THINGS I WON’T MISS

The list of things I will miss about living in Paris is far too long, so I’ll just give you the other list.

I won’t miss:
- not having a full-length mirror;
- not being able to have a nice chocolate digestive biscuit when I want one;
- mad clarinet-playing neighbour (would’ve at least preferred a 'cellist or a violinist).

Err, and that’s about it really ..

RECENT REMEDIES

© florus

Crab Apple
Kangaroo Paw
Dagger Hakea
Star of Bethlehem
Orange Blossom tea
Several glasses of red wine

I’m coping - just!

MUSEE PICASSO

I’ve been discovering the delights of a new arrondissement – the IIIème – and duly visited the Picasso Museum there. One thing which struck me was the contrast between the old classical building and the art contained within. While not being a great admirer of Picasso’s, I can still appreciate his work and his contribution to art history. I particularly liked the photographs which showed him as an old man, still being creative, painting and making pottery and, of course, I liked the little garden to sit out in!

DORICE

Parisian parks are full of elegant old ladies and one thing I’ve noticed is that whenever I’m sitting quietly on a bench, minding my own business, they often choose to come to sit next to me. Sometimes they just smile, sometimes they just say hello, and sometimes they actually engage me in conversation. Today I met a really charming lady in Place des Vosges and maybe it was because it was a beautifully sunny day and everybody seemed happy or maybe it was because she said to me ‘Vous êtes belle’ (she probably says that to all the girls! But then again, she may have been asking ‘Vous êtes belge?') that made us strike up a conversation. In any case, we spent rather a pleasant afternoon chatting away about the state of world affairs. So to all those old ladies of Paris who are my bench buddies – henceforth known as Dorice – don't lose your esprits jeunes!

YATJE-BLOG IS ONE TODAY!

Exactly one year ago, I sat down to begin yatje-blog with the words:

“Well it’s the end of the main rugby season and my favourite team, Stade Français, suffered a very hard blow the other week-end – they lost the final of the Top 16. Two weeks before this they lost the final of the H-Cup. So I’ve begun this blog to take my mind off these indigestible facts and to stop myself moping about and generally getting on everyone’s nerves.”

Plus ça change! Words like ‘final’, ‘Top 16’ and ‘begun’ might change but the sentiments remain the same.

This year the news is that Italy lost against Fiji 29-18 and England were thoroughly whooped by Australia 43-18. Possession is not 9/10ths of the win, unfortunately.

So yatje-blog and I are one year older, yet not necessarily wiser about this life! But happy anniversary us!

MIRCO BERGAMASCO CAPITANO DEGLI AZZURRI!

© FIR

And it’s also not every day that you read on the Federazione Italiana Rugby that Mirco is going to be captain of the team for the forthcoming game against Fiji! Go Mirco!

GUESS WHO'S BACK?

Well, it’s not every day you get an email which begins with the words: “J'ai le plaisir de vous annoncer que …” but these words mean that my contract has been renewed and I AM COMING BACK TO PARIS NEXT YEAR! I can’t tell you how over the moon I am, especially as recently, while packing up under a cloud of uncertainty, I’ve felt like I would be saying goodbye to Paris forever. But now I’ll spend a delightful summer in England and then I’ll be back!

PONT DES ARTS

Summer has finally arrived in Paris and it seems that one of 'THE THINGS TO DO’ is gather for a picnic on Pont des Arts. No sooner suggested than done. And well worth repeating!

TOP 14 FINAL

© bo-pb

In France, it’s not enough to play the whole season and come top of the Table, you have to play a semi-final and then a final to prove that you really are good enough. And yesterday Biarritz proved that they really are the top team in France as they met Toulouse in the Final under the baking Paris sunshine. The Biarritz of the second half was unrecognisable from the first as they ran in try after try, with Toulouse just looking completely bewildered.

So it’s the end of the season in France but never fear, there’s always the summer (and autumn) internationals to look forward to! Today: England against Australia!

Oh and by the way, earlier today Italy beat Japan 52-6 with some tries from Mirco!

THE ORANGERIE

© orangerie

Yaaaay! I’ve finally made it into the newly-restored Orangerie museum. It’s been closed for the past six years for refurbishment and to re-arrange the space in order to show off Monet’s ‘Nymphéas’ to their best effect, as the artist wanted. My only grumble is that the (four!) Modigliani’s are not in their best position, being hung as they are on the entrance wall to one room but it’s definitely well worth the wait to see them!

EN VELO

Well, there’s nothing like a good cycle round this beautiful city to restore the spirits. The guidebooks all say that cycling in Paris is horrible, a nightmare, to be avoided at all cost, and okay I’m still mastering the art of cutting across lanes of traffic in order to turn left, but I can say in all honesty that I’ve never had any problems with Parisian car drivers who have disproved national stereotypes and been very courteous to me (maybe if I were in a car, it would be a different matter). The city is even kind enough to close certain roads to traffic each Sunday and on Bank Holidays and so pedestrians, rollerbladers and cyclists are free to roam unhindered by the Seine. C’est magnifique!

HEARTBROKEN

© AFP

So the semi-final between Stade Français and Stade Toulousain has been played and lost. For a match so much dominated by SF, it’s hard to believe they won't be in the Final next week. In the end it came down to the kicking game and when you have a kicker on form like Frédéric Michalak … Oh well, good job it’s only a game ;p

THE FIRST STEP

Beloved tutor has bought me something very special as a goodbye present: a float. You may be wondering what’s so special about this but it does in fact represent the first step in my learning to swim. So after practising the movements on dry land comes the next essential thing: the water .... gulp.