Paris for May Birthday part III

We are now on the third day of Ian's birthday!!!
We are meeting up with Julia & David in the square then going on to meet the others at the restaurant.  We stroll round the wide streets and one or two narrower ones and eventually reach the restaurant. 
 The tables are outside  - quelle surprise!!! - and we take our places.  From where we are seated we can see the promenade and decide we will go for a short walk along there after lunch.  


We meet two more friends and the food with wine begins to flow, the service is very good, as is the food.  Sitting here in the shade to eat our food and then the wind protectors are rolled back so that our coffee is served in the sunshine - perfect!

After lunch we go our separate ways, some back to work, some to rest, some to prepare for the evening buffet and us .... to walk the promenade.

There is such a change since we last visited the walkway - the sun is shining, the plants are in full flower and the folks walking/jogging are just the locals, no weekend families here today!
As we walked along we spotted the restaurant where we had lunch, it now looks deserted but come evening time ....
Many of the trellis have roses twined around them and this one was magnificent, it looks so perfect but had no perfume.  We sat nearby and found that we were not the only ones to be mesmerised by its beauty - hardly a person passed without seeking an aroma which wasn't there.  
Most of the planting was very complementary and I wish I was around when this digitalis goes to seed!  The colour is a perfect backdrop to the rose.
We spent a very pleasant few hours walking some, sitting some, watching some, viewing over the side.  Every City should have one of these elevated gardens, so wonderful. 

We found this plant which we have never seen before so we will have to research this one!!

After a while we realised that we would have to leave if we wanted to be on time for Ian's for Evening Buffet.  We met up with M and went up to the flat were Mandy, Neil and Ian had prepared a beautiful meal.  With the patio doors wide open, the views of Paris in the sunshine was a brilliant backdrop to an evening of good food, wine and conversation - again? yes!!!!

We met up with more friends, someone from Sutton Coldfield - of all the places in all the world .............
Another day over we returned to our hotel for our evening coffee in the courtyard and to our room for sleep.

Paris for May Birthday party II

Today we have a picnic/barbeque lunch .......
After our Croissants and Coffee, we wandered down to the Metro.  We had written instructions so 'knew' where to go, and managed to meet up with M, who had to buy a rail ticket and then we had to find the SNCF station!!  All good fun an eventually, in pouring rain, we arrived at Sevres and met up with two other guests.  The station is considered to be very close to the house, which it is, BUT .....
... in the rain, uphill and down hill, on the pavement and on the road, it seems a long walk ....

Our hosts, Catherine and Andre, with Julia & David

The house is beautiful, old and loved, set on the hill.  
As it is raining, a large table has been set up in the conservatory and the guests are slowly arriving.  

Serious discussion going on here!

Some food is already on the table  - with wine of course! - and then food and wine continues to appear most of the day - forget lunch!!!
Most of the guests were at La Grille the previous evening so we sortof knew everyone so lots of hugs and kisses were in order.  

There were several types of pate, a speciality one Pate de Tetes, was made by our host and absolutely delicious!  I have asked for the recipe ......  

Nothing like me!!!

The bread came straight from the Baker Bag  behind the door, fresh and varied.  

There was lots of conversations, we moved seats and mingled.

An old French tradition was brought out, lovingly made by our hosts I think!!


More food and more wine and then it was time for the present giving, cake and a song...... or two ......

The singing broke out on several occasions, ably led by our lead singer!!

As you can see we have now reached the cheese tray section of the meal.

The cake was amazing, consisted of several layers, each smaller than the other and then the piece de resistance - the icing on the top!!


One of the funniest parts of the afternoon happened next ....
Remember that we are all by now very happy - again!
It was decided that some form of alcohol should be poured over the cake and set on fire.  A ladle was brought out and the alcohol was warmed ....... it did not appear to catch fire .... so more alcohol was brought out in a larger container ........ a small saucepan was brought out ......
eventually the cake caught fire amid much applause and laughter.  One of the funniest half hours I have enjoyed for a long time.

One of the guests offered me some apple juice but reading the label I could see that it was very strong apple juice!!!  Eventually I tried a mouthful and it was very strong - almost like whisky! - and the glasses were passed around the table for all to taste!
What a superb afternoon/evening.  As we left the party Jeff, who we sat by the previous night,  arranged for us to be driven to the tram station by one of the other couples who were also leaving just then.  That was such a kind gesture and meant a lot to us.

Standing - Birthday boy, our chauffeurs and arranger.

A final toast in Champagne to the hero of the day - happy birthday Ian ....again!

Paris for May Birthday part I

Paris I

It sounds so simple ......... visit Rover I for his birthday party.
We booked through Eurostar so most of the work was completed for us, our Hotel would be on the East side of Paris as I hoped to include a visit to see some artwork.
Our early start went without hitch and we even managed to find our Hotel without any problems except for the beggars in the Gare de Nord.  There is security on the watch for them but they are masters of their game and 'just appear' in front of you on one pretext or another.

Our Hotel was just off a wide boulevard, within easy reach of the Metro, bus and tram.  We had asked for a ground floor room and were shown through a private courtyard to our room.  
The 'room' consisted of two smallish rooms, each with its own bathroom.
After checking in and unpacking, we got ready to go out for the first night of the 'Party'.  
We travelled on the Metro to Place d'Algre and we were warmly welcomed into the Charolais for the meeting up and first drinks.
There were several new friends to be made, lots of wine to drink and gorgeous food to be eaten.
Several hours later, and all very happy, we moved along the road to La Grille.  We were seated outside in comfy chairs and the fun began.......
Because we were all 'happy' the poor Maitre D was unable to take any orders from us all and ended up putting all the food onto the table and leaving us to sort it out for ourselves!!!!
We left early to return to our Hotel, not really knowing our way very well, but I understand the party continued for a few more hours. 
We stopped at the Bistro on the corner for a coffee and sat in the internal courtyard, feeling so 'French'!!!!!
The view within this courtyard was just of the backs of the rooms in the front part of the Hotel, which made us think that at one time this Hotel was once a private house.  It is being refurbished and I have to say that we found it to be very clean and the staff very helpful - and there is a Boulanger right opposite the front door so with the coffee shop and the cake shop ..........
We will definitely be back!

Hospitals!!

We were woken in the middle of the night - 01.20hrs to be precise - and decided to make a visit Heartlands Hospital to get medical treatment for N.  She was very poorly and eventually had to be admitted onto the wards
.  


We spent the next week visiting her in hospital taking in a few supplies and trying to help her get better.  She eventually returned home, quite weak and definitely knowing she had been ill!!


We went down to Radlett to visit a friend - see earlier post - for a couple of days, then after returning home we were informed that C needed to go to Heartlands Hospital!
After spending most of the day in the Maternity Block we were told we could go home as there was 'nothing much doing'. 

The next day, Heartlands had no room so C had to go into Good Hope at Sutton Coldfield - The Royal Borough of ... that is - So off we went.  
It was certainly very impressive, the signs and assessment unit featured purple - a good colour!
After being assessed C was transferred to the Delivery Suite and the hard work began!  Now remember that this is Saturday, C has been allowed downstairs to take lunch with us and then Future Dad and Future Grandma are the only ones allowed to sit with her back in the Delivery Suite.
By Sunday teatime, C is totally exhausted so off she went to Theatre and at 18.32hrs Dexter Nicholas made his appearance!!  
A boy!!! 
a Gorgeous, Healthy Boy!  

I am so proud of my little girl!  She worked soooo hard, and produced such a wonderful baby boy!  
He is gorgeous!!!

Congratulations to the wonderful parents!

Annual Spring Trip to Radlett II

After we had breakfast, we drove out through Boreham Wood looking for somewhere to park up for while and as we drove along we spotted a Garden Nursery which advertised a restaurant.  

Time for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake we thought .....

As we parked, we noticed that there was an aquatic centre on the site, so we agreed to visit that area first.

The site was very well maintained and then I saw them ...... Steampunk Fish!!!!

Isn't it beautiful?  I am in love so what else can I do ....... we are now the proud owners of Steam and Punk!!!!

Once the fish were safely packaged for the long journey home, we retired to the restaurant and had a cup of coffee, no cake!  

Home Made Lemonade was for sale on the counter so I bought a take-a-way for the journey.

We reached Abbotts Langley, met up with Rover 2 and had lunch at Aroma Kitchen as before. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, during the journey home the heavens opened, but as we neared home the skies cleared so we managed to add our two new fish to the pond.

Annual Spring Trip to Radlett

The production we were going to see was called  'Children of Eden', a musical I have never seen before, and we were really looking forward to seeing it .... and meeting up with our friend, Rover 2.

We decided to visit EMN's resting place on the way down as Sister 2 said it was wonderful in bluebell time, a sight to be seen.  We travelled down in the wonderful sunshine and easily found our way to the woods .......

Miles and miles of bluebells underneath the trees .... I have never seen anything like it in my life!!!  And the smell ...... I didn't know bluebells could smell so wonderful, not quite overpowering but wonderful......  it was magical!  
We wandered through the bluebells, looking and admiring the bluebells all round us, following the path to the tree where EMN's ashes had been strewn.  We couldn't ring Sister 2, no phone.  I took lots of these photos, I wanted to keep the scene alive for the future.

As soon as we returned to the car, PJ phoned her only to find that she was not at home in Wales, but visiting friends who lived not too far away from the woods.  Circumstances dictated that she would not be able to meet up with us so we will email her some photos - the joys of modern technology!!!

After dinner we drove on to the Theatre to watch the show.  As per usual the production was pure enjoyment with the stars shining - 'Adam' and 'Eve' were excellent singers, although to be fair there are no bad singers among the cast, young and old  ........ maybe that's why we enjoy it so much!

We returned to our room for a good night's sleep in preparation for a long journey home again.

A busy life means .....

............. No blogging gets posted!!

No doubt there will be a flurry of posts as I think back to the month of May, it went by in a whirl of travel, excitement, and activity - not necessarily creative!!

I am at home now for a few months, except for the odd day out here and there - odd being the word as well you know!!

Today I am out to market, baby munching and then hopefully finding time to post on my blogs.

see you later.................