Un Petit Tour de Paris

Bethanyinthebigcity first started life in the city of Paris, during a whirlwind year abroad spent in the greatest city on earth. Don't get me wrong, London is a fantastic home and I have been very lucky to travel to some other wonderful places, but Paris will always have my heart.  

I can't explain it but when I walk around the streets of Paris I feel at home, I know the back streets, the best restaurants and how the city works. I understand the brash french joie de vivre and I will never get bored of the golden hour sunlight bouncing perfectly off the Dior-grey Paris buildings. 

It seemed only fitting that I show AN where my heart really belongs, so just before Christmas (yes, this post is very late) we hopped on the Eurostar to the city of light. It also helped that we managed to catch Miss VN on her final few days living in Paris. 

VN acted as tour guide and showed us her Paris. I am a firm believer that you have to find your own slice of a city, you own 'quartier' of Paris and your own way. I was really excited to see V's Paris and to explore areas that I had not yet discovered. Thanks for being our guide V! 

We dashed about seeing all of the sights and even took a quick selfie under the Eiffel tower itself. 

On the final day we hired bikes and raced along the river from one side of the city to the other, and back again!. 

We were lucky enough to catch an old friend SAPG who kindly cooked us a lovely supper as we caught up over a fine bottle of wine. Again, we were fortunate to catch her just before she moved to South America! 

A wonderful few days in Paris which both warmed and broke my heart as I love and miss the city so much. 

Mood - In need of a croissant! 

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A Very British Summer

Up until this weekend, my summer has been a very British one. By that I mean I have been enjoying the temperamental British sunshine, freshly grown herbs and the plethora of sporting events that make up the summer season. 

Summer has whizzed passed so quickly and has become one big jumble of fun. 

This summer has included many hours spent watching Wimbledon and sharing in the fun with bowls piled high of strawberries and cream. 

We also spent a dream day by banks of the river Thames watching my two boys TS and CB race at Henley. I obviously cheered hard and soaked in the atmosphere with a few glasses of bubbles. 

BBQ's have become a regular Friday night feature in our house, with friends always invited and a fresh jug of whatever cocktail has been invented that day. It also gives me a chance to show off my new balcony garden. SM would be very proud that I have kept plants alive for more than a week!

I am not sure how, but AN coaxed me onto a boat and entered us into a sailing race. As much as I spent half the time terrifying and debating whether to push him overboard, I managed to restrain myself and even enjoyed racing across the bay with the hot sun warming my cheeks. 

We have spent blissful staycation weekends exploring the countryside surrounding Salisbury and enjoying the costal views in Dorset. 

With dinners out with friends, one police hunt and a cake tin theft, the summer has been a good one. 

Summer work parties and nights out with the best colleagues in the business helped to make my first working summer a little more pleasant. 

Of course, AN managed to find us a few events to pop along to, celebrating 300 years of the KRH with a dinner at the Dorchester and a parade and polo match in Tidworth. 

All in all, summer has been wonderful and even more excitingly, this is only the beginning because tomorrow AN and I are hopping on a plane to Singapore for some real summer sunshine and another whirlwind adventure. 

Mood - grateful 

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