Happy Birthday to me. Sunday 16th August 2009.

The boys spoiled me with love from the minute I woke this morning. A Laduree Patisserie bag was put before me, inside were boxes of sweet tarts and cakes. I love Laduree treats and they have become a part of our Paris tradition. AJ had selected different flavoured Parisien macaroons, they were just lovely and came in such a bright array of colours. JR had a few and AJ and I had a bite each of the rest, we enjoyed every crumb. Cards had arrived from far and wide and my inbox dinged away with birthday wishes, thank you all for thinking of me. Thanks for all of you who called on skype too and sorry I couldn't speak to you Jonene, I was having a big chat to my Mum and Dad back home in Oz and my big sis in New Zealand when you called (twice).

A picnic in my favourite garden in the world had been planned for some time so I am told. We arrived at Jardin du Luxembourg in the afternoon, the boys carried heavy bags of treats for the picnic. What a picnic it was, with baguette, sliced wholemeal bread, saucisson, roast pork encrusted in peppercorns, olives, comte cheese, a fresh chevre just for me, salad leaves, onion jam, spreads of basil and aubergine-which was delicious, fresh raspberries, mustard flavoured with pain d'espices and our beloved Vegemite. I was spoiled rotten. We washed it all down with french champagne, a gift from the family we are home-exchanging with, and JR had packed a bottle of peach iced tea which I just love and have not had for such a long time.

We picniced for hours, savouring the wonderful food before us. The macaroons, tarts and cakes I had been given earlier in the day were saved for dessert, what a lovely ending to the best picnic a birthday girl could ever ask for - thanks boys!

The gardens were filled with families, friends and lovers so we indulged in a little people watching which was fun. AJ got pooped on by a low flying bird, the poo was so big I felt the splash from where I was sitting. When he realised what had happened, he got such a shock he tipped backwards on his chair. We laughed our heads off and were momentarily the centre of attention in the peaceful gardens.

Tonight AJ and I wandered up the Champs Elysees to do some serious car spotting, boy did he hit the jackpot tonight with sightings of some of the rarest cars in the world.

Wandering in Paris. Tuesday 11th August 2009.

My new favourite passtime is wandering in Paris and I am comitted to dedicating my life to it - for the next few weeks anyway.

The boys stayed in the apartment today, just doing their thing while I went out to explore. I ended up in Montparnasse where I visited the cemetery and the grave of Jean Paul Sartre. On I wandered until the long Jardin of des Grand Explorateurs led me to my favourite place of calm and tranquillity, Jardin du Luxembourg. I love it here. I sat for a while and watched the world go by. The pace was slower here than out on the streets of Paris and I liked it that way.

I visited the Pantheon and ventured underneath to the crypts, the resting place of so many greats like Jean Jaures and Victor Hugo.

Back on the Parisian streets again, I knew not where I wandered but I ended up on the enchanting rue Mouffetard in the heart of the Latin Quarter. It's great here, life marches to the beat of its own little drum. The bars and cafes spilled out onto the streets, their tables filled with people sipping beers and cocktails, resting their weary feet. I noticed a sign pointing to Place d'Italie which I knew was not too far away from home so I kept plodding away on foot rather than disappear into the subway.

Arriving home to the big pot of lentil soup I had put on to simmer this morning was such a treat. I was exhausted and every part of me ached. I had walked some miles today and every step was wonderful.