Yellow. Winter. Women. Work.

Autumn 2011 has been unusually warm and dry on our side of the globe; like a treat to make up for the summer we never had. But with Xmas fast approaching, I'm (sort of, brrrr!) looking forward to colder days. Big woolly sweaters, hot baths, steaming cups of tea, and snuggles on the couch under a warm blanket. There's just something irresistibly charming about winter.

On a completely different note, I thought you might want to know -- since this blog's readership is mainly (if not solely) female -- about this special report on 'Women & Work' in The Economist of this week. The country comparisons are particularly interesting. So what do you say, shall we all pack our bags and move to Scandinavia? 

Bye, bye summer.

And hello autumn. I hardly had time to blink and here you are. Again. Already. I'm never really happy to see you because your arrival means that with the cold winter months are just around the corner. And winters in the north of France are long. Very long. This will be my seventh one and regardless, the damp and cold still get into my bones. But there's a bright side to you, autumn: Indian summers! And it appears that one is just on its way, especially for the weekend. So thank you for being sympathetic and holding off a little while longer on those crisp days and chilly nights. For after two weeks in Greece*, it will be nice to feel the hot sun on my skin again and pretend like summer is not over. At least for now.

Bon weekend!

* photos coming next week.

Siberian summer in Paris.

I am not happy. We are three days away from August and the weather is still cold and grim in Paris. I don't think that summer should be allowed to come and go as it feels. I get it - we are 'paying' for having had such great months of April and May. But that's enough now. We are the end of July and I expect it to be sunny. I am tired of wearing socks, trousers, jackets and scarves, and that the main topic of conversation amongst people is the weather. Damn you people who were smart to take your holidays in July. We've still got a whole month to wait to go anywhere... but then we're off to Greece. Ha, I can't wait. In fact, we'll be booking our hotels&co this weekend so if you have any recommendations, drop me a line. I'd love to hear!

Bon weekend peeps!

Happy first day of summer!

Time to rock those shades, folks!

ps: I've been encountering some technical issues to comments on certain blogs, so if you haven't heard from me in a while, that's why. I hope Blogger will get this fixed very soon! xx

Happy nine-month news.

Aura's summer adventures are so perfectly captured in this fantastic fresh video. Be sure to watch it until the end.
{via Bebek}

August in Paris.

Appart from having to walk 10 minutes every evening to buy my baguette because our local boulangerie is closed, it is blissfully peaceful around here...

Paris Plages 2010.

Ever since I moved to Paris four years ago, I make it a habit (this year was an exception) to not go on holiday in August. Why? Because most (dare I say all!) Parisians are on holiday, making daily life in the city so much more relaxing and enjoyable; it is my favourite time of the year to live here. Some Parisians, however, simply cannot afford to go on holiday which is why the town hall brings summer fun to the city with events such as the Open Air Cinema at parc de la Villette, Cinéma Clair de Lune, Paris Jazz Festival and of course Paris Plages.

Every summer for a month, the two-lane urban expressway on the right bank of the Seine is closed to traffic to create a seaside atmosphere to the city with sand, deck chairs, palm trees, playground areas, water fountains, bars & ice cream parlours. Before it closed yesterday evening, we made our way over there to enjoy a sunny moment on this makeshift beach.

See more of how the river banks come alive here.

English summer holidays.

Part 1 - the south (St. Osyth, Dedham, Flatford, Hastings)

















More photos here.

Cherries & pool.

photo ©LaFranglaise

We enjoyed a taste of summer this weekend.

Pentecôte.

photos © LaFranglaise
What a fabulous bank holiday weekend it has been in Paris. My brother-in-law came to ours for the weekend and gave me a big helping hand with little baby L. (zeu papa still recovering from knee surgery) so I was finally able to have some "me time". I enjoyed a bubble bath, eating sushi, sun bathing in the park, reading magazines, going to the restaurant, and listening to live music. It felt amazing to rediscover these smallest things.

But one of the weekend highlights was probably Nature Capitale, the giant garden installed on the Champs Elysées to celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity. Traffic was diverted from the world's most famous avenue for three days as more than two million visitors explored over 150 varieties of plants covering les Champs. It was so charming to walk this green wonderland and the glorious weather made the event all the more pleasant. Ah, Paris...

Promenade in the city.

©LaFranglaise
There was such a sweet sense of summer in Paris today. My little bambino & I went out bright and early and enjoyed a day long of strolls, sunshine (finally!), art and hidden Parisian jewels. Un vrai délice!

Itinerary: Pigalle, mairie du 9e, Jardins des Tuileries, Concorde, Madeleine, Place Vendôme, Marché St. Honoré, Comédie Francaise (lunch at Iguma), Palais Royal, Les Deux Plateaux (colonnes de Buren), Jardins du Palais Royal, Galeries Colbert & Vivienne, Bourse, Passage Jouffroy, Passage Verdeau, Notre Dame de Lorette, Saint Georges.

Last day of April.

photos © LaFranglaise
Spring 2010 has been good so far.