More about the Fete de la Musique in my next post, but for now here are a few shots of Aude and me as we wandered around Paris yesterday. The weather was beautiful, high 20s and sunny skies (that’s around 80F for those reading this in the States). A perfect day for a stroll around Paris.

Colourful trees in the Jardin du Luxembourg

Matt enjoys the summer sunshine as he sits in the Jardin du Luxembourg

Aude smiles as she pauses in the street

Matt relaxes over dinner at the local Lebanese restaurant

Aude peers out onto the Seine at dusk

Matt, outside the Louvre at nearly 11pm. Amazingly, it was still light outside. Longest day of the year, right?

It was our first proper dinner party since moving to Paris. The party was a pretty good success, with Anne Laure and Neil imported from the UK for the evening. Despite having been in Paris for nearly five months, it was the first chance I’d gotten to catch up with Alain and Faouzia.

It was only a matter of time before Neil pointed out that I hadn’t pulled out the camera all night. Like red to a bull, I grabbed the camera (and embarrassingly large flash) to shoot a few shots of the evening.

Faouzia doesn’t seem too happy about having her picture taken…

I can’t see what all the fuss is about, actually…

The gang on the couch after dinner. Anne Laure is helping Neil with his impression of actually having some hair.

A quick swap of photographers so Matt can get into the picture

 

It has taken time, but after months of trying I am finally finding my way around the office. My progress has been helped along by a French colleague who is now working in the London office. He is working on my project, and in addition to his project duties, he has become my unofficial guide to the French firm. Thanks to him I am learning the peculiarities of the expenses system, which restaurant has the best lunch on a given day, and most importantly, where the stationery cupboard is!

After four months, I have finally managed to find the stationery cupboard

In the UK, we used to have large stationery cupboards on each floor, and you could basically go in and help yourself. Anything else could be ordered by your secretary.

There’s none of this self-service business in France. Instead, you have to turn up at a window on the 23rd floor where a little man disappears into the back and produces what you’ve asked for. Trouble is, as a non-French speaker, asking for things is a little tricky. Pointing is a lot easier. Still, I managed to do okay.

The view of Paris from my office window

Summer is here and I’m enjoying having an office with a nice view – even if it isn’t quite as nice as the view from our London office, it’s still nice being up this high.

Another set of photographs from a few weeks ago that I haven’t had time to upload yet. In this case, I think I will have to let a picture be worth a thousand words as I haven’t really got time to write much today. Suffice it to say the high-level summary is that:

– Julia isn’t so great with addresses, so we got a nice, long tour of the area before dinner
– Dinner was great

It is a small world — five days later I found myself sitting next to Julia on the Eurostar from London to Paris. What are the odds?

Celebrating Julia’s 30th birthday

Celebrating Julia’s 30th birthday

Celebrating Julia’s 30th birthday

It’s like the old Corey Hart song: “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night”Not the best look for an evening out, Julia. Sorry.

When asked whether he had managed to get everyone into the picture, the waiter replied emphatically “Oui!” Which, I suppose, is technically correct. There is a PART of everyone captured in the photo.

The smiling birthday girl

Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday to you…Happy birthday, dear Julia…Happy birthday to you!(Mind your eyebrows)

Celebrating Julia’s 30th birthday

Celebrating Julia’s 30th birthday