French is often known as the ‘language of love’, whilst Latin languages (the group to which French belongs) are generally considered to be particularly romantic – in fact, an alternative term for ‘Latin languages’ is ‘romance languages’. However, French isn’t just romantic – it can be highly practical, too. Echoing the directness of its native... Continue Reading →
Head Over Heels
This is a short post to announce that, as of last week*, I am now the exceptionally proud and delighted owner of one authentic 1960’s typewriter. For someone who endeavours to fill their life with as many attractive clichés as possible, the mere fact of ownership is enough to please all by itself. The thought... Continue Reading →
Better Than Yoga
I have a confession: I didn’t go to yoga yesterday. I’d booked the class days ago with the best intentions, and when I left for work in the morning, it was in the mindset of being out until 8:30pm (when yoga ends), save for the fifteen-minute stop home to change into something a little more... Continue Reading →
There’s No Accounting For Taste (Airbnb No. 3)
Now, if you’ve read my earliest posts, I realise that it looks like I have completely abandoned the saga of my Quest For An Apartment and you would be forgiven for reaching that conclusion. Aha! Fooled you. Despite a two-and-a-bit-month-long digression, I have returned to my narrative to enlighten you further on the joys of... Continue Reading →
A Taste Of Summer
We had a little taste of summer in Paris this weekend - and let me tell you, it was delicious. Clear blue skies, glorious sunshine, 22 degree heat… what more could you ask of April? As someone of mixed English and Irish blood, it’s pretty much written into my genetic code that in the event... Continue Reading →
Easter in Paris
Joyeuses Pâques! A little late, I know - but as I hope most people were, I was somewhat busy with general Easter merriment over the weekend, and blogging just had to wait. Sorry! Anyway, I hope it isn’t too late for you to be interested in reading about French Easter tradition, because that is what... Continue Reading →
Paris vs London: Comparing Notes
Last week, I returned to England for the first time since Christmas. I got the Eurostar back, and as such, went directly from central Paris to central London within the space of a couple of hours. Inevitably, this prompted my brain to make comparisons galore between the two cities/countries and I thought I’d share a... Continue Reading →
Spring Has Sprung
Spring has sprung in Paris! We might have had snow less than a fortnight ago, but this Sunday afternoon, the temperature in the city reached a glorious EIGHTEEN DEGREES C. That’s right: 1-8. Now, this may or may not be remarkable by local standards, but for someone who has spent their twenty-something years living in... Continue Reading →
Hostess With The Mostest – Or Trying Anyway (Part 2/2)
So, to pick up where I left off (Part 1 here) with regards to the previous weekend, Sunday last dawned bright and sunny, another beautifully-blue-skied-but-bitterly-cold sort of day. Our little party headed out with the intention of picking up breakfast as we went, but alas, the queue for ‘my’ boulangerie was the longest I’d seen... Continue Reading →
Sunday: Day Of Rest & Uncertain Shopping Hours
I was going to continue immediately on from my previous post and I did start to write “Part 2” (which I will finish and post at some point), but it ended up featuring this massive digression in the middle (so unlike me, I know) and it got to the point where I decided that the... Continue Reading →