Our plants began to bloom and we planned a trip to Paris to celebrate my 69th birthday. As is our inimitable style worthy of a comedy sketch, it was filled with some odd left turns. Instead of the sunny, warm weather we expected, the first week started with cool, rainy days. But plans in place, we moved forward.
Before leaving Lille for Paris, we tackled a large project we expected to finish with ease. Just like we were sure of the nice weather for the Paris trip, we were sure to finish it in a day. The idea seemed simple enough, which really should have tipped us off to a different outcome.
I have journaled for nearly 30 years. Last spring when we had a niece empty the remains of our storage in the states, she brought the journals with her on a trip here since it was cheaper to check in luggage than try to ship it all. In the ensuing months, G and I read them all from beginning to end with pleasure. We were able to revisit people who have come and gone as well as the ups and downs of the life we’d experienced. When we finished reading the last of it, the question then became what to do with them all. It seemed wrong to just throw it away but who would be interested in the ordinary lives depicted in the pages?
That’s when the ‘simple’ idea was born. We decided to wall them up somewhere in this French apartment in which we are sure to spend our remaining days. The thought was that if the apartment was ever gutted for a renovation, say in a hundred years (don’t ask me why we thought that was a proper time span), someone might be curious enough to read it all. It relieved us of the unpleasant idea of the years of written documentation being shredded in recycle. We viewed the interior of the apartment for possible places that would be large enough to house it all and settled on a wasted space inside the pantry cupboard above the last shelf. The ceiling space could be used if you stood brooms or mops in an upright position – on a top shelf – which is already above arm’s reach. Yes, absolutely a waste of space. Our tallest item that was on that top shelf used a quarter of that upper space.
The appropriate space chosen, we devised a way to secure a shelf above the last one and how to make it look like a natural ceiling. We thought after installing it with the journals tucked up, we would paint it to match the pantry and the ruse would be completed. A trip to the hardware store and an afternoon of work, G had the first part of the task (the support structure) completed. The next day we rolled up our sleeves to tackle getting it all in place. What started out as a whim, “Oh, let’s hide it in the apartment for someone to find in 100 years!” turned into one of our biggest fiascos.
I can’t even begin to describe the number or variety of attempts to get the journals and the fake ceiling in place. Picture, if you will, two elderly people (yes we could live another 20 years but we can certainly consider ourselves elders at this point) shoving two packages, each weighing easily over 30 pounds, on a narrow board, above our heads in a tight space where four arms were not meant to fit. What upper body strength we thought we still possessed did not fit the stark reality facing us about a third of the way into the project. The two packages continued to slide on the shelf as we tried to hoist it into place and we were using everything we could think of to keep it all aligned, while propping it up. Brute strength was not in our arsenal.
G ended up having to rebuild the support mechanism when we determined that we hadn’t allotted quite enough space for the dimensions of the packages. More attempts to prop it up, even it out and push it in place included no less than every wood cutting board we had (we broke a few in the process), a pair of rubber gloves, shoes with non-skid soles, coat hangers and a wooden blunt end pastry rolling pin. After a hasty trip to the hardware store for a crowbar and even more support wood, we finally got it up and secured in place. Breathing a HUGE sigh of relief, we wearily eyed each other, both sporting an assortment of bruises on both arms and bloodied knuckles. It would have been a great thing to capture on video but it would have all been blocked by flailing arms and wooden props. It took 3 days and cost us a lot of body pains but it was finished and painted to match the rest of the pantry the night before we left for Paris.
Then on to the great getaway that I had planned. I’ve always wanted to eat at La Tour d’Argent, one of the most famous restaurants in Paris. Established in 1582, it has firmly held it’s gastronomic excellence and the top floor boasts of an uninterrupted view of Paris. For anyone who saw Pixar’s ‘Ratatouille’, the story was based on this restaurant. It had been closed for renovations for over a year and was slated to reopen on June 1st. By July 1st, it still remained closed but the management whom we contacted had assured us that it would open by August 1st. I picked a high end hotel near the restaurant and booked it in confidence. I planned to spend our two days in Paris, walking the neighborhoods and browsing little shops which we both love to do.
As you can guess, the restaurant remained closed due to ‘technical difficulties’ and it rained like India’s monsoons the entire weekend. The hotel was pricey because of the neighborhood but it was so spartan that we spent any reading time sequestered in the lobby as we did not have any access to easy chairs otherwise. It was not a relaxing room to hang out on rainy days. Hiking to any restaurant far from the hotel was not a comfortable proposition in the inclement weather but being Paris, this did not by any means deprive us of an excellent meal. And G showered me with birthday gifts all weekend, which NEVER hurts in the least ! Absolutely lovely late 1800 earrings. As I told a friend in an email, “Oh boo hoo – it’s raining on my birthday – while I’m being buried in birthday gifts and eating great food in PARIS !!” Boo Hoo indeed.
We chose Le Chanad as a replacement restaurant and were not disappointed. G had an inch thick pork chop and I had the braised rabbit dish. Utterly delicious on all points. The next night we ate at a Mexican restaurant, Anahuacalli and enjoyed another wonderful meal. It’s really not hard to find a great restaurant in Paris. As much as it rained, we still managed a few walks through favorite areas and shops. We did some small item shopping at a great artisan shop Pays de Poche which is a co-op of artists who still work at day jobs but take turns running the business. Highly recommend it if you’re wandering around the St. Germain area. Still, between the rain and the not so relaxing hotel room, we shortened the trip by a day and came home, where we really do relax.
Paris seems to be the place for me to lose things. The last item was a brand new mobile phone that I’d had all of one day. Shallow coat pockets could be the cause on that one. This time it was a pair of prescription sunglasses – my very first and a total indulgence (to me), so I was heartbroken. As they were in my rain coat, the probable cause was still another coat with shallow pockets. G never has that issue. Men’s jacket pockets are always deep and inside. Women’s are a hit and miss in the pocket department. I have never carried a purse after high school – I always hated toting them around. The short walking trips we took this time around the neighborhood did not warrant bringing our daypack. So now, reluctantly I am carrying a purse/bag. Just for the phone, a small wallet and sunglasses (when I replace them). Very small and very irritating. It’s either that or purchasing a fishing vest that is guaranteed to have enough pockets. What a dashing look. OK, small bag it is. And no, I refuse to wear a ‘fanny pack’ because that is also not a dashing look on MY fanny. Still, we had a great time in Paris, watching the progress on the Notre Dame rebuilding, checking in on old haunts and spying on those working on art over coffee.
Another project we finished this month, that we mentioned last month with photos, was painting a box we put together to hide the A/C unit. We used it maybe one or two days out of the year in the first few years but as the temperatures have steadily increased, our usage may too. With an apartment of this size, even though it rolls, it’s not something we can hide. After the box was built two years ago, decorating it was on the bottom of our project list. With the month off of classes and no trips planned, I decided it was time to make it look decent. After painting it a wash of subtle colors, drawing folds of ribbons, leaves and other French appropriate scroll work on top of that, I gave it another light wash and two coats of varnish. To complete the look, I added a frame molding, a knob and a faux key hole. It fits the apartment and doesn’t scream “A/C UNIT”.
Our upstairs neighbor, Audrey, house-sat this month for friends and invited us to dine there with her, her cousin Isabelle and copain, Patrice. The house was absolutely beautiful, with a lovely garden and resident cat. We visited over appetizers and drinks, enjoying the cool evening together. We made Reuben-Puffed Pastry Wheels and an alternative, Italian-Puffed Pastry Wheels, as well as deviled eggs, that everyone enjoyed. They all made us work on our French, which Isabelle swears is getting better. We are dubious but do love their company, so we just smile and nod when she says that. We really wanted to take pictures of the house but as being guests, thought it would be tacky and highly questionable behavior.
We were also lucky enough to be invited to the home of an acquaintance, Ana and her husband Max, as a thank you for giving them a table we no longer wanted. We went with another friend, Lucy (who is British) and her partner, Nico (who is French), whom we’ve gotten to know over time and are good friends with Ana. Ana is from Mexico, Max is French and they have two lovely kindergarten aged children, who already speak French, Spanish and English. They prepared a wonderful Mexican meal. As we ate, Max continued to leisurely grill next to the table, supplying an endless stream of cooked meats to accompany the salad and vegetables. After eating for 4 hours, laughing like crazy and enjoying fine company, we were stuffed to maximum before stumbling out to head home.
This month, G finally got so frustrated with an iRobot wet mop robot that we tossed it. We have had 2 iRobots for a couple of years – one a Roomba vacuum, the other a Brava Jet mop. The Roomba has been great at vacuuming up dust, crumbs, etc., but the Brava has always been lacking and problematic, between losing its WiFi, not finding “home”, rusting out, leaking, not great cleaning, and high maintenance. The final straw was a reset and the Brava not able to complete a setup. A big problem highlighted in the forums. So G researched and found a new brand – Roborock – and bought a combination vacuum/wet mopping robot. What a difference! It’s quiet, efficient, does such a better job of vacuuming and mopping and it’s reliable. We also gave the Roomba to Lucy since that works perfectly.
A last project we completed this month that we mentioned last month, was moving a large furniture piece out of the apartment that no longer fit. We arranged to return it to Flo so he could resell it at the Grande Braderie the first weekend of September. The mover came at 7:00pm and by 7:30pm he was done and gone. It was good to get that completed.
Already the end of the month, we are shocked to realize we’ve just two weeks before French language sessions restart. I am happy to report that I was able to replace my prescription sunglasses in time to use before summer ends. We’re very satisfied with the things we accomplished but it just feels like the time flew too quickly. And we can’t end without 3 additional photos from our city of Lille. Well we could, but G loves his pictures.
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