weeknotes: the Paris edition

Now then my lovely weeknoters. How are you? It’s friday, and that can only mean one thing: weeknote time! Since last time I've been on holiday in Paris, which was jolly lovely.

Lit up at night, le Tour Eiffel sparkles on the hour. It's very pretty.

WHO?

I'm Dave Graham, slightly lapsed book tempter (@dakegra on the socials), stationery geek, lover of movies, music, and good whisky. UX guy. Easily distractible with a hot beverage and cake. Owned by two cats.

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Reading

Managed to fall into a couple of bookshops in Paris and one in London. Oops.

First off there was the small but perfectly formed Shakespeare & Company opposite Notre-Dame. No photos allowed (but you can take dogs in).

When in Paris, I felt I really ought to buy a book by a French writer, and being a huge fan of the Lupin tv series, had to pick up something by Maurice Leblanc. They only had Arsene Lupin vs Sherlock Holmes, but that sounded fabulous so I grabbed a copy

One book didn't really feel enough, so I also picked up a copy of John Connolly's The Land of Lost Things. I adored The Book of Lost Things when I read it years ago, so very much looking forward to this.

We moved on from there to A. Lacroix Pâtissier on Quai de Montebello. The cakes and things were delicious!

not a real apple, but a chocolate shell filled with apple cream and apple puree on a bed of cake. Mmm, cake.

And around the corner from there is the fabulous Messy Nessy's Cabinet, who I've followed online forever, so it was great to go in and say hi.

And buy a book, obvs. This is Julian Green's 'Paris', which is described as 'The most bizarre and delicious of travel books'. It's in English and French and Nessy assured me it would help with my French. We shall see.

Back in London on Monday I found myself at Goldsboro Books (as one does) and spotted this slim tome on the second hand bookshelf outside. I had to buy it!

I also spotted the sole remaining copy of Joe Abercrombie's The Devils, which I was reading as an ebook ARC, but the hardback is gorgeous. Ah well, I'm on holiday...

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Watching

Didn't watch much on account of being en vacances but rattled through Department Q on Netflix beforehand. Great stuff, now have a hankering to read all the books...

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Listening

Listened to a great episode of 99% Invisible's excellent podcast called Adapt or Design in which Kurt Kohlstedt had to seek out accessible solutions after an injury left him without the use of his right hand. Fascinating!

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The Consumed

I was in Paris. I ate a lot of things which weren't particularly healthy, but were extremely delicious. Surprisingly didn't put any weight on!

Highlights included a Divolo Pinsa (not pizza) from Valentino

and a chicken burger from Au XV Du Rond Point near the Champs Elysées. With the obligatory small glass of beer...

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Photos

too many to choose from (and don't want to turn this into a holiday snapshot album), so here's one of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

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Other things

Took quite a few trips on the Metro while in Paris, and it was fascinating to do some people watching.

There was one old lady who must have been her eighties who had the most magnificent large black curly wig, which was perched atop her head much like a cycle helmet. It was glorious to behold, she looked amazing.

Then there was the group of brits who I thought might have been on a hen do, who piled onto the train wearing bright red berets and lugging huge suitcases. They seemed unsure where they'd got on, but vaguely knew where to get off which turned out to be the same station as us. They tottered off down the platform laughing and chatting and about to have what I'm sure would be a great weekend.

I could go on all day, but one more - a Thai guy dozed fitfully at a window seat, clutching a pair of baguettes in his hand. His head would drop and the baguettes would look like they were about to fall, but he'd jerk awake and the bread was saved.

I could spend hours on the Metro...

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Right, that's enough of my ramblings. I hope you all had a fabulous time last week. Have you been to Paris? I'd love to hear about it!

As ever, be excellent to each other.

Smooches

D x