Today I have a day to myself before I start at Euronews on Tuesday so I head out to explore a bit of Lyon.

I think it’s safe to say that Lyon is a bit more attractive than New Malden. I hope no-one from the New Malden Neighbourhood Facebook group is reading this.

I finished my day by buying some booze for a long overdue drink after making a lasagne. But I was to be thwarted for a second day – no tire-bouchon or bottle opener in the apartment. Oh well, third time lucky.

Here we are then, Lyon. After the shortest flight imaginable I’m here – and after a very expensive taxi journey – Sunday prices apparently – I have arrived at my new home.

I need some essentials so nip out to the nearest supermarket that is open. One thing I particularly want is a glass of wine or beer. But..

No alcohol is sold on Sunday afternoon. Is that a Monoprix thing, a Lyon thing? I don’t think it’s a France thing. I have to make do with tea.

Today’s the day. Heathrow Terminal 5. 1405. Packed for the first few weeks of my new role.

LFT negative, print out of a letter saying I’m coming to work (if needed).

Then..

And while sitting waiting to board one final – v generous – gift from my former colleagues. A gift voucher to spend in France.

To mark my leaving the BBC, starting a new role at Euronews and Cath’s birthday, we went for dinner at Le Gavroche in central London.

After being treated to some aperitifs by Sean, a friend of our son’s who works in the kitchen, we ate some amazing dishes from the tasting menu.

Michel Roux Jr did his usual tour of the tables to say hello. I mentioned that we were moving to Lyon and he said it was his favourite French city. So naturally I asked him for some restaurant recommendations.

He returned shortly and gave me this:

Plenty to try there.

He said La Mere Brazier is amazing – but not cheap. Cath is already talking of booking us in for our wedding anniversary.

Ah! After the joy of yesterday’s successful appointment at the visa centre, the French Consulate waste no time in rejecting our application.

Wow – this is very deflating. I immediately send it to Euronews’ visa expert who replies to the Consulate asking them to reconsider as she insists I do qualify for the Talent Passeport. There is a bit of to-ing and fro-ing but ultimately the Consulate doesn’t change its mind.

Our passports are returned the following morning. Euronews is now exploring other ways to get me out to France to start work on 1 February. What is the French for squeaky bum time?

Today was the long-awaited day for our appointment to apply for work visas for France. We needed to take a lot of paperwork with us and I had a last-minute wobble when I realised I hadn’t printed out Cath’s form properly.

We made our 1030 appointment on time – on the site of the old Young’s brewery (where I once went for a job interview).

My experience of applying for visas in the past meant I was a bit apprehensive that things wouldn’t go smoothly, I would have forgotten some key document, we would be here for many hours.

But actually the process was very smooth. There was a bit of waiting but when it was our turn we had brought all the key documents and, although I was told off for missing a comma which meant the form had to printed again, it was all ok.

When they relieved me of more than £200, I was reminded of when I worked in Paris in 1990 how I just turned up and got a job in Monoprix without any need for documents. But I guess that’s Brexit for you.

A final biotmetrics appointment and we were done. It took 90 mins in all which is far faster than I had expected.

They suggested it might only take five working days before we get our passports back which means I should make my departure date of 30 January. Fingers crossed.

Celebrated the smooth process with a croissant. Felt fitting.