I think this month could well be the most exciting month of my life. Mainly because we are off to Paris!!

The trip was a surprise present from Rich. Even though he likes to give the impression that he is a skinflint, he is actually the most generous person I know. There is a story to why he booked this lovely surprise which goes like this. A couple of months back I was sitting in the office and I received a text telling me to book the 14th to the 17th June off work. Naturally I was uber excited. That is, until, I got home and he explained that he had booked an air bnb for himself, Lyra and me in a tiny village in France, with the sole purpose of trying to get tickets for the England v Wales Euros match. And we were going to drive there. Now I am all for getting into the football spirit, and pre-Lyra I would have relished the thought of a road trip to France, but this did not sound like a treat to me. Firstly, Lyra hates car journeys, and secondly, would it be safe to take our pride and joy to a football match? I was also concerned about how we would keep her entertained because she needs a lot of stimulation, and the destination – Godewaersvelde – doesn’t even have a park or a playground or any shops, let alone a soft play area!

Suffice to say Rich ended up going with his best mate Stewart instead. I do wonder if this was his plan all along 😉 So I suspect that the reason why he has treated us to a child-free weekend in Paris at the end of July is because he feels bad about the way his first ‘surprise’ turned out!

I’ve been to Paris a couple of times before, but not for a good few years. I love the trendy Marais area and the cobbled streets and charm of Montmartre. I’m planning on doing A LOT of shopping, quaffing of French fizz, and eating of macarons. If anyone has any recommendations of things to do, places to eat or neighbourhoods to visit I would be eternally grateful.

From the bright lights of gay Paris to … a caravan in Cornwall with the in-laws. Actually I am looking forward to this second mini break almost as much as the weekend in Paris, if not more. Cornwall is by far my favourite place in the UK, and the beautiful Mother Ivey’s Bay, where the caravan park is, has got to be Cornwall’s best kept secret. I get on scarily well with Rich’s parents and I can guarantee that they will be spoiling Lyra to bits with ice cream, scones, and a million other Cornish goodies. In Fern’s recent post over on Rock My Family she gave some fab recommendations of places to visit with a toddler which we will most definitely be checking out.

And last but certainly not least, Rich and I will also be going to see Take That this month. Could it be magic? I reckon so.