Paris on Tuesday

5:00 am start, lovely light & fine day, and off to Paris for a couple of days.
I'm writing this after having breakfast and looking over the fields with cows and rabbits - everything is very still - except the noise of the breadmaker in the background!!

Easyjet flight at 07:30 am . Bristol airport a nightmare - half term and too many children going to Euro Disney. Arrived at Terminal 3 Charles de Gaule on time and train (RER) down to Port Royal and Rue Mouffetard. Lots of food shops, restaurants and cafes. Noted that Tuesday is Market day in Bvd du Port Royal.

Beautiful fruit & veg in the market stalls - pity I couldn't take some back for the party. Cherries 3.80€/kg.

Met Karine (Project Manager) and had a couple of hours before our workshop so it was work preparation and cafe/restaurant hopping. Coffee at La Salle a Manger #138 - nice and casual with stripped wooden tables. Lunch at Le Tournebride #104 - very traditional and crowded. I had cConfit carnard and lovely fresh strawberry tart (seem to be in all restaurants at the moment). Coffee somewhere else then into the real work. Unfortunately the rest of the day was spent in a windowless office (it was beautiful and fine outside).

Walked from work to hotel. Stayed in new one near Place D'Italie and an area called Butte aux Cailles. Small and simple hotel but good location - would return.

Had a wander around and dinner at Les Cailloux. Italian, a bit expensive, but very nice grilled beef with rocket and lovely chewy bread. Other restaurants in the area worth returning to: Chez Nathalie (a woman chef?!), L'avant Gout, L'Ourcine and and interesting chocolate shop Gerard Mulot.

Saturday strimming & thinking about desserts

1 week to go to the big party....

Bank holiday this weekend. Nice fine day so outside clearing up, strimming and mowing.

Went to the butchers in Larkhall to order the meat for next weekend - Turkey crown, lamb shoulders and rib of beef - for 40 (well we don't want to be short!).

Also started getting ready for preparing the desserts, so far - Rhubarb, Orange meringue tart; Tiramisu; Chocolate log with banana mousse; Key lime pie; Coconut tart wit passionfruit mascarpone; Liquorice & pear mousse; Champagne jelly with summer berries.

Jayne's job & a little Italian

Jayne had an interview today and had to give a presentation on "What teenaers are interested in". It went really well and they offered her a job. It is a part time (1 day a week) volunteer job providing guidance and counselling to teenagers. The organisation is called "off the record" and is based in Bath. It will be a great starting point for her. She will probably start August/September. One good part of the job is that she will get a lot of training in this field.

A little italian...

Sono Lloyd. Sono di New Zealand. Mia mogli e Jayne.
Abbiamo una grande casa a Bath.
Abbiamo una figlia - Georgina.
Ho lavorato alla Worldcom per due anni, addesso lavoro alla Orange - France Telecom a Bristol. Ho lavoro con i computer.
Siamo in vacanza in luglio. Andiamo a Pontremoli, Italia. E molto bella.
Vado a Paris settimana prossima per due giorni.
---
I am Lloyd. I am from New Zealand. My wife is Jayne.
We have a big house in Bath
We have a daughter - Georgina
I worked for Worldcom for 2 years, now I work for Orange.
I work with computers.
We are on holiday ini July. We are going to Pontremoli, Italy. It is very beautiful
I am going to Payrs next week for 2 days.

First outing for NZ cycle top

Cycled to work again today and wore my new New Zealand top - very smart!!
If the weather is anything like yesterday it will be a scorcher.

Headphones and cycling

Early rise at 5:30am, still not into routine after NZ trip. Fixed headphones, tiny wires had come off and needed resoldering - they sound good.
Misty start to day but has turned out fine. Cycled into work. Excellent time on the bike - 76 mins there and back, 20 miles (avg 15.5 mph) - compared to 100 mins at beginning of year.

Back in the UK

Back in the UK after flight from NZ - touched down about 11:00am and home in Bath about 2:00. No problems with the trip although plane was crowded and the ride quite bumpy. All is well and its great to be home and to see the girls.

Georgina's new top from Grandma, George's new party shoes

Time to leave NZ

Sunday and the day was mainly spent with Mum & Dad doing computer stuff - sorted photos, added wrought iron table to TradeMe, fixed music recording etc. Faye & Ray took us to airport at 06:00pm. Sad to leave Mum & Dad & NZ - it was a great trip. Flight at 09:30 - aircraft full.

Blossoms and Bowmans

Lunch at Blossoms cafe near Kumue.
Saw Del boy at his car yard

Dinner with Ray & Faye at Bowmans in Mt Eden Road. Excellent food - hapuku (grouper) with peas, roast fennel, gnochi, gorgonzola creme as main was beautiful. Dessert was JAFA - milk chocolate mouse, oramge sorbet, lattee and dark chocolate ganache - memories of Masterchef semifinal desert.

Golden Wedding celebration

A wonderful day to celebrate Ivan and Ngaires Golden Wedding Anniversay.

It started with a video call with Jayne & Georgina in UK and a call from Gary, Lisa & Ruby in the UK.


other stuff happened...

Celebration at the Cornwall park kiosk in the afternoon

Chocolates, Fish & Chips and Pasta

Morning was spent driving out to Clevedon and browsing through Wool/Craft shop. Managed to get top for Jayne (Red Merino wool, Possum and Silk) and Georges black NZ rowing top.

Visited Clevedon chocolate shop and bought a few supplies to take home and also for Faye & Ray. Dad got free chocolate bar.

Lunch was fantastic fish (snapper) and chips at Kaiaua down the coast. Fish & Chips as they should be - out of newspaper - probably some of the best I have ever had. Lime milkshake was also good.

Out to dinner with Chris, Stephen and Trudie at Delicous retaurant. Excellent pinot noir and tortollono filled with pumpkin. It was great to see them and catch up with all the news. Hopefully they will be moving into their new house soon.

Hilary's birthday lunch

Lunch at McK... restaurant at Cheltenham beach, Auckland. Beautiful views

Badminton Horse Trials

Lunch at Badminton - beautiful fine day and plenty of food.