25th April "It's raining cats and dogs."

English weather is back...

After 8 months in England I've never had a weather like that! 

We are on Wednesday, day that I'm usually going for a jog in the morning with Camille...

So I stay at home with my second reading of To The Lighthouse (yes because it is time for revisions),

I guess that you will say 'Weather in To The Lighthouse is quite similar to the weather you have today' and that's true, because a few pages after the beginning a thundery shower storms on the lighthouse. 

Mrs Ramsay comforts her children and in particular, the little James.

My Mum is not with me, so I will hug my Bobby and my N'hérisson. hihi. And so what?! It is not because I am 21 since yesterday, that I can't have my cuddly toys! Nah'

Or maybe as my Aunt Magali would say: 'Ce sont les giboulets de Mars' (but in April so they are late) OU  'Ce sont les Saints de Glace!' (but they arive early! Because the first periode is around11th May) but in the South of France we also have Les Cavaliers which correspond exactly to this period.

'Dans le Midi de la France, on invoque les Saints Cavaliers ou Saints Chevaliers : saint Georges (23 avril), saint Marc (25 avril), saint Eutrope (30 avril), saint Philippe ou fête de la Sainte Croix (3 mai) et saint Jean Porte Latine (6 mai). Leurs noms ont des diminutifs en langue d'Oc  : Jorget, Marquet, Tropet, Philippet, Crozet et Joanet. Le dicton « Marquet, Georget et Philippet sont trois casseurs de gobelets » signifie que la grêle ces jours–là est néfaste pour la vigne, donc aux gobelets de vin.'  (Wikipédia)

I don't know if this Saint also applies in England, but let me say that it's very strange.... Anyway, now you know a legend from my region (I'm pretty sure that some of my friends in Montpellier didn't know this story hihi)

See you soon and open your umbrella,

Love <3

First Quiche in England!

8 months after my arrival I found Puffed Pastry!

I finally find in M&S puffed pastry to make quiche that I missed a lot!

Nice, isn't it?

However it tastes the butter a lot, so maybe it is the wrong one for the quiche

I will try another one, next time! 

Except butter my quiche was delicious!!!! 

It is too bad for you Camille, you should stay with me for lunch haha 

Anyway, I have another half of the preparation so... we can make another quiche or an apple pie!!!

See you later!

Love <3

London's Love April Episode!

* Friday:

What a mess! I was waiting for the coach of 1.50pm, I showed my ticket to the bus driver and took a seat in it. 5minutes before leaving Canterbury, I had a flash.... I forgot my keys... You know the keys to open the flat in Hampstead... I left the bus in a hurry explaining to the bus driver the reasons who said me 'Oh what a shame!' Really???! Argh... I had to book another ticket 1 hour later... 15£ (the single...hmmm niiice grrr) We are in holidays in Canterbury and there are Unibuses every 30min, which means that I had not enough time to back to my room in darwin, and back to the bus station in one hour to get my coach. So.... the solution was the cab... 14£ to go and return... and the driver was a little bit weird, you know the kind of man who believes to know everything telling me his conception of France and people who leave in Deal and in big town, I just wanted to say 'Shut up and drive your cab!!!' but my parents well brought up me... so I just answer by Yes or No...

Finally I arrived in London Victoria 30 minutes after Rémy. 

On Friday night we just went to the pub the White Bear in a first time, but I was really disappointed because it wasn't the pub that I've known 2 or 3 years ago with Mum Dad Elé Daniel & Martin, where we met 2 mates one blind and drunk, and the other blind because he was drunk! It was really funny. 

At that time it is a kind of bar lounge (or wine bar, I don't really know) with the Bobo of Hampstead, it stinks of money and people are not really kind (not the waitress, the clients) A tall and fat man with his Eva Joly's glasses just said 'No this is my umbrella' with a dark look as if this umbrella was a gold ingot while we have taken Daniel's umbrella who was very similar, that's why we just mixed it up. Pfff! 

We asked the bill and went back to our favourite pub the Holly Bush, where some of waiter seem to recognize us! And then we ate at Meghna, where my friend was waiting for us with his bottle of wine! haha

* Saturday:

In the morning we just have a walk in Hampstead after a grasse mat' (because Rémy was tired) and a big breakfast from Gail's. 

At 1pm, we began to walk to our lunch which is in Hanbury Street. A Fish and Chips... because Rémy wanted another one for a long time ago, so we went to Poppies (I think that Daniel and Martin have already mentionned it)

 

It is a really nice place where we can find a jukebox, the waitress wear 60's clothes (really funny) and If you take away your fish and chips, it serves in a cone looking like newspaper and not in this sort of horrible plastic box...

Rémy and his large Fish and Chips

I had a regular one ^^

 This is the best junk food ever!

McDonalds can go back where he came from!

 

The Cod is daily fresh and the chips are home-made!!! we also ate the mashed green beans very gooood! Rémy ordered a limonade, I had never drank a limonade like that very fresh and tasty with a little bit of ginger! Waouh!  

 A little bit of Magic

 After this fabulous Fish and Chips we walked to King's Cross St Pancras to find the most famous platform in the world... The Platform 9 3/4, which is not between the Platform 9 and 10 unfortunately, because in England you have to take your ticket to have access to the platforms. So it's a trolley lost in a wall next to the ticket office... But very funny.
I tried to find the name of Poudlard Express on the timetable board, but no sign of this train... I guess that I missed it... It will be for the next time.

Then we enjoyed the sun (which broke through the clouds for 30min, after... the rain came back ^^)

Rémy tried to attract a pigeon to open the umbrella on it! knowing that there is a little button which permit to open the umbrella in a snap... Could you imagine the impact on the pigeon? Rrrrouououououuuuuuuuuuuuu (a remake of Angry Birds [c'est en Chinois mais c'est pas grave pour commencer une partie cliquez juste sur le gros oiseau du début, un tableau avec des numéros s'ouvre cliquez 1 et jouez... Elé, je te charge de montrer aux parents comment ca marche ^^] in the real life...) Oooohhhh the Brigitte Bardoooos, calm down, don't worry we didn't touch this pigeon! Because we didn't know how English people could react...

The evening we went to the Maze Grill, Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Grosvernor Square!

 

Our Menu:

* Starters

Crayfish and shrimp cocktail with avocado

Steak tartare with quail's egg and toast

 *Main Course

Casterbridge grain fed, aged 21 days
Sirloin 10oz with a half Garlic and Thick Chips

 

* Dessert

Chocolate brownie, salt caramel ice cream

A really nice evening for my birthday in advance =)
Thank you <3

 * Sunday:

It is time for us to say good bye and see you in a month... It will be the last time in London for us.


See you soon

Love <3

Cathedral of Canterbury

 

We are in April and I finally visited the Cathedral !!!

The Cathedral was built in 597 by St Augustin who came in Kent to convert English to Christianism (oh I remember something about my Anglo-Saxon coursework... Amazing!!!) 

I suppose that you wonder about this mysterious flag.... I don't really have informations about it except that in Greek the letter I and X mean J and C, the initial of Jesus Christ... If someone have more information, let me know...

Then I went inside, it was splendid! I didn't think that it was so big!
I was lucky to hear the choir of Canterbury, but unfortunately, visitors couldn't watch them, and a part of the cathedral was partly closed so I stayed more than 20min inside, only to hear them, I don't know why, but I was transported.

So... just listen! and tell me, what you think about it.

This is the nave of the Cathedral that I visited after the choir time. When listened the choir , I can also listen the organ without seeing it. So I asked to a guide who showed me that the organ was on a kind of balcony or gallery. A little bit disappointed that the organ is not more put in evidence.

The cathedral welcomes different isolated chapels in which people can pray.

Outside, the cathedral erects between gardens and ruins. This afternoon, the sun illuminated the Cathedral, it was beautiful outside and inside!

 I finished my visit with the cloister and its wonderful vaults.

I leave you with the bells of the Cathedral. Enjoy!

See you soon,

Love <3

A walk in Canterbury

 [...]

                                                                  Cloudy and sunny 

                                                                  Afternoon
                                                                  Nature
                                                                  Tree: a very big one
                                                                  Easter holidays
                                                                  Reading on a bench
                                                                  Blossoms in April, spring is coming
                                                                  Utopian: the weather in England
                                                                  River is called the Strout
                                                                  Yawls on the river.

[...]

See you later,

Love <3

Easter Holidays in Deal and London

♫ A Rock Band in Deal! ♫

or maybe the Converse Band.... haha

Mum', Dad and Elé came in England for Easter! We met in Deal where Daniel and Martin were waiting for us. I arrived in Deal at the end of afternoon and the rest of the Band arrived around 00.30am [They kept us waiting... like real stars...]

The next morning we have had our chocolate bunnies [Martin moaned because he said that he didn't have his bunny and he threatened Elé and I to eat our chocolates! Because Martin is very greedy!!!]

Then we had a walk on the sea side with a windy and rainy weather... The real English weather!
The sea was grey with huge waves and sailing boats overturned...

The afternoon, we stayed at home in the basement under the duvet watching Sweeney Todd, so tired!!!

 

The evening Daniel's and Martin's friends came to eat the Easter Dinner with us. Very nice people!

On the table there were some daffodils, chicks, and small chocolate eggs!

For dinner, Martin and Daniel prepared lamb with gratin dauphinois, green beans and carrots. It was so gooood. Then we ate wonderful french cheeses with bread made by Daniel... Yummy! The dessert was a pavlova (← click) or ' a pavlova in a mess' according to Martin. ^^ but a very good taste.

There was a wonderful sense of humor around this table with a reflection on the light above the table "where is the spot???!" then, a game with daffodils and chicks, or the redwine and salt and white wine (thanks Tim hihi) or Will and Henry trying to speak french (very good french indeed!!! so impressed)

A very nice evening!

~ LONDON ~

We arrived in London around 3pm and we had not ate yet so we went to Wagamama in Hampstead!

Then the first day we made some shopping or I mean, all the afternoon! Thanks Dad to be so brave with your girls! 

Tuesday was more interesting or... disgusting... haha 

We went to Tate Modern to watch Damien Hirst exhibition but before we visited the Shakespear Globe! A wonderful theater, full of history! 

A little bit disappointed to see it in restoration! But it is a good reason to visit it again or to book a play ! ooh yeah!

One hour later, we were in Damien Hirst's exhibition... HUM!!! don't you know him?? 

    http://www.damienhirst.com/home

ENJOY!!!

According to Mum: HIRST ---> SHIT   she made a kind of anagram.

According to Dad: DAMIEN --> DEVIL   

You seem to be puzzled by these associations. If I say you a head of cow with flies, or formalin, or buts... You don't understand, do you? Visit his website... CREEPY!

It is the only picture that I have, from the exhibition showing Mum's disappointment: she looks embittered!
It was very funny haha
After this fantastic exhibition we ate in a pub near to St Paul Cathedral. Elé ate a double burger with french fries and Papou, Mum and I ate a 'traditional' pie, but it was more like hachi parmentier xD

The afternoon we went to Bricklane together to make some shopping but Dad decided to go to the National Gallery.

And then we met in the Holy Bush before going to Meghna!

C'est mon Papou à moiii ! 

Next time I will give you some hugs, it will be in June!

So much fun this long week end with Daniel, Martin, Mummy, Dad and Elo. And a new nickname for Mum 'La Perchée' because she was always completely mistaken all the week end, she was cool and de-stressed, and she didn't want to go back to France (me neither, I wanted to keep them with me!) we laughed a lot.

Pendant tout le week-end un petit être était aussi présent... SUSHI!!!! Donc on a pensé à lui aussi ^^ Elé et Maman 'Ooooh le pauvre! Il doit pleurer! et il va nous bouder quand on va revenir' et Papa qui répond 'Il a du s'exciter contre la fenêtre... s'agit qu'on le retrouve pas coupé en deux!'
Tous en coeur: 'Roooooooo le pauuuuuuuuuvre!'
Mes amis, non ce n'est pas notre frère caché, c'est juste.... notre chat!

See you later , 

Love <3

Essay Time!

This is my desk when I'm working on my essay: 

'Compare and Contrast the treatment of body and mind in D.H.Lawrence and Virginia Woolf.'

What a mess?!!

My desk or My Essay...? haha

[A little break with pancakes and nutella... oooh]

See you soon 

Love

The Taunting Blackbird

He seems to say:

"NANANANANÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈREEE!!!!"

So he takes the mickey out of all students on campus!

Turn up the volume of your computer!

1st. 0:25sec
2nd. 0:41sec

See you soon and have fun!

Love.

Easter Time in London

"Allez, on fait les Daltons" dit Rémy

This week-end Camille met Rémy & Rémy met Camille! Mouhahaha

We arrived at Victoria, and we were waiting for Rémy... Suddenly someone arrived behind me and embraced me.... I screamed and jumped!
Camille and Rémy laughed at me..... Ca commence bien entre ces deux là! Ils me font une farce alors qu'ils ne se connaissent pas! 

We went to Hampstead to let our stuffs, and we discussed a little. Rémy offered to Camille the dvd "Les Enfoirés: Le spectacle"!!!
Actually, the anecdote is: 

Once upon a time, 

Camille and Louise were chatting before eating an Indian meal that they have ordered.
Suddenly, Skype ringing.

- 'Oh Papuche!' said Louise, smiling. 

They began to talk, including Camille and she asked: 

- 'Ah au fait tu sais quand est-ce-que c'est le spectacle des Enfoirés?'

- 'Oui c'est ce soir, je suis entrain de le regarder!' answered Rémy to Cam.

- 'Oh non vas-y, ch'ui degoutée là, j'le regarde chaque année avec ma mère... Ci-mer quoi!'

- 'Haha sois pas deg' ce sera pour l'an prochain' added Louise....

When Camille opened the small bag that Rémy holded it out to her, she laughed and said: 'Oh mais ca me gèèène franchement, tu me diras combien je te dois!' (Yes, you have to know that Camille doesn't understand the word 'gift' and she is always embarrassed...)
So Rémy said: 'Oh lieu de te plaindre dis merci, et tes sous, j'en veux pas vu que c'est un CADEAU!!!!'
Hahaha it was so funny!

For me? he offered me a bracelet (http://www.montres-et-plus.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/k/j/kj76ab0101_1_1.jpg) because he said 'Ca faisait longtemps...' hihi il est pas top?!! non je suis pas matérialiste!!! ca fait plaisir, c'est tout...  =) <3

  

The evening we went to the Holly Bush before to eat........ INDIAN!!!! oh yeahh so excited! 

"How are you Miss?!!! it is a pleasure to see you again!"

So, VIP!

Camille: a chicken Korma

Rémy: a chicken Curry

Loù: a chicken Special Meghna
 

With Nanns and rice (oh yeah!)

Then the owner offered us a bottle of white wine.... Did he want to get us drunk? ^^

It was sooo good and we laughed a lot! 

Saturday:

This is the rest of the eggs that we've found during our walk from Covent Garden to St Paul Cathedral. (for the Queen Diamond Jubilee) There are 200 eggs, I've got 22 eggs.... So this exhibition remains until the first week end of April (8th April).

We stayed in Covent Garden the morning, strolling in the market with a wonderful sun. After we ate in Chinatown, because Camille didn't know very well the Chinese food (discovery, discovery...) and then we walked to St Paul Cathedral!

We visited the Cathedral, a beautiful Cathedral. The ceilings are amazing, the ornaments are built in mosaic and we learnt that the height is 365 meters, one meter for a day!
Then we went upstairs (210 stairs, I think) in the Whispering Gallery... as the audio guide explains the diameter of this circle gallery is about 35meters, and when you murmur something to the wall the other person to the other side of the gallery can hear you... We tried... and nothing.... As I said, if I murmur something to Rémy by Skype he can hear me perfectly while 1105 kilometers separate us! Mouhahaha!

 Break !

So tired... so we had a rest on bench in front of the Thames: Camille bought some 'Chichi', an airship flew over us, some stupid tourists waved us from their touristic boat, the river police crossed the Thames at top speed....

Then we came back to Covent Garden to find a pub and to enjoy our last evening together... BUT, Saturday night... in Covent Garden.... Pubs? FULL!! our question was: Why the pubs are so small in Covent Garden? Finally.... we found one!

A very good week-end

[...Exhausted...]

We went to bed very early

Sweet dreams
<3

Sunday: Back to Victoria! Bouh'

See you soon,

Love

Le printemps est là....

Les Jardiniers s’affairent,

Les abeilles butinent,

Rossignols et Merles conversent,

Les jonquilles se sont parées de leur plus belle couronne,

Lapereaux et écureuils bondissent hors de leur cachette...

Et les étudiants?
S'affalent sur les pelouses

Masqués de leur lunettes de soleil,

de leur short, tee-shirt, et tongs (il fait 15° max dehors)

2 types:

Les genre 'Studieux': Ceux qui sont assis dans l'herbe avec un bouquin.

[mais en fait qui papotent]

Les genre 'Jme la pète.': Ceux qui font mumuse avec leur ballon et gonflent leurs pectoraux.

Les Filles & Les Garçons.

Morale: Qu'ils soient Anglais, Allemands, Français, Espagnols, Italiens, Chinois....

Le printemps a le même effet sur tout le monde, quelque soit la partie du globe!

[Enfin y a quand même que les Anglais pour porter des shorts au mois de Mars...]

See you later

Love.

Fitness Fest

 1st Part: 

Camille & I 

2nd Part:

Zumbaaaa

It was a fantastic night! 

Thank you Uni Kent Sport for this wonderful Festival! 

I will miss these events and Jeni (the pink lady at the back) She is reaaally nice, energetic, and sooo fuuunnnyyyy <3

See you soon,

Love.

Nouvelle Expérience Culinaire

Chou Farci

 [J'ai mangé du CHOU...] 

Exceptionnel étant donné que je déteste le chou.

Or, j'ai trouvé la parade!
Chou farci,

Et ben c'était super BON! 

Farce:

- chair à saucisse

- oignon

- carrotte

-champignon

 - thym & romarin

et de l'oeuf pour lier!

Chou:

-Faire blanchir les feuilles

Cuisson:

- 45min dans un bouillon de légume

Accompagné d'un peu de riz et c'était perfect!

Et évidemment ma petite Camille est venue déguster, la choooose!

Eléonore, quand je rentre, je te le fais, tu vas voir... tu vas A-DO-RER!

See you soon, 

Love.

Camille, Cydny, and I: Three girls in London!

  

Yes, London agaiiiiin!
Of course you know the romance 'Notting Hill' a british film with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. So we wanted to see HOW was this place! 

We woke up at 6am (again!) to take the bus at 7.30am and to arrive at Victoria station at 9am: perfect timing, good service on the lines (yes, because the week-end soe lines are closed for repairs). Portobello road, one of the most famous street of Notting Hill which welcomes every Saturday a market! 

Warning

- If you don't like market

- If you hate the crowd

- If you don't like to meet French and Spanish in England

- If you really dislike tourists

- If you love politeness........

DO NOT GO TO NOTTING HILL!!!

It was 9.30am when we arrived at Portobello, which was INVADED by tourists as if full buses had landed onto Notting Hill.

The particularity of Notting Hill is these fronts of different colours which are very suprising. 

Look, the sky is grey but these fronts enlighten the street. It's very funny.

Anyway, there were too much people [Grrrrr, they get on my nerves!] and unfortunately, we didn't find the famous door, and the library =( 

I think that we should return in Notting Hill to hold an inquiry into these 2 famous places but NOT the week-end or hollidays. However I think that our important next trip will be Bath and/or Edimburgh. =D

CYDNYYYYYYYY <3

Two years ago, I didn't see her! 

I took care of her when she was in Montpellier, I was her confidant and she helped me to improve my English and to be more self-confident (not an easiest thing). 

SO happy to see her again! 

We had a lot of things to say but only few hours... 

M&M's World

Colourful

&

Funny

No we didn't buy any M&M's, too expensive!!!

But we took very funny pictures!!! 

 

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Then we did some shopping with Camille before to take the coach...
We walked a lot... and now Exhausted!!!

Hope to see you soon my Cydny,
Thank you to Camille for this Saturday and the other days when I'm not in a good mood... (sometimes! yes!)

<3


See you soon,

Love!