Hand luggage only

Two of our three children stayed in the countryside with their grandparents this week for the first portion of the school holidays so our house had a relatively chilled vibe for a few days. Our youngest, who stayed behind with us, bloomed with the extra attention and I was surprised how different it felt parenting just one. There was still the usual work and life to get on with but there was less rushing and more time to spend picking up pebbles in the Jardin du Luxembourg or admiring the fallen leaves as we made our way to and from crèche each day.

I took advantage of the quiet household to cook simply this week, slipping slowly into sweater weather with creamy riz au lait, enormous bowls of lentils swirled with grainy moutarde à l'ancienne and thick hot chocolates overflowing…