words, don't come easy

This image of the shopfront of Repetto in Paris has a tenuous link to the following post - but it's so pretty! I'll be stopping by that store to buy a keepsake for my pretty ballerina when we're in Paris next year... {and now for the segue...} where I shall be speaking fluently thanks to my Alliance Francais lessons.

Ha!

Last night was my second lesson and while I'm still bamboozled by how much is crammed into two hours, I'm starting to gain more of an understanding of the French language. In the past I've tried to learn French for travellers - through books, tapes and most recently, my iPod. But the problem here is that French for Travellers requires rote learning - not one of my special skills. However, with the Alliance Francais I'm learning to speak French - not translate English words and phrases to French - huge difference!

The beginner's course will run for a year, over four terms, and then next year it's onto continuing beginners, then intermediate, then advanced. Long-term commitment huh. But I'm excited by the challenge. I'm starting to understand the vowel sound and where they appear. I now understand how to break up words into syllables and think I've already grasped a few of the basics. Show me a french word now and I'll have a pretty good shot at pronouncing it.

Last night the teacher even directed two "Parfait" in my direction at my pronunciation {perfect, obviously being the highest level of praise!} but I also got a few "non, non, NON!" and corrections with a wry chuckle and a shake of the head. So far my brain's remembering around 80 per cent of the rules - which is an astonishing achievement for someone who hasn't studied for such a long time. But our teacher's aiming for 100 per cent - so I'll do my best.

We have homework every day which I'm devouring like the girly swat I am. And I'm listening to French music such as the parfait Emilie Simon. Better watch out, I'll be checking out the French News before long...

vale

Mr Alexander McQueen, may you rest in peace.

one thousand one hundred and eleven

I am v excited as this is my 1111th post. How cool is that number? So to celebrate, here are some glorious David Austin roses. If you love roses, please, please, please buy yourself a David Austin for your garden. They're gorgeous, they're usually beautifully scented and the range is incredible.

We've got quite a few in our garden: the rich, yellow Graham Thomas {with the lavender border in front}, a delicate peachy pink Heritage {two of those flank our front gate}, rich red Tess of the D'Urbervilles and the gloriously blowsy pink Gertrude Jeckyl.

These are balanced with a very old rose - Duchess de Brabant - the most delicate pink blooms you'll ever see and a bush that never needs trimming {and even thought I'm two blocks from the beach it's never seen a touch of black spot!}. We've only got one traditional hybrid tea - the stunning red Mr Lincoln - so deep that its blossoms almost appear black and with a perfume so heady it makes you swoon as you brush by.

Oh, and I should also be celebrating my blogiversary - which fell on Monday - and I forgot. Damn, such a slack blogger... Anyway, happy blogiversary to me! Two years huh? That's gone quickly...

not want, NEED

This is not my bathroom, but can anyone give me a damned fine reason as to why it shouldn't be?

prom pretties

Ahhh, who doesn't love a fluffy frock? These pretties are going to help me get through the day - hopefully. My gal had her netball grading day yesterday and I foolishly put my hand up to umpire the games while they were grading. An hour and a half later I finally had a chance to rest. Being the sole umpire is tough, there's a lot of running up and down the court and behind the goals. But doing so when you're wearing a skirt and an old pair of havaianas is torture. Today I'm hobbling around like a 90-year-old. Remind me to sit on my hand the next time they call for volunteers...

excitement's building

Of course I'll use any excuse to post a pic of this gorgeous woman, but guess what I just found out? Apparently Christian Siriano is working on costume design on Eloise in Paris. I KNOW!

I loved him soooooooo much in Project Runway, loved what he did with this magnificent frock for Christina - and can't wait to see his creations for this film.

By the way, when I told my daughter the news about the film there was squeeling, little claps, a dance of joy and some tears. That's my girl...

j'adore

This afternoon I shall be making my child's day by informing her that a filmic version of Eloise in Paris is to be released this year. Squeeeeeee. We love the stories of Eloise - a girl who lives in the New York Plaza with her Nahnee and pets Weenee and Skiperdee. Her favourite food is Filet Mignon and her clothing Dior and she's always utterly fabulous. Two years ago for bookweek my gal donned a pressed white blouse, pinafore, scruffled her hair and slipped on long socks and mary janes in homage to this sweet gal...

Now, the thing that's got me confused is that the eternally glamorous Uma Thurman is playing Nahnee {a role previously assumed by the more squishy Julie Andrews...}. Now, Uma as the ever-absent, always-uber-chic Mother, that I get - but the Nanny? We'll see. C'mon, the film's set in Paris what's not to love?

belle fleurs

We have a wee space to fill in our garden at the moment and I'm leading the call for a hydrangea. These extravagant blooms look fabulous when they're out, adorable when they fade and also offer rich, verdant foliage - that ticks enough boxes for me! And don't these ones look divine spilling over and through the fence? Perfection.

minimalist? moi?

No matter how much I declutter, tidy, clean and purge I'll never be a minimalist. I need something to show a room's lived-in. This room here is pretty, but it makes me kinda nervous. I'd need to shower before sitting on those pristine white covers, and then I'm sure I'd leave grotty wrinkles when I stood up... For me, minimalist doesn't equal zen - it just makes me think of cleaning. And I've got far more important things to think about than cleaning...

floral fabulosity

Sun protection would be positively covetable with a hat like this would it not? I'm a sucker for blowsy blooms and floppy hats - combined? C'est magnifique!

mmmmm miu miu

Luckily, no matter how bizarre the fashion, there are always a pretty pair of shoes to delight my senses. I always fall hard for a bow, particularly when it's combined with a peep-toe, so no wonder these shoes easily won the title of shoe of the week.

Enjoy your Monday my lovelies x

snap happy sunday

Every photograph I've ever seen by Tim Walker makes me smile. His eye for colour and the ridiculous takes his work into another realm. I need to do a little spring cleaning today, so I'm going to hold this pretty image in my head and whistle while I work...

here piggy piggy

Last night's dinner was beyond sublime. We chose the degustation menu at Bacchus, Newcastle's most gorgeous restaurant, and were both enraptured. We started with a seared tuna amuse bouche, moved onto a poached quail egg with mushrooms a la greche, then it was local snapper, followed by a sublime duck breast on a bed of puy lentils and lentil puree.

I was pretty sure that the meal reached its zenith at that point. Honestly, the duck breast was cooked sous vide which made it achingly tender and beautifully rare. The lentils were spicy and added the perfect accompaniment - oh, and I can't forget the duck 'oysters' {remember that scene in Amelie where the guy shows that the chicken oysters are the best part? Well, same goes for duck}. Mmmmm.

Then our palate was cleansed with pineapple sorbet with baby coriander. Mmmmmmm.

Well, so as I was sitting there, sipping wine, chatting with my beloved and feeling pretty positive that I'd reached the peak of culinary excellence the pork plate came out. Excuse me while I take a second to compose myself... Oh my. There was an amazing pile of ham hock, so exquisitely spiced and flavoured that it took my breath away, a piece of pork shoulder so rich and deep that my mouth was pretty sure it'd died and gone to heaven. Think that's the peak? No way. There was the pork pie. Good lord, the pork pie. Pastry so thin, so light and so dense with flavours encased the most delicious pork meat I've ever eaten... Divine. Accompanied by a white bean puree, white bean foam {not that silly light fluff - but light, exquisite essence of beans} and a pork scratching that snapped in my mouth and filled it with porky deliciousness. I nearly cried while eating it as it was just so damned delicious.

I can still taste it...

Then a muscat creme brulee came out and set my heart a-fluttering. Creme brulee is my favourite pudding and I was worried that the muscat would overpower the delicate custard. Which, as the chef is obviously a genius, it didn't. It enriched and infused the custard with the most extraordinary flavour - so much so that I finished every last mouthful, expecting to be rolled out.

Then, a tray of six petit fours were placed beside us. A wee chocolate truffle, a rich butterscotch caramel and a perfect lemon meringue pie. Divine.

It was a complete dining experience from the surroundings in an old theatre, exquisitely reworked as a restaurant to the professional, friendly and attentive staff.

It didn't come cheap - but it was worth every single cent.

happy weekend

With the minute-hand creeping ever-closer to champagne o'clock it really feels like the weekend doesn't it? I'd like to spend a little time tidying my study this weekend. This year I'd love to have some floor-to-ceiling bookshelves installed, but until that beloved moment arrives I might settle for a good tidy and throw out.

I've spent the day cleansing in preparation for tonight's dinner - tuna salad sandwich for lunch, a ramekin of watermelon for afternoon tea... I want myself to be prepared for a real gastronomic experience. Please let there be pork or duck on the menu - or should I go for something completely different? You know me, always up for a new experience.

How about you and what you've got on for the weekend?

wooo hue

Those who've known me for a while will realise that I love colour combos that provide a sharp contrast. Today I have deep purple toenails and scarlet fingernails - and it's making me happy. That's why I love what Lauren Conrad is wearing. For a start, that coat is quite possibly the prettiest thing I've ever seen and winter-wear in a summery hue is always a fabulous statement. When it's combined with a slash of scarlet lips it topples over into seriously delicious status. And let's not even start about the scarlet soles on those black Louboutin pumps...

Well, I had my first Alliance Francais lesson last night and let me tell you how glad I am that I went with beginners rather than continuing beginners class. I learned bucketloads in two hours - including how to break french words into syllables {after the verb!} and how to pronounce every sound. It was a mixed bag of a class - with only one annoying woman who chose to pronounce every word as the teacher was saying rather than afterwards {you know, cos she knew how...} Distracting, but I concentrated on watching the teacher's mouth and tried to block this woman out.

I feel mighty confident that my pronunciation is going to be kick-ass - now if only I can get my befuddled brain to remember new things I'll be fine.

Tonight we're off to snazzy restaurant. It keeps raining off and on so I'm a little scared to bust my Manolos out of the box. Maybe my husband can do some kind of gallant plastic carpet laying in a path to the restaurant for me...

I'll be missing Come Dine With Me tonight so I'll need to record it. If James Brown comes last I'll cry - seriously, that man needs to become my best friend stat. Love him! This weekend's stretching out without a huge amount of plans again. I'm going to get back into entertaining soon - I've got one gorgeous family I really owe an invitation to but she's such an amazing cook I need to find a menu I know will delight her... Maybe I could get out the cookbooks to search for inspiration this weekend!

dangerous curves

I really never thought I'd see the day when a curvy woman wore a Victoria Beckham design. But Jennifer Hudson not only carries this look off - she positively steals the show. I adore her high pony tail and that fringe that deserves the title of bangs. Oh, and her pumps - I do so covet...

tea time

As I'm cutting down on coffee, I'm going to be increasing my tea... The caffeine's not the issue {sleep problems? Moi?} it's more that I'm drinking too much milk with my double-shot lattes.

So now mid-morning and mid-afternoon are tea time. I'm going to use one of my pretty antique tea cups and saucers and make a damned fine cup of tea to enjoy. I'm pretty sure that with my collection I won't be drinking from the same cup twice for a few months...

je parle francais

Tonight's the start of my French lessons at Alliance Francais - guess how excited I am?!?!? Exactement! I hope my brain's ready for this - it's been slumbering the last few days. Each morning I'm waking more groggy than the day before. I'm blaming staying up late to watch Come Down With Me on Lifestyle +2 {how do I love that show... And how do I love James Brown - gorgeous man that he is - and he's decorating his home 1930s Paris Burlesque tonight, be still my heart}.

I have been walking each evening which is my saviour. So many times I've felt too tired, or too busy, but I'm putting my health first and making sure that I take 30 minutes a day for a walk. I'm also cutting my coffee consumption down to two cups a day {eek - at least they're both double shots - shhhhh}.

Hopefully this French course will be just the exercise my brain needs. I can't abide Cryptic Crosswords and can't even begin to understand what Sudoko's all about so using my brain to learn a language could be just what it needs.

Okay, time to do a phone interview - and then I'll need to paint my nails in readiness for my class. Chanel red? Oui!

snap happy

I've always had a love for photography - so much so that my major at Uni was actually photography {with a minor in journalism...} However, three years of bickering lecturers with their own agendas almost put me off photography for life. Now, I'm keen to get behind the lens again.

With a long-ish OS trip planned next year I'm keen to get the shots I want - so a bit of research was in order. Luckily one of my friends is an exceptionally talented photographer who's sharing his skills over here.

One article I found particularly relevant was about getting up close to your subject - I'm always far too tentative and tend to stand so far back and pretend I'm not shooting the subject - and end up with a whole lot of superfluous background with a dim spec of a subject in the distance.

If you're interested in photography {and I know so many of you are} check out photographyfortravellers.com - it's mighty inspirational...

order in the house

When you work from home the toughest thing is ignoring the state of the house and settling in to do work without distractions. Ordinarily I can achieve that, but today, erk. I can hear next door's cleaner working away getting their house all clean and shiny and even though I'm locked in the study I can feel how messy my own house is. Hubby's working on a project so has piles of paper around the living room, rainy days have meant the washing's in teetering mountain-like structures and too much relaxing on the weekend means that stuff that needed to get done just didn't.

So rather than sitting here letting it bug me, I'm going to get up and put in 55 minutes-worth of serious cleaning and tidying. Then I can sit down and revel in my clean workspace and get stuff done.