Flight from Sydney via HK to Paris.finally the day has arrived! A busy week finishing off Lusso Kitchen bookings, helping mum & dad move into their new apartment and kids final days of school and activities. I was more than ready to get on that plane!

My great achievement - a travel first. Managed to get my luggage down to 12kg!

Mum & dad came to see us off at the airport, a much easier drive now they are just a short 20 minute drive from the new place.

Hong Kong stop over.impressive lounge. A welcome site as we are all fairly exhausted with not much sleep yet. Hoping this next leg brings us some shut eye. Time for a shower and some food. Thomas had two bowls of noodles! I have \240yummy soup. No idea why I’m eating! It’s midnight in Sydney. Totally out of whack.

The next leg we all get some sleep. Kids at least 8 hours, Andrew seems to sleep well. Mine is broken. Mainly push through in between watching movies. Reading. Drinking loads of water means lots toilet breaks!

We land in Paris early in the morning. Very slow arrivals through custom. Long and disorganised lines that take ages to process. Finally through and can into Paris. Takes almost an hour. Hôtel is in the heart of Paris, great location. We arrive and are offered a coffee. Finally! The guy checking us in advises the room we have is already vacant and should be ready after lunch. Hooray. We leave our bags, quick layer for the cold and we head out. It’s freezing outside. Beanies and gloves weather.

We head to the winter carnival which has just opened only a few streets away. Full of food stalls, crepes, gluivein, melted cheeses, soups, pretzels lots of rides and souvenir type stalls. We wander around, kids have a go on a ride. They have a crepe. Once we have done a walk around we head to BVS department store to check Xmas windows and wander the store. The window are nice but a little sophisticated! Not very child like. Designer handbags immersed amongst shrubs!

Andrew and Thomas head to the men’s stores so Andrew can look for a new sweater. Mila and I stay in the main store to wander around and go to the bathroom where Mila loses her beanie. First accessory casualty. We wander around and back track before I notice a sales girl holding it.

Mila and I wander the store and it’s packed. It’s Black Friday so I think this has made it extra nuts. I’m quite excited being in stores again and realise fashion and retail really hasn’t left my blood! I wish I had more time (and energy) some really great stuff.

Mila and I meet Andrew and Thomas and decide to metro \240back to the Christmas festival for lunch. Ribs. Thomas is totally in his element.they are pretty delicious.

On return we are told our hotel room isn’t ready. No explanation

Very early start with a 4am wake up set - though I didn’t need it as jetlag had me up at 3am for the toilet then wide awake!

Kids were suprisingly also full of energy when we woke them at 4am. Managed to walk to the airport and check in on time. Coffee, croissants. Sandwich for the plane. No lounge access for the Prices today!

Kids a little loopy w

First full day in Rovaniemi - kids have a very early start as still jet lagged. Up at 6.30. Thomas at least did some reading, Mila is bored!

Early kick off - waking at 6.30 after a fairly solid nights sleep. On my waking for the odd toilet moment.

Watched the last dance while everyone else sleeping until Andre gets up and starts doing kids lunch boxes for the day. Kids up after 7.30 so finally a lie in and getting a god nights sleep.

I bought myself some steel cut Finnish porridge for breakfast only to translate the instructions which tells me I need 30 mins to cook it!

Day 1 skiing - Levi

Snow mobile ride with reindeer sledding

Longest day yet! Early start with the Elf getting ready for our trip to Amsterdam.

Drive to Rovaniemi for flight to Helsinki. Land in Helsinki to learn there are flight delays to Amsterdam. Little to no information at the lounge. Andrew and I have a nice dinner courtesy of Amex. Kids have Burger King!

A further few hours of delay and we finally board some 5 hours after original boarding time. Land in Amsterdam around 11pm and at the Airbnb by midnight. All exhausted. The room is cute but very hot and over heated.