That’s apparently how long I can stay awake to keep DmentD company when we’re driving long distances overnight!

I had class Wednesday night, with my exam for custards making the charlotte au cassis, it went well, my glacage was a bit thick but aside from that it went well.. my piping is improving, I still need more practice but it’s getting better.

Straight after class we started our trip to New Orleans. Armed with coffee, cold drinks and snacks we set out, taking a couple of stops we made it there by half 8. I started dozing off just as the sun was rising, but was awake again for the stretch of road over the Atchafalaya Basin, my first glipse of swamplands.. not actually all that exciting, from the road at least, but interesting to see!

We unpacked the car and slept for a few hours before joining DmentD’s family for Thanksgiving. Eating plenty of turkey and macaroni and cheese and green beans.. and I tried the seafood gumbo, and then finishing the meal with baklava and germans chocolate cake. I made some milk rolls (the pain au lait) and some rice pudding that seemed to go down well. We played a couple of games and had a nice relaxing day.

Friday we went to the Audobon Aquarium of the Americas. It was a nice place to wander round, some interesting exhibits. The penguins were actually swimming.. Usually when I go to a place with penguins where they have the glass so you can see the penguins swim, they all stay on land! There were some sea otters, displays on the Amazon and the Mississippi finishing with a display on the Gulf of Mexico.

We left there to go to Cafe du Monde and have the cafe au lait and beignets.. Ok, I had hot chocolate rather than cafe au lait, but it was still good. I didn’t quite believe how covered in icing sugar the beignets would be until I saw them.. DmentD wouldn’t let me ‘accidentally’ cough and spray him with the excess sugar!

We met some friends then and went out to dinner before heading downtown to the ‘Miracle on Fulton Street’ letting the two young children (who both call DmentD ‘Uncle Stuff’.. that made me giggle so much) play in the fake snow since it’s rare to get actual snow round here.. it was tiny little bubbles, it was fun! And the Hilton hotel next to it had a huge gingerbread house in the window that I was admiring!

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with friends, lazing and chatting and having fun.

Saturday we went to the French Quarter and wandered about the French Market, picking up some nice artwork for the house, and then took a walk about the quarter.. The architecture is nice, and it’s nice to see some history round here! We walked down Bourbon Street so I could say I have.. even if it was the middle of the day, I’m not sure I’d fancy it at night!

Killing some time (and therefore some money) in a bookshop we then met people for dinner at a little place called Lola’s where I stuffed myself out on meat paella and DmentD was very happy to get some seafood paella. Another evening of chilling with friends, we watched The ‘Burbs.

Sunday we met some more friends for lunch at The Olde Ice House (all it needed was a ‘Ye’), which involved a trip across Lake Ponchartrain. The meal was delicious, and huge, and I was very nearly beaten!

We packed up and left about half 6. Once again at the 7 hour mark I needed a nap again! The drive wasn’t too bad, we got caught up in a lot of traffic around Baton Rouge where there had been an accident, but we made it home about half 3.

Monday DmentD had taken the day off work. We got up when we had to return the rental car. I followed in the truck, my first time driving it alone which went well, and then we went and got pizza for lunch which seemed to make us both zombified and it upset my stomach a little.

I had school in the evening, finishing off custards we made souffle and baked alaska.

Tonight we start the Basic Cake Decorating techniques which I’m looking forward to.. though I’m not looking forward to having to go to school on Saturday to make up for the time lost last week! There’s a gingerbread house competition coming up that I’m toying about with entering.. I’d kinda like to.. we’ll see