Saturday 12th April

Laura’s birthday. I have to confess I forgot what day was what so I only remembered when she text a thank you for her present - sorry Laura - I hope you had a good day! This morning I cleaned my room, sorted washing, got some passport photos done for the train card and tried out a new launderette I’d found just the other side of the market place. It is a lot bigger, cheaper and nearer and with about 12 washing machines and 9 dryers, and a pressing service if you want to have clothes without creases. It was such a beautiful day that while the washing was being washed I went back to the market place and read a book sitting on a bench. It was so nice and peaceful. So, after the washing was dry, I wandered home, passing at least 4 beggers (there seems to be an influx of them), to get ready. Grace had invited us round for baked potato (haven’t had one since I left england) and baked apple, followed by ice-skating with Mika. Mary didn’t come - she absolutely detests ice-skating. After a delicious meal (Mika arrived in time for pudding), we headed to the rink. Why do skates hurt so much? I was in so much pain the whole time and now have bruises on my ankles. I was really bad at first, and Grace, Liz and Mika took turns at dragging me along, but by the end I was skating pretty well, even venturing into the middle of the rink! I think what was scary by the end was a large group of drunken skaters, which I had to try and avoid. We also had ice fights, mostly the girls against Mika - I think we probably won. After the ice-skating, we went up a hill (not the one we normally walk up) to see the view of Rouen at night. Its really beautiful. And where we had parked, there was a beautiful church all lit up, a massive graveyard with whole tombs and a kind of look-out place which was all beautifully lit too. It started raining whilst there so we got soaked. We even walked past a flat where a party was going on and stood in the garden dancing to the music - no-one noticed though. It was quite surreal really. Once we were getting cold we went back to Liz’s to warm up and told really bad jokes. What’s black, white and read? A newspaper! It was a brilliant evening.