A huge thank you to everyone who upgraded to a paid subscription last week, which enabled me to donate €250 to Médecins Sans Frontières in support of the important work they do around the world.
Getting my boat licence was on my new years resolutions so on Monday I sat down for 8 hours of theory in rapid-fire French, which was certainly a challenge. Looking back half of my notes are “google this later” and I’ve a few questions to follow up on at my next course but my brain didn’t melt and I now know my bâbord from my tribord. Did you know Mayday comes from the French m’aider (help me) and Pan-Pan comes from je suis en panne (I’ve broken down)?
At the doctor to get a medical certificate signed (to sit my boat licence test) I suddenly burst into tears, realising a few little things that were niggling me had grouped together to be one big thing that was really getting me down. Sometimes a good cry is just what you need to set you right (and sometimes a few prescriptions don’t hurt either). God bless the French medical system! I also had an appointment at the dermatologist to check over my pale skin that has seen more sun than it should over the years and was thrilled to get the all clear. If you’ve got any medical check-ups on your to do list, take this as your sign to book the appointment now!
We celebrated Noisette’s 7th birthday this week and although she looked a little bewildered when the children sung to her at breakfast she appreciated her new ball and chew-stix along with the extra attention. She was rather less impressed with the fact that we gave her a bath but now she’s delightfully soft and allowed back up on our bed so I guess it all evens out.
There was no shortage of amazing food this week and it was worth getting up early to make it to the market for the sweetest strawberries and cherries from the farmer, as well as the regular provisions. I also discovered the secret to making Parisians smile - turns out it’s carrying a ridiculously large bunch of flowers as you walk home.
On Friday night we took our teenager to the Louvre to see some of the treasures in it’s calm rooms, kept cool by a complicated and ingenious system that utilises cold water from the Seine, and we had a delightful time weaving her through our favourite exhibits. It was the perfect end to the week, finished off with crepes eaten on the terrace at Briezh Cafe as the sun slowly set.
It’s not everyday you get to climb onto a tractor in central Paris so we made the most of the opportunity at an event for the Journées Nationales de l'Agriculture, held in the Arènes de Lutèce, an ancient Roman amphitheatre hidden in the 5th arrondissement. While I caught up with a friend the kids roamed around and baked baguettes with patient boulangers, fed sheep, drove tractor simulators and planted green beans to take home, which are now in prime position on the windowsill where they’ll hopefully sprout. The highlight for me though was the firefighters guarding the exits selling their annual raffle tickets, which was the perfect excuse to talk to them.
I spent a lot of time at the flea market over the weekend with two tours out there, sifting through tat to find meaningful purchases. It’s so pleasing when someone finally discovers something they’d been longing for and I picked up a few cute pieces for myself too, including a beautiful oil still life which was the perfect gift for a friends birthday.
Said birthday was held at Golden Poppy, Dominique Crenn’s restaurant in the Fantasie Hotel, a chic gem tucked away in the 9th arrondissement, where we sat in the dim glow of candlelight and enjoyed an array of fresh dishes. It’s closing at the end of the month to reopen in a new direction so I’m looking forward to visiting again in future to see the changes (and try the rooftop bar).
With the weekly round up done I’ve got to be honest, I can’t pretend I’m writing this in a good mood. Europe took to the polls on Sunday and I was incredibly disappointed by the result in France, with the far right making huge gains. With so much going on in the world we need competent and kind leaders, not (redacted for legal) who want to inflame tensions. President Macron then called a snap election in France so we’ll be voting again in 3 weeks, in an election that will shape the future of France for years to come, and I’m very very nervous. If you live in France and are going to be away please make sure you organise a procuration (France doesn’t do postal voting but you can ask someone to vote on your behalf, with the correct paperwork). If you need help with it email me.
Have a great week,
- Emily
Cheese we’re eating this week:
Chaource - a cow’s milk cheese from the Chaource region of France with a soft, slightly crumbly texture.
Halloumi - a salty, squeaky goat’s and sheep’s milk cheese of Cypriot origin that’s wonderful fried and served on salads.
Maroilles - a semi-soft cow's milk cheese from the Picardy region with a very strong scent.
All three cheeses were bought at Fromagerie Saint Vrain at Marché Maubert.
Real Life Paris Photo
This advert for a sports store says “to avoid traffic jams this summer swim via the Seine” 🤣.
Very anxious also about the election results and now the upcoming poll in France. We return to the SW in October. We must all do our best to be brave and positive. Good luck with your boat licence efforts!
As always, I love reading your posts. ❤️❤️❤️ Carry on!