On Friday we rang the vet because we were worried about Ula. She had stopped playing and her sides were quite large.

I thought she was just putting on weight – as she loves food – and was less interested in playing because she was getting older.

The vet initially gave us an appointment for Monday but then rang back asking if we could bring her in straightaway – never a good sign.

When we got her to the vets he examined her and then said he wanted to keep her in to run some tests.

There followed a few anxious hours before we went back and were told she most probably had feline infectious peritinitis – in French la pif.

The vet explained that in France there is no authorised treatment and that without it Ula would die quite quickly.

However he also revealed that there are Facebook groups of fantastic volunteers who help you source the drugs you need on the black market and then help to teach you how to inject them into your cat.

And that if Ula gets the treatment she has a great chance of getting better.

So we left sad but with some hope and a lot of research to do.

As mentioned, I headed to Aix-en-Provence to carry out les états des lieux in our new home.

As I waited for the landlord to open the portail I heard a crested tit singing – and then saw it right by the front gate. I think I might enjoy living in this part of the world.

Then it was time for les états des lieux. You might remember I had to do it when we moved into our current flat in the 6eme.

This one was similar – everything was in a bon état – but the house is in need of a good clean. I think Cath and I will come back next week to do that ahead of the actual removal date.

Les états des lieux done and le bail signed, the landlord handed over the keys and the blipper for the gate.

I headed back to Lyon to sort out a removal date.

I had to travel down to Aix-en-Provence to see the landlord again to sign le bail and do the état des lieux.

This time I caught the train and saw something I’d never seen before. A lot of children being shepherded on to the train ahead of everyone else.

When I eventually got on I was greeted by this:

So it turns out it is this service offered by SNCF for unaccompanied children aged between 4-14. You can find out more about it here.

I’m not sure why it was so in demand on the 18 April but as you can see there were plenty of kids travelling between Lyon and all stations to Marseille.

My now former workplace has been making the headlines again.

This time it is an exclusive by Le Monde, a Hungarian publication called Direkt36 and a Portuguese paper Espresso

The headline in Le Monde says that Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban was behind the purchase of Euronews by Portuguese investment firm AlPac.

It is well-known that AlPac’s boss Pedro Vargas’ father used to work for Viktor Orban. But not these allegations that his party helped to fund the takeover two years ago.

Euronews has denied that any shareholder has any influence on its editorial agenda.

Do you remember the gigoteuse that Cath made for Iris?

Apparently Alma wanted to try it out.

On Thursday we went to see the next house on the list. It was on the same road as the last one but a bit nearer Aix.

It was a very nice house, in need of a little TLC. But we really hit it off with the landlord who said he would love to rent it to us and that he wasn’t interested in our dossier which was very helpful.

Because of France’s love of la paperasse most landlords insist on a lot of paperwork before they even consider you as a candidate.

We did go and see one more house in Aix which was very nice but not in the nicest location.

So we agreed to take the house in Venelles we went for a coffee in the picturesque town square to celebrate.

Once again it was off to the south to look at some potential new homes – and this time we were actually going to go inside some of them.

First stop was a flat inside a converted chateau.

It was in Lançon-Provence. It looked nice from the outside and the views were amazing.

But once inside it was a different story. There had been a leak so part of the flat was being redecorated but the rest of it was pretty shabby. It was a no.

Next up was a lovely house in Le Puy Sainte Reparade.

It was definitely a contender. We had two more to see the next day.

Just before we arrived in Aix-en-Provence to look at some houses to rent, Hanna gave birth to Iris.

There were a few last minute complications so Iris was born by caesarean section on 9 April.

We arrived the next day so took the chance to pop round and see our latest petite niece.

She is absolutely adorable.

Swim number two today in an almost deserted piscine du Rhône.

Very nice indeed.

Here’s a clue.

Et qu’est ce qu’elle a mangé?

Elle avait mal au ventre.

I hope Alma likes this as much as my boys – and indeed I did.