Doin' the Lambeth Walk...oiy.

Waved Paris goodbye via the Eurostar.  What a great trip...even the tunnel didn't phase me.  Seemed to be over in no time.
Arrived in London, got settled into the new and last 'home' on this trip...which is brilliant by the way...super huge room in a very trendy and new hotel.  The staff were super friendly and all seems right in the world again....hhhhhahhhh (sigh)...then had a walk by the Thames, found a pub around the corner from the hotel and had a good old fashioned pub meal...cod and chips for Paul lol.
It was a bank holiday so the place was buzzing on the South Bank....
Today...an early breakfast and then out and about...if the weather permits we are going to hire the roadside bikes and go for a ride up to the borough markets.

Walk by the Thames.

Back in the Motherland

Paris -Take Two

If I didn't get to see or do anything else this year...at least I got to walk around Notre Dame, got to see it in all it's magnificent gothic glory....awesome. A positive memory of Paris to try to cling to and wipe away the horror that was this last week. 
What an amazing structure...I was literally in awe of it.  It was misty and spooky and well...just right.
Paul continues to be well and we are off to London in the morning.  I think we will both feel better for that.
I managed to get a pic of the Moulin Rouge...hookers across the road...or 'hoovers' as my auto correct wanted to say...bit of a seedy area...but then what else would it be like?
The arcade  in the pic reminds me of our very own Royal Arcade in Melbourne...do you think they copied it? hehehehehe  Lovely shops and boutiques.

Paris pics

On the Buses

We are pretty focused now on 'blowing this town' and getting to London...then of course getting home.  However, as we are stuck here until Monday, we thought we'd try to make the most of it.
After a relax yesterday once he'd rejoining the world, a good night sleep, some fresh air and his meds....we decided, since the Badger has been told to walk about a bit, that we would  get out and about.
After much deliberation we decided that one of those 'on-off' bus tours of Paris would probably be our best option.  The bus was parked right outside the hotel and it gave the option of pulling the pin at any time and returning.
It was actually really nice.  It was warm and sunny when we left and we sat on the upper deck with a brilliant view.
We had a really nice lunch near the Eiffel (alas not in it...we missed that..should have done that last Tuesday), but we did it last year so no biggy really.
Anyway I digress...we managed to see quite a bit before the storm rolled in and the weather changed.  We found our bus once it started to rain and lightning bolts were descending and we made our way back to the hotel.
On the way...the bus is diverted...blasted rioters again...the riot squad have roads block off   grrrumphft *@#&%~`#*...this is getting tiresome...Scotty beam me up...'Can't get to the UK soon enough.
I swear if I see any more rioters while I'm away I'm jumping out and smacking them around the chops with a wet trout. 
So today...day one of 'Paris take 2' was pretty good really.  We are back in the hotel room for an early night...and a movie.  Never leave home for OS unless you have a heap of books, movies, TV shows and the like on tablets/iPads and usb thingies...they have been a God send his last week. 
Tomorrow?  well we have  a 2 day pass...so
It's on the busses again.

A Badger in Paris

Making a little bit more...

Making the most of it

Going to Extremes

Well...I don't know Badger...I know 24/7 with me may have been challenging but I think checking yourself into a different 'Hotel' was a bit extreme don't you think?...you could have just said something....
So as most of you know,  things went a bit belly up upon our arrival in Gay Paris...as soon as we arrived an ambulance was called and Paul was whisked off to the very grand looking L'hopital L'lariboisiere (as seen in the photo of the garden in the foreground of the palatial building somewhat like cloisters).  Looks can be deceiving by the way...but that's a story for another day...needless to say I was relieved when he was out of there.  They got him back on his feet and that is the main thing..but I will never ever... ever hear a bad word about our hospitals in Australia ever again.
I know I must be sounding like a broken record now...but to all of you who were there for us...via 'messenger', phone and 'whats app' and email...I am eternally grateful.  For you gave me  my sanity in a totally insane situation.  I have been in awe of the amazing people we have in our lives.  Our amazing family and friends...we are truly truly blessed.
Anyway..on on...he's made the great escape and we can pick up where we left off...well, we can bide time hopefully pleasantly, before getting on that marvelous flying tin can next week and get home.
So that has been our week...
We had a sedate day yesterday taking a deep breath and today we are going to take a bus trip ...one of those on-off jobs around Paris.  Nice and slow and doable. He has to walk...so seems like a good way to manage both sightseeing, filling n time and getting his exercise.
Here until Monday and then back to the comfort of our second home land...

Gay Paris

Picking it all up again.

Champagne

We had yet another few hours in the car yesterday.  We got up late and had a leisurely start to the day and after packing up a picnic lunch of terrine and a small tart purchased from the Boucherie/Chatuterie, seen in the photo, and a crusty baguette  from the Boulangerie...we were off for another adventure. 
We cruised through the open country side and settled for our picnic lunch by the roadside of a small village in the middle of nowhere.  After a break and a scoff we were back on our way.  After 2 hours of driving through the Champagne country side, we saw rape fields in full bloom, asparagus fields, wheat fields and fields of lettuce...but not one single solitary grape vine.  We got all the way to Reims and despite seeing the huge and opulent champagne houses...not one vineyard. So how do they make the stuff?...by magique?
We were left an extremely nice bottle by our host (unopened btw)  but at dinner I did partake of a very small aperitif ....and I mean small....it was over the equivalent of  fifteen Australian dollars for the little thimble...but it was exquisite...and frankly I doubt I could have managed anymore than that anyway.  But I mean you can hardly come to Champagne... and not have...Champagne. 
We walked into the area suggested for a really lovely meal then back for an early night.  We were both shattered.   I think now we are into our 6th week.... a little fatigue could be setting in. 
So today?...what does it hold?  A trip around the cellars of G.H Mumm?  (my favourite tipple)...or or or?..no idea at this stage.  It's almost 9am...another coffee is needed for moi before I can face anything at all... and a bit more time sleeping in for the Badger.

From Burgundy to Champagne

and so...not bad eh?

Burgundy

How can we leave tomorrow?  I am just not ready.
As for the Michelin restaurant?...closed again...and so was everything else apart from the little wine bar directly across the cobbled street..why? meh it's Thursday?
Anyway....we have had the best day.  Just relaxing, got up late, watched some stuff on our tablets, tried to watch French TV but our French is way way too bad.  Had a walk...had another walk.   Talked to Val and Alan via facebook...how brilliant was that. I'm still a novice at a lot of this techno stuff...but I am loving it.
Tried to find some dinner...but alas...everything was shut...even the grocer by the time we popped our heads out the door.
Yikes sustenance...fuel????  The only place opened was the little bar.  Again...what a lovely experience.  Husband and wife shop and only too happy to help.  So a glass of wine and chartuterie ....a little platter of cheese and the amazing goods from the boucherie/chartuterie 2 doors down...so that was entree....and thanks to what I am sure was my mother in my ear the other day telling me to get some pasta...we are having Mac/Jac cheese...French style.  Made with what could be the most expensive but delectable cheese in the world...bought from the market the other day..and the said pasta.  Life is good harharhar.
PS.  our second walk included finding the ruins of the chateau....heavens...it nearly killed us....up a mountain side like 2 mountain goats...and when we got there...fascinating...then a little further walk and we found a make shift look out...and for the first time in flipping 5 weeks...I'd left the phone/camera behind..thinking I'd seen it all...idjit (I need that exclamation mark arhhh) The view was incredible...over the whole medieval village from such a height....amazing.  However, that is going to have to be filed in the memory bank...for there is no way on Gods fine earth am I going to traverse that hill side again. So Mac and cheese is done and time to sit and scoff and slosh and watch a movie...goodnight all and God bless. XXX

Still here...

Today in Noyers

Birthday dinner

What an evening...dinner...honestly the best so far..the food ..the wine...the chef is a genius. Can this night have been any better?...yes it can as it turns out.
We are savouring every morsel and then between bites...'hang on...that accent.... even if she is speaking French..is just a tad familiar?...Aussies?  seriously in the back blocks of France?...surely not...but yes.   So not only exceptional food and wine and already pretty brilliant company...then voila..an added bonus. 
Lots of laughs and chat chat chat....and a perfect day..a perfect night a perfect birthday has been had.   
Then home again home again jiggerty jig....these two little fed, watered and thoroughly content little piggies waddled home..all ten metres ....this is the view from our living room now.  Yes it's raining..yes the heater is on and yes had to retrieve the possum/merino pashmina from the case...and no doubt the boots again tomorrow...but who cares....bliss is an elusive thing and it comes in different wrappers....embrace them all I say.

Could this be a French Bonnie Doon? I mean the movie.