Le Tour of memories

For the next three weeks, I will be enjoying one of my favourite events of the year.

Simon and I enjoy nothing more than watching the Tour de France, which thanks to time differences, does not come on until late at night, and does not finish until the wee hours of each morning.

Last year, this was tough as I was tired approaching the end of my pregnancy and still working. But a week in to Le Tour, I finished work and began my maternity leave, as I entered the the final weeks of our childless days.

Everyone knew I was staying up to watch the Tour, and I was told it would be good practice for staying up all night with a crying, hungry baby.

So I took that advice very seriously, and did my best to keep my eyes pried open each night to watch the end of each gruelling stage. The country side, the bright colours of the jerseys, the tiny villages, the foods and wines of the regions, the steep mountain climbs through the Alps, the prospect of an Australian actually winning it and the final day in Paris making their way up the cobbled Avenue des Champs Elysees makes it essential viewing in our house of sports lovers.

This year, we are enjoying the Tour once again. Our eyes sting each morning, as we are not used to such late nights, and of course I am not used to having to get up so early each morning. As there is no job to go to (I'm still on that maternity leave) and there is of course no baby to wake me.

All I can seem to do these days is play the "this time last year game". Le Tour signified the end was near, my life was about to change and that our baby would soon be with us. It was such an exciting time of our lives and a time I look back on so very fondly.

Of course things are still similar this year, but also so drastically different. We're sad, we're broken, we're forever changed. How I wish someone could just transport me back to 12 months ago. I'd do things so differently this time. With all my new found knowledge, I'd save her, I'd save her. I really would.........