The Canny Francophile

It was long overdue. Yes.  Paris!!   My affair with France hasn't finished yet....it took quite some persuading and tears for me to 'convince' my partner we just have to go there! So, we went and bought a guidebook today, booked the trip etc. etc - to say I am excited is an understatement!! More updates to follow...

I cannot resist stationery especially if it is French stationery! France themed letter writing set, notebook & file holder

I tuned into my local news channel the other night to hear of jubilant crowds in France cheering on Francois Hollande, the newly elected president of France.  To be honest I don't follow politics much but it moved me , so much so I wanted to be there!!     Thinking back to my trips to France in the past, I remember the friendliness and hospitality of the people. I remember their passion for food and art.   It's been a while.  I think a trip back to France is long overdue..my boyfriend would disagree.....but watch this space!

As I sit here and type I am slowly feeling my body going through the motions of having withdrawal symptoms - from what??!    From not having the joy and love that comes with being there. France I mean!!    Strangers pass you by say  'Salut!', acquaintances do their  'cheek - kissing'.... I miss Montmartre.... (did you know that the video from Savage Garden's 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' was filmed there?!).....baguettes, the crazy street drivers on the Champs - Elysees! More update follows......

Do please forgive me for not updating in a while...well, since my course is fast approaching I am starting to think how I can brush up on my grammar......in the meantime, I 'treated' myself to a couple of nice things last week. Paris themed storage tin Eiffel Tower design sticky post- its French fabric Last but not least, I found this little cutie tucked away, forgotten I'd had it!! *                        *                         * Oh, the family & I went to see The Adventures of TinTin last week at the cinema which I believe to have first appeared in French.   Thoroughly enjoyed it! A couple of my French friends Nathalie & Sophie who I keep in contact with have said I am most welcome to vi...

Ernest Hemingway once wrote  '' If you are lucky to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast'' .    I can identify with these words without a doubt,  although my 'Paris' was Strasbourg at the time...this city left such an incredible impression on me....with the regional Tarte Flambee meals that I had with my fellow students to the 'Palais Universitaire' where I was lucky enough to be enrolled for 10 months. My fellow Korean students always met with me near the student halls of residence where they stayed in. (okay sorry I know this is supposed to be French related but most of my friends just happened to be Korean).   This corner cafe that we frequented had a very cute decorated 'wall of art' that was written/drawn on by people/vistors from all walks of life.  Eun Jin was my best friend, she used to ramble on about wanting to find the perfect spous...

I took part in a couple of swaps recently ( http://www.swap-bot.com/ ) and received some more lovely postcards of my favourite place - France!! A big thank you to Catherine Sebillet and Jetske for sending me these! Now for even more exciting news... Well, it seems like I will be doing my advanced French course/module with the Open University after all. These are my books that I have purchased for the course: The dictionary weighs a tonne (almost).  The Mot a Mot is a very good compiled guide of idioms and useful sayings that any essay writer would benefit greatly from.    As a former student in the 1990's I still also have my old university textbooks and the absolutely essential 'Robert Micro' dictionary.  These are all my revision tools - can I brush up before Feb 2012?   I will strive to do it.   Wish me luck!!! *******