Chez Moi 2

Quite alot has been happening since the last time I updated my blog. Firstly Dad came to visit me for a week, and James (my brother) also came for a couple of days. It was great to see them both. Dad had already done a tour of Paris, so he had been to all the main attractions so I spent the weekend with him showing him around some lesser known but interesting areas of Paris, like rue Moufftard and the Canal St Martin, and the back streets of Montmartre. We ate pastries for breakfast and cheese and wine in the evenings. On sunday we went to Montparnasse, an area in Paris which is famous for it's creperies, and ate some really good crepes for lunch. James arrived on Monday, and we decided to stay in as James hadn't had much sleep and dad was getting a cold. We ate lots of cheese and wine and talked alot. The next couple of nights we spent going out to (french) restaurants and drinking in Irish pubs (not very french but James needed some good guiness).

In the middle of all that I was searching for an appartment, as there had been a change of plans and I suddenly had to be out of the house by the end of the week (ie the day after dad left!). So I spent most evenings going straight from work to visit appartments before meeting Dad and James for dinner. So that was a bit stressful. I saw so many tiny flats and weird or run down places, that I thought I would never find anything decent, and every good one seemed to be snapped up in seconds. Finding a decent sized flat in Paris is a challenge! Eventually I found a nice place in the 5th which I am very happy with. It is very close to the centre of Paris (about 20 mins walk), close to the latin quatier where there are heaps of bars and restaurants, and very very close to rue Moufftard which I really like. It is a great area, much more lively and nicer than where I lived before, and closer to my work. The flat itself is smaller and not as newly renovated as my last one but I actually like it more. It feels more homey. I moved in on the weekend and so far am very happy there. I am sharing with a 30yr french guy, who seems very nice.

I ended up spending last week sleeping at various peoples places as I couldn't move into my new place straight away. Also the weather suddenly changed last week, from very mild to freezing within a day, so I was very unprepared. So saturday I spent the entire day shopping for wollen socks, tights, gloves, scarfs and warm layerable jumpers and jackets. I am still getting used to all the cold weather gear, like wollen tights under jeans, and wearing 4 jumpers at once, under a thick coat etc. It is all a bit strange, but so far I am holding up OK even though it has been 4 degrees when I am going to work! But it is going to be a long winter for me I think.

On saturday night I went to see Pete Tong (superstar DJ) at Mix, a very modern, fairly new club in Paris, with Alison. I had a really great night. I hadn't been out dancing for months and although I was tired from spending the entire day shopping for winter clothes, I ended up dancing all night. The music was great and the club was really well designed with great visuals and a huge dance floor with a big mezzanine level above.

Sunday lunchtime I dragged myself out of bed and meet up with VikiLee (who is now one of my best friends in Paris) and her husband and son for brunch. We went to a great place which is famous for it's brunches, and had the most fantastic food. They have heaps of homemade jams and confiture de lait - which is kind of like nutella but better and in many flavors - white chocolate, pralene etc. with great bread and pastries, as well as eggs and an amazing salad. I ate so much I could hardly walk and then afterwards we went to the movies to see "The last kiss", which was quite good.

Last night I went to the Australian embassy to watch an aussie film called "The caterpillar wish". It was quite good, but the ending was crap. I had never been to the embassy before and I was surprised how big to was. It actually has a cinema inside (where we saw the film), as well as an art gallery and library and heaps of stuff.

So I have been pretty busy lately, but I am feeling really good. I am happy with the way everything is going here, I love my new flat, my french is getting better and better, and I have made a couple of really good friends now. Work is also going quite well. It isn't the most interesting job I have ever had but so far I don't mind too much. I think because it is in french it makes it seem more interesting than it actually is.