oh, I do like to be

Image via Vincent Mercier, Architectural Digest

We had a day trip out to the seaside today and I forgot my camera. Pretty annoying as we were at La Grande Motte in l'Hérault. The beach is nice enough, but the town is a site of 60s architectural wonder. The entire place is the brainchild of one architect, Jean Balladur (1924-2002) and very much brings to mind Brasilia. As I have no photographs of my own for this post, I would like to recommend you have a look at this blog and this blog I came across this evening.

a summer break #2

The lovely thing about living in a city (even a small/medium-sized one like Edinburgh), is that you really, really appreciate the countryside when you pay it a visit. This week we have been making the most of our hamlet in the Gard: taking walks in the heat and picking fruit from the trees in our garden, which were my Mamy's pride and joy (my daughter was loving the dinky apples). Oh, and cheering on the la France at the Olympics (my loyalties will of course change once I hit British soil once more).

a summer break #1

We left the soggy isle where we currently live a week ago and have taken refuge in our holiday home in the Languedoc-Rousillon (top photo). The Olympics, for us, will be watched from here, for the the time being. Things I have been enjoying this last week:

- no rain and proper summer heat (though not sure the temperature above was quite right...
- rediscovering dad's old art in the house
- tasty local fruit and vegetables
- dips in our new paddling pool (trois boudins)
- hiding from the hot sun under a fragrant fig tree
- fig and melon shower cream (almost as fragrant as the real thing)
- an aubergine caviar, camembert and emmental pizza, from the pizza van

Just a few more simple pleasures.

le quatorze juillet

Bonne fête ! And a very happy anniversary to my parents, married in 1969, on this very day.

You Tube - Aux Armes et Caetera: Serge Gainsbourg

the wonder of wellies

image via aigle.com

I will not bore with details of the weather. It is raining in Edinburgh. It has been raining for days, though it feels like weeks, if not months and perhaps even years. I met a friend outside her office today (in the rain), for lunch. I quickly clocked her really nice (waterproof and French), parka. I almost always dress inappropriately when it comes to the weather here and these days do not really own anything that could be called anything more than splash-proof. Which is ridiculous really, seeing as I currently live in Scotland. Anyway, this parka was not only a great hue, but stylish and cut perfectly. Aigle: not what I would have termed in the past as one of my go-to brands of choice, but the aforementioned outergarmet and their current collection has changed my mind. This is a company proud of its heritage and quality, made in France products. The website, with its nautical back stories, looks great and is totally on trend. They do a lovely line in shorts, shoes, jumpers and have even teamed up with agnès b for a range of limited edition wellies. If like me you thought differently about this lot, have a think again.