Oh to be in Paris now that my birthday is here!

                                                    

Not so much fun:

It’s been a busy here with the new heating system going in and a fresh roof being fitted on the out-building. I’ve spent my days brewing endless cups of coffee while watching our bank balance shrink with every invoice—or “devis,” as the French say—that lands on the kitchen table.  

Adding to the chaos is a flock of hefty sheep that wander through our property. We haven’t chased them off, since they’re doing a fantastic job of munching down the stubborn weeds. They arrive and depart with uncanny purpose, as if following an ancient trail known only to them, softly baaing as they thread their way between the trees and back to wherever they came from.  

So much fun:

I managed another trip to Paris (yes, another one!) and, honestly, I fall in love with it all over again each time. There are always new sights to discover, but I never tire of circling the Eiffel Tower, admiring Notre-Dame’s post-facelift glow, or sitting outside a café dipping a croissant into my coffee until it melts on my tongue. This time we stayed in the Marais, lost ourselves in its narrow lanes and quirky boutiques, and once again marvelled at how bustling Paris is year-round. If you’ve found a quiet spell in the City of Light—perhaps a chilly January —do let me know.  

Culture Corner and Taste Sensation:  

I’ve borrowed this heading from the “Older and Wider” podcast, which I devour every Friday. Jenny Éclair’s raspy wit and Judith Holder’s warm intelligence form the perfect duet of middle-aged wisdom. Their brutally honest chats—about everything from sleepless nights. being grandparents to the absurd lengths we’d go to earn a Blue Peter badge—have me laughing until I cry (and sometimes crying because it hits too close to home, even though I’m not a grandmother… yet!).  

Culture Corner: 

Tatty MacLeod is a Franco-British stand-up comedian I discovered on YouTube. Having spent her early years in France before moving to the UK, she hilariously dissects the quirks of French versus English life: whether it's waiters, mothers on the beach, august holidays, or even booty calls. It’s a brilliantly funny way to learn French. 

Musée de Carnavalet  in Paris- see below

Taste Sensation: 

Well, having just returned from Paris, the choice is endless and includes the best croissant and eggs benedict I’ve ever had and of course, countless coupes de champagne!.

 For breakfast we queued (only briefly) at Carette in the Marais, overlooking the Place des Vosges. The food was impeccable, the staff glided about in crisp white aprons, and the morning sun made it all feel magical. I thoroughly recommend that you walk your breakfast off at the Musée de Carnavalet which is all about the history of France and is completely free ( you will need something that is free after eating at Carette- but it is worth it!).

The forecast looks bright for next week, albeit cooler, and Tim and I will be making multiple runs to the dump to dispose of the old roof tiles. On the plus side, it’s my birthday tomorrow, so I’m hoping for a lovely lunch in Caen—and a few more coupes de champagne.

I'm off to do more research, especially for my taste sensation feature!