Marais, Paris - Je t'adore.

The UNESCO classified district of Le Marais, in Paris, sits on a small triangular piece of land, with side lengths of a couple of kilometres, extending from Place de l’Hôtel de Ville to Place de la Bastille, and the Place de la République . For many, it is “the heart of Paris”, encompassing the River Seine islands of  Ile de St Louis and Ile de Citie, ( the original site of Paris), with its iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. 

This small area, christened Le Marais,  is renowned for its numerous, beautiful, historical buildings, fine food, shops, galleries, museums and colourful lifestyle. Despite its humble beginnings as a drained swamp in the 13^th century, Le Marais developed into Paris’s fashionable centre by the 17 century with the construction of buildings designed by leading sculptors and architects, who had a penchant for gated courtyards.

Guidebooks will take you to the countless, historical treasures of Le Marais, but for me, much of its appeal lies in just meandering its streets. 

Oui, nous sommes les flâneurs – senendipity has great appeal, especially when it involves food or a camera. 

The concentration of narrow roads and laneways in Le Marais – a legacy of its past - creates an atmosphere of intimacy and causes the light  to cast interesting patterns over its quintessential Parisian roof tops.

One of the most breathtaking sights in Paris is the beautiful St Chapelle with its proliferation of stunning,stained-glass windows. The building of this chapel commenced in 1241, with the sole purpose to house the crown of thorns from Christ’s Passion. The predominant beauty of St Chapelle lies in the upper chapel, the entry of which can be easily missed. 


My favourite view across the Parisian rooftops is from the top of the west façade of Notre Dame - the 350+ steps are worth the climb!

If you wish to locate the best chocolate, pastry or ice-cream shops when strolling through the Marais, or the rest of Paris, visit Choco Paris         
Oui, Le Marais, je t'adore....................

My French Carrot: a House in France

This pituresque well is conviently located outside our front door - some plumbing would be a desirable addition*.

April 30 has passed and I still haven't received the house plans to submit to the local mairie. The charm of living in a 18th century house will definitely lose its appeal if I have to also live like an 18th century woman! I need a French carrot to help keep me afloat at work - if only something were happening at  My French Folly. 

Midlife is a curious state - on the one hand I have become more pragmatic and philosphical and on the other,  less tolerant to specific behaviours.  There appears to be peripheral rot that is creeping into my profession. ……friendship cliques within the staff (it is not what you know, it is who you know) ……… the increasing popular belief that the universe is centred around individuals who are not responsible for their own decisions or actions, if they don't have the desired outcomes. 

I acknowledge that it is the 80% - 20% principle, and in reality it is more like 98% of those whom I deal with are fine and the other 2% cause grief, but some how the trouble they generate makes it feel as if the ratio is reversed.  However,  in general I love my career and the community in which I work …... it is just that I don’t bounce back from negative incidents very easily in my "middle" years. I have a dream, a miniscule budget to make My French Folly habitable and midlife hormonal mayhem.....

* Photograph of our house by D Laurent

Mother's' Day

"Who, being loved, is poor?"          Oscar Wilde

Mother's day is a day for the gathering of the clan and to count my blessings. 
The older I get, the more grateful I am for the simple things in life - and the greater my intolerance of screaming children, particularly those who are spoilt. By the time I am a grandmother, all of my patience with children will have been eroded away – unfortunately I will probably be known as Grandma Grump and be given "wide berth" on Mother's Day.

"All that I am. or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother". Abraham Lincoln .......I just wish that I had inherited a touch more of Mother's characteristics.  My mother was an inspirational woman whom I understand and appreciate even more with the passing of time. I miss her laughter, wisdom, patience, kindness, infectious energy and mischievous sense of humour

"Mothers are all slightly insane."          J.D. Salinger

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one".  Jill  Churchill.......Yes, Mother's Day is another occasion to reflect upon life.

Perhaps it was with envy that Oscar Wilde said : "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."

1st May: La Fête du Muguet (Lilly of the Valley), France

J’adore les Fêtes de France – regional and national. Today, is La Fête du Muguet. Across France people are giving bouquets of lily-of-the-valley or dog-rose flowers as lucky charms to members of their family or close friends, as a sign of their affection.

This tradition was started on the first of May in 1561, when King Charles IX of France was presented with flowers of lily-of-the-valley. The king was so taken by this gift that he then gave the ladies of his court lily-of-the-valley as a good luck charm on I May, thus creating this French custom. The significance of presenting a bouquet of these flowers was broadened at the turn of the 20-century, when men commenced to use the giving of lily-of-the-valley as a symbol of their affection for a woman. 

On the first day in May, there is a proliferation of street vendors selling sprigs of lily-of-the-valley as the French government allows the sale of these flowers without the imposition of sales tax or retail regulations. 

Since 1936, 1 May is Labour Day  (La Fête du Travail), which is a public holiday in France. This co-incidence with the La Fête du Muguet means that bouquets of lily-of-the-valley have also become a French symbol for Labour Day.

La Fête du Muguet is a reminder of the delight of thoughtful gestures. 

"Just living is not enough…..One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."Hans Christian Anderson

Note: I haven't any photos of lily- of-the-valley or dog-roses!

Renovations in France?

From this

The formal sitting room in our French cottage

to this ?

The sitting room in a guest suite at Chateau Bournand, home of
the delightful hosts ,Vicky, John and Button

If only wishing would make it so .........

Disappointment. The plans for the repairs to our house in France were to be completed by 31 March. I had been accessing my emails with great anticipation leading up to the 31 March, just in case they were completed prior to this date.

31 March came – no plans. The date of completion was altered on that day to the 30 April. The French would say, shrugging their shoulders,  "c'est la vie", but as the owner of the house "merde" is more appropriate!  Now 30 April  is approaching, will I be “let down” again? Perhaps My French Folly is low priority because we will not be visiting until June 2012, but I need the plans to keep my dream alive and to motivate me to budget for the repairs….......On reflection, the thought of having a cold wash in a bucket and using a commode in the absence of a toilet is enough to help me boost my coffers without seeing the plans. And I hate the thought of personally plastering and painting in my holidays.
I'm counting down to the end of April - in French.

Counting down to the end of April in French!

Yes, I'm still at "beginners level" in French. Doesn't auger well for survival in an isolated French village!  

EASTER GALLERY

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who come alive."                         Howard Thurman

"Easter spells out beauty and opens the doors of hope, trust and renewal."

"Forget love; I'd rather fall in chocolate." Anonymous

"There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate."                                                 Linda Grayson

An Easter quote for politicans and fanatics of all religious persuasions.

"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."Clarence W. Hall

Easter (le Pâques) and chocolate in France

Like all church bells in France, the bells in the ancient minster that overlooks My French Folly, were silenced on Thursday, in acknowledgement of Christ’s death.

The bells' stillness cast an eerie silence over the village, but this interruption to the daily rhythm is short-lived.

Tomorrow, Easter Sunday, their dulcet tones will be heard once more declaring that “Christ has risen”.

A quaint tale is told to children to explain this practice during the Easter period - "the bell’s chimes have flown to Rome to visit the Pope and will return on Easter Sunday".
The significance of this Easter ritual has resulted in the French exchanging chocolate bells, cloche volant, as well as traditional Easter eggs, les oeufs de Pâques, which are often hidden for children to find.

Chocolate fish, Poisson D'Avril also appear in April. Fish signify an “April fool” consequently chocolate fish first appear on April Fool’s day. For a number of centuries, children have attempted to pin a paper fish on the backs of adults on April the first. If they succeed they call out "Poisson d'Avril" (April fish) as they flee their target.

Easter is a time for reflection, renewal and hope.........

L’Automne et une Belle Chanson, Les Feuilles Mortes

"Texte + mélodie + interprétation exceptionnels = Un monument de la chanson française."

Ma saison préférée est l’Automne. J’adore la lumière, les couleurs des arbres, les monceaux de feuilles et le temps. Le ciel est bleu, le ciel est gris………. Aussi en Australie nous célébrons Pâques pendant l’Automne. C’est un moment où nous espérons que tout se passera bien…..et nous mangerons plus de chocolats. La chanson Les Feuilles Mortes me fait penser à l’Automne.

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower”
Albert Camus - French novelist, Nobel Prize for Literature.

Les Feuilles Mortes

Oh je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes

Des jours heureux où nous étions amis

En ce temps là, la vie était plus belle

Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui

Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle

Tu vois je n'ai pas oublié

Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle

Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi

Et le vent du nord les emportet

Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli

Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié

La chanson que tu me chantais

C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble

Toi tu m'aimais, et je t'aimais

Et nous vivions tout les deux ensemble

Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais

Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment

Tout doucement sans faire de bruit

Et la mer efface sur le sable

Le pas des amants désunis

C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble

Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais

Et nous vivions, tous deux ensemble

Toi qui m'aimait, moi qui t'aimais

Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aime

Tout doucement sans faire de bruit

Et la mer efface sur le sable

Le pas des amants désunis.

Oh I so want you to remember
The happy days when we were friends

At that time, life was more beautiful

And the sun brighter than today

The dead leaves gather on the rake

You see I have not forgotten

The dead leaves gather on the rake

Memories and regrets also

And the north wind emportet

In the cold night of oblivion

You see, I have not forgotten

The song that you sang to me

It's a song that resembles us

You loved me, and I loved you

And we lived together every two

You who loved me, who loved me

But life separates those who love

Gently, without making any noise

And the sea erases on the sand

The footsteps of separated lovers

It's a song that resembles us

You loved me and I loved you

And we lived, both together

You who loved me, who loved me

But life separates those who love each other

Gently, without making any noise

And the sea erases on the sand

Dance with Me

Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we're here we should dance.  Proverb

Back at the Blog!

Perhaps a bookshelf of diaries?

No. It's a wooden sculpture of a life-sized

bookshelf, on display in a Chateau of the

Loire Valley, France.

Yes, mother was right - my handwriting is illegible - even to me. The on button of the computer has been pressed and my newly acquired diary has been cast to one side.  I am of an age where my memory is less reliable so what is the use of recoding my thoughts and observations if I can't read what I have written? I suppose I could "ramble on" in a word document, but then I would be denied the pleasure of browsing my photographs for a purpose. Blogging also provides an effective means of “updating” friends en masse without the complications of social media.The recent claims made in the press, that internet friendships are superficial and often of a bogus nature, are a gross generalization ......At least they don't apply to me -  a sample size of one.  For many of my generation emailing has replaced the long, hand written letter to family, friends and pen pals from our youth.

 In this time-poor age it is rare to be able to sit with friends and colleagues to discuss issues . And when we do, the conversation is usually superficial.

Seldom do we give a detailed description of personal observations or thoughts about events that are important to us……………but writing an email, particularly to people in distant places, often necessitates these omitted verbal details in order to communicate clearly.

Two friendships I value highly have been nurtured over the Internet. Jo I met briefly in France. Despite living in different hemispheres we regularly have “a cup of tea and a chat “ via email. Rosemary is a professional travel writer whom I contacted after she had published an article about the region in France in which we have bought our "renovator's opportunity with great potential".

Both of these women write beautifully.  And enhance their  photographs with well-crafted descriptions.

The old vine at the gated entrance
of the B&B where we met Jo, her husband
and le vulcan, Terrance Gelenter

Jo knows me better than my colleagues with whom I have been working for 21 years! I consider both of these women to be real friends who have been honest and open in their communications with me about many aspects of our lives. Thank you Jo. Thank you Rosemary. Thank you technology.

Norfolk Island Medical Dictionary - by Anon (Thanks Jo)

A French artery

Too frantic to write and a touch disheartened by my recent 
photographs. I'm having difficulty mastering my new camera 
lens. Not sure if blogging is for me.........It's probably more 
time efficient to pick up a pen and write my thoughts in an old 
fashioned diary..................If only I could read my scribble.
At least Easter is approaching - a time for contemplation 
and chocolate. 


Definitions from the Norfolk Island Medical Dictionary
 Artery......................The study of paintings

 Bacteria................... Back door to cafeteria

 Barium.....................What doctors do when patients die

 Benign.....................What you be, after you be eight

 Caesarean Section......A neighborhood in Rome

 Cat Scan...................Searching for Kitty

 Cauterize..................Made eye contact with her

 Coma........................A punctuation mark

 Dilate........................To live long

 Enema.......................Not a friend

 Fester........................Quicker than someone else

 Fibula........................A small lie

 Impotent....................Distinguished, well known

 Labor Pain..................Getting hurt at work

 Medical Staff...............A Doctor's cane

 Morbid.......................A higher offer

 Nitrates......................Cheaper than day rates

 Node..........................I knew it

 Pelvis.........................Second cousin to Elvis

 Post Operative............ A letter carrier

 Recovery Room........... Place to do upholstery

 Rectum....................... Nearly killed him

 Secretion.................... Hiding something

 Seizure....................... Roman emperor

 Tablet......................... A small table

 Tumor.........................One plus one more

 Urine.......................... Opposite of you're out

A Sicilian cat scan

                          

 from Anon