Marie was our second au pair, we had five over a few years, when the children were very young. Marie had answered an ad in the newspaper to come to NZ - there was no such thing as an au pair agency in those days (1998). My beauty therapist (she did my eyebrows etc.) said she had advertised for an au pair and got three replies. She and her great friend were taking the first two, I could take the third.
That was Marie. She was 18. She was terrific and the funniest au pair we ever had. We have stayed in touch ever since.
When Marie was with us, she asked if we could get a babysitter one night so that we could go out - just her and me. She said to me that it would be better for her and me. and the child. And it was. So Bill babysat and I took Marie to Good Will Hunting - the movie on at the time. One of the reasons Marie was here was to practice her English, so going to a movie was a good thing to do for that too.
After the movie she said "They say fu** and fu**ing a lot. What does that mean?" When I told her, we laughed and laughed, and since then we have had so much fun with that word. When I contacted her to say we were in Paris she said straight away "It will be so f***ing great to see you"! We last saw her in 2019 and before that in 2006. Once you have met someone like Marie, she is in your blood. You pick up from where you left off.
So this is our f***ing fabulous day with the Loam family. Called Loam (Lo from Marie's surname side and Am from Donavane's side).
This is Marie with our three children in 1998. Note Daniel's All Black togs. Lachie is focused on going for a swim. Anna is so cute.
Before arriving a few texts from Marie setting it up.
We are getting the Metro and then the train from Gare de Lyon to Boissy-Saint-Léger where Marie will pick us up. We have a bit of a hiccup - one of our Metro lines is not running, so we get a taxi for that leg. I managed to find a few photos en route then - some parts of Paris stunning.
We arrived a little late. Marie welcomes us.
We drive to her house and are welcomed by the All Black shirts we gave her boys a few years ago.
We meet Noa and Mathis again and Donovane. Donovane has his friend and work colleague Julien with him, who speaks very good English (as does Marie). We gave Noa and Mathis their presents - Lego and a cool T-shirt. They are both good ones except Mathis already has the Lego. Marie says she can exchange easily.
It is very very hot. Marie takes me to the pool with her boys. Bill has a blog to edit. This is the local pool, which houses share.
Marie and I after we have swum 10 lengths.
Then Marie prepares lunch. Wow, a really f***ing good French spread. I feel like the queen.
Noa assists.
Donovane has barbequed, we eat outside (it's still more than 30 degrees) and share stories.
One thing that Marie remembers is that I was breastfeeding and in the deep freeze, along with plenty of ice cream, there was frozen passionfruit from our vine and breast milk. She has an album. We reminisce. She loved drawing and drew our house. The pirate flag is significant. She remembered that when she arrived we flew the French flag. That was the start of a beautiful relationship.
We flew a pirate flag often, because the boys were going through a pirate phase. Daniel in particular would only do something if you treated him as a pirate.
Marie remembers the hut we had for our boys. Donovane has built (a much much better) one for Noa and Mathis.
The flags give it a Disney razzamatazz.
After a few wines, we see how the flying fox from the tree hut works. Sorry Lachie and Dan, there was no pirate flying fox at our house. Mathis goes first.
Then I go, Bill takes photos and video.
Then Marie goes.
And then Donovane goes. He has not gone on the flying fox since he designed it 6 years ago.
Marie says this is a NZ designed swing. Note the painted deck. Marie spent an hour and a half painting yesterday. I am pleased the deck got in the video.
We look through more photos. Marie kept this one. We sent out some photos when Anna was born. Bill must have done the caption.
More family photos with Marie.
We see more photos. This was when Marie visited Taumaranui. (This is for JoJo as she says she reads all the blogs.) Dan seems to be enjoying the farm more than we thought he did. Jay also reads the blog. She is Dan's grandmother and knitted the purple hat for Daniel. She is still knitting, now for the great-grandchildren..
Richard Fullerton-Smith with JoJo and Marie on Richard's farm, that he used to own near Ohura (in the King Country, NZ).
Marie wanted another outing for the two of us like Good Will Hunting. So we went Black Water rafting.
Marie is still an adventurer. She works as a flight attendant for Air France. She has been doing this for 24 years. When she had done 20 years Air France gave her two tickets anywhere in the world. She hasn't used them yet so maybe we will see them all on Waiheke soon.
A big thank you Marie and Donovane for a super fun and special day - f***ing fantastic - not to mention the lunch fit for a f***ing king and queen.
