thanks so much for all your comments!
i've already sold the dog - she now galavants on a wine farm in the cape with her sister - i just couldn't picture this fun loving flower power creature enclosed inside a house for most of the time - she grew up on 2000 squares! that's love for you - and sacrifice - i almost cried myself into a migraine when we dropped her off at the airport...
on the au pair thing - i didn't realise that it sounded presumptuous - sorry about that - it's just something that i worry about a lot so it came out...
i'll let you know how it goes - my ticket is bought - i'm just amazed about the weather - we were in the pool again for the whole day - i can't find winter shoes anywhere - isn't that a realy girl problem!!! this is our last summer christmas - sun sand and chevrolet!!!