Probably shouldn't be updating in such a half asleep state. Cathryn and I stayed at Jenny's last night and didn't sleep. They're both probably asleep right now but I'm going to hold out until tonight. Working all day for the next four days so going to need a lot of sleep tonight - working 48 hoursish in four days! :o
Eurgh. Feel like my brain is melting.. Jenny's sleepover, without sleep, was great. We met at Montmartre with the intention of buying veggies and fruit from market stalls in a street Jenny knows, we ended up going into a piano shop and then Monoprix (we saw an interesting trio, Jen and Cathryn somehow knew their life story - two guys hugging a girl, Pete was the one who was left out though. Poor Pete, don't ask!) Which isn't really the same. We bought foodstuffs and went back to Jen's. The Metro was PACKED with everyone wanting to go to the rugby game.
Instead of having fruit and vegetables we ate pizza, chocolate ice cream and watched Mr Darcy, Black Books, Save The Last Dance - and giggled at the French subtitles, Jenny and Cathryn tried to learn German and Spanish, I had a wine shower and had to wash my top.
Somehow we couldn't find a corkscrew for the wine so after Cathryn and Jen attacked it with some keys Cathryn tried with the knife. She gave up and I tried for a while, after managing to cut half the cork out the knife slipped in and the wine exploded allll over me. Hilarious. Though I probably smell a bit weird now. Cathryn left to go home about 8am - I nearly fell asleep on the RER C a few times. Though Jen you'll be disappointed to know we didn't bump into Derek so no one taught us how to dance.
Jenny came up with the best rap about the RER. But I forgot it. Will have to ask her about it on facebook.
So now I'm back home. I had intended on writing a lot about how wonderful Paris is but my bed looks so snuggly soft I want to sleep. I can't really think at the moment. I'll go make an interesting list of interesting things to tell you about then maybe even include a picture post.
Yawn. By the way, if this didn't make sense to you then remember it will make less to me when I'm awake. :P
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Saturday, 26 January 2008
'We put potatoes in it.'
Today Cathryn, Jenny and I went to Versailles. It was so exciting! We meet at Musee d'Orsay at 12h 45 ish, Jenny was at the rhino - this is an important fact she felt she needed to text us with, and jumped on the next train to Versailles.
The first thing we noticed when we got there was that PEOPLE WERE NICE! You forget that people can be nice after living in Paris for so long - it's not that people here are very rude they're just not friendly. Some of them are really rude but I come from Mansfield so used to it. We went into a bakery and got some free cake things. We were so shocked at someone being nice for once I think we said thank you a million times. They must have thought we were crazy tourists. We got some bread, a galette des roi, yum yum and some fancy looking cakes. We then bought some cheese*, avocado, chocolate and apple juice. All set for our picnic we headed off for the Versailles gardens.
After a quick stroll and bravely asking for directions we found the amazing, huge gardens and were so happy to not see a building for miles. It was so beautiful. Living in Paris really makes you miss seeing silly things like fields. We strolled around for a bit wishing we could dress up in Renaissance clothing, or at least I did, then decided it was time for lunch. After finding a bit of muddy grass to sit on we had a cold but fantastic picnic. Cathryn won the crown from the galette and we were very pleased for her, Jenny cried a little but got over it eventually. After eating too much we went for a long walk around the gardens. They're so beautiful. When we left the sun was setting; the sky was lilac, pink going in to a light blue and bright orange. It was so incredible. We didn't want to leave.
We got the train back, listened to an Australian couple have a semi argument about a restaurant, and decided we were too tired to go for a coffee. I managed to get a bus back home from Choisy train station instead of walking and pretty much collapsed in bed. Which is where I've stayed since. Definitely a day we need to do again.
Random quotes for Cathryn and Jen.
+ Canadian seeds.
+ 'We put potatoes in it!'
+ 'It's the wrong way.' [Never figured out what was the wrong way or what the random lady was talking about..]
And I'm too tired to think of anymore.. Yawn.
*It's Port Salut by the way Cathryn ;)
The first thing we noticed when we got there was that PEOPLE WERE NICE! You forget that people can be nice after living in Paris for so long - it's not that people here are very rude they're just not friendly. Some of them are really rude but I come from Mansfield so used to it. We went into a bakery and got some free cake things. We were so shocked at someone being nice for once I think we said thank you a million times. They must have thought we were crazy tourists. We got some bread, a galette des roi, yum yum and some fancy looking cakes. We then bought some cheese*, avocado, chocolate and apple juice. All set for our picnic we headed off for the Versailles gardens.
After a quick stroll and bravely asking for directions we found the amazing, huge gardens and were so happy to not see a building for miles. It was so beautiful. Living in Paris really makes you miss seeing silly things like fields. We strolled around for a bit wishing we could dress up in Renaissance clothing, or at least I did, then decided it was time for lunch. After finding a bit of muddy grass to sit on we had a cold but fantastic picnic. Cathryn won the crown from the galette and we were very pleased for her, Jenny cried a little but got over it eventually. After eating too much we went for a long walk around the gardens. They're so beautiful. When we left the sun was setting; the sky was lilac, pink going in to a light blue and bright orange. It was so incredible. We didn't want to leave.
We got the train back, listened to an Australian couple have a semi argument about a restaurant, and decided we were too tired to go for a coffee. I managed to get a bus back home from Choisy train station instead of walking and pretty much collapsed in bed. Which is where I've stayed since. Definitely a day we need to do again.
Random quotes for Cathryn and Jen.
+ Canadian seeds.
+ 'We put potatoes in it!'
+ 'It's the wrong way.' [Never figured out what was the wrong way or what the random lady was talking about..]
And I'm too tired to think of anymore.. Yawn.
*It's Port Salut by the way Cathryn ;)
Friday, 25 January 2008
'And I have no latern to light your way home tonight..'
Can't believe it's almost February!
I feel like I should be doing more with my free time, tomorrow I'm going to Versailles with Jenny and Cathryn so that's a vague accomplishment? We're all very excited about it. We're going to have a picnic in the gardens I think! I really don't feel like I've done enough to say I've been here for almost five months - really need to follow in Pam's footsteps and make a list of things to do. Jen and I are going to see Helen(!) in Toulouse so that's one thing to cross off the non-existent list! Very excited about that! <--see haven't forgotten you Helenpants!
I want to go out today my womb has decided that if I even think about moving it will curse me with the worst pain so looks like I'm staying in today. Curses. Plus I'm feeling lazy. Might go buy bread and more credit but Paris can wait.
As for French lessons I rang this morning and they said they probably don't have any places. I told them I really need the lessons to be able to work here so they're going to give me a test Monday morning and see if I can fit in somewhere. I really hope I can - going to be in a lot of trouble if not. Bleh. I'll figure something out either way. Then I'll go sort out my Navigo - for some reason it's stopped working which means I no longer get to hear the delicious 'BING' when I use the metro/RER. It's horrific! I have to use a Carte Orange again. Not as exciting as a Navigo plus I can't hide it in my purse and do a secret BING. Makes me feel like I'm a secret agent. If you have Navigo you'll know what I mean, if not then ignore this. ^^
The weather is amazing at the moment, sunny and vaguely warm. It makes me sad that I'm not in the countryside with everything growing around me. Spring is going to be horrible here, I need to be around greenness. I don't feel the same living on a street, it's ok but nothing beats watching the countryside slowly turn green over the month. It's beautiful. Hopefully we'll get our trips arranged and go into the countryside a lot more. If not that I'll take trains out and have long walks. Something else you can't really do here. Streets aren't the same as woods. I've also discovered that my most favourite sound to fall asleep to is rain. It never really rains here and when it does we have shutters so I don't get to hear the amazing sound of it hitting the window. I always sleep better when it's raining. Clear proof that I've lived in England all my life.
Better go find something to do - might frog hat and start it again now I'm more experienced with ribbing etc. And I have several projects I want to do but need round needles or double ended needles for. Eurgh. This is turning into an expensive hobby. Heh. Really need to get down to a yarn shop and get some of each or I'll never get around to the projects.
A tout a l'heure!
I feel like I should be doing more with my free time, tomorrow I'm going to Versailles with Jenny and Cathryn so that's a vague accomplishment? We're all very excited about it. We're going to have a picnic in the gardens I think! I really don't feel like I've done enough to say I've been here for almost five months - really need to follow in Pam's footsteps and make a list of things to do. Jen and I are going to see Helen(!) in Toulouse so that's one thing to cross off the non-existent list! Very excited about that! <--see haven't forgotten you Helenpants!
I want to go out today my womb has decided that if I even think about moving it will curse me with the worst pain so looks like I'm staying in today. Curses. Plus I'm feeling lazy. Might go buy bread and more credit but Paris can wait.
As for French lessons I rang this morning and they said they probably don't have any places. I told them I really need the lessons to be able to work here so they're going to give me a test Monday morning and see if I can fit in somewhere. I really hope I can - going to be in a lot of trouble if not. Bleh. I'll figure something out either way. Then I'll go sort out my Navigo - for some reason it's stopped working which means I no longer get to hear the delicious 'BING' when I use the metro/RER. It's horrific! I have to use a Carte Orange again. Not as exciting as a Navigo plus I can't hide it in my purse and do a secret BING. Makes me feel like I'm a secret agent. If you have Navigo you'll know what I mean, if not then ignore this. ^^
The weather is amazing at the moment, sunny and vaguely warm. It makes me sad that I'm not in the countryside with everything growing around me. Spring is going to be horrible here, I need to be around greenness. I don't feel the same living on a street, it's ok but nothing beats watching the countryside slowly turn green over the month. It's beautiful. Hopefully we'll get our trips arranged and go into the countryside a lot more. If not that I'll take trains out and have long walks. Something else you can't really do here. Streets aren't the same as woods. I've also discovered that my most favourite sound to fall asleep to is rain. It never really rains here and when it does we have shutters so I don't get to hear the amazing sound of it hitting the window. I always sleep better when it's raining. Clear proof that I've lived in England all my life.
Better go find something to do - might frog hat and start it again now I'm more experienced with ribbing etc. And I have several projects I want to do but need round needles or double ended needles for. Eurgh. This is turning into an expensive hobby. Heh. Really need to get down to a yarn shop and get some of each or I'll never get around to the projects.
A tout a l'heure!
Thursday, 10 January 2008
'You said I must eat so many lemons 'cos I am so bitter..'
Only been back for two weeks and it feels much longer. The weather has improved dramatically and now I'm wondering why I'm sat in my room updating this thing. Need to go pick up the little lady in forty minutes so not really enough time to do anything. Or at least that's my justification. Not really much of one. Need to start knitting and writing again.
Christmas and New Year's were fun and quite. The way I like them. Got to see some great friends then come here and make new friends. Life is good.
What can I say? I spend my weekends in Paris now and trying to increase my social life. Living in the suburbs could be worse I guess. Actually it's pretty great where I am. Not going to complain. Current music obsessions: Cake, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse, Da Silva, anything that the old Europe 2 used to play really. That was a great radio station. Now it's been taken over by Virgin. Doesn't seem the same. Audrey says it is but it's not really.
I love this song.
So for my Nude Year's resolution I want to start doing more exercise. But fun exercise. E.g. swimming or, like Alanna, bounce of some sort of trampoline or anything that doesn't seem like a chore! Tried yoga and might give that another go. Jenny said she'd be up for it so that's always an option. A very sore option.
Going to tidy my room and listen to more music.
Can't wait for summer!
Christmas and New Year's were fun and quite. The way I like them. Got to see some great friends then come here and make new friends. Life is good.
What can I say? I spend my weekends in Paris now and trying to increase my social life. Living in the suburbs could be worse I guess. Actually it's pretty great where I am. Not going to complain. Current music obsessions: Cake, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse, Da Silva, anything that the old Europe 2 used to play really. That was a great radio station. Now it's been taken over by Virgin. Doesn't seem the same. Audrey says it is but it's not really.
I love this song.
So for my Nude Year's resolution I want to start doing more exercise. But fun exercise. E.g. swimming or, like Alanna, bounce of some sort of trampoline or anything that doesn't seem like a chore! Tried yoga and might give that another go. Jenny said she'd be up for it so that's always an option. A very sore option.
Going to tidy my room and listen to more music.
Can't wait for summer!
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
Everything. Dedicated to Helen!
Helen said I haven't updated this thing in ages, the reason being because SO much has happened and I really didn't want to type a lot but she said she wants something to read so here I am.
(Hi Helen *waves*)
I'm back in England for eleven days and have a chest infection though I don't know whether I should attack an inhaler. It seems to be mixing at the moment. Can't really breathe without needed to cough. I feel so sexy. And of course my iTunes is playing stuff that I need to sing along to so more coughing occurs. The consequence of good music.
So what have you missed in the last month and a half? I made a list.. But my camera won't let me take a photo so I'll type it here with fancy bullet points.
♥ Pizza, Momo's
♥ Ice skating! Montparnasse, Helen's favourite place, and Hotel de Ville.
♥ Pam and Helen leaving ):
♥ Stolly's - the 'bar of coincidences'
♥ Knitting
♥ Graffiti knitting
♥ Absinthe in the hot chocolate cafe that I never remember the name of
♥ A few videos to show you
♥ Bread -- bank
♥ Crazy toilets, cowboy guy and the champagne
♥ The C-hat
There's probably more. You'll need to remind me what I've missed. As you can tell they're not in any sort of chronological order. Just a random list.
Pizza - we've had pizza several times together so I'm guessing that's why you mentioned it? There was the excellent pizza at Momo's, recommended by Jesse and Cathryn, the cute little place in Montmartre with the free drinks. Many crepes have been consumed, some with Helen cursing the jam, some with praising the jam. We traveled six million miles to a crepe place with Jesse, Cathryn, Pam and someone we didn't know. We've eaten at a few other places too, had coffee at many places and beer/alcohol in a few places. Overall it's been very productive food wise.
Ice skating! Helen and I have been ice skating a silly amount of times. She doesn't mind holding my hand and I don't mind being helped. Not at all. Been getting better! Can go round on my own and beginning to pick up speed. The best part of ice skating has to be the pitying looks I get when go around slowly or people always want to take a picture of something when I'm about to go past so they get a close up of my head or coat. There was on guy who helped me go round a few times and really helped my self confidence.
Pam and Helen leaving. The worst thing ever. Still sad about it. Can't believe it's Christmas already and we're having to say bye to some people. Helen should come back to Paree and live under my bed or something. Haha. I miss you! Paris won't be the same without someone to talk to about knitting for hours and music!
We found a bar, Stolly's, which I named the 'bar of coincidences'. The manager Dave is from Victoria and we were in Victoria at the same time this summer. Mike somehow knew I was from Mansfield - he's from Swindon and did English literature at Bath Spa. Which is where I'm going in September. We went on the 14th December*, got incredibly drunk then tagged along to a party where Owen broke a chair. It was a legendary night. One that must go on the legends list with karaoke guy! Been in there a fair few times since then. Mainly to see my husband Nick. We got married in the Notre Dame. It was the wedding of the year.
Hm.. Helen mentioned knitting. What can I say? We like to knit. A lot. She's a lot better than me making her my knitting Guru with Needles of Wisdom.
Knitting graffiti is a new craze and I love it!
Isn't that brilliant? I really want to do some! There's quite a bit of it in the St Paul area. Makes me very happy.
What's next? Ah, yes. Absinthe. Helen bought some absinthe so Jenny, Helen and I decided to try it in the hot chocolate cafe we go to on occasion. Pimento Cafe or something like that. I don't remember. I just follow the others when going there. Anyhow, it was ok. Strong but good. Felt like such a rebel slipping it into our drinks. Heh. We are rebels for that. Pratcially legends. 'Je suis une legende!'
Bread -- bank. One day I was walking with Capucine, it must have been below zero that day. It was freezing. She stops walking and I don't know why. She looks at me so I ask her if she's cold or had enough walking and wants me to carry her the few meters I can. I am weak and she is heavy.
Me: are you ok?
Her: bread.
Me: Bread? You want to buy bread?
Her: Yes!
Me: Ok, sure. If you want. Come on then.
Her: .. (refuses to move)
Me: you can't buy bread here Capucine..
Her: ..(won't move)
Me: this is a bank! It doesn't work like that. You can buy bread over there (points to bakery)
Her: .. (still won't move)
In the end I had to pick her up. From behind because when I tried to pick her up from infront she curled up and wouldn't let me. That was a hilariously weird moment.
Seems we find weird people/places when with Jenny. Seriously. Helen and I have walked around for hours and nothing strange has happened then after twenty minutes of being with Jenny something really odd with happen or we'll find somewhere really weird to eat. For example the wonderful crepe place. We found a reasonably priced crepery, it seemed perfectly normal until we were served by a sixty year old guy dressed like a cowboy. He then tried to give us water out of a champagne bottle. That was a weird moment. But the best part of the evening would be when Jenny went to the bathroom and came back with a huge smile on her face. One by one we go see what she was smiling at.
A rave in a small toilet. Seperate speakers, rave light, writing on all the walls. Insane. Genius but insane!
And the C-hat. Helen made a lovely hat with a pompom. She tried to get caught in some tourists pictures near the Notre Dame in it but it didn't work. Here's the video of our failed mission.
Undoubtedly missed SO much but I'm going to stop for now and have a stretch. I have four albums on Facebook of pictures so far. You just have to add me to see them. Sylvie-Claire Porter.
Happy holidays.
P.S. if you're reading this and want to meet up then TEXT ME.
*Haha. Our anniversary Helen! :D
(Hi Helen *waves*)
I'm back in England for eleven days and have a chest infection though I don't know whether I should attack an inhaler. It seems to be mixing at the moment. Can't really breathe without needed to cough. I feel so sexy. And of course my iTunes is playing stuff that I need to sing along to so more coughing occurs. The consequence of good music.
So what have you missed in the last month and a half? I made a list.. But my camera won't let me take a photo so I'll type it here with fancy bullet points.
♥ Pizza, Momo's
♥ Ice skating! Montparnasse, Helen's favourite place, and Hotel de Ville.
♥ Pam and Helen leaving ):
♥ Stolly's - the 'bar of coincidences'
♥ Knitting
♥ Graffiti knitting
♥ Absinthe in the hot chocolate cafe that I never remember the name of
♥ A few videos to show you
♥ Bread -- bank
♥ Crazy toilets, cowboy guy and the champagne
♥ The C-hat
There's probably more. You'll need to remind me what I've missed. As you can tell they're not in any sort of chronological order. Just a random list.
Pizza - we've had pizza several times together so I'm guessing that's why you mentioned it? There was the excellent pizza at Momo's, recommended by Jesse and Cathryn, the cute little place in Montmartre with the free drinks. Many crepes have been consumed, some with Helen cursing the jam, some with praising the jam. We traveled six million miles to a crepe place with Jesse, Cathryn, Pam and someone we didn't know. We've eaten at a few other places too, had coffee at many places and beer/alcohol in a few places. Overall it's been very productive food wise.
Ice skating! Helen and I have been ice skating a silly amount of times. She doesn't mind holding my hand and I don't mind being helped. Not at all. Been getting better! Can go round on my own and beginning to pick up speed. The best part of ice skating has to be the pitying looks I get when go around slowly or people always want to take a picture of something when I'm about to go past so they get a close up of my head or coat. There was on guy who helped me go round a few times and really helped my self confidence.
Pam and Helen leaving. The worst thing ever. Still sad about it. Can't believe it's Christmas already and we're having to say bye to some people. Helen should come back to Paree and live under my bed or something. Haha. I miss you! Paris won't be the same without someone to talk to about knitting for hours and music!
We found a bar, Stolly's, which I named the 'bar of coincidences'. The manager Dave is from Victoria and we were in Victoria at the same time this summer. Mike somehow knew I was from Mansfield - he's from Swindon and did English literature at Bath Spa. Which is where I'm going in September. We went on the 14th December*, got incredibly drunk then tagged along to a party where Owen broke a chair. It was a legendary night. One that must go on the legends list with karaoke guy! Been in there a fair few times since then. Mainly to see my husband Nick. We got married in the Notre Dame. It was the wedding of the year.
Hm.. Helen mentioned knitting. What can I say? We like to knit. A lot. She's a lot better than me making her my knitting Guru with Needles of Wisdom.
Knitting graffiti is a new craze and I love it!
Isn't that brilliant? I really want to do some! There's quite a bit of it in the St Paul area. Makes me very happy.
What's next? Ah, yes. Absinthe. Helen bought some absinthe so Jenny, Helen and I decided to try it in the hot chocolate cafe we go to on occasion. Pimento Cafe or something like that. I don't remember. I just follow the others when going there. Anyhow, it was ok. Strong but good. Felt like such a rebel slipping it into our drinks. Heh. We are rebels for that. Pratcially legends. 'Je suis une legende!'
Bread -- bank. One day I was walking with Capucine, it must have been below zero that day. It was freezing. She stops walking and I don't know why. She looks at me so I ask her if she's cold or had enough walking and wants me to carry her the few meters I can. I am weak and she is heavy.
Me: are you ok?
Her: bread.
Me: Bread? You want to buy bread?
Her: Yes!
Me: Ok, sure. If you want. Come on then.
Her: .. (refuses to move)
Me: you can't buy bread here Capucine..
Her: ..(won't move)
Me: this is a bank! It doesn't work like that. You can buy bread over there (points to bakery)
Her: .. (still won't move)
In the end I had to pick her up. From behind because when I tried to pick her up from infront she curled up and wouldn't let me. That was a hilariously weird moment.
Seems we find weird people/places when with Jenny. Seriously. Helen and I have walked around for hours and nothing strange has happened then after twenty minutes of being with Jenny something really odd with happen or we'll find somewhere really weird to eat. For example the wonderful crepe place. We found a reasonably priced crepery, it seemed perfectly normal until we were served by a sixty year old guy dressed like a cowboy. He then tried to give us water out of a champagne bottle. That was a weird moment. But the best part of the evening would be when Jenny went to the bathroom and came back with a huge smile on her face. One by one we go see what she was smiling at.
A rave in a small toilet. Seperate speakers, rave light, writing on all the walls. Insane. Genius but insane!
And the C-hat. Helen made a lovely hat with a pompom. She tried to get caught in some tourists pictures near the Notre Dame in it but it didn't work. Here's the video of our failed mission.
Undoubtedly missed SO much but I'm going to stop for now and have a stretch. I have four albums on Facebook of pictures so far. You just have to add me to see them. Sylvie-Claire Porter.
Happy holidays.
P.S. if you're reading this and want to meet up then TEXT ME.
*Haha. Our anniversary Helen! :D
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