The George Foreman

You know when your man is home when.. he leaves the sink sponge balancing on top of the grill - i mean "please!!!"

in all your life, my beloved man, how many times have u cleaned that grill?

i goddam hope never, knowing if you use THAT sponge on my goerge foreman grill it will probably need replacing - one requires a clean clean bleach and detergent free cloth - just a water powered dish cloth - clean the grill with that AND ELBOW GREASE - heat it a bit if you need to get the grease off and you can't quite manage - though i usually can. And thats the start really - as it would possibly mean something if the kitchen was a space that you spent some time and inspiration within !? or EVER used other than to make TOAST.

So for one night I have left the grill - and now two as I am writing this - though I really don't think it will be two - Im gonna gettup and clean it - never knew it was such a big issue.. and personally - for the record I loved my toasted cheese sandwich tonight - with a bit of a meaty flavour due to any residue on the grill - it was extra flavour very much enjoyed - but so so - got to go and get my sponge.
lol

Maybe What...?

RECESSION: For some people it is the time for cutting down and cutting back. , Although I do this a little during the interim period, I come from a background of belief in myself, so I have to find a way to make more money and not do this, to ultimately live a better life in THIS situ or whatever situation... so.. time to beat the recession ..

Ebay - Tried that been there and the trouble is that if your 2nd hands good are label and brand name - they gonna shut you down quick time - and time and time again they gonna track you and shut you down - their charges are high - dont get me wrong there is profit to be made here, but with tons of patience... no time to waste here..
Next!....

On-Line Betting - Tried that too - tripled my money in a week - so it IS possible - but VERY risky - lost it all a few weeks later- really depends if your heart and your bank balance can take it and I decided to get out before finding out - could've been a millionaire, shoul've tried harder, would've had a chateau - all coulda woulda shoulda to me - I knew instinctively (and through forums) it wasnt a good thing.
Next....

Shares - So Far Very Exciting, far less risky, in fact perfect for someone like me - I quickly popped over to London and attended a little seminar to learn some more, got back, learned a bit and chose/earmarked some - they are rising! I am waiting to do it with REAL money. I bought a few shares last month before I knew how it works properly and thank goodness they are making money too... so all good but have to ACT NOW - GET IT WORKING!!!

Maybe its the answer - watch this space!

What do we do about the recession?

For English minded people like myself, yourself perhaps? How does it feel - when 1e used to be 75p and now 1e is about a pound - and the French still have the audacity to put the prices up.

Im finding it hard - everything that used to be cheaper, or in Marseille at least relatively similar prices to UK, now its much more expensive. The budget I set for the following year, as I always do, has never been so over budget in such an early month in the year before in my life!

Does anyone else have any fantastic solutions at this time???

Happy New Year

Well its been an Fabulous and Eventful xmas, family over for festivities and merryment first, then secondly moving house to St Barnabe - a bit further into Marsielle.

All positive vibes for the new year.
Still many French things I will never understand though......

Why did they take all the turkeys off the shelves for the weeks coming up to xmas? Why is Pintade cheaper and more popular as a xmas meal?

A conversation I had 20 December:

"Bonjour madame, pardonnez moi je suis anglaise mais pourquoi toute la monde va chercher pour les pintade - on est au tradition pour manger dinde" I say in my 6 yrs still rubbish french..
"Ah parce que cette oiseau c'est beaucoup moullier pour goutier"
(OK I say, thinking its moister to eat - and yes turkey is a bit dry im listening)
"Quelle oiseau?" I ask
And plenty of impressions and giggling from ourselves later, I am none the wiser until I reach home for the dictionary and find it is in fact a Guinea Fowl ! aha

Two days later all the turkeys appear on the shelves at the normal(ish) prices - though some of them are indeed huge and all the families I talk to seem to be having 20 people to dinner so no wonder really. So I find a comparitavely tiny turkey at 3.5kg and make haste!

Parsnips arrived by la Poste curtessy of my Mum and Dad, Mince pies and Christmas Cake (thank you E!) by British Airways from Sister in law - Dinner was very English, and Boxing day lamb with safeways mint sauce and christmas pudding came over too.

So that was Christmas, and as this year my glass is half full I will not rant on about anything else tonight xxx

Avignon Weekend Break

Super relaxing weekend in Avignon. We stayed at Hotel de Limas within the 11th Century city walls, close the the bridge to nowhere (Pont Saint Benezet). A very friendly quiet hotel with great contempary art mixed with the authentic french pieces of furniture.

Great to have a chance to recharge the batteries, rethink the next chapter, unwind and generally kick back. Time to talk. A time to cement what we have. Yes I am still in love.

I guess my only regret is that I could have stayed another few days and got another few hours sleep!

Avignon was a nice place that I would gladly revisit anytime.

WAG again

I had a difficult and doubtful Christmas starting 2008 with a few too many question marks but…

After a good deal of moaning, thought, wine and Martell. I’m feeling like a WAG again.

Spent a superb weekend being spoilt and treated, staying in a top hotel suite overlooking Marseille Port with partner and the kids in their own suite.

Fantastic to wake up and see the famous fish market going on on the Vieux Port quayside, people strolling around for coffee or over to their boats, a great Marseille atmosphere on a Sunny Sunday morning in January.

Still smiling.

My Top 5 Reasons for Living in France

In true traditional form, my TOP 5 reasons for living in France, in reverse order are as follows:



5. The delicious Croissants and many varieties of Cheese




4. The clean streets and great outlook - its less populated and more beautiful.






3. Laid back lifestyle - Beach / Scooter / Fetes - too many things to list
that come into this category and lead to a much better quality of life





2. Fine wines for 50 pence, like this nearly champagne at 65centimes - just mail me for any orders!!





AND AT THE NO 1 HOTSPOT FOR REASONS TO LIVE IN MARSEILLE:

THE SUNSHINE - we have max sunshine - yes some cold windy spells but in betwen in the sunshine you can be out on xmas day with t-shirt - sun is 90 percent of the time shining and for anyone with S.A.D. thats FANTASTIC

MY AWARD GOES TO GOD FOR PROVIDING THE SUN!

To kiss or not to kiss?

That is the question..

As an english woman.. its not "comme habitude" (normal) to kiss up ten or so friends on the 50m walk from the car to the school, but im getting used to it!

So, my take on the whole kissing thing has been very laid back, only kissing when being kissed other than that offering to shake hand maybe even hug or touch arm...

And now... well im kissing
I have made a lot of new friends by applying the kissing technique, one has to apply plenty of maquillage (make-up) as a kind of protection at least double otherwise you will have a patch... and plenty of lipgloss, to ensure you stay gleeming until the bell goes...

Once acquiring a parking space, as im sure moms of the world will know is a tricky thing.. i choose to park and walk a little extra - saves headache to get out again AFTER the bell..

and make the walk maybe encountering one or two mums i met when i helped to set up the lotto - kissing freely along the way - still no blemish (thanks to my friends clinique and L'oreal)

then i arrive near to the gates, and decide which group to join, usually my core hope to be friends who all live nearby and have kids in the same class, which obviously involves eight (x2 each cheek) kisses to say hello to the group....

then we have a conversation in french which generally goes way to fast for me until one of them repeatedly asks a question like "tu a visiter la marche hier?" and i realise i should answer... and in a fluster i say something silly like OUI et NON... lol

well thats how it is.. i try to explain but i know i lost it! give it time - we still on kissing terms at least....

so to kiss - in the end - yes it breaks down barriers
but with discretion - really not into the beret whisker ones...