Green days

You know I'm not currently blogging in real time right? That I'm perpetually behind? Good, because as we all know, it's now autumn here in the northern hemisphere, and it's not quite this green here anymore. In May we went to my father-in-law's place in the Cotswolds for a couple of nights, with friends, and it was so GREEN! Just wanted to reiterate that in case you missed it 😜

York randoms

Just a couple of days after getting back from Paris, it was time to hop on yet another train, but this time going north, to York, and hang out with our ex- London friends who now live there. Even though it's sad when friends move away, it's nice to be able to discover a new place, and to spend more concentrated time together. Last year when we were there in October it was really cold, so it was nice to be there in spring this time. 

I love S & P's home; it has such a great vibe, and is very pleasing on the eye, even when you've got someone aiming a Nerf gun at you.

Looking forward to the next time we hop on a train and head up there again!

Vermeer-ish

If Vermeer was alive now, do you reckon he'd paint this scene? Who knows, but the light when I took this certainly made me wonder.

Same same but different

A different view

Finally I think I've reached the end of my Paris pics from April. I took these from the top floor of Musée des Arts Decoratifs. Love how the Eiffel tower just fitted in perfectly like that. Au revoir Paris, you were effing brilliant. Bisous.

Off the wall

Sometimes walking below a wall gives you gifts.

Looking at Ren and Gio

We were lucky to catch the Ren Hang exhibition at MEP. I didn't know anything about him, but from just having a quick look at the gallery website, before our trip,  I knew we HAD TO go. His pictures are something else. So clean and graphic (some very graphic), shot with a point and shoot nothing fancy compact film camera on regular Fujicolour 200. Seeing how he worked, usually in his tiny bedroom, and more or less winging it during shoots was fascinating. You can see for yourself here.

We also made it to the Gio Ponti exhibition at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs on our last day. Same thing here, didn't know much about him, but came away with huge respect for his talent and productivity. He designed buildings, furniture, ceramics, silverware, and interiors amongst other things, as well as sending really cool letters to friends and family (2nd from last picture). He truly was a jack of all trades - master of all. Respect.

En peu plus

Heeeeeey. How goes it? Good I hope. So, I guess I better crack on with this huh? I mean, it's now exactly five months since I was in Paris - the first time this year. For reals, because we've been back again (en famille), during the time it's taken me to blog from my initial trip. Alors, here's a random selection of pictures from Pareee - the April edition! Usually when we travel, we stay in Airb'n'bs, but it's been real nice to have stayed in hotels a bit more recently. Staying in a twin room with my friend Z was great (sharing a room with a pal as an adult makes you feel like a kid again, doesn't it? I likes it. Although it helps if you keep the same hours, haha!); so here's Z at rest, the view from our room (how cool are those colourful tiles?!) and me trying to get some circulation back in my legs 'cause all them 17 000 steps or whatever we did a day really hammered my legs. Luckily my Blundstones are suuuuuper comfy, so it's all good.

Some of my Paris research. I like to be organised, but I wasn't super rigid with where we went. Just some definite places to head for, and then seeing where that in turn would take us.

Like seeing little secret courtyards, and quiet morning streets.

It's interesting how Paris is so steeped in history; ridiculously formal and beautiful in places, and rough and ready in others. The local street art scene helps keeping the city from feeling like a staid museum.

And you always have to look up, or you'll miss trees and birds and hangry signs.

These last three are from Jardins des Tuileriers, where we had our last lunch before we headed home on our trains. So strange to see spring here now, when IRL we're speeding towards autumn! I'll be back soon with more. This delay in blogging effects my picture taking - I don't carry my camera with me anymore, and I feel sad about that. Sigh.