Weekend morning, every now and then, I allow myself the luxury of a lie-in. What was different this particular morning was the effort F put in getting breakfast ready. He didn’t just got me any random croissant, he had gone to a rather fancy bakery (where you must not stretch your hand beyond the glass barrier to point at something!) and picked up a selection of goodies. With tea and mandarin juice to complement the pastry.

I don’t like seeing wilting flowers after just a few days on the table, but I couldn’t help feeling the joy of receiving bouquets of them either; what a conundrum. Two love bouquets made part of my birthday present last autumn, and a few weeks later, I got another, just because. For all the “tough” talk I had about not frivolously spending money on something that wouldn’t last, it is still quite nice when it is disregarded. (What’s wrong with me, flip-flopping on principle?)

Our neighbourhood park is a veritably family place. Old men sitting at a bench to chat among themselves, old women sitting just one bench down to have their own gab-fest, parents chase after their high-energy children – some of whom wants to go on the carrousel while some wants to see the puppet show – and the odd few joggers nimbly zip around the crowd. It is pretty here in the autumn, and it is always nice to greet the Iron Lady when we’re out for our walk around the park.

You know what they say: girls just wanna have fun. A couple of girlfriends and I make it a point to have a Christmas get-together each year, and last December, we upgraded our outing to take place at Hotel Monceau just so we can indulge in a spot of luxurious chocolate concoctions by Pierre Hermé at this ephemeral chocolate bar. There’s still time to hit the bar: it runs until 31 March 2015.

Life is a series of ups and downs. Looking at one way or the other gives us a new perspective each time, a pause to evaluate our next move. There is seemingly alluring hope to pull us upward, and there is always solid ground to anyone who wishes to be steadfast. Reach out, stay put, not always as easy a decision to make as one thinks!

Within Luco, there are sections normally not open to visitors, nurseries where the gardeners work all year round to nurture blooms that would be replanted in other parts of the garden when the time is right. The bees busily flit from one flower to another, gathering as much nectar to bring home as possible. I have got to say, it is very handy that nearby, there are hives all set to house these bees. The honey collected is highly coveted, and I have yet to manage to snag any from this part of the city. One day, I will. One day.

I’m discovering places in Paris that serve true taste of Japan. Nestled within the 7ème are several Japanese pastry shop, one of them with a pastry chef who actually makes each item deftly before you. The dessert menu changes every month too, so there is always a nice surprise awaiting, even for the regulars. I dare not pass the area regularly, for my will is weak when confronted with sweets that are literally calling out “Eat me!”.

Isn’t it funny how in museums or exhibitions where photography is prohibited, I keep on spotting people who infringe the rule (even with an iPad!) and get away with it, yet when I try to sneak a photo from the staircase area (never mind the actual exhibition room), hoping to photograph something candid, I was caught by a staff who politely reminded me that “la photographie, c’est interdit“. Double irony here in particular, as the exhibition was mostly about candid street photography, hmmm…

Ps: Happy Anniversary, F!