Ivanny and Pita get up very early. Ivanny because she goes to the gym at 6:30am, and Pita... because that's what people in their 70s do. I feel like a slug because I lie abed to 7:30 (humph!).

The day's laundry is already on the outside line (on sunny days) by breakfast time. We have breakfast at the table together and then we do our work. Ivanny and Pita putter around the house and yard - maybe doing a little cleaning, maybe doing a little gardening, maybe doing some new Christmas decorating. Nothing too strenuous, definitely nothing fast. I sit in my room or in the living room or at one of the two outdoor tables doing school work, writing my blog, paying bills or studying Spanish. They play Vemo loud and sing along. Sometimes Ivanny has a nail client come by and they sit in the outside kitchen - a sweet office in sun or rain.

Around 11 Pita heads into the kitchen to make lunch - the largest meal of the day. She has her routines and knows exactly the right timings and doesn't have to move too fast to get everything done at exactly 12 on the dot. I've asked to help with the prep but doing so seems to throw a wrench in the works, so now I'm limiting myself to doing dishes.

We have lunch and clean up together and then I go back to work. They don't have any work left, so Ivanny does creative things like making giant Christmas decorations she found on Pinterest and Pita watches a little TV. Around two-ish they're both found snoozing on the sofas.

At three we stop what we're doing (as if!) and have a little snack - something to cool us down (like fruit) or a sweet (like cake, if we have it). We sit at an outdoor table in the east facing backyard. We need something to cool us for the next two hours because this is the time the sun is starting to slid to the west and sadly it bakes right into the front rooms of the house (including my bedroom). So I take my cold shower (no hot water!), put on my makeup which slides right off my face, and look over my lesson for the evening.

When I'm catching my taxi to head to my lesson, Ivanny is heading back to the gym (yep, twice a day!).

My classes are so pleasant in the evening, because the air is cool and there are often breezes. I get home just as everyone is winding down. Usually everyone is in bed by 10:30 - except Arlethe who sometimes stays up until 4 studying.

Wash rinse and repeat.