Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Australia is the new flavour

May 2, 2010

Australia seems to be getting a bit of a free publicity over here in France…with thanks to our native animals.

This latest Orange advertisment supporting their new internet product…apparently promising that it will give you more power surge than what you are already getting….with thanks to an aussie roo!

These signs are up everywhere at the moment…and the other day whilst travelling on the metro…we stopped to pick up more passengers and while I sat, to my surprise on the other side of the platform, I saw this same poster of the roos…and inside the carriage I was in was an advertisement to come see the cuddly koalas at the Zoo in Beauval, France!

How can one get homesick?

To market…to market…

May 1, 2010

to buy a fat hen….

Well not really…as I didn’t have enough money on me for one…and we had decided on pork for tonight!

I took to the streets to see whats happening on a Saturday morning on the other side of the Seine…I was pleasantly surprised….

copy and paste to see photos (May 1/2/3)
http://www.photoblog.com/relle/2010/05/01/paris-market-1.html

Suns out!

April 20, 2010

Finally our paisley european skin is able to be exposed to some sun. It’s been far too long.

JL and I went for a nice walk – along a particular elevated garden promenarde that was used for the film Before Sunset – with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

Everyone else had the same idea it seemed.

Copy and paste link for photos!
http://www.photoblog.com/relle/2010/04/18/

Birthday bliss

April 8, 2010

This little easter rabbit had a birthday this week ….and the frog took me off for a wonderful weekend in Normandy.

Even though I have been to Normandy before – I can never tire of the beauty. After an overnight with the mother of the frog – Madame Frogette – eating our full of easter eggs…we ventured on the coastal route taking in the seaside towns of Honfleur, Deauville, Trouville, Carbourg…then turned in land where we came across some gorgeous typical Norman homes – which really stand tall and proud and if we ever found one for the right price we’d snap it up! It’s so nice to dream.

Froggy booked us into a gorgeous manor – which in fact we had stayed in around 5yrs ago. We checked into a beautiful room 5 times the size of our Paris flat! It was filled with huge dark timber furnishings and a king size bed. After dumping the bags we went off to explore the little village up the road – viewing a lovely old church, fed some Normandy horses and drooled over some grand old homes. Back to change for dinner with a lovely glass of bubbly to start it off.

We got back to our room…I kissed the froggy..and poof …he turned into a prince…which made it easier for me to roll him over and get back into my juicy novel…ahhh bliss

http://www.photoblog.com/relle/2010/04/04/birthday-bliss.html

2010..and so it begins…

January 13, 2010

But before we get stuck right into it, heres how the Christmas and New Year unfolded in Paris….

Its always exciting leading up to Christmas over here…the shops are decorated like there is some competition going on…and they surely leave my feeble home decoration attempt alot to be desired. Even in bread shops! They use strands of gold pearls, bird cages, course salt spread everywhere imitating snow. Its so wonderful..really gets you in the spirit.

By chance I saw Santa Claus the weekend before Christmas while we were stocking up on our christmas supplies. I was so excited! He was so jolly! 

In the photos I’ve attached – you will meet my Butcher, his helper, my bread shop lady (who always gives me free bread rolls!) and our cheese shop!

The photos will take you to our Christmas night (24 December -the French Christmas)where we ate a huge seafood platter….then the following day the 25th…(English style Christmas)..where we ate Pintard (Guinea fowl)…JL gave me Wii Fit for Christmas…whoo hoo..was I excited! Then Christmas again at his mums, we did the cooking – lagustines in a creamy sauce with voluvents and caramel and lemon tartlettes!

We decorated the table with rose petals and diamontees…then finally new year back in Paris…where I made JL’s favorite dinner…prawn cutlets!

Hope you enjoy the photos..copy and paste the link below and don’t forget to click on the calendar to view photos on the following dates..19/24/25/27/28/31

http://www.photoblog.com/relle/2009/12

Happy new year!

Cooking lessons!

December 11, 2009

Had some fun with a bit of difference last night….cooking lessons in Paris!

Even though I would of enjoyed cooking something a bit more complicated like a french dish, my friend and I enjoyed learning to cook vietnamese dishes. We made ‘SUCCESSFULLY’ …nems (which are spring rolls in english) and two dishes, pork caramel and chicken and pineapple in a caramel sauce.

Was alot of fun…especially because we didn’t have to wash up after and our chef, Christian was extremely cute! 

Can’t wait to book again in the new year….bon appetite everyone!

Weekend a la campagne (countryside)

December 11, 2009

We went to meet one of JL’s old friends called JF!!…he lives in the countryside…2 hours outside of Paris. So we set off for the weekend adventure and who cares if the weather forecast said rain rain and more rain…

Normally back in Australia when you get two blokes together for a weekend – it would involve alot of couch sitting, football and beers….not so for the french boys.

JL was super excited to go to the markets early the next morning to buy up bountiful amounts of food to prepare lunches and dinners to remember!

After having the market boys chatting me up – the boys whisked me home so I could be their apprentice by chopping, slicing and dicing!

Over the next two days JL prepared so much food!…and what makes matters worse…I consumed it all!!! And don’t get me started on the wine consumption !! eeeekkkkkkk

Here are some photos of the how the weekend unfolded…’in the kitchen’! (after clicking on the first lot of photos…click to the next date 21 for more!)

http://www.photoblog.com/relle/2009/11/20/weekend-a-la-campagne.html

Shows galore!

December 9, 2009

Just returned from a fabulous shopping spending spree in London…and it didn’t disapoint me as usual…purchases included boots…dresses…christmas pressies…food…and plenty of live shows!

Calendar Girls – brought the tickets from a ‘last minute’ kiosk which got me a great seat right up the front for a full frontal view of the nude calendar girls. So expertly done – I didn’t see a thing! Was I blinking at the wrong time?? But one of the actresses who was a bigger lady – gave us all an eye full by jumping up and down and her bossoms were going this way and that. Was a wonderful show!

Christmas with the Rat Pack – so there I was with Sammy, Deano and Frank – and boy it was like going back in time. The scene is set as if we were in a night club at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas – the boys strutted their stuff like professionals…I was highly impressed. The audience couldn’t help but sing along with them…especially when ‘ Jack the Knife’ came on.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – This would of had to been the best show I’ve seen in a long while. Marvelous costumes…witty one offs…overdosing on everything gay…and so spot on with the film …Jason Donovan was good…but the others just as good if not better! Why oh why do those boys have the bodies us women crave for????!!!!

If you are in London take my advice…GO SEE A SHOW!

Oh beautiful Annecy

October 13, 2009

WD6CAK09MG5CA41EELGCAHWBTU3CACUVII2CARPUBR3CAE0SLCMCA280384CA2IXU3JCAN78IGWCA2U3JAOCAX583I6CA9538L5CAC4ZCH7CA8MRPO6CA2N6DOBCA3TBE1OCACFTS6PCAKGX8YECAAKBSIBRecently I had seen a picture in a holiday magazine of a cute little french town – with a river running through the middle – and had to immediately find out where this place was!

According to my research it was Annecy – so with a bit of complaining that I never GO ANYWHERE..my french man booked a trip on the train and we made a weekender of it.

4 hours outside of Paris – located north east of France – the cute township of Annecy is built around a large lake.

Was so nice to get away from the hussle and bussle of Paris. We booked into a lovely hotel and just meandered the little streets – suddenly coming across the location of the ‘actual’ photo I saw in the original magazine! 

In the park we came across a lovely little house made of plants – it was very creatively done. So many weddings were doing their official photos in the park – one bride even had on a green dress for a change! Looked quite nice actually.

After walking around so much – we just had to indulge in eating some icecream – so nice…so many flavours…we had to go back for seconds!

Make sure  you list it in your ‘places to see’…

Annecy photos…

 http://relle.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album02

3 girlfriends in Prague

October 13, 2009
imagesI really did not know what to expect when I recently went to Prague. I had heard mostly positive comments on the place and those people who I’d spoken to had actually been back twice! – would I feel the same?? The answer is yes!
I was taken aback with the beauty of the city, the winding alley ways and the colourful buildings. I know I live in a beautiful city – but this place was different. I had visions that it would be dark and gloomy – how you’d imagine eastern european countries…but it was nothing like that as you will see by the photos.
My mate Jen and I arrived at the same time at Prague airport and as planned a chauffeur was waiting with a sign to take us to our hotel…Jen and I gasbagged all the way as it’d been a year since last catch up. The driver made a mistake and dropped us at the right number of the address – but in actual fact our hotel was up the road a bit in the square. So we found ourselves on the street looking a bit bewildered. A lady in a restaurant up the road a bit – pointed to us to come inside her restaurant – so we were thinking ‘oh this is the hotel’!! – but once inside we realised she was getting us in for some business! Well – at this stage I could see the funny side of things..here we are – foreign country – just arrived – trouble already! And what did I do – but start laughing…so much so – that I couldn’t stop…the restaurant staff were trying to help us find the right address of our hotel – but of course those papers were down the bottom of Jen’s suitcase…and this just caused me to double up laughing…it was so embarrassing…I was out of control…for at least 15mins..finally when they had worked out our hotel was just up in the square – we started to calm down and decided to stay and have a couple of beers and a bite to eat. Beer was lovely – a mix of dark and light brew.
We staggered up to the apartment hotel like two soaks – and met the italian bloke running the show. He went through so much detail we were beginning to yawn with overkill of being welcomed. Our apartment was gorgeous…over 90 sq metres – 2 huge bedrooms – two toilets – large kitchen/dining area. Plenty of space for 3 girls to run riot.
After hours and hours of catch up chatter – Jen and I made our way into the streets of Prague to find somewhere for dinner. We came across a restaurant with a beautiful interior and ordered a meal – which wasn’t really nice (sounded nice on the menu!) and my wine by the glass was given to me with what seemed to be a dust slick floating on top! Stupidly we paid and left…took a photo beforehand of the interior (see early on in the photos).
The apartment, although lovely, had a crazy locking system in place. First they had the main gate that had a large gold key – and you couldn’t open the gate by just putting in the key – you had to pull it half way out and then back in and jiggle it around till you had it just right! Same thing for the other 2 doors. Was very annoying – especially when you were busting for the loo!!
Louise arrived from Berlin on Friday night – and we picked her up from the train/metro station – took her directly out to dinner at 10pm!
We noticed the town folk were not really a happy bunch – could it be the 30 year war that left this imprint on the people…maybe so. Things were cheap – so that helped put a smile back on our faces though!
We managed to see alot of sights – unfortunately the castle was out of bounds due to Pope Benedikt XVI who had made a special visit on our girls weekend. Priests and nuns were scurrering around looking so excited – bless ’em.
The holiday continued with lots of laughs and a great memory.
Hope you enjoy the pics…(sorry they are so late mum!)
http://relle.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album01