Bonne Weekend

We're having a lovely slice of summer here in the Ile de France. The weather has been better on the weekend than it was during the week - take that Murphy!

We begun, on Friday evening (which is where a weekend should really start), with constructing a cot, gifted to us by a colleague of Luuk's. Now there are two cots in Louis room and not a lot of floor space, but maybe this will help with Louis' growing understanding of what is about to take place.

Louis helping his Dad tighten up the joints - learning how to use an Allen Key.

 On Saturday Luuk had grand bike-shopping plans and headed off first thing. The first place, he tells me, was a bit pricey.

The second place was a bit late in opening, but worth the wait. A couple hundred Euro later... un velo!

In the afternoon it was my turn to take off on my own, for a much needed hair appointment. Luuk and Louis enjoyed the summery weather on our porch at home.

Someone didn't want to have his afternoon nap, but was happy enough.

Meanwhile, I was transformed from the regrowth-monster into this beauty. So many photos were taken before I gave up and accepted that while pregnant I will always be a little frustrated by my appearance.

You're so vain.

Sunday dawned with much promise, and then went and lived up to it. We go to a tiny off-shoot kind of church most Sunday evenings. The main church meets in Versailles in the mornings and this week were blessing their new sanctuary (the area where church services are held) - so we all got together for a special service... including a scrummy lunch of nibbly goodies and drinks - including champagne! Anglicans eh? The French eh? Love it.

Luuk had to dash off after the service to pick up an ebay purchase: a bike seat for Louis. After a good solid afternoon nap, the boys took advantage of this new treat...

Off we go!

Honey, I'm home.

Lookin good.

My biker boys.

So I'm hoping they can do their father-son bonding off on the road, getting some exercise and having a blast. Meanwhile I can ensconce myself in a cafe and work on that novel!

And now it's time for dinner and a relaxing evening before kicking off another week. Perhaps we will watch the last episode of 'Sherlock'. Perhaps I will finish reading my book. I will definitely write my 100 Days post for today.

Another day, another president.

We can't vote here, so we had a very a-political election day. Luuk made crepes for breakfast. So good with lemon and sugar.

We put together a home-made version of 'Carcasonne' and then played it a few times. 

We put up Louis' mural in his bedroom, and then Luuk went out for more velcro sticky things so that we could put up the last corner and fasten the bottom edge. 

More board games and tv, thus passed the afternoon. As per usual on a Sunday afternoon, we dragged Louis out of bed and forced food into him before heading off to church. The first sunday of the month means no kids program... which means entertaining Louis with food and toys, and trying to judge whether it is more or less distracting to other congregants if he reigns free or if we try restraining him. Tough call.

Speaking of judgement calls... it is election night and Francois Hollande is delivering his victory speech. Change begins now!

Today's dialogue for the 100 Days Project:

Man buying wine from a Caviste: (something I missed in fast, complex french...)
Me: Pardon, je ne comprends pas. Je parle un peu le francais.
(Sorry, I don't understand. I speak a little French.)
Man: Vous parlez anglais?
(You speak English?)
Me: Oui
Man: I said we will decide tomorrow, Sarko or Hollande. I will wake up in the morning, and then decide.


I'm not sure if he was serious or not. I suspect few would be so uncertain/decided but perhaps I am misunderstanding - it wouldn't be the first/only thing! We did drive past a guy waving his arms and yelling out in celebration on our way home. We asked the men in the Caviste who they thought would win. The Caviste told us that France is historically right-leaning, but that many people are hungry. In my meagre understanding, economic recession tends to push politics to the right, and yet in the 30s it was NZ's first Labour Government that pulled the country out of the hole. Perhaps (or certainly) I cannot safely generalise about these things, but I am curious to see how this will all play out. The focus of every debate is Europe and the economy. In my head Europe is such a big part of the world and yet they make up such a tiny part of a map on a globe. In NZ it is out of place, perhaps, to value Europe over other parts of the world, but here it makes sense. France's prosperity is entirely wrapped up with Europe. And the other way round - France has a responsibility, I guess. Their election is significant to the rest of the world in a way NZ's never is. And it is significant to a lot more people - even only within the country. NZers tend to have a little over-inflated idea of their own importance in the world but I wonder if our tiny-ness isn't a blessing.

Anyway, rant/monologue/indulgence over. Sunday night has started on a trend toward being Chinese take-aways night. During dinner we put on the Election coverage. This is how Louis felt about it...

I suspect he doesn't much like the sound of arguing.

Joyeuses Pâques

A few highlights from our Easter weekend...

Luuk should have all the credit here. He made hot cross buns from scratch - because they're hard/impossible to come by otherwise in France. I just piped on the crosses and did most of the slice/toast/butter/serve-with-coffee duty. They were delicious, if a little less light and fluffy than store-bought ones. But not at all bad for a first go at a baking recipe. (Used Edmonds, btw.)

How the French bake/eat at Easter... well. 

This is the display at the patisser/boulanger/choclatier up the street.

In the middle of this picture are some no-doubt delectable creations that I thought look like Kiwis :)

They're actually chicks, you know, hatched from easter eggs. And some of them are bunnies. 

(What they actually are: pastry stuffed with chocolate mousse, and stacked on top of another, larger, of the same. Then iced.)

On Sunday morning we went to the local catholic church, along with a whole lot of other people. They were standing in the aisles! Fortunately we were on time enough to get a seat. Louis was pretty well behaved considering he was confined to our laps. The service was of course in French but Luuk could follow much of it thanks to his Catholic heritage. I, on the other hand, probably missed quite a bit of the nuance... and, uh, yeah. 

And now, for the perks.

Step 1: pull off the foil in tiny pieces and scatter around the room.

 

Ooh, woah, this is like a party in my mouth. 

Gizza kiss.

What? You don't want kisses? Fine, I'll get back to business then.

Oh no, sugar overload. Business time is over baby.

Till later... (will post a video soon).

Went to our usual church in the evening, which was lovely and comprehensible. I am enjoying the Anglican liturgy and the old-school hymns, not to mention the tiny congregation, where everybody knows your name (or very soon will). I am also appreciating having my mind lifted from the stuff of everyday life and often this lifting seems to give such perspective that I return to the stuff of everyday life refreshed and challenged, and at the same time, with greater peace and capacity for restfulness. Well done, Vicar.

No friday public holiday here, but Luuk had monday off. Weather was lousy... so we watched a few episodes of 'Once Upon a Time' while Louis napped, and then did a big grocery shop. Also got Luuk a few shirts and some new swimming togs, to meet regulations at public swimming pools in France - no 'Bermudas' allowed!! That's right... he'll be wearing something akin to speedoes. We're off to the south of France in a couple of weeks time, with Kiwi friends who are living in London. Sun, sea... and speedoes. Will be taking some very carefully framed photographs, methinks.

One of Luuk's new shirts... purchased at 'Cora' hypermarche, in Massey, just south of Antony. 

Look closely.

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