We have tickets for the Eiffel Tower!! Daughter #2 had some questions. When I told her that Gustave Eiffel had his own office in the tower until his death, she asked "Great, can we see it? I want to check for old chewing gum under his desk!"
Great advice from a local: "Spend your money on breakfast and lunch in Paris because they are special. Dinners are like dinners anywhere."
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Friday, 2 July 2010
Paris and Google earth
Some days nostalgia grips me.
I think how cool it might be to go back in time and live somewhere/when else.
Not today though.
Today I booked an apartment in Paris for my holiday and found it on google earth straight away. I love the street view option but have really only used it to check out how the tenants are looking after our house in Oz until now.
I now know that the apartment is in a very Parisian looking building in a gorgeous street above a chocolate shop! What more could one ask? If one wanted some great looking shops,restaurants and bars nearby, one could not be happier! All this in the 6th arrondisement.
The best bit though is knowing that I will recognise it when we pull up in a taxi or walk from the metro. These moments can be fraught with difficulty when jetlagged with children in tow.
How did people ever book holidays without the internet?
I can't wait to drag the kids through the Louvre and up the Eiffel tower. My parents did the same thing to me when I was 6 and I've never forgotten sitting in a cafe opposite Maxim's falling in love with a gorgeous waiter who looked like Boris Becker. Maybe it would be fun to go back in time! For most of that trip, my older sister and I were dressed in matching outfits beautifully handmade by our mother but very 70's. I will never forget the dresses made from a cream cotton dotted with little flowers paired with brown cord vests and brown velvet hair ribbons!!!!
A bientot!
I think how cool it might be to go back in time and live somewhere/when else.
Not today though.
Today I booked an apartment in Paris for my holiday and found it on google earth straight away. I love the street view option but have really only used it to check out how the tenants are looking after our house in Oz until now.
I now know that the apartment is in a very Parisian looking building in a gorgeous street above a chocolate shop! What more could one ask? If one wanted some great looking shops,restaurants and bars nearby, one could not be happier! All this in the 6th arrondisement.
The best bit though is knowing that I will recognise it when we pull up in a taxi or walk from the metro. These moments can be fraught with difficulty when jetlagged with children in tow.
How did people ever book holidays without the internet?
I can't wait to drag the kids through the Louvre and up the Eiffel tower. My parents did the same thing to me when I was 6 and I've never forgotten sitting in a cafe opposite Maxim's falling in love with a gorgeous waiter who looked like Boris Becker. Maybe it would be fun to go back in time! For most of that trip, my older sister and I were dressed in matching outfits beautifully handmade by our mother but very 70's. I will never forget the dresses made from a cream cotton dotted with little flowers paired with brown cord vests and brown velvet hair ribbons!!!!
A bientot!
Thursday, 1 July 2010
OMG
School is over, getting ready for a holiday and down a maid. How am I going to write, study for my French test, find a decent apartment in Paris, write...?
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Bad fish photos
So what does it all mean? It is something to ponder as one sails through life. Every time I get close to some sort of meaningful truth it sails away from me. Thank goodness. What a relief that I didn’t figure it all out years ago and then make myself a nice comfortable rut with that knowledge and stay there forever more.
There is a tall Caucasian man sitting with his young Thai son opposite me. I expect his truth and meaning is the toddler sitting next to him at Starbucks. Something life has gifted him. To the expensively dressed happy Thai teenagers vacating their table against the wall, perhaps belonging to their crowd and grabbing the most comfortable squishy couch in the café is their current gift, as they are to their indulgent parents. Of course I could have their ages completely wrong. It’s hard to tell here. They might be 40.
Today I finally spent some time in the aquarium at Siam, by myself. Pas enfants. Mai luk sow.
It was an artist’s date a la Julia Cameron that I thought of doing ages ago. I took lots of photos, spoke to no one and wrote a brief entry in my journal whilst watching jelly fish sway gently to classical music. I really enjoyed not having to spend half an hour stationed outside the play area.
My favourite fish is this one.
He definitely needs a name. I’m thinking George or possibly Henry. He is the most handsome fish I have ever seen. Every time I visit the aquarium I look out for him. When he plays dead, I get nervous that he actually is this time. This was my second visit to the aquarium since Paragon reopened after the red shirt protests and I have noticed a difference. The fish are more responsive, eager for attention. They must have missed us! George was very animated and would not stay still for a decent photo. He used to spend our visits hiding in the coral.
This one is my second favourite after George.
I adore his fashionable dalmation spots. He wouldn’t keep still either.
In between the hordes of school children tearing around excitedly, it was peaceful. Even the busy hum of voices on the ground floor of Paragon can be peaceful. How strange.
Am currently reading "The Third Wave" by Alvin Toffler and "Crime" by Irvine Welsh.
There is a tall Caucasian man sitting with his young Thai son opposite me. I expect his truth and meaning is the toddler sitting next to him at Starbucks. Something life has gifted him. To the expensively dressed happy Thai teenagers vacating their table against the wall, perhaps belonging to their crowd and grabbing the most comfortable squishy couch in the café is their current gift, as they are to their indulgent parents. Of course I could have their ages completely wrong. It’s hard to tell here. They might be 40.
Today I finally spent some time in the aquarium at Siam, by myself. Pas enfants. Mai luk sow.
It was an artist’s date a la Julia Cameron that I thought of doing ages ago. I took lots of photos, spoke to no one and wrote a brief entry in my journal whilst watching jelly fish sway gently to classical music. I really enjoyed not having to spend half an hour stationed outside the play area.
My favourite fish is this one.
He definitely needs a name. I’m thinking George or possibly Henry. He is the most handsome fish I have ever seen. Every time I visit the aquarium I look out for him. When he plays dead, I get nervous that he actually is this time. This was my second visit to the aquarium since Paragon reopened after the red shirt protests and I have noticed a difference. The fish are more responsive, eager for attention. They must have missed us! George was very animated and would not stay still for a decent photo. He used to spend our visits hiding in the coral.
This one is my second favourite after George.
I adore his fashionable dalmation spots. He wouldn’t keep still either.
In between the hordes of school children tearing around excitedly, it was peaceful. Even the busy hum of voices on the ground floor of Paragon can be peaceful. How strange.
Am currently reading "The Third Wave" by Alvin Toffler and "Crime" by Irvine Welsh.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Amazing what you can do with a netbook
Well the saga of our aircon and various other problems continues. Not only did I have many repairmen through our apartment today, I also had a sick 4 year old. Normally this would mean no writing, but because I can take my netbook everywhere I still got plenty of work done. I wrote lying next to my sick little girl with my netbook propped up on my tummy as well as when we were snuggled up watching Barbie movies. I've always wanted to be one of those people who could write anywhere and suddenly I am :-)
A friend told me about this http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php and it is REALLY helping, so thanks to them !
A friend told me about this http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php and it is REALLY helping, so thanks to them !
Thursday, 10 June 2010
New Netbook and repair men
I am revelling in the (relative) peace and quiet of an apartment empty of children and guests whilst trying to increase my writing output.
Our apartment is full of workmen, once again, but the latest ceiling emergency seems to be over. Today the many holes in the ceiling (5 big ones at the last count) are being filled in. The atmosphere is one of happy industry, rather than the baffled panic of the last few days.
(Not to mention the desperate search by technicians for a scapegoat, ie;
-our maid for not cleaning inside the ceiling vents(!)
-us for running the air conditioning too much)
Oh god I can hear the sound of sawing in the study.
Turns out that the water draining from the AC units had to travel up hill due to a curious installation feature, hence the many soggy patches in our ceiling. So it wasn't our fault then :-)
All fixed now though.
I spent the morning at my favourite cafe playing with my new Inspiron mini netbook. Actually got work done too. My new toy is turning out to be a huge help. Worked on a short story- the third one this week I think.
I am really enjoying French class at the moment. Had a fun tuk tuk ride home from class which made me consider again how rich my life is here.
Today I am in love with Bangkok.
Our apartment is full of workmen, once again, but the latest ceiling emergency seems to be over. Today the many holes in the ceiling (5 big ones at the last count) are being filled in. The atmosphere is one of happy industry, rather than the baffled panic of the last few days.
(Not to mention the desperate search by technicians for a scapegoat, ie;
-our maid for not cleaning inside the ceiling vents(!)
-us for running the air conditioning too much)
Oh god I can hear the sound of sawing in the study.
Turns out that the water draining from the AC units had to travel up hill due to a curious installation feature, hence the many soggy patches in our ceiling. So it wasn't our fault then :-)
All fixed now though.
I spent the morning at my favourite cafe playing with my new Inspiron mini netbook. Actually got work done too. My new toy is turning out to be a huge help. Worked on a short story- the third one this week I think.
I am really enjoying French class at the moment. Had a fun tuk tuk ride home from class which made me consider again how rich my life is here.
Today I am in love with Bangkok.
Friday, 16 April 2010
New writing software; too much to do?
I had a lovely week at Dolphin Bay over Songkran.
On this trip, we actually saw dolphins in the bay.They were pink.
We fed the monkeys on monkey island, relaxed, and missed the worst of the protests.
I did no writing whatsoever.
The children go back to school on monday and this term I am looking forward to:
- organising a routine around my writing
- playing around with new writing software.
I have just downloaded the demo version of from here: http://www.writerscafe.co.uk/ after seeing it mentioned here http://bookworm-megs.blogspot.com/search?q=writer%27s+cafe
-fixing some bits of chapter 3
- getting further along with my course and my first draft
- working out some holes in the plot
- buying a netbook
- planning our next holiday (London, Paris and Ireland!!)Yay!
- getting fitter (did 50 laps on thursday!)
- starting a new term of French lessons
- having a massive throw out
- reading my favourite blogs
- cooking
- reading and book club
- last but not least, our first proper writer's group meeting!
Here is one of the cheeky monkeys on Monkey Island:
On this trip, we actually saw dolphins in the bay.They were pink.
We fed the monkeys on monkey island, relaxed, and missed the worst of the protests.
I did no writing whatsoever.
The children go back to school on monday and this term I am looking forward to:
- organising a routine around my writing
- playing around with new writing software.
I have just downloaded the demo version of from here: http://www.writerscafe.co.uk/ after seeing it mentioned here http://bookworm-megs.blogspot.com/search?q=writer%27s+cafe
-fixing some bits of chapter 3
- getting further along with my course and my first draft
- working out some holes in the plot
- buying a netbook
- planning our next holiday (London, Paris and Ireland!!)Yay!
- getting fitter (did 50 laps on thursday!)
- starting a new term of French lessons
- having a massive throw out
- reading my favourite blogs
- cooking
- reading and book club
- last but not least, our first proper writer's group meeting!
Here is one of the cheeky monkeys on Monkey Island:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)