HELLO LONDON!

AU REVOIR

PLAISANTERIES :)

Yesterday, while others were preoccupied with possibly more important matters (namely, the inauguration of France’s 23rd President), I was at Jean Bouin engrossed in the training session, which was full of cheerfulness and high spirits :) (here are more photos, should you be so inclined)

PLUS BELLE À VÉLO

© mairie de paris

Always full of bright new initiatives to make Paris an even nicer place (or maybe they've heard my constant yapping about how great it is to cycle around Paris) from this summer, the Paris Mairie will be hiring out bicycles to all and sundry. Moi, je dis bravo! Just a few things to be careful of: turning left; cycling to Montmartre (uphill all the way); pedestrians who don’t know which way to look to cross the road; Parisian cobblestones.

BIEN-AIMÉ

It may be that you weren’t aware of my slight interest in Notre Dame and its monsters (I ignore the spoilsports who might refer to it as an obsession) but anyway I can tell you it's hard saying my farewells.

ALL GOOD THINGS ..

This being my last week in Paris, I’m finding myself somewhat preocupied with metaphysical thoughts. Indeed, I’ve been wondering whether yatje-blog should even continue to exist since it came into being to cover adventures in Paris. However, being the adventurous spirit that I am, I’m sure they won’t cease once I leave Paris, so positive thoughts: the sun is shining, I’ve spent a very nice last week-end and although Stade played a mediocre match against Perpignan, a 12-11 win is still a win.

LOUVRE

At the Louvre, they're mixing ancient and modern works of art; this one, by Anish Kapoor, is in the antiquités orientales.

TRAINING :)

ÎLE DE LA CITÉ

LITTLE ROBIN

They say that robins are very territorial; this one's mine; or maybe the other way round.

NONOHON

© tomy

In Les Halles, opposite one of my favourite 'chill' places, there is a shop which has a mass of these mesmerising little toys in its window. I’m hoping they get moved soon because with their bright colours, simplistic smiley expressions and large round heads rocking from side to side, they are somewhat distracting ..

WON

52.7% - 47.3%

© bbc

LOST 22-13

© aupabo

A GOOD CITIZEN

© ecologie.gouv

Meanwhile, on this side of the Channel, there is an initiative to teach the pupils to think about their impact on the world and how to take care of their environment. There have been some striking posters produced, of which the one above is my favourite!

THE BRITISH CITIZEN

© wiki

I’m always intrigued to read new things about what it is to be British but I’m also always slightly sceptical when I hear that the government (and Jack Straw does seem to have a bee in his bonnet about this) is planning to introduce “citizenship classes” to promote “Britishness in schools”. Here's a little test: more British navel gazing

FÊTE!

Today is a holiday in France, the weather is superb and we’re celebrating la fête du travail by not working! It’s also Mauro’s birthday but unfortunately, he had to work. Dur, dur d’être rugbyman.