Je t'adore Paris

We were heading for Paris, so it seemed entirely reasonable that we should be wearing hats....

 A sunny day at Versailles, escaping most of the other tourists at Petit Trianon put us in a holiday mood

I loved the rich colours and patterns

and came away with grandiose ideas of turning my bedroom into a boudoir...

We stayed in a wonderful little flat right in the centre of the city. I loved the area, near Les Halles, it was busy and lively and full of Parisians rather than tourists.

We were even invited to a Private View on our first evening! I prefer to stay in a house rather than a hotel, you can pretend it's your pied-a-terre and that you are  just popping over for the weekend...

Antiques stalls and Brocantes tempted us next day (and the next one too, actually). We pottered for hours  looking, lusting and occasionally treating ourselves

Whilst wandering, we came at one point to this overgrown house, tucked away, half hidden by the greenery. How we wished we could stay there!

We didn't visit many of the tourist attractions but I love Sainte Chapelle. Its one of the few places where opulent colour does not look gaudy but beautiful.

And as always, it's the details that touch my heart-

Paris is not only full of beautiful, uplifting art, it is also the perfect place for indulging in a little temptation...

We visited the oldest cake shop in Paris
And came away with a lunch that would seduce a Saint

On our last night we headed to the place that for many, sums up the spirit of the city

We found a quirky bar where the walls were covered with cards and notes and drawings by the guests and then treated ourselves to a fabulous meal at our favourite restaurant

later that night we watched the Eiffel Tower sparkling above the city, whilst a thunderstorm and lightening lit up the rest of the sky. It was a magical moment but one which I couldn't quite catch on camera...

The weekend was such a treat for me, it was wonderful to spend time with Emily and she well deserved her holiday. She has a 2.1 Hons in Drama and Creative Writing. I am very proud of her, she worked so hard.

I will always love Paris, it was the first foreign city I visited when young and it still has a slightly magical quality. It never disappoints or lets me down-

Bookstore on the banks of the Seine

Marie Antionette's private theatre

Golden Snails

A shoe decorated with flower petals and fruit

Paris Je t'adore.

The apartment -
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1876098?euid=6b3f696d-ecb7-e420-dab6-c3851a4f2d62

Paris here I come!

Some days start with gentle pleasures-

Mali-cat's morning greeting

other days are just so exciting!

Summer has come and as I look out of my study window, the roses and honeysuckle are in bloom-

And this means... It's June, Emily has just finished her finals and my treat for her (and me) is to take her to Paris!
We leave this morning by Eurotar and are staying in a tiny studio flat until Monday evening.
Flea markets, Versailles, Sainte Chapelle and Champagne are all on our list.
I'm so happy and excited! Aren't I lucky to have this chance of a wonderful weekend and to have a wonderful daughter who wishes to share it with me?

ps. Apologies for not posting recently, replying to all my messages, or looking a all your wonderful blogs. Life has been exceptionally hectic. I've just been at The Vintage Nostalgia show ( hence rather show-offy photo of me in the top hat!) and family matters have been taking up all my mind and time.

Kissing Books

Last month I revived one of my favourite activities- going to auctions. The quirky auction house at Semely http://www.semleyauctioneers.com/  seems just about perfect to me. Everybody is friendly and good humoured and there is a lovely lady selling tea, coffee, bacon rolls and slices of home-made cake to sustain the inner buyer. I love the careful searching and researching needed when looking for stock, the growing excitement as 'the' lot gets closer and the sheer zing of adrenaline when you bid and win!
I bought a fine collection of books and after further research and pricing they were ready to take to Dairy House Antiques www.dairyhouseantiques.com where I have my little bookshelf.
On a cold morning I was tempted to join Lily and enjoy the fire...

However, I set to work to tidy my shelves and add my new books. I try to have a selection of books with interesting contents

As well as those that are beautiful to look at!

I get very excited when I find a fabulous book and as I have explained before, I have been known to kiss them!
These are my favourites at present:

Just look at the old cars!

The papers mark where the plates are

And finally,

Ladies' Calender 1838

All the plates are hand coloured

After sorting my own stock I couldn't resist a little look around the shop. As always, there are enticing and eclectic displays.

And finally, some of my more delicate books in pride of place on the counter

Dairy House is a very good place for me and my books to be!

A Tale of Two Cities... ( Paris, 1st version )

Champagne, ma cherie?

Our stairs were perfection, the view - so French

Our days were filled with art, sculpture, and music-

At rest we remained poised and cosmopolitan, far from the worries of an ordinary world-

Even traveling home we remained calm and aloof...

No, it's no good, we just can't keep this up...

Please see next blog for a true picture...