A long weekend in Paris

The day started with some panicked phone calls about the kitchen hot water service location. No one had mentioned it to me before as there is already a large HWS in the back pantry which serves the current kitchen so I guess I just assumed the water would be tracked abit further along the line and into the new kitchen. But that was not to be, so there were some Franglais conversations between me and the electrician, then some three way French chats with Emma Lou and the carpenter before it was finally decided the petite chauderie should be mounted above the Frigo (fridge). Not ideal but I think we'll be able to build a frigo alcove with a cupboard above that will enclose the HWS.

We still managed to lock up la maison, shutters et al and escape the building site with plenty of time to catch our 11.10 am TGV to Paris. Flying along at 293kms we were pulling into Montparnesse just 2 ½ hours later. We checked in to our delightful Home Exchange apartment in the 14th arrondisement - using the last of our HE guest points. It was simply perfect. You walked through a beautiful green oasis of several large trees and small sitting areas, to our apartment which was on the first floor, up a beautiful original dark timber staircase. It was compact and meticulous, but had everything we needed including beautiful full length windows that looked straight into the tops of the trees, and let so much natural light in. It was also totally serene, even with a fairly busy road out the front, skirting the Montparnesse cemetry.

I had a date with my Parisian beautician on the right bank of Paris so I hot footed onto the metro, marched past Gare de Lyon and was happy to be indulged for 1 ½ hours with a beautifully soothing facial. Came back to the apartment and picked up Roger and then headed out to out local restaurant and bar street, just around the corner for a GnT and some Thai beef - we were craving something 'fresh and tangy'. It hit the spot and we meandered home, some of us with over 18,000 steps under our belts.Read more