Friday, August 23, 2013

Changes mean time for reading

 Changes - I've changed jobs, which means I've changed some aspects of my life. The biggest change is that my new job is 3 hours away from home! Now, that means I've joined the commuting population. It also means I've got a bit of reading done in my first week! The fact that my man has been away has also helped. Now, for my lovely friends, who I know are going to worry about me commuting for so many hours a day - my next change will include staying in the city a couple of nights a week - so more blogs to come about what that will mean.
 I've finished, albeit unsatisfied, Lily Brett's latest - Lola Bensky. I've loved all of Lily's other books, but this one just didn't do it for me.Lily is an Aussie living in NY, and most of her books describe aspects of her own life growing up as the daughter of Polish survivors of Auschwitz. I have always appreciated what she describes about her own experiences - but Lola (who is also a similar character for Brett's fans) is unable to capture me as others have. Disappointing.
 Unlike Lola Bensky, this book - the lost battlefield of Kokoda, did capture my undivided attention. My man has just returned from from 8 days trekking the historic Kokoda Trek, and while he was bravely undertaking the very physical challenge - I read about it. Kokoda was a very significant campaign in  WWII for Australia - but not many  people (least of all many Aussies) are actually aware of what it entailed. The Lost Battlefield, is actually a story of a battlefield in PNG, on the Kokoda Trek, that was forgotten, over grown by jungle, until only recently. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in war, Australian history or even just the mystery of things once lost but now found.

I'm now progressing with Down and Out in Paris at an alarming rate - and very much enjoying Orwell's interpretations, philosophising, and descriptions. When I do finish it, I'll share some of the interesting quotes I've marked.
This week (because I've had time to do it) I ordered and received my copy of Henri's Walk to Paris. Its a picture book - which I will review in more detail soon. I love it. It was on my Paris in July wish list, and I'm so glad I got it. More soon!
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Monday, August 19, 2013

Paris in July - Housekeeping


Bonjour!

I always hope to finish Paris in July with a quality summary and a thank you to all participants. This year I have done some summary stats and lists under my 'Challenges' tab for Paris in July 2013. Please check it out to see just how busy we all were.

A here's my big thank you to this years participants - Merci!



Bookbath (Karen), A Bookish Way Of Life (Nadia), A Good Stopping Point (Christy),A Reading Life(Mel U), A Ship Made Of Books (Ju H), A Strong Belief In Wicker, Adventures of an Intrepid Reader, All Through My Eyes, An Accidental Blog, Becky’s Book Reviews, Blue Hearted Bookworm, Books And Chocolate, Books Are My Bling, Books As Food, Chocolate And Croissants, Dolce Bellezza, Estellas Revenge, Fleur Fischers World, Joys Book Blog, Lakeside Musing, Letters From a Hill Farm, Literary Relish, Livros De Papyro, Mae Travels, Mary’s Library, Orange Prize Project (Fleur Fischer), Paris And Beyond, Paris Encore, Paris Through My Lens, Reflections of a Vagabonde, Skiourophilia, Stacey’s Books, The Book Trunk, The Eclectic Reader, The Gippsland Granny, The Marmalade Gypsy, The Novel World, Too Fond, Valie’s Book Den, Words And Peace, Thyme For Tea

Please join us again in 2014 - for what ever Paris in July looks like next year.
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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Paris in July - Final Wrap up - Merci!

It's with great sadness that I compile this wrap up post - I dont want it to end - but it's 'au revoir' to Paris in July 2013. Karen from Bookbath and I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated, visited and dreamt of Paris, even if only once during July! We've thoroughly enjoyed every post you've published, and there's been a few (I think that's a line from my favourite movie "Sabrina").

So again, I've attempted to theme the posts that were published since sun 28th July in the final days of the month. I'd like to invite you all to leave a comment following this post, mentioning your favourite Paris in July post. I might even be able to select one more gift recipient from your selection of best post..

Book Reviews and Quotes from Books
Movies
Photo's and Symbols
People, Places and other topics
For something personal and historic
  • Recollections of a Vagabonde provides a very real and personal history of living in St leu la Foret, a small village - her friendship with an orphan, Rachel, with a complex history and changes that have happened over time. Thanks for this post - it really touched me.
Individual Wrap ups (interesting to see what people got up to during July)
 I would like to say that because of your amazing diverse and numerous posts, I've not had the time to do the things I wanted to do for Paris in July. So as we pass down the Champs Elysee's onto a different street in a different place, I will embark on some of my own Parisian fantasies. Wait and see something about Cocktails in Paris, Female artists, and my book review of Henri walks to Paris.

Out of all the posts I read for this wrap up, I would like to award the special gift to Mel U, because she was consistent in her posts for the month, and introduced us to some classic and little known french authors and characters. Mel, just email me with your contact details...

Thanks to All - and Au revoir et a la prochaine julliet!
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Sunday, July 28, 2013

Paris in July - Week 4 Wrap Up

Happy Birthday Baby Bookbath!
Merci Beaucoup a tous! Thank you to everyone who has been participating in 2013 Paris in July - Karen at Bookbath and I have been overwhelmed with the contributions - it's just a testimony to all things French - and how much we all enjoy all things French. This week I will endeavour to review all the posts from Sunday 21st to Sunday 28th July. Again, I'll theme all the posts and I'll randomly select a prize winner.

Before I get into the review though, I just wanted to make a word of apology - Karen and I weren't quite sure how the mr Linky would work this year - we thought we'd try to start a new mr Linky each week - but it's turned out that we're keeping the same one - and it's working well as a link to all the posts you've been putting up. If you do any more posts in Paris in July, please link it to Karens' Mr Linky. Thanks

Here's my musical contribution for this week.


Books 
The Cleaner of Charters
Alfred Jarry, a play
The husband who said mass - by the Marquis de Sade (1791)- Mel U has really gone deep into french literature with this one!
Solange by Dumas
Boot polishing virgin by Emile Zola
A year in the Merde
Tour de France- the good, bad and just plain weird
Provence cure for the broken hearted
The French for Love
The Ladies Paradise by Zola
The Paris Winter
The Tour de France Pop up Book - this little book has captured my attention - it could appeal to you if you like 'le Tour' too.
Paris by Edward Rutherfurd - this didn't end well for Bellezza, but she provides an honest review here
L'elegance du herrison - Murial Barbary (Portuguese post)
The war, the french, the nazzi's and the battle for France's greatest treasure
le Road Trip
The Blue Room - translated from french
The Enchantment
Mission to Paris
Mrs Harris goes to Paris
The Chatelet Apprentice

Movies & Music
Tais toi mon coeur
le vie en rose
Paris Je T'aime

Photo's, Places and People
Katherine Mansfield
Parc Floral
Hugh Masekala at the Jazz Festival - if you don't know Hugh Masekala - check this out - I enjoyed learning about this musician
Visiting Monet's Garden
Daily photos from Paris - Daryl posts a photo each day - they're thought provoking....
Joy visits les jardins des plantes
Joy recaps on her visit to Paris
Paris & Beyond posts photos from Paris every day - I like this one this week 
Stacey has been posting photos from France at the end of her posts - look further to see what she's sent you...
Cote d'azur (Vacation wrap up)
Memories of Paris & le Louvre (Portuguese)
Montsoreau on the Loire
Paris through my lens - daily photo's from Paris - inspiring thoughts, this week I liked this one.

Food and Recipes
Clementine in the Kitchen
The Passionate Epicure - le vie et la passion de Dodin Bouffant
Patisserie - French for Yum!

Special notes - Posts that didn't fit my themes
An Accidental Blog is giving away a copy of her book 'The summer of France' - time limited offer....
Another interesting post - Papier d'Armenie - a deodoriser
Some French Humour
Tour de France Jumper

So we have another awesome week in Paris in July, with an amazing selection of posts - across diverse fields. I'm just stunned at how each of us takes the theme in our own way, and many times our paths cross. This week I'm awarding a little prize to Esme at Chocolate and Croissants for introducing us to the pop up boook about the Tour de France. So cute! Esme, email me your address and I'll send you a little gift!

Now, there's still some days left in July - so We'll do a final wrap up by Friday 2nd August - if you post anythingbetween now & then, make a link to Karen's mr Linky... Bon Chance!


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Saturday, July 27, 2013

La Baguette - Paris in July

 What is Paris without a baguette?
 You can have them plain - as is....
or with ham/Jambon.

But if you are living 'sans gluten' or gluten free, how can you cope when visiting Paris? Firstly, let me say, I am not celiac and it is my choice to live without gluten. But for many who do live with Celiac's disease, gluten free travel is really important. So, for my own sense of confidence and joy of travel, I decided to do some research about eating 'sans gluten' in Paris. Guess what ! I am not the first to think of this, and, therefore, I am going to simply make reference here to some amazingly helpful websites and other bloggers posts (why re-invent the wheel). 

For anyone who has already tralled to Paris, you will know that the typical petit dejuener/ breakfast offered in hotels is baguettes, ham, cheese, yoghurt and coffee. So if you don't want to or cant eat the baguette, breakfast is pretty un satisfying. I found that I could buy rice cakes at the local grocery store or 'carefour' and most hotels would be OK for me to have these with the ham and cheese. 

So here's some great websites and blogs... I've enjoyed visiting these spots today, and I'm all inspired to eat healthy again!
  1. Gluten Free Mom - here our host introduces us to many great Parisian cafes & restaurants that are either totally gluten free, or offer gluten free options. She has even gone to the trouble to identify some places to get the french favs like crepes!
  2. Ma vie francaise - What's a day in Paris without a cake - here Zoe shows us where to get some yummy french sweets - her photos just make your mouth water. Here, at Ma Vie Francaise, we also find a great post about gluten free grocery shopping in Paris.
  3. David Lebovitz - I follow David's blog and every time i get something in my mail box from him, my creative self is inspired. David is also the Author of 'the sweet life in Paris', and in this post he provides some great advice about eating gluten free in Paris. David also provides links and advice on where to shop for your own ingredients, how to rent an apartment so you can cook for yourself, and advises that we try ethnic restaurants for a wide range of dining options.
  4. The Hip Paris Blog - this post discovers patisseries and the photo's are sweet as.
So after I visited all these blogs, I have selected three of my 'to visits' next time...
  1. Maceo -  A fancy place for a special lunch or diner
  2. Willi's Wine Bar - linked to Maceo's but looks like a great place to meet friends.
  3. Le Reminet - Looks like another nice place to do a special diner - like the 'last night' of holidays, or a good place to meet friends. 
Please let me know if you've come across any other great 'sans gluten' cafes in Paris. There's nothing like enjoying your food when you're on holidays!
Chloe's Cakes
 Bon Sante!
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Paris in July - French Concertos



The month is just flying by, and I'm finding myself being totally distracted by the amazingly diverse and exciting Paris in July posts - so much so, that I'm not finding time to post my own Paris in July experiences. Today I thought I'd just post this quick one.

I'm a fan of ABC Classic FM Radio - and each week they feature a CD of the Week. This week it's French Trumpet Concerto's by Ole Edvard Antonsen. I'm really enjoying this music on my morning cruise into work. I hope you do too.


I'll post more soon - but just one more little message - this week is Baby Bookbaths Birthday - I'm sure you'll all join me wishing Karen at Bookbath and Baby Bookbath a really special week!


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Sunday, July 14, 2013

Paris in July - Week 2 wrap up


View from Mt Ventoux
Paris in July is a joy to host and an honour to be involved in - I'm always amazed at how diverse our posts can be, yet we're all heading in the same direction - towards Paris and all things French.  Tonight I'm reviewing the weeks activities - from July 8 - 14th. I've flicked through all the posts I could find (I'm sorry we've had issues with Mr Linky over at Karen's Blog, and my own blog presence has been lacking this week), but here's a quick look what's been happening.

Book Posts
Film and Music Posts
Photo Posts
Recipe & Food Posts
History Posts
  • 14 July - Bastille Day - Vagabond provides some history
  • Nari at The Novel World is posting the A - Z of Paris, France - check out some of these...
    • Arrondissements
    • Bastille
    • Cafe
    • Degas
    • Eiffel Tower
    • Fromage
    • Godard
    • Haussman
It's difficult for me to summarise in detail each post, but I've made a recommendation of my favourite posts for your ready reference.

I wanted to award a gift to one blogger for this week and also a gift to a Bastille Day post - I've decided to wait til Wednesday to identify the Bastille Day winner, but for this week I've selected Vagabondes' post on La Piscine Molitol as very interesting, engaging and informative. Vagabonde, if you can email me (see my about me page for email) your address I'll send you a small gift.

Also, I wanted to bring everyones attention to Vagabondes' comments on my Bastille Day post - I've found this very helpful information
I wrote a comment earlier and deleted it because it only talked about the name of our national holiday “le quatorze Juillet” which is called Bastille’s Day in the Anglophone world. The storming of the Bastille in Paris was a symbolic gesture as there were only 7 common criminals in the prison then. The people were revolting against two inequalities and privileges held by the aristocracy and the clergy - this is why after the revolution so many churches were burnt and destroyed – then later on of course they were repaired by the government as they had been seized from the Church and made into national monuments. What people celebrate really is not the Bastille but what were the ramifications from this people revolution – more solidarity, more social equality – for example there is universal health care and free education starting at 3 years old, five weeks of vacation is mandatory (by law) in comparison to the country where I live, the USA, vacations are not guaranteed by law. So people keep celebrating their freedom from the aristocracy and the clergy and the laws which help them have a happy life. Thank you for taking an interest in my country, this is very kind.
Check out Paris and Beyond for the photo of the day - 14 July. 
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