Memories of lunch during my time as a pre-schooler are full of warm bottles of milk (not a good memory) and the sound of little glass bottles banging together as trolley rattled down the corridor delivering from one classroom to the next.  To this day, I just cannot bring myself to pour a glass of milk and drink it down.  Soon after the milk it would be time to head home for a simple sandwich. 

Thinking about that milk trolley makes me feel soooo old.  Comparing it to lunch here in France, both at home and at the school cantine,  where a meal is never less than three courses - starter, main and dessert, cheese and bread an option if desired, those days of milk and sandwiches leave me feeling like Laura Ingles. 

Tuesday chez nous is a day to skip out on the cantine, home to eat and then onto an activity to work on English.  Today's lunch finished off in style and left two happy 4.5year olds many years away from milk trolleys. Now off to work on that English.

What about you, how is your Tuesday going?

After a late movie yesterday evening, returning home the sky was beautiful, clear and full of stars.  At this time of year, when grey clouds dominate, little things like star filled skies make an impact. 

Upon awakening this morning, the sky was again clear.  A wonderful shade of blue.  There was sunshine.  To much suprise, there was also a layer of snow!  As I started tapping these words, snow started to fall again.  As quickly as it started, there was a return to blue skies and warm sunshine beaming through the windows. 

Scurrying out earlier in the morning to take a couple of photos, I didn't want to miss the wonderful sunshine.  On the odd occassion the sun disappeared behind the clouds, everything turned to winter.  When it came out again, the blues and golden shades radiated.  Pulling me away from taking photos, my little companion called me over to see what she was discovering in the snow and to proudly show me this message. Adorable!

Dans ses écrits, Platon a laissé des notes sur l'Atlantide. Il a évoqué un paradis idyllique; une société hautement civilisée dans un état d'utopie, inconnue et intacte, qui aurait coulé dans l'océan au cours d'un violent tremblement de terre.

Oserais-je aller contre l'un des grands philosophes de l'histoire et prétendre que ce grand sage se serait trompé? Pourquoi, mais oui, je l’affirme. Jamais ce paradis n’a-t-il coulé, ce paradis n’est pas inconnu. Je l’ai découvert et Platon, dis-je, vous aviez tort!

La première fois où le vol Iberia pencha son aile, j’eu un aperçu de son point culminant. Cela à suffit pour aiguiser ma curiosité, mais m’a aussi laissé un peu perplexe. Des paysages désertiques ont rempli la fenêtre, loin de l'image que je m’étais évoqué de l’île. En descendant de l'avion dans un éclat de chaleur aride, je remettais déjà en cause la décision de changement radical de vie que j'avais prise. Aurais-je perdu la tête, me demandais-je,  en considérant l'abandon de ma belle Sydney? Pourquoi, mais pourquoi? Où étaient les cocotiers? Les serveurs et leurs bols de fruits tropicaux? La non-stop piña colada à la piscine?  read the full story

English version

How hard, better still, how funny can it be to try and say thumb?

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After so much white of late, the sunshine was a welcome change today.  With the sunshine, came colour.

Vivre. 

Seemed like a great word for the day. 

I passed the afternoon in the company of my little princess. Just the two of us. Just the girls.

Hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, cuddles and giggles.  We wandered the streets of Versailles, holding hands, stopping to buy a baguette and a FAB-U-LOUS apple and almond Gallette des Rois at the boulangerie Darras.

We took photos of all sorts of things covered in snow and amused ourselves finding words to snap.  We found VIVRE on the wall of a beautiful store and couldn't resist adding it to our collection as it was all about what we were doing.

Happy Sunday.

I've been madly sorting photos, converting favourites to my beloved Poladroid and putting them here. I converted this one and love it for so many reasons.  The colour, those gorgeous balloons and la grande dame, herself.  It brings back all the times we've passed the Tour Eiffel and I've heard the delight coming from behind me in the car.  Those evenings when it is sparkling and oh so magical.  And, it reminds me of the day the photo was taken, when we had a picnic with wonderful friends, lots of children and celebrated International Peace Day.

....and so it was.

Day two of our week of Galette des rois and I should have waited to take the photo until after I'd followed the instructions. Layers of light buttery filo pastry, filled with a chocolate centre that was so thick and soft.

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Comment réchauffer votre galette?

- Chauffer le four à 180° (th 7)

- Eteindre le four et mettre la galette 5 minutes pour la tiédir.

BONNE DEGUSTATION

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Having heated and waited, it looked so good, far too tempting so no chance to reach for the camera. 

This one may well have been worth a revisit.

It starts with a 'P'...and ends with a 'D'.

sssssshhh, whisper please.....

Poladroid.

Yes, the snow arrived here in France.  Off to take more photos....

Welcome to my winter wonderland...

the reflection of lights from Christmas sparkle in their little eyes,

they count the sleeps till he'll slip in and out,

they filled this house this morning will giggles of delight.

Walking into school they scooped snow balls,  before they scampered off with a kiss.

Pure, magical, innocent.