As Inel says - 'once a teacher always a teacher'

The days are long, its hot and humid, it's Paris in August, its the dog days of August:

Hottest days of August; name is taken from the Great Dog (Canis Major) constellation and one of its stars: Sirius (which is brightest star of summer sky). Exactly first two weeks of August sun enters constellation of Canis Major. Hence the expression: Dog Days.

I have put the kids down for a morning sleep and sit quietly somewhere to write my letter home with all the news and plans.

We have bought piles of Michelin Guides, maps and I copy out one of the maps and give my mother a quick geography lesson, 'as Inel would say once a teacher always a teacher'

Normandy is highlighted and I tell her of our plans to travel over the August long weekend to the Calvados region. X on the map is where I have managed to find a flat adjacent to a hotel for the friday night even though it is peak season.

The geography lesson continues, with information about Normandy, its beauty, its cheese, cider, diary  and even a quick cooking lesson about 'a la Normandie' which means cooking with cream.

Mom would either have loved all of this or been bemused.