Graffiti Paris (aka Not the Royal Wedding)

Just back from a weekend avoiding the Royal Wedding in a nice Republican country. In fact I calculate that at the moment the couple were saying their vows, I was in Place de la Bastille passing a large shiny monument to the French Revolution (and we all know how that turned out…) Not that I wish K&W any ill will, but if the country had been shut down for a snow day or transport strike rather than a Royal Wedding, we’d all be talking about how much money the country had lost by not being at work. And don’t even get me started on the cost to us self employed of this disruption to offices being closed and children being off school…

On the plus side, it was a chance to indulge in some flânerie, and  I was overjoyed to happen upon some particularly beautiful expressions of the anarchic spirit in the form of Paris’ healthy graff scene in the 20e arr. And strangely moved by their ephemeral nature.

#74 Tweet sensations (twensations?)

Or ‘how I learned to stop worrying and love Twitter’.

Although I’ve had an account for about a year, solely to alert more people when I have a new blog post, it’s only in the past three weeks that I’ve actually started using it properly.

On previous visits I’d felt like I was at a party where I didn’t really know anyone. I was hovering on the edge of a circle of cool people, hoping they’d notice me, eavesdropping on female national newspaper columnists and comedy panel show regulars exchanging witticisms (ie slagging off common people) about #MBFGW and XFactor, or discussing the exact Pantone card code of Claudia Winkleman’s face.

#65 Most used words

I’ve just taken that Facebook diversion that everyone seems to be distracted by today – Your Most Used Words in 2010. Perfect for those of us who are supposed to be doing pre-Christmas cleaning, pre-Christmas emails, or pre-Christmas Christmas card writing. (Obviously post-Christmas-Christmas card writing would be a waste of time, though the more pedantic among us might argue that at any point you are always post one Christmas and pre the next. Unless it’s Christmas Day.)

#64 Notebook fetish

Today I will be starting a new notebook. As a bit of a notebook junkie, and someone who doesn’t get out much, this is something of an occassion for me.

Notebooks are a bit of an impulse buy weak spot. I may already have a notebook or two on the go, and several more in waiting, but if I see one I simply must have, I add it to the pile. (At least there are worse, and more expensive, addictions.)

#61 Paris on 1,000 words a day

If you haven’t had a full day to yourself since there was an elected government; or if the bus ride to work is the closest you get to ‘me time’; or if you are reading this in a spare five minutes (ok three) between deadlines and school pick ups, then LOOK AWAY NOW.

And if your toddler won’t even let you go to the loo alone, or if you never do anything except other people’s washing and other people’s suppers and other people’s homework, or if you’ve been reading the same page of your book for the past six weeks, then my sincere apologies in advance.

#52 The best things in life are free, or courtesy of the French tax payer

This week we have been holidaying sur les Plages of Paris at the expense of the French tax payer.

The Paris Plages , now in their 9th year, have been much envied by London, though just to correct a misconception – they aren’t actually a whole stretch of fake beach (though there are a couple of areas set aside for sand and sun loungers), but a series of activities, kiosks, and entertainments along what would usually be a busy road along the Seine’s right bank, and around the Bassin de la Villette. All laid on by the Mairie de Paris.

We enjoyed badminton, pedaloing, outdoor swimming, pétanque, trampolining, rolling around on the Bassin inside inflatable floating spheres, and – my personal favourite – the forests of very fine spray that is just enough to cool you down without actually getting you wet, while surrounding you with rainbows. But we could also have done table football, kayaking, waterbikes, bmx-ing, fencing… And all for free.

#39 Paris on a budget

In our Paris pied-à-terre for the Easter break. We are deep in the garment district, and though the ambiance is artisanal,  the views are less roofscapes of Moulin Rouge! and more Rear Window – straight into the apartments opposite. On summer nights the student on the top floor across the road sits out on her balcony reading what one assumes are philosophical texts; while the family two floors down clear away the dinner and play cards.