Life is strange, so let's go to England

South coast of the UK

A lovely little two week holiday popped up suddenly this April, how time flies in Paris. I had only planned for 5 days back in the UK but, such is life, I ended up staying the full 2 weeks.

Presented without comment...

While I catch up on my grammar homework and job applications, I just wanted to post a few shots from my time hanging in the old motherland.

Although I didn't actually get to go home at all, I still spent every second with my family (and one cheeky old friend who slipped in there!). But despite the strange circumstances, reconnecting with the people I love was a perfect way to spend my quinze jours.

So thank you Great Britain. God save the Queen. How cute is Prince George? Thank you and goodnight.

Artkook cooking class

Tucking in after all our excellent work

 I must admit, although I love French culture, the fancy haute cuisine doesn't particularly rock my boat. I'm happier with a bottle of wine and a stick of bread in a parc than in a Michelin-starred restaurant. However, thanks for Artkook, I found a cooking course in my price-range  and figured that if I'm going to try it, now is my moment. So one Saturday afternoon, I headed to a very swanky parisian loft to have a class with Romain, our very charming guest chef.

Thankfully the Finnish girl was brave enough to tackle the fish...

I don't think the translations will sound as nice in English so here is a copy and paste of our menu:

- Risotto aux betteraves, coulis d'herbes et marscarpone de parmesan
 -Lieu jaune rôti, pastilla de légumes aux épices du maghreb, écume de poivron rouge
- Tartare d'ananas au citron vert, fruit de la passion et mousse coco

Simple translation = beetroot risotto, pollack, then pineapple with some nice bits!

Great team work, could be mistaken for Saturday Morning Kitchen...

The class is supposed to be as hands on as possible, which, quite rightly, includes doing the washing up. So the final meal is only as good as you make it. And I must say, we were pretty impressed even if it took a little longer than expected. My favourite was definitely the risotto, since the beetroot was so gorgeous! Look at those colours. Yum.

Our final result. Qu'est-ce que t'en penses?

Three hours of cooking, homemade wine and the meal itself, it was an amazing evening. Find the group on meetup.com where the lovely Jessie is always organising new events. Nice to enjoy some more sophisticated French food. Hold the escargot though, that is still too soon.

Thanks to Jessie for letting me use her brilliant photos!

The Positive Destruction of Books

Isn't it lovely?!

I love reading. I read everyday on the bus and in the metro. Sometimes I read in the bath and, yes, sometimes my books have to dry out afterwards on the radiator. But what can I do?

The point I want to make is that reading is not something I do in a comfy reading chair in the corner of my personal library (although a girl can dream). I read out and about and therefore I am a Believer in the Positive Destruction of Books. I know it is a controversial subject amongst my bookworm friends, but I break the spine. I'll do it almost immediately, and will keep breaking it the whole way through until the final page. I shove big books into small bags and the pages become dog-eared and a little bit dirty. To me, if I have destroyed a book, it means that I loved it. It went everywhere with me and I manhandled it in every way possible and now it will take pride of place on my bookshelf with the other worn-out books.

My current read, my amazing library card, my next read

I think this stems from my mid-teenage years when I didn't like reading but everyone else in my family did. So now I prove that I read. Look at this book, "Isn't it well read", they'll say! It doesn't make much sense but I think my books are beautiful. It is clear to the eye that I've pulled out each word, and the characters have been forced to come everywhere with me, the cover has been fused into my hand and crushed under the pressure of my need to get to the end. I destroy books, but positively.

Are you a spine-conserver or a spine-breaker? I am having to be careful now that I have a library card, but I'm sure the librarians will understand! Thanks for Monika, for bringing this up over cocktails on Thursday, it's always nice to be reminded of the awesomeness of reading!