Arles

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Without a doubt one of my favourite cities in Provence. Famous for its Roman amphitheatre (where they still hold bull fights) and for being the city that institutionalized Vincent van Gogh after he cut off his ear. It's just too dam pretty. (Is is shameful that whilst I write this I'm listening to Shania Twain?)

Ladies getting wet bums whilst posing by fountain...

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More to come on this day but here's a wee taster of an emotionally charged by exceptionally stylish graduation ceremony at the lycée. I openly sobbed. I am not a sobber especially not in a military institution where the men are not even used to seeing members of the opposite sex, never mind ones with boobs and strange alien things called feelings. I guess its dam hard to accept that something you have loved doing has to end. Sob ... blubber ...

Nice is nice

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Our mini-break to Nice was indeed very nice. We spent all day on the (albeit pebbly) beach, reading, laughing at old french men in thong speedo's (ewww) and eating copious amounts of baguette, hummus and cheese. We went on a few long walks, visited Monaco, managed to squeeze in a little retail therapy and sampled the treats of Nice's nightlife which included a hilarious run in with a Scottish football team and some table dancing in a very very seedy sweaty club.

Thats not a look mother, it's just my face!

Is this not the biggest pan au chocolat you have ever seen in your whole life?! I have no words!

The calanques

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The calanques around Cassis and Marseille are a collection of rock inlets with hidden beaches and bays where the only access is by boat (and despite the number of pennies I have thrown into wishing well I still don't own one) or a more grueling walk in +30 degree heat. Normally the further you have to work the more beautiful and more deserted the calanque. It's one of France's great natural beauties and in the next few years it should be confirmed as one of the worlds protected national parks. Needless to say that hanging out here is quite definitely cool.

Ceviches

Chop up your fish into nice bitesize pieces
(haddock is a good European substitute).

Cut up and squeeze a lot of limes for their JUICE.

Chop some coriander. But not your fingers.

Add the fish, then coriander, then lime juice into a bowl.
This order is important. Don't you dare put the lime juice first.

Add diced green chillies to taste.

Mix it all up with some chopped red onion. A bit of tongue always helps.

Whilst you leave the fish to marinade. Prepare the Pisco Sours.

It's a seriously deadly yet yummy cocktail.

The fish will actually cook in the lime juice so after maybe 10 to 15 mins
of marinading/cooking its time to serve up the no longer raw dinner.

Add a side of sweet potato mash and enjoy.

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My life is always full of funny and slightly complicated interconnected people and events. Alejandro is my former roommate from Montreal who is currently also living in Aix-en-Provence, France. He is originally from Peru, not a stones through away from where I used to live in Mancora, Northern Peru. For his birthday a few weeks back we celebrated by making one of my favourite dishes from the region; ceviches.

Thanks

Spending lots of time in a multi-lingual group of friends (Spanish, German, English, American, Irish, French, Colombian, Russian ... ) can lead to some hilarious misunderstandings. Our common language is French with English as a very strong second language but days of confusion are now over thanks to the appearance of this little gem. Thank God for Amazon!

Whatever

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I don't remember what I wanted to say ...

Q : Whats a llama? A : It's a sort of South African goat.

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I am not really in the least bit interested in football but any excuse to unveil a bit of English pride abroad is usually embraced. One of many World Cup parties this season included unnaturally long straws, white sangria and Uruguayan delights as prepared by Fal and Rob. Simply legendary.

Market time

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I'm working on a thesis that is trying to prove that your baker has the power to make or break your day. Research means eating lots of bread and pain au raisin, it's not exactly painful as far as research goes. I'm going to miss shopping for my groceries at the market if/when I move back to England.

Aqua splash

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It's been so hot the past week its unreal so I let the kids have some fun in the fountain with some slightly disastrous consequences ;-)