Easter Promenades and Near Misses

Happy Easter to one and all! May chocolate festing be banned until Christmas and Valentines’ Day and beware of five year olds hoo-haaing on Easter promenades (not mine I swear).

I’m sorry, my children. I did it for you.
If, like me, you have witnessed five million calories’ worth of eggs get wrenched out from under the daffs and plonked gaily in the kitchen waiting to be consumed, you may be feeling distinctly choco-sated right now...and a touch guilty. Especially when it’s the kids’ eggs you’ve gorged upon. Yes, well children should not have too much chocolate or they’ll get fat and their teeth will fall out…(blushes)

Ah well, all is not lost on the training front at least, even if dieting has taken somewhat of a blow again. I continue to get myself physically ready to traverse the desert amidst sandstorms, sweltering temperatures and the like, complete with heavy daypack and sand blisters. What could be better preparation than an Easter Monday promenade with my twin boys?

Training with the little, red devils
Courageously (if I say so myself) putting roller-blades to feet, I decided to do some thigh-busting skating on the river path with my young sons, in the company of a few hundred other families along ze bords de Marne (a delightfully murky French river on the outskirts of Paris).

The boys were on their Fireman Sam bikes complete with ‘cute’ little fireman sirens that can be heard unimaginably well (from Siberia) and it was just lovely with the sun shining! I think everyone knew we were there – I’ll have to check on the other side of the river though; I’m not sure I caught all the collective ‘Mon dieu, c’est quoi ces diables?**’ !!

Blood-free overtaking
Like I said, it was Easter Monday and there were literally hundreds of people aiming to get some solid riverside activity in before the rainy season hits (that is, every weekend until August). Old, young, families, couples, dogs galore and all manner of propelled machines were thus wheeling and dealing and dodging each other on the two-lane cycle track. I’m surprised there weren’t any fatalities. Thank goodness there were understanding people who leapt off the track when I was forced to yell ‘watch out, I have no brakes’. Slightly hair-raising but this was a source of much amusement to my sons.

Well. I won’t say Léon was the direct cause of it but there was an incident a little close for comfort with some blood, a little boy on a scooter (‘zis is a trotinette over ‘ere in Frrrance) and a Very disgruntled woman on a bicycle, who had to peel said little boy off her front wheel. Léon could be found yelling ‘j’ai gagné, j’ai gagné*’ a little further on, that is until I whisked him into a nearby bush.

So, all in all, a successful day. We’re most of us in one piece and ready to attack another week of getting fit and fundraising. Gimme an Easter egg and a chick-flick any time soon…. :)

Don’t forget you can sponsor the children in need via my Sahara Trek Challenge with ClicSargent charity by clicking here: every little helps!
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SuzanneChampion

Check out the charity to find out exactly how they help kids diagnosed with cancer: www.clicsargent.org.uk/

(*Tr. I’ve won, I’ve won!)
(** Tr. My G. what are these devils?)

The French do love us Brits after all..

Today's blog is dedicated to all you Brits living in France feeling unloved by your Gallic-shrug neighbours. I am here to tell you that we are loved afterall!! Our cross-channel cousins may have a funny way of showing it (what's a little smirk over your cooking or fashion sense between close neighbours?) but deep down, they Love how we talk and they Love what we do and most of all, they love how us Brits like to help a good cause. It's true and I've got the proof...

Should I feel guilty?
OK, so my boys - yes twins, 5 and a half and a tad exuberant (cute but diabolical) and I went to this great craft fair in Gagny this weekend (Mar 29/2010). We were supposed to have attended a church get together but I got the date wrong and ended up with twenty four lemon drizzle fairy cakes with sprinkles on back in my kitchen. Double whammy from ye of divine intervention (should I be feeling guilty?)
Auction this, ma petite !
While the kids were painting some strategically chosen gifts for French mothers' day (when is that again??) on the Glass painting stall I found myself suddenly freed up so I figured I'd do a workshop myself: jewellry. Can't get enough of that! Not being the dextrous type, I of course had to ask a lot of questions about which end up I should be threading my 'fermeture' and such like and comme c'est la vie, the lady running the workshop noticed my accent. Well, you can't miss it really. A very uncontrived Jane Birkin, no matter how much I try and blend in with the crowd (but that's another blog..!) So I end up explaining all about my life again, why I'm in France and the usual story... "My 'usband is Frrrench !" and naturally get on to Fundraising for the kiddies with cancer at ClicSargent (see here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SuzanneChampion)
The point is, this lady, who doesn't know me from Adam but likes my accent and thinks my kids are hilarious (by this time, the lady from the glass workshop has dropped them off with a (relieved) smile and some Beautiful packages for Mum (aww!!) so she Donates a necklace for the auction i will organise for May or June. How sweet is that? I shall also be giving the necklace I made to match her gift. What a star!
Helping UK kiddies - well done guys
This blog is also a thank you to my French friends that do not mind that their money is going to UK kiddies - as long as they can help kids, that's all that counts. So thank you Martine, Nathalie and Janig - your contributions are So welcome. Thanks also to my Welsh friend Aled. If you were here I would so dress you up in a little costume, hang a Donate sign round your neck and exploit you for money - musn't let Tourrette's get the better of you, bach!
Thanks also to my super 'deviant' sis JazzyCat for getting my blog fixed up to my Virgin page. Check out my sister's awesome Art page: http://thejazzycat.deviantart.com/gallery/
Talk soon, guys x

Et voilà the real deal: Companies that Sponsor are Cool

So, if you're a company and you want to sponsor me in the fight against cancer for kiddies i have a variety of propositions for you...First check out the charity i support ClicSargent www.clicsargent.org.uk/

• For a donation of €100 I will wear your logo (approx. 8cm x 5cm) on my T-shirt and include an account of your support in our press release to local papers (Le Parisien, France Soir, or you in the UK the paper of your choice will receive a communiqué)
• For a donation of €250 you get the same deal with a bigger logo (approx. 17cm x 10cm)
• For a donation of €500 I will do all of the above plus I will work for free for your company for one day (check out my linked in profile to see what i can do for you today! http://fr.linkedin.com/in/suzannechampion
• I am also proposing an article for my local community magazines in Gagny and Seine St Denis and have suggested a photo opp with my local mayor with the organisations that are helping me.
• Brand awareness for your UK clients thanks to my (trek organiser) friend’s Like Minded Women (LMW) UK business network plus local UK coverage (there are ten of us doing the trek and the story will be covered at home via LMW).


Companies, get in touch via Linkedin! http://fr.linkedin.com/in/suzannechampion
or Sponsor me online! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SuzanneChampion


Helping Children Fight Cancer

From October 7th to 12th, I will be trekking across the Sahara desert doing distances of up to 23 km daily. Why? you may ask - because it means I can ask you for help!! Your money will help children fighting cancer and support their families during this difficult illness and believe me, you will make a difference, no matter how much money you give (thank you!!)

Success i have a Sahara blog

Welcome to my new blog!  In it, I'll be sharing the trials and tribs of my latest challenge in aid of kiddies with cancer.  The idea is to trek the Sahara and get people to support me by donating to the charity, check out the link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SuzanneChampion

I set up the virgin page a week or so ago and am a little bit disappointed that we haven't reached the target yet, but I guess half of that is just my personality that is raring to go (all right, impatient)!  I will report in on any new sponsors but will have to mention my first (and only for the moment) - my dear cool auntie Mal, together with Pete and Jess.  thanks guys!!

Local fundraising has been going OK, with a big yes from Sophistik hairdressing, in for 100 euros!  So nice, I'll be taking the boys in for a trim soon, Léon is beginning to have big hair, not so good.  Have written a letter to Décathlon and am getting in touch with the local Mairie communication dept to get an article in ze local canard.  Have a couple of appointments later in the week with some local traders (the bank and ze boulangerie) so will keep you posted, literally!  Ha - I have a blog, I am So modern!

A big thank you aswell to the girls from dance class: Sophie Godart, Nathalie Durand de Rueda and Sylvie Guilleret - you are so generous!

Talk to you soon, off to karate chop with the boys...