's name - we didn't wantanything that didn't sound French (so Pizza Place was rejected...). We got into bed 4am (my time!) and I slept OK until waking up 6am - my normal waking time!
Saturday we decided to devote to shopping as the shops would be closed on Sunday. It was a lovely day, so we walked everywhere (or limped, in Sally's case), and even though we bought very little, we had a good explore of Paris. Saturday night we all dressed up (those little black dresses!) and went out for dinner in a restuarant in theBastille.
Another good meal and late night, back to our apartment with a distinct feeling of tiredness!
Sunday was our official sightseeing day - and it poured most of the day. However, we didn't let it spoil our fun, we saw the Louvre, the Opera, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and took the Open Top Bus Tour (inside sometimes, outside sometimes, precipitation depending).
When we got back to our apartment on Sunday night, we decided that a night in was in order, so we got some Chinese takeaway and sat all wrapped in duvets and pyjamas, drinking tea, talking and watching Allie Macbeal. Odd, one might say, but it was fun!
Monday we took a last walk to some "must see" sights, then headed for the airport. There was a bit of a delay on my flight - 9 hours to be exact. Very painful, I had to sit around the airport until about 10pm, when a shuttle took all the passengers to a hotel for the night - we were fetched again at 4am, so not much of a night! The worst thing was that I had decided to pick up my Paris handbag at duty free on my way out, but it was still closed at 6am when our flight left Paris. Can you believe how slothful the French shops are...?
It was lovely to see my family again. Darrell was a bit stressed when he picked me up but after a glass of wine was feeling more cheerful. I gather that his secretary played an important role in his childcare arrangements. He told me that he really doesn't knowhow single workings moms manage -!
All in all, we had a FANTASTIC weekend, and it was so needed. I had been feeling very stressed and low, and the weekend with my friends and no responsibilities at all really picked me up. I'm now feeling fighting fit and ready to take on Abu Dhabi again!