A Weekend in Paris

I went a bit mad last week.  On the Monday I booked a trip to Paris and on Friday lunchtime I had arrived in the capital of France.  I realised that week that I have lost my spontinaity, the ability to abandon thoughts of what a weekend may hold and throw things in a bag and go and explore.  I miss the old me.

But there was a great reason to visit Paris and I am so pleased that I went.  Having friends over from Australia for a holiday has seen me wanting to spend as much time with them and their two adorable children.  They hired an apartment in the 17th in Paris and I booked a hotel in the adjacent street -close enough, but not too close!

And I managed to do quite a bit on this jaunt – Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Couer (in the evening for the view of Paris), Eiffel Tower – arrive before it opens to avoid queuing for too long, bistro lunch, boat trip along the Seine, Notre Damme, Eiffel Tower at night for the light show, flea markets and the Luxembourg Gardens.  I could have done more but this was the perfect weekend for seeing things but relaxing a little too, and spending time as ‘Aunty Pru’ makes me very, very, happy!

This was my first time visiting Paris and I am still wondering why I hadn’t been before.  It takes just over two hours from London.  I will have to return, soon!

~ Pru

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The Olympic Summer of not Blogging

So I admit that the decision to take a break from blogging was quite a quick decision and I wasn’t sure if the break would tell me to stop blogging altogether or help me sort out the problems I was having (with blogging).

Rejoice!

Because I’ve figured it out and I’m back with renewed energy and some pretty darn good posts on the way! (Including a great giveaway starting on Monday).

Whilst the sun barely shon and the temperature hit 30 twice, the summer was busy. I finished for my summer break by telling you about the 33 things that were taking over my life.  I think we are down to about 25 things – I have green beans and runner beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but some of the vegetables have had their day and are finished.

Of course, I’m a London gal and the Olympics seemed to make everyone proud of their country and city and I couldn’t have been prouder of my home town.  I made a few trips into town beforehand and the bunting strung from nearly every lampost and the atmosphere all around was heartwarming.  Whilst we didn’t go to the Olympics we have got tights for the Paralympic swimming on the 7th and I’m very excited.

Top to bottom:

(1) The Gloriana travelling along the Thames at Barnes with the Olympic Torch; (2) Tower Bridge proudly displaying the Olympic rings; (3) Mum and I went into Richmond Park for the cycling event, crowds built up very quickly; (4) Runner Beans growing at the allotment; (5) The allotment looking from the compost to the shed; (6) Honeycombe & Chocolate Vienetta following a trip to Norwich.

You’ll be pleased to see that I kept to only a few photos, Tower Bridge especially had lots of photos taken of it as I saw it open (which I’d never seen before).  The boat coming through the bridge had Rule Britannia playing which must be the most patriotic thing I’ve ever witnessed.

How was your summer?

~ Pru

33 Things

Via Pinterest via Lara Rhyner

Last Sunday as we were leaving the allotment after a couple of hours of weeding, and building, and planting, we made a list of what we are currently growing. Want to know what that list reads like?

• Tomatoes
• Lettuce
• Green beans (x 8 rows)
• Peas (x 4 rows)
• Swedes
• Parsnips
• Peppers
• Chillies
• Spring onions
• Red onions
• Runner beans
• Squash
• Onions
• Artichokes
• Garlic
• Sweetcorn
• Potatoes
• Red spring onions
• Broad beans
• Shallots
• Beetroots
• Cabbages
• Sprouts

At home we are also growing more tomatoes and leeks. I am proud of this list. I cannot wait to eat all the produce that we are growing, and to make jam and share these foods with friends. I wake up thinking about the allotment and garden and go to bed with further plans of how we can make it better.

I have come to the decision that to fully enjoy summer and all the other things going on beside the vegetables, I am going to take a blogging vacation. I’ll be back on the 1st September when I will hopefully be renewed and afresh!

Have a great summer!

;

~ Pru

P.S. I’ll still be on Twitter and on Instagram (find me at Perfecting Pru).

Living for the weekend

If you are anything like me, then Monday arrives and you groan and then start wishing that it was the weekend again.  My colleagues and I do it and every week there is always one of us who was sure that Thursday was actually Friday.  They are then consoled for the next two days!

 

But I have been thinking about the weekend more this last week after reading Jane’s post and how much burden I put on myself through all my wild ideas for those two days.  I write a list and aim to get so many things done, all the bits that I haven’t crammed in to the week, like laundry and cleaning and blogging and shopping and wrapping presents and cooking.  And the weekend can turn in to a bit of a nightmare.

 

Usually I spend Sunday evening wondering what on earth happened to the weekend!

 

I am entering this weekend with no firm plans at all.  I had had plans to go to see Bugsy Malone with some fellow bloggers but I have cancelled them.  The weekend is resting on whether my grandfather remains in hospital or whether he goes home.  See, there is a plan (of sorts) to go up to Norwich and clean the house.  And I don’t mean just hoover, I mean deep clean it.  I am finding the prospect of doing some deep cleaning this weekend quite therapeutic.  And if grandad comes home, then I will just see what happens.

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Do you have plans and are you like me, and cramming as much as you can into these two days?

 

 

~ Pru