The Crepey Cube

[cremolafoam]

I went to a family wedding once where the toast was in Pomagne. The groom was supposed to be marrying someone else the month before, it was all called off at the last minute, and days later we got another wedding invitation with another bride. It didn't last. A few years later he got married to someone else. She was very very posh and her parents were, frankly, horrified at how far down she was marrying. That didn't last either (I think it was less than a year) - he set fire to someone's house and got put away. He is now on his 5th marriage...

He makes my list of exes look shiny and new.

On to the next section...

He sounds lovely!

The weather here is so atrocious, that it is frankly scary. Lashing wind and rain - there is no way you could even venture out anywhere.....

MrsS - and I thought Eastenders was far fetched :)

I keep thinking about giving up, but, I like it too much :)

I've been thinking our south-westerly crepeys, and hoping they're still inside an upright, dry house. It all looks faintly apocalyptic.

Poor you Beachy - I had to walk to a meeting in the wind and rain today and it was vile, but nowhere near as bad as you've had.

NU, we are thinking of either Sri Lanka or Costa Rica (independent stylie) in the summer!

Rudy, stop it! I soooo want to go to California!

So do I! Again! I did San Fran, Big Sur, LA, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Fran. I bloody LOVED it.

Currently plagued by draughts. There's one howling in from the understairs cupboard, one seems to be coming round the loft hatch, and a massive great hurricane coming through the cat flap. Fannying about with draught-proofing strip seems to be making no difference.

Is this obsession yet another sign of crepeydom?

DP wants to go to Venice.

I am sticking my fingers in my ears and going lalalala about money.

Also I am going - I AM GOING, dammit - to India in November. I may need help sorting this out...

God, just saw the railway line in the west country. Who said global warming wasn't happening?

On the cocktail front - an honourable mention for Southern Comfort and lemonade

Rudy - I really like the area around St Andre des Arts. Metro St Michel, walk up rue St Andre etc and at the end cross the Boulevard St Germain into St Germain de Pres and eglise St Sulphice. You can then cut back up and take the Pont Des Arts which will bring you back to the Louvre.

What is your fav restaurant Mrs S?

Hope you're feeling a bit better today Stropps and that herbs junior has made a full and speedy recovery.

Rudy, we'll probably do the same again this year. We have friends in Santa Rosa and they have invited us again if we want to go. Last year we were at Tahoe with DS and his family so this time I would like to do some more cycling as it wasn't practical with a one year old. A couple of years ago we stayed north of LA for a couple of days and then drove down towards San Diego - I love the PCH, I kept on making DH stop every, so it seemed, hundred yards or so, as I was drooling over the marine life. I was beside myself when I saw a pair of dolphins swimming along parallel to the shore. The only place which you mention that we haven't visited is Yosemite.

I am quite taken with the idea of Umbria now - watch this space.

On a S & B note, we decided to go to the Metro Centre this afternoon so we could have a walk in the dry (dragged DH along). We actually went into Debenhams to have a free tea/coffee with our DT subscription and ended up buying - in my case a lovely dusky pink trench mac, and in his case a thick waterproof jacket suitable for all winter weather, a shirt and a sweater. I felt quite virtuous as he spent more money than I did.

I shall share (ie get you all to kick me into touch) about India at another point. Am exhausted and run-down atm. DP has texted me saying he has picked up blackcurrant lemsip, balm-infused tissues and hedrin. I texted back saying romance isn't dead, then

But at least I've finished my Run Fat Girl Run feature, though I see I am supposed to be interviewing an expert for it tomorrow (oops). And tomorrow I have to write about children and gut problems. Such fun.

Oh MI what help do you need???

And all this talk of forin locations is making me as we are not likely to get anywhere this year.

MI, DH used to go to India on business; not as often as some of his colleagues, but often enough. Some of them used to cut their stays as short as possible and exist on Mars bars whilst they were there. DH was once extremely ill and, in fact, his stomach problems now probably lead directly back to that incident. Not wishing to put you off .....

We did briefly discuss going there for a holiday but he was quite adamant that it would upset me too much as the poverty is so appalling. Also I do remember him telling me that at one hotel when he got up to go to the loo in the middle of the night, there was lots of crunching as he walked - cockroaches on the floor. - shudder - . However his last trip was 2007/8 so perhaps it has improved since then.

Ah, NUFC, my mother is from India and I've lived there at various points as a child, so my Stuff is a bit different. I haven't been back for about 17 years and for a number of reasons am finding it hard to gear myself up for it. Though in all honesty the prospect of some fabulous food is a lure - I'm more of a 'stuff yourself on South Indian idlis' than a Mars Bar girl

Ah, MI, totally different situation then. Family can always be relied on when hoteliers may not. You might as well go for it. And I will be interested to hear your comments after you get back - you never know I might be able to persuade DH to go again.

Agh just had a full invite to wedding in Vegas ! I thought we'd just be invited to the knees up here. Quandary now as I was plannng to go to NYC with a friend this year. And the friend has also been invited to the Vegas wedding.

Ah Rudy paris , I second that wander suggested by Hatty but would throw in the rue de Buci and possibly a wander through the Luxembourg gardens while you're about it.
Or if you're heading towards Notre dame there are nice shops on the Ile St. Louis and of course Bertillon for an icecream.
Fave places to eat for us:
trad bistro
delish
operated as a co-op workers cafe/ good value elbow to elbow

[[http://www.bistrotters.com/?lang=en
www.seriouseats.com/2008/08/fun place in the 14th]]
best-falafel-las-du-falafel-mi-va-mi-chez-marianne-the-marais-paris-france.html falafels to go but worth waiting for a seat]]
Latin quarter excellent food
And a trip to the Musee d'orsays dining room at lunchtime is a delight. Also book able on Thursday evenings I think.

Crem, I am afraid I am very shallow, I love Vegas. Strangely enough I think that Vegas and NYC have the same sort of vibe. I am not a city person at all. There is an energy in both that I find appealing. I would opt for the wedding, too though, as you can go to NYC any time.

Mi-va-mi was my falafel of choice in the Marais. I am not putting my favourite resto on here for all the hoi polloi to see as it is small and off the beaten track, but if you want to go, PM me. You will need a French speaker to book it, and say that I sent you. MI can vouch for its deliciousness. Best food anywhere, and I have eaten in some fairly poncy places in my time.

Blackduck - my family are just like Eastenders - less violent and slightly less bent than the Mitchells.