Sunday Blues

Today...for a number of reasons I do not wish to discuss, has been a difficult day. Sadly my blog is not somewhere I am free to write my feelings without a second thought as I have to remember - people read this (sometimes?!) All I have to say today are not my own words but another's and which will help to put the smile back on my face. So just remember...

Everything happens for a reason, people change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together. Marilyn Monroe.

The new arrival

First bit of news....Welcome the the world kiddo! Raphael Benjamin Bruot born 11:48 am, weighs in 3,8kg and measures 54cm. En pleine forme le beau! The baby has arrived and I saw him yesterday, he is so beautiful and kept gripping my finger! Jamie was so good with him too, when the baby cried he would say "Don't be sad baby." Too cute.

The boys were pretty exhausting yesterday though. I had to put them to bed too but it didn't help that in fact, I was exhausted. We lay in N's single bed and all squished in to read a story (they made me read in French and kept giggling). These boys are hard work sometimes but they really are gems. Getting too attached and guess I won't want to leave when the time comes...

On another positive note...I actually went on a date this week. I was going to bail like I always do...because of certain things which some of you know about. But after speaking to my best friend here and my sister I was told to suck it up and get myself out of the house. And actually...I had one of the best night's out in a long time. We ended up in some random bar/gig house watching live music until after midnight. Unfortunately we couldn't get to St Lazare for the last train because the metro stopped but luckily I had R and could crash with her (thankyou again R I owe you!!) Did get an invite to stay chez lui but this could possibly work out so didn't want to. Anyway...baby steps but I am trying to make them, have to really.

Off to Musée d'Orsay today avec les filles and then boat party on the Seine tonight. Should be a good weekend. Just need F to come back so I can get ready and go...

Bise

Is it really January???

So...it's official. France has no idea what month it is. The sun has been shining all weekend and things seem to be taking a positive turn for me so I'm not complaining :) although knowing my luck saying that will jinx my 'chance' so far.

The car tire finally got fixed but not by F and I, the mechanic had to come and do it, it was just impossible to get the tire off! So pleased about that as now at least one of us can drive it to the garage. Then yesterday I met Rachel in Le Marais, we wondered around it for hours and I managed to buy a vintage jumper for 5 euros (below). It was a good day :)

I love Le Marais, I literally could stay there all day and not get bored. However you do have to be careful of some of the...specialist shops. Rachel and I thought we stumbled across a cute kitchy shop full of goodies, it was only after I thought nipple gems were wall decorations and Rach opened them to see naked boobs that we started to clock on. After that it was like my eyes finally opened and I took in the whole of the shop surrounding us. I immediately spotted a "sex for over 40s book," tease me, touch me, feel me etc written on the tops of the walls and then practically stumbled into a whole wall of dildos. It was very funny don't get me wrong

but our naiveity made me laugh...we didn't even realise where we were!

The laughs just rolled on after that...we finally found the 'Gay' bakery. I think it is easier for a picture to explain this...penis bread, penis brioche, penis viennoiseries - you name it they had it. I literally love Le Marias. Rach and I also witnessed a crazy guy who was dressed in a bright pink bomber jacket and matching trousers. I was trying to get a picture but I wasn't stealth enough.

Rachel and I also came across a vintage shop we hadn't found before, it had some

new stuff in but my favourite things were the Beatles/Joy Divison/Clockwork Orange tees. Really wanted to buy one but they weren't cheap and they didn't have a men's small so gave it a miss unfortunately. They also had the old school american bomber jackets; the american football team ones? Wish they were still in fashion ha. Best thing about the shop though had to be that the changing rooms. They were London red telephone boxes...there were about six of them, god knows how they got them here and fit them in the shop but however they managed it...the effect was worth it. Check it out >>>

Anyway....the sun is shining so I am going to get off my blog and go for a run and then later I am heading to Le Marais again...but for a different reason this time. I might tell you later...if you're lucky. Peace and love bloggers x

Jinxed

I have decided to never ever again discuss how I have "never had an accident in a car." Note to self - always touch wood when you say things like this! My friend Tina and I were discussing over coffee how many au pairs have scuffed their cars or at worst, hit someone else's car and how we are the lucky ones/safest drivers. Spoke too soon. Was driving home and as I got close to the end of the avenue we live on I saw a lorry (un camion) coming towards me...but in the middle of the road. My first thought was confusion and as it was dark I strained my eyes to make sure I wasn't imagining it. Problem is on these roads there are no road markings whatsoever so it took longer to figure out how far over he really was. As I got closer I realised how much of the road he was taking up, it was either I mount the curb or my side of the car was going to be torn off. I swerved to avoid the lorry and went up the curb and back down on to the road. It was really quite scary stuff and the bang I heard just after worried me immediately. I managed to pull over and after calming down slightly inspected the damage...

The tyre had basically dislodged itself and come away from the rim. It isn't as severe as the picture (on the right) I found on google which is effectively something out of monster trucks, but you see my point. Luckily for me my host mum is trop gentille, she understood it was an accident

and was just glad I wasn't hurt. Bloody scary though, not keen to get back into a car anytime soon, other drivers are just so damn unpredictable. I hope it won't cost the family too much, I would hate it if they had to pay a lot but fingers crossed it just needs a new tyre.

On the plus side, I firstly had a lovely evening with the girls (minus the car incident after). Had the best coffee I have had since being here in ML. It was a café cosy which was literally a layer of nutella, a layer of coffee and then cream...oh and with a mini straw. Was totally delicious. Secondly I bought the nicest tan coat with duffle buttons from Zara in 'les soldes' - the big sales in Paris which last for a whole month! And thirdly I think I did well on a test I thought I was going to fail (touch wood!!!)

Possibly meeting up with B my french exchange friend ce soir but after last night I feel like I shouldn't go out...maybe it has just made me a bit anxious, je ne sais pas. We will see.

In the mean time peeps, drive safe!

Epiphany

Now before anyone get's intrigued or excited...I unfortunately have not had an epiphany. The subject of this blog is The Epiphany, you know, God coming to Earth in the form of a human - i.e. the one and only Jesus Christ. Anyway, the French celebrate this religious festival in the only way that they know how...with pastry.

In France at Epiphany, people eat the gâteau des Rois in Provence (made of brioche) or the galette des Rois (puff pastry with almond cream) in the northern half of France and Belgium. This is a kind of king cake, with a trinket (usually a porcelain figurine of a king) or a bean hidden inside. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket becomes "king" for a day.

I have yet to experience a Galette yet but we are supposedly going to try some this evening and Lisa is going to make one on the weekend. I am more than intrigued after walking past my normal bakery yesterday and almost having a mild heart attack when I thought the French had starting producing PASTIES. On closer inspection I now realise that these 'pies' are the galettes and people are buying them to celebrate the epiphany. Apparently the youngest person, which in our case would be J, has to go under the table and shout out who will take which piece of cake and the person who has the trinket is given the crown to wear and becomes 'king' for the day. I hope it's not me...I'm not bossy enough to wear a crown.

Tried to explain this to mother, she was intrigued by the cake but didn't know what the epiphany was so had to explain...bless her. Some areas where she lacks knowledge make no sense at all. She could probably tell me how to turn my small savings into millions but ask her about the epiphany and she's stumped. Had to laugh, got to love her.

Resolutions

Have to quote Bridget on this one...

#1: Uggg - will obviously lose 20 lbs.

#2: Always put last night's panties in the laundry basket.

#3: Equally important: will find nice sensible boyfriend and stop forming romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, sexaholics, commitment-phobics, peeping toms, megalomaniacs, emotional fuckwits, or perverts. Will especially stop fantasizing about a particular person who embodies all these things.

#4: Give up drinking, it's bad for my health and it makes me do stupid (although mildly entertaining) things

#5: Take some of those barriers down or will end up 90 and alone with cats

#6: Actually finish writing a book at some point in time

#7: Make a contribution towards my non-existent 'savings'

#8: Profiter de Paris

#9: Roadtrip through the US of A

#10: Laugh more, life's too short