Monday was a surprise (to me) public holiday which worked out perfectly as a friend and her kids were visiting so we headed to LouLou for lunch al fresco, which was exactly as expected: hard to book, gorgeous location and setup, attentive staff asking directly how much you’d like to tip (unheard of in France) and very expensive yet slightly underwhelming food. Would I go again? Sure.
We followed up with a little spin around the Seine, fruitlessly trying to catch up on each other’s lives over the the roar of the diesel engines and the endless requests from our kids for cookies, juice, water and attention as we glided past the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and other monuments in a smooth loop right back to where we started.
I had a few bits and bobs cut off my face this week (wear sunscreen!) which meant anaesthesia anxiety and I shed a few tears in the operating room, to which the nurse kindly replied “il ne faut pas madame” which basically translates to “don’t.” I can’t sum up life in France any better than that. On the upside a man who occasionally annoys me at work asked what happened to my face (there are stitches and bruises dotted about) so I looked him dead in the eyes and told him “I’ve been fighting” while holding his gaze just long enough for him to doubt whether I was joking.
I was lucky enough to join an early morning tour of the David Hockney exhibition at Foundation Louis Vuitton where I admired new work and revisited old favourites. It was a riot of colour as per usual and I left feeling remarkably cheery. Worth the trek out to the Bois de Boulogne.
There’s nothing I welcome less than being added to yet another WhatsApp group for a single event so I try and send individual messages, or better yet physical invitations, for things but we ran out of time for my daughter’s birthday party so I muttered “you either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain” to myself as I assembled an unsuspecting online crowd.
On the day I pulled out my failsafe tricks of face painting and twisting budget Jeff Koons balloon dogs to entertain the kids, we smashed a piñata, everyone ate too much candy and I’m ashamed to admit I bought the cake for the first time in 10 years of parenting, which was a complete fail as on top of the self-imposed guilt I made a terrible selection and the kids hated it.
French Children’s Birthday Parties
In preparation for my daughter’s upcoming birthday party I realised I’ve thrown a few now and have become accustomed to the differences compared to more anglo style children’s parties and appreciate the low key vibe here, held at home or in the local park, where the kids are left to play with their friends without much interference.
To round out a busy weekend Sunday was Father’s Day so we had pancakes for breakfast and a fancy lunch complete with cake, then had to divide and conquer to attend numerous parties all over town for young and old, reuniting only once the sun was down.
Have a great week,
- Emily
For anyone coming to France soon I have some things to share with you:
21st June is both the Fête de la Musique (a wild, citywide party all night) and the open day at the fire station in the 6th arrondissement which is free, open to all and so much fun for kids. Get there at 10am when it opens for the best chance of climbing ladders and directing the hoses.
My friends who live in the chicest country house I’ve ever visited, Chateau de Crepan, (which I wrote about here, but am due to do a full post on) just launched their new website and it’s honestly the most lovely place in all of France to visit. Please check it out and book a trip for yourself to go wild swimming in the stream, admire the runner ducks, forage in the forest or just relax with their gorgeous dogs Polly & Vesper. Say I sent you and they’ll give you a discount (not an affiliate program, just nice to share).
You sent such brilliant recipes last week for those sour cherries (thank you!) that I was paralysed for choice so preserved them in a little sugar syrup and eventually served them with an enormous bowl of
’s chocolate mousse. Recipe here.
Real Life Paris Photo
Not sure if they were doing repairs or washing the windows but they all looked very relaxed.
Just got back to London from Paris - and boy was it hot! That said, nothing is better than summertime in Paris when you are forced to slow down and enjoy. Stayed on Rue du Bac, which is now my new fav corner of town.
Definitely, sunscreen tous les jours! I hope you heal quickly with no scars.