l'Occitane garden

image via professionalflorist.co.uk

image via thetelegraph.co.uk

image via thetelegraph.co.uk

The lavender, those poppies, olive trees and sunshine: it's home... well sort of. The photographs were taken this week in London. One of these days I will make a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and admire the creations of the garden designers in person. This is l'Occitane Immortelle Garden, by James Towillis, and the sight is rather misleading. Teaming up with those purveyors of excellent French beauty products, he has made a really great job and has won the garden the accolade, Silver-Gilt Winner.

Cannes I dig it?

The film festival is in full swing, the stars are flocking to the Côte d'Azur, and we read all about it from the comfort of our centrally-heated home. The sunshine made an appearance here today, after a mélange of rain and hail this past fortnight in May. Today has been a near perfect Sunday spent in Edinburgh with a girl friend, for a long-awaited catch-up. We donned our dark sunglasses and did our best to make like we were on the Croisette with the best of them. The glamour-esque day began in the Picture House, at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, where I scooped a bargain silk Escada blouse (vintage, warum?: label reads 'Made in Western Germany'). To toast my peach of a find, we sipped Bloody Marys whilst enjoying stunning rooftop-terrace views of our beautiful city. A leisurely stroll in the sun followed, but as our various festivals are not yet upon us, there were no starlets to be spotted today. The day was capped with some not-so-chic, but tasty and freshly made Mexican grub, and a peaceful sunset. Pity it was so cold here - all day.

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We are trying hard to settle back into life in Edinburgh after a restful fortnight in the Languedoc-Roussillon, but it has been a week of heightened emotions. It began with our daughter entering the unknown world of the crèche and with it, formal education. This was closely followed by a reunion with a friend I had not seen in 25 years, with our chiIdren. I also came runner-up in a photo/story competition for Plumo (black and battered shoe entry, above).  And then, whilst on a bus and stuck at a red light, I saw a young man on a bike crying. It broke my heart. I am matching the highs and lows of the week with some great French music heard on that great and recent, though somewhat distant, holiday away.

Video via You Tube: Les Rita Mitsouko - Marcia Baila

Video via You Tube: Serge Gainsbourg - La Javanaise

the waiting is almost over

image via laitfraisemag.fr

French people around the globe return to the polling booths this Sunday, to elect their president. As we await the result, please enjoy the selection of alternative first-round candidates, above.