France has voted.....

Yes, the presidential election has come and gone and France now has a new president.

For the people on Hong Kong Island, voting took place at the French International School of Hong Kong.

Alex headed off with Olivia who wanted to see how the whole voting process 'worked'. At the moment they are learning all about the French Republic and what happens during the voting process.

I'm not French so I'm not allowed to vote in the Presidential elections.

After he voted, he came back to pick up Mathilde and myself and we headed out to Stanley.

The girls played at the newly revamped Stanley Plaza but it was so sunny and hot, places were quickly traded to enjoy a berry smoothy in a shaded nearby restaurant.

We then braved the crowds and pushed through the market street. Girls got a remote controlled helicopter which I'm sure will supply endless fun and ducking at home.

After all that navigating through the crowds, we decided to head to Chez Patrick for lunch.

I ordered the cheese platter with fig fois gras. I was dubious as I wasn't quite sure how the fois gras would taste. But when the plate arrived and we tasted it, it was delicious. The cheese was ' a point' and oozing every bit of goodness!!

Alex took some coq au vin and the girls had steak with chips - frites- and steamed vegetables. Before their food arrived they'd attacked the baguette and butter. Olivia then traded the butter for fois gras. Mathilde still didn't want to touch the stuff!!

It was complete chaos in the restaurant. No let me rephrase that. It was a Sunday lunch time, so families with kids and dogs in tow.

The restaurant grew rowdier and rowdier. Little boys were screaming because parents had brought them in from outside where they were free to run and scoot until their hearts content and now their parents wanted them to sit in a chair and what....eat!!


One little boy was hell bent on getting his scooter and leaving this joint. He went for his scooter about twenty times and tried each time to sneak past his parents. Each time the scooter was placed on the floor and he was shoved back into his chair. Like I said only to repeat this gesture about twenty more times - nerves of steel I tell you us parents need.

We looked on amusingly as for once our two were well behaved and were keeping each other entertained. Two of Mathildes friends from school were also there. So after a few mouthfuls of meat and chips they sat down on the floor, played and kept each other entertained therefore letting the twins parents enjoy their lunch. And everyone was happy - well almost everyone. The women in front of us  was still chasing after her son and his scooter!