I think today is Saturday, although I could be wrong.  Sat at the table of our L’Appartement Hotel ‘suite’ as the kids write their journals and John crunches the numbers in our budget spreadsheet.

We left on Thursday afternoon by taxi from Mum’s house to Heathrow.  Don’t really want to recall that particular goodbye.  Suffice to say “that was the worst one of all” as Charlie said.

We had been inundated with lovely texts, phone calls and emails of well wishes and all of them urged us to ‘look forward now instead of looking back’ which is what we have vowed to do.  So we sniffed our way through the trip round the M25 and pulled ourselves together!!

Kids very quickly adapted to life in the Club World lounge at Heathrow and then on the flight (good old air miles!!).  Slightly concerned how they will cope when we board the very little plane to take us from Montreal to Halifax early next week!!  Charlie charmed the Cabin Crew who were calling him by name within 5 minutes of boarding.  That ensured a steady stream of chocolate, ice creams and tailor made meals!!

No one slept so we made full use of the facilities!  Arrived at 2am UK time which I think was 8pm local time.  Quick and easy through baggage and customs and into a cab.  Launched into my best attempt at French only to discover the cabbies English was significantly better!

The hotel room is functional – 2 bedrooms and a kitchen and sitting room – and just fine for what we need.  So we are here.  Sun is shining.  Montreal is a lovely city and feels like a nice place to start our adventures.  All a little jet lagged and veering between elation and terror at what lies ahead.

However, it already feels like an enormous privilege to have months and months ahead of JUST US, spending time with our brilliant boys (pictured here in the fab handmade pyjamas that arrived minutes before our departure from Nicki and Issy Ledgard)