Some pictures I found

I just found these pictures on my phone, the one below I saw a couple of days before I handed in my notice, it was written on a wall somewhere in Leeds

This image is of  the crowds of people looking at the garden at the Chelsea Flower Show. Its always amazing watching peoples reactions to something that you have worked so hard at

My last day at work!

A photoshoot for Eye Spy Gallery www.eyespygallery.co.uk all of the pictures are now on display in Cafe Creme, Bearsden, Glasgow!

Dan saying a fond farewell to our chicken neighbours in York

The journey begins

Paris: La tete dans les olives

If you ever get a chance go here http://www.latetedanslesolives.com/ its bloody great.

I read about this place on this great blog http://unlockparis.blogspot.com/2011/06/la-tete-dans-les-olives.html it's a tiny little deli in the 10th near the canal that has space for 5 people to sit around 1 central table and experience some rather fantastic Sicilian delights.

I had tried to book a table on the off chance that they would be able to fit us in, and luckily enough we were able to go one Friday lunchtime. Dan and I arrived on this ramshackle street to find the table set for two with a selection of olives, olive oil, bread and tapenade. Our charming host told us all about the different types of oil that the deli sourced from various farmers in Sicily, all of the oils are named after the farmers. We then told his how we had quit our jobs to go to France and our next stop was to be on a help exchange at Le Brewery. At this point our host looked a little worried and asked if we knew how much this wonderful intimate dining experience costed! I said yes, that it was 30 euros per head. Ahhh yes it is but that is for 5 people and you actually book the whole restaurant so it would cost 150 euros!!!

As you can imagine we were a little shocked but thankfully it had turned out that the owner had forgotten to tell me this so we were able to come to an agreement and enjoy one of the most memorable and fantastic dining experiences we have ever had.

The appetisers were: a salad of fresh orange, sicilian anchovies and thinly sliced shallots a bizarre combination but delicious. The citrusy orange sharpness cut through the salty anchovies to make a glorious zingy flavour combination. We were also treated to fresh mushrooms stuffed with capers which had been marinated in lemon juice & oregano and thin slices of carrot wrapped around a mint leaf and smothered in olive oil and parmesan and finally shredded cabbage with cured tuna

The pasta course was some of the most delicious pasta I have ever tasted. Capers, raisins and tuna belly with lashings of olive oil some garlic and mint - totally delicious. Desert was another masterclass in simplicity with thinly sliced apple doused in rum and lemon juice and sprinkled with icing sugar and crushed amaretto biscuits.

Paris: General wandering

Cycling up to Monmartre

Pere Lechaise Cemetary -  There is a bronze statue of Victor Noire which is rather realistic (especially in the trouser department) Legend has it that by placing a flower in his top hat after kissing the statue on the lips and rubbing its genital area will enhance fertility, bring a joyous sex life, or perhaps a husband within the year. This led to quite a funny discussion about what kind of memorial sculptures we might like to have, and whether or not we would mind being humped beyond the grave......

A bag of avocados for a euro - thanks very much!

Paris: Picnicking by the Seine

One of my favourite (and cheapest) things to do in Paris is take a picnic to the Seine. On an evening there are hundreds of groups of people playing music, drinking wine and eating bread and cheese and of course carrot rapee and celeraic. The bateaux mouches drive past at night and beam great torches along the river lighting up the sights and the picnickers. 

Paris: The Gardens of Versailles

 The Gardens of Versailles are the most visited gardens of the world, this was obvious when we visited, with queues snaking back and forth across the expansive courtyard. The sight of this enormous queue and the vast palace made me want to leg it back to the train station but we realised that you could walk straight into the gardens without even having to pay.

The approach to Versailles was a bit disappointing, the grand vista was interrupted by a massive car park on the left and coach parking  to the right which spilled out onto the approach and detracted from the splendid enormity of the palace itself. When we visited the French artist Bernar Venet had a number of installations which highlighted and distorted to the great vistas.

Versailles seems to be all about wide open spaces, vistas and a play on perspectives. The great French tradition of exerting power over nature and taming the wild into perfectly neat parterres and clipped ornamental structures - a bit like Parisian women!

Marie Antionette's hamlet was completely bonkers, an ornamental village in the style of a Normandy hamlet which she had built in 1783 in order to flee from the court of Versailles. The village was charming and the surrounding landscape much more welcoming that the austere formality of the palace gardens.

Paris: A month in Paris

Our flat was in the 5th near the Arab Institute, if you peered out the window you could almost see the Seine! The flat was rented through Jeu de Clefs (http://www.jeudeclefs.com/) and was absolutely lovely. It's was great to have an apartment rather than a hotel room, you could pretend to be a Parisian and keep as much carrot rapee, celeriac salad and packet omlette in the fridge as you liked.