Springtime in Paris

Good morning from French France where the Whites are on a short but riveting mission.

We arrived in Paris at teatime yesterday, just in time to celebrate what was left of my birthday after a long day travelling.  (There is a 2 and a 5 in my new age, but sadly not in the order I would prefer).

We had a terrific meal last night and drink was taken. Please don’t judge.

However, we’ll not see much of the kids over the next two days.

And here’s the thing. The main reason for our trip is that Jamie and Charlotte will spend today and tomorrow in first rehearsals with the Olympic Youth Band. 

With Jamie on guitar and Charlotte on clarinet, they have been chosen as two of the UK’s half dozen representatives in the global musical ensemble who will play just one song in a single performance for one night only.

At the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.

I KNOW!!!

The date is Friday 26 July with a television audience of billions guaranteed.

They don’t yet know what the song is and, when they do, I suspect they won’t be allowed to tell anyone. Let’s see.

They’ve simply been told to present themselves at the reception of the Stade de France at 10am, where the opening and closing ceremonies - plus the athletics - will take place. There they will meet the rest of the band and find out what the schedule is for the next two days. They return to Paris on the morning of Saturday 20 July for several days of intense practice before two full dress rehearsals on the Wednesday and Thursday with the performance itself obviously on the Friday.

Jamie will have finished his GCSEs about a month before, but Charlotte will need two days off school which she’s obviously devastated about (not).

So, a memorable summer to look forward to. In the meantime, my birthday week has technically only just begun so I’m off to tear the arse out of it.

Magnifique!!!