José el Bloggo!

Off to the Fontainebleau marché this morning.

Felicidades à todos (a day late, a dollar/euro short) … not much Internet access out in the sticks (of Montigny) but right now I’m at Vosves (home of Cédric’s all-access-Internet-heaven) and so here’s some news.

Super lunch/brunch/buffet here at Vosves with all (or almost all) of the Lemarchand family. Had some excellent boar and noodles and some fine wines to go along (and along and along).

Heading to Fontainbleau in a bit for dinner at Claude’s (and staying the night) then back to Monti.

I’ll get the past week caught up soon … for now remember our thoughts are with you all dear friends and family!

Preparations for departure tomorrow to Montigny for a few days in the country.

Ran around today to the various Muji shops in Paris to get Fanchette’s gift (can’t tell you here, it wouldn’t be a surprise, oh look!) … she may yet show up for a drink tonight. In the interim, dinner with Anne, our neighbor, and blast from the past music (Don McLean, Harry Chapin, Carole King, Cat Stevens) … ahhh, such tunes!

UPDATE: Florence has dropped over (for a late dinner) and Fanchette is on her way from her son’s new digs nearby. Gift openings to come!

After an afternoon overdose of NCIS (3 episodes en français) we had a nice "don’t leave home, it’s too cold outside" dinner of Korean rice noodles (it was much tastier than it sounds).

Off to the vernissage for Mario Murua, the Chilean painter, tonight chez Ileana (102 rue Doudeauville 75018 - code: 159A). Hope to see some of you there!

Hélios, his cousin Juana Maria (and NOT Mariajuana), her BF Javier and Juana’s brother Miguel with his GF Carmen AND our houseguest Norberto all came over for dinner tonight. Into this "hispanic soup" we added Claudia (one Argentine being worth "n" - you pick the number - Spainards … hey, lighten up, it’s a joke!).

Anyway, a fine dinner and much hilarity all around … especially when I brought out the pisco for a  post-prandial quaff.

Lunch (by Myriam) at Raspail with Odile, András (a way-back-then pal of Myriam) and his friend Katalin (both from Hungary).

Afterwards an invigorating tea and idlis at Benjamin’s apartment where we were joined by Alison. On the way home we (Ali, OP, me) stopped at the Slovak Christmas market at Denfert-Rochereau square - where there was live jazz, cookies and holiday gifts to buy.

Heading up to Montmartre to Hélios’ place for drinks & dinner w/ his cousin (+ her BF and 3 other friends) from Valéncia (near Murcia - central east coast). Viva España!

We were invited over to dinner at near-by Villa Adrienne by our friends Jean-Pierre and Pascale. Also present were her parents, Jean and Arlette (who had her vernissage last week), Myriam and her friend Claude (that makes, by my count, THREE lady artists) for a superb dinner that included a superb couscous and a KILLER dessert (the chocolate fondant, front and center in the photo, was made by one of the twin daughters - it was so good that Hélène Darroze had better watch out!)