La Belle Saison

Broody Much?

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:54:00 +0000

When I finally got to Scotland, one of the first things I wanted to do was to meet Indigo's five and a half month old baby boy. Indigo, my best friend from university, gave birth at the end of April and I just missed meeting the wee one by a month and a half (the last time I'd been home was early March) and so after all those months of insisting Indigo send me photo after photo, I finally got to meet him for the first time. And I fell head over heels in love. It's funny to think that one of my friends has actually got one of these things. Seeing Indigo with her son and watching how she...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Road Trip

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:12:00 +0000

Coming back after a holiday in Scotland, I always feel the need for another holiday. FP and I did so much in the two weeks that we were staying at my parent's house in the North of Glasgow that there was not one single day where we actually got to relax as such. By the end of the holiday we were so exhausted that we were going to bed at 10pm and stressing over the idea of having to drive 10 hours back to France (did I mention we came by car and boat?). But still, we made it back home in one peice in the end and only fell asleep at the wheel twice (just kidding, mum!). On the boat to...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Absent

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:05:00 +0000

Please excuse my disappearing act, folks! FP and I are in Scotland having a blast, catching up with all our special people who live over this way and making the most of our time here. We're also using this holiday to get a move on with the wedding plans, (FP has bought his kilt and I have bought my dress! Oh the excitement!) which is more fun than I could ever imagine. Roll on next June!

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Baw Bag

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:19:00 +0000

I believe that the act of long queuing brings out the wild animal in many people. They push and shove and cheat and skip the line. By the time they arrive at the front of the queue they don't want to wait a moment longer and sometimes, as a cashier at the Chateau, you find yourself with two different people waving money in your face, saying 'I was first', 'no, I was'. It would be quite comical if it wasn't so pathetic. Anyway, this is what I was faced with on one particular day at work: an older French woman with a group of five old fogies behind her, and a younger American woman with a...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Trou du cul

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:01:00 +0000

While FP and I had been in La Rochelle, FP's parents had, very kindly, been keeping the cat at their house. The day I arrived to pick him up, Mr FP told me he was glad to get rid of him. "Ah bon?!" I asked, wondering what Ollie could have done to upset him so. "Oui," Mr FP nodded. "He's won the award for being the biggest trou du cul." Oh-oh. Ollie, admittedly, is not a well behaved cat. He tips over vases full of flowers, paws your face when you're sleeping, climbs up christmas trees, claws his way up your jeans, and sits in the middle of house plants, but, up until now, our friends...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

La Rochelle

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:40:00 +0000

FP and I have just come back from the most wonderful long weekend spent in La Rochelle. La Rochelle! The town where it all began for me. The place where all my French adventures were born. I've forever been enchanted by La Rochelle with it's many winding little roads and nooks and crannies. I used to love to set out on a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, not having the slightest clue where I might end up, to discover small, out-of-the-way antique shops or a public garden, so quiet that one might be forgiven for thinking it's private. FP was good enough to visit my old haunts with me. My...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

How I met FP (part 2)

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:57:00 +0000

In June 2006, I had to go back to Scotland. I wondered how things would work out with Toad and I, whether he even wanted to give a long distance relationship a go or not. Over time there seemed to be a power shift in our relationship. In the beginning, I was reluctant to be with him. He did all of the chasing. Sent me flowers. Turned up on my doorstep as a surprise. Paid for a train ticket for me to come and see him in Paris. At the beginning I seemed to have all the power: I felt as though he was putting all his effort into getting me to be his girl. And so, at some point, I gave in. But...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

How I met FP (part 1)

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:36:00 +0000

When people ask how FP and I met, I always find myself debating over whether I should give them the potted version or the longer version. The potted version is generally reserved for strangers or those who are evidently uninterested in hearing the longer and slightly complicated version and it goes something like this: I spent a year in France as part of my studies and met FP through a friend of a friend while I was there. The longer version, however, is really nothing at all like the potted version. In fact, the potted version isn't even very close to the truth, if I really think about it....

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

3 Years Today

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Dear FP, Thank you for these past three wonderful years, my darling. So much has changed for us since those three years have passed. I lived in Scotland, you lived in student digs in Paris. I barely spoke French and your English was broken. We spent hours on the phone, talking, sharing our deepest thoughts 1000 kilometres from one another. Both desperately awaiting my permanent move to France, which didn't come until a year and a half later. I flew to France one week after you told me you loved me. I needed to know if it was true. I needed to look into your eyes as you said it. You...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:58:00 +0000

After all the walking FP and I did lastnight when we went out with Ksam and Kendra to the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes (held in the gardens of my work), today we decided to stay off our feet. We were planning on going out for a picnic, but the chicken I'd planned on using in our sandwiches was 3 days out of date (oops...must remember to check the label) and so we opted to stay at home on the balcony, lapping up the 30°c heat and chillaxing to the max. And what better way than to chillax with a Fresh batch of coffee... And a great book written by a great friend? I've been trying to save...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

I'm in!

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:45:00 +0000

The email was there. Sitting in my inbox, the letters in bold, waiting for me to open it. I wasn't nervous as such, but I knew that if the email didn't contain those magic words then I would have to re-evaluate everything all over again. If I wasn't accepted, then I would have to find something else to do with my life, and that, having recently been proved, was not an easy feat. My 6 month working contract at the Chateau de Versailles is finishing at the end of September and there seems to be no way they will be extending any of the contracts into the Autumn / Winter season. I gave up on...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Worry Thing

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:52:00 +0000

Does anyone else ever suffer from a 'worry thing'? The term (coined by my brother when he was about 8 years old) refers to when you feel worried, but you can't quite put your finger on the reason you are worried. My brother's the only person I have ever met who knows what I mean when I say I have a worry thing. I have just tried to explain to FP what this is and he actually laughed at me(!) Not just a normal laugh either, but a hooting laugh. He hooted at me. So FP has never experienced a worry thing and I am beginning to think that my family has a disposition to worry things. Which...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Computery Words

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:35:00 +0000

One of my pet peeves about computers is the way I am so often faced with words that I don't understand. Warnings that use big, fancy computery words that make no sense to me. The other day a black screen informed me of a 'Kernel Panic - Not Syncing: Fatal Exception in Interrupt.' Sorry, what? Or even worse, when the error contains some kind of computer code. Page error 404 for example. What's that all about? But the very worst, mes amis, is when you actually have to respond to an unanswerable question containing these computery words. Now, normally I call FP, who is an embedded...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Cadeaux

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:48:00 +0000

It's odd the way a random act of kindness from a stranger can mean so much to us, isn't it? Today I was presented with an unexpected gift from an enchanting little girl, 4 year old Marie from Quebec. I've never met her before, yet after having a conversation with her friendly parents while I was on my coffee break at work, she slid a braided friendship bracelet from her tiny wrist and handed it to me, a toothy grin spread across her face. I took the bracelet in my hands and admired it, asked her if she had made it herself and congratulated her on her brave colour choice (pink and red and...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Confession

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:06:00 +0000

I'm the kind of person who likes to talk. I like to get things off my chest and always feel better after 'fessing up to something. It's possible that I was the only little catholic girl who actually enjoyed going to the confessional at church when I was younger. Not that I ever had a lot to confess, it was just the usual childish disclosures of telling white lies, stealing a penny from my mother's purse and fighting with my brother that I had to offer the priest, but it felt good to make these confessions and to be reassured that I wasn't naughtier than any of the other children. My...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Erm...

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:19:00 +0000

I've been trying to find the time to - I don't know why I haven't been able to - It's been a while since - Feck it. I've had the longest lasting writer's block known to man. Thanks to all you loyal subscribers for keeping the faith. Princesse Ecossaise will be back. I promise.

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Baby Shopping and Other Short Stories

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:40:00 +0000

Well it's been a crazy month what with my new job (which isn't so new anymore) and two sets of visitors during April - the first one being my mum and the second Zannie and her fiancé Venzo. There was a spot of drama as soon as our guests left for home because I was knocked for six with a case of the lurgy which, despite my protests that it was just a wee cold, scared the living daylights out of my loved ones who were all convinced I had caught swine flu. We get quite a few Mexican tourists at the Chateau de Versailles, you see, and my dad was having a hairy fit, telling me to wear hospital...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

My Royal Job

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I've been working at the Château de Versailles for two weeks now and I must say, it's very surreal. Of course, I don't really have an office in the palace since I am merely a lowly caissiere / controlleur, but at times of calm throughout the day, I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief when I'm reminded that I, a 23 year old hailing from a tiny village in Scotland, am working in the Palace of Versailles. The irony that Princesse Ecossaise is now working in this royal château has not escaped me, either. What's more - and I know that this might change many expat's views of me but...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Out of sight, out of mind

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:34:00 +0000

I don't want to be a baby about this but It's my birthday And no one From home Remembered. Only my Facebook Friends did. And that's because Facebook reminds them automatically. What has my life come to?!

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

The Cosmetics Girl

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:19:00 +0000

I was taking my time browsing through the make up and perfumes in the duty free shop at Glasgow Airport, killing time while I waited for my flight back to Paris. The trip home had been seriously short - I'd only really had two full days in Scotland - but I'd done everything I had needed to do. I'd spoken to the priest about marrying us in his church, I'd viewed three venues for the wedding reception, had my highlights done and even managed to squeeze in a lunch with Zannie. It was hard to go back to France after such a whirlwind visit, but at least I was going home having made headway on...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Next of Kin

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:16:00 +0000

Sitting in the office in one of the buildings at the Chateau de Versailles, I took my time filling out the employment form. From somewhere in the room I could hear a clock ticking - although there was no clock to be found on the walls - and I have always found the rythmical tick-tocking rather peaceful (except, of course, when I am late. Then it's stressful). I looked around at the other people in the room - my future colleagues - and with the exception of the guy with a cold sitting next to me breathing annoyingly loudly through his mouth, I liked the look of them. I looked back down at...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Proof that cats will sleep anywhere

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:47:00 +0000

I came home the other day to find a furry present lying in a very awkward looking position on top of my clothes horse. Proof, indeed, that cats choose the most uncomfortable place they can and then insist on sleeping there.

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Scooting

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:26:00 +0000

I wasn't sure I even wanted a fold-up push scooter when FP drove me to the nearest Decathlon sports shop and guided me to the patinette display. There were boxes and boxes of them, different models, different sizes, wooden ones, metal ones, ones for doing tricks on and others acting as a means of transport. FP had heard enough of my complaining about the half hour walk to the gym and as if a light bulb appeared above his head, he had suddenly come up with the idea of getting me a scooter which would make the trip more appealing. Less expensive than a bike, yet quicker than walking, he was...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

Mean Kitty

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:40:00 +0000

Another video that had me in fits of laughter. Check out this vid with lyrics below and if you have a kitty I'm sure you'll be laughing your socks off too. I can reeeeeally relate to this song, Ollie is just like Sparta, we call him Hell Cat because he loves to cause so much chaos! In the nicest possible way, of course. And doesn't the guy in the video look just like a certain Mr Newton that frequents this blog? TD, is that you?! LYRICS: I got this little kitty about 2 months back he was the nicest little kitty, now a pain in my crack This little kitty is a ninja, always stalking my...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)

The Mom / Mum song

princesseecossaise@gmail.com (Princesse Ecossaise) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:30:00 +0000

I just have to share this with you, even though I'm probably quite certain you all know about it anyway...I'm always the last to know. Anyway, check out the video below, and sing along if you can keep up. This is exactly what my mum was like when I was a grotesque teenager! I'm busy learning the words off by heart so that by the time I have my own kids I will be able to spout out all that as quickly as she can! Although considering my future kids will probably speak French, I should perhaps find a French version too...

(This is a content summary only. If you want to read the full story, go to La Belle Saison at www.princesseecossiase.com)