Promenade

Pure mountain air, blue skies, trees and nothing to do but go for a walk. Can't beat it.

Police bus in Paris

The police in Paris have a bus! Yes, a bus. A real public transportesque bus. 

Now that's très cool.

Crêpilicious!

Right, I know I have already talked about the gorgeously wonderful versatile foodstuffs that are crêpes in a previous post, but as it was recently Shrove Tuesday (or mardi gras as it's called in French) I had to make some more. I had to, it would have been rude not to.

So, to spice things up a bit I recorded, well photographed, the whole process from start to finish. For those 'Shake to Make' addicts out there you will see how easy it is to make them yourself.... and therefore avoiding spending an obscene amount of money on some kind of half-arsed lazy alternative.

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Le Word of the Day: Godasse

Godasse (noun feminin): Shoe (derived from the word 'Godillot')

Travelling back in time to the mid 1800's, a chap called Alexis Godillot was living it up as a prosperous Army Supplier. He supplied many things including tents and saddles, but is most well known for manufacturing the ankle boot called the 'Godillot'.

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Flat offer falls flat...if only we did it like the French

Our flat is on the market. On Monday a chap put in an offer, then decided the next day to come back for another (3rd) viewing with his mother. This rang alarm bells - why would you come back the day after making an offer? Was he really serious? Despite assuring the estate agent that he was, I remained uncertain. Bringing you mother to view a flat which you have already viewed twice, and that both you and your girlfriend 'really liked' is a little odd. We all know how parents can be: interfering and opinionated (and...always right!), and how influenced children can be by said relatives.

So, on hearing the news of another viewing avec maman, we reined in our excitement about the prospect of potentially moving to the country sooner than we'd hoped... And we were right to do so, two days later we get a call from the estate agent - apparently the chap retracted his offer because despite that fact that he and his girlfriend still liked it, mummy thought the bedroom wasn't quite big enough, and that the flat itself is too close to the Emirates Stadium. We are on a road which stays surprisingly quiet when it's match day (plus, I don't mind the proximity and I HATE football... and my boyfriend is a Man United fan).

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Le Word of the Day: Internaute

The internaute (noun): French for someone who uses the internet.

As far as I am aware, the English language does not entertain a word which describes those who use the internet. We should have one. Not because anything the French can do we can do better, but simply because English is missing a very handy little word.

In French someone who watches la télévision is know as a téléspectateur.

Someone who uses the l'internet is a internaute.

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Les Faits: Saucisson Sec

Ah, saucisson sec... one of the many delicious foods that are associated with France. This sausage is truly one of France's greats, up there with the good 'ole crusty baguette, a ripe brie and a sumptuous Bordeaux.

This is really a versatile sausage: it keeps for ages (it can also be frozen), can be easily transported (great for those long walks) and comes in so many different flavours. On any self-respecting French market you'll find a spectacular array of 'saucisson sec avec...' almost any ingredient under the sun.

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Fromage and Crêpes... but not together (this time!)

Now, I have been back here for, what, 3 whole days and I have to say that I am already craving (or suffering withdrawal from) cheese.

Cheese on toast Monday lunchtime has done little to curb this desire, and to top it off, what do I stumble upon on Twitter his morning? A delicious recipe for a Reblochon Fondue, this looks wonderful (and I'm saying this at 9.30am). However, after last week's cheese eating adventure, I'm not sure my body is ready for such extreme cheese eating again so soon.

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Lovely Annecy & Cool Paris

Last week we went on holiday. I had a lovely time - it's always a pleasure going to France. I ate well ('well' meaning I ate a LOT of cheese, bread and pain au chocolat...not a healthy 'well') and drank a modest (ha ha) amount of house red, white or whatever they were willing to give us really.

We travelled down by train - Eurostar to Paris, then TGV to Annecy. We decided to do this all on the same day, but it was much nicer when we did the return journey and broke it up with a night in lovely Paris (where we broke free from the fromage, and switched to steak frites instead...).

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