* - nine years - *

(Photo from Guille, for info, contact Atina Alga)

And what better way to celebrate than a magic trip on the other side of the world? If you have any special good adresses for Japan, any cool places to see / not miss, I'd love to hear from you!

It's back on!!

Oh yes, for the first time in a loooonnnnnng time, I have finally gotten round to doing a bit of sewing. I made this curvy clutch with the patterns I purchased last autumn.

I have added some ribbon on the side, I think it makes it nicer, and you can slip your finger through it.

I am not so happy with the pocket though, it's looking a bit flappy. Any ideas how to improve on that for next time?

fox

This afternoon I spotted one of our local foxes again. I watched him play with a ball, and was amazed to see how much he beahaved like a cat!
When I finally reached for my camera, he spotted me and looked right into my eyes...

women

Yesterday Atina Alga posted a song dedicated to all women. I feel it's my turn now, but I have chosen a tongue-in-cheek one from one of my favourite French movie of the last few years:

**Les chansons d'amour**

In it, the divine Louis Garrel cannot help himself and is part of a cheeky menage-a-trois.
I really recommend this (very musical) movie to any French cinema lover. I have become obsessed with all its songs. Here's one of my favourites. Enjoy it!

le pont Mirabeau

My late grandmother had this poem framed in her house, just above the armchair and next to the window. I remember reading it over and over in my childhood, then as time went on I sort of forgot about it. Driving home just now, one of its line sprung back to memory,

"La joie venait toujours apres la peine"

(Joy always came after sorrow)

I guess it just sums up how I'm feeling right now. It has been a tough few weeks, and I am finally feeling happier with myself, with work, and life in general.

I was lucky enough to spend the week-end in Lille (well, I did have to look after 70 odd kiddos, but still!) and have brought back a few pics to share with you.

*The most dream-like of all sculptures - hanging floating nymphs at the Beaux-Arts metro station*

- The office tourism building -

- A humback cat in the "rue des chats bossus" -

**My perfect vision - a window full of lovely cakes!**

Hope you've enjoyed those. Lille is a beautiful town with plenty to see...and it's only a couple of hours away by Eurostar, so it's an ideal place to visit for a week-end. Now that I'm feeling miles better, I'm sure you'll excuse me as I have about a tonne of French food to go prepare/cook/relish/devour!!