Visiting Paris is a festival for the senses. For French Boy and I, its notably our taste buds that party like its 1999. The moments prior to this particular trip, we spent the train ride deciding where we would eat for every single meal. Since we only had 2 nights there, that being 6 meals – we realised we had to cull our list of favourites down substantially.

But to my surprise, it wasn’t the food and wine that stole my heart this time.

It was music.

No matter where we wandered, no matter what time of day or night, there was incredible open-air music coming from all sorts of places – from the habitual accordian player on metro line 12, to a saxophonist whose somber, slow tunes at midnight were reverberating through the thick stone walls of the Richelieu hallway of le louvre. Our weekend was marked by spontaneous musical intervals and for me, it was very special, being the week after my musical friend had passed away. I imagined he was there, in the air somewhere, waving a magical mystical conductor’s baton everywhere we went…

However, there was one particular interlude that moved me to tears. We were wandering around the palais royal and as we turned the corner there, out of nowhere, was a 12-piece string ensemble in full swing, performing la petite musique de nuit (4th mvt) , by Mozart – a song I have adored since I was a child. It whisked me right into the moment and I realised at that point that my mind had been everywhere else – thinking about loss, mortality, my family, past events, future projects… but then, for the first time in such a long time, I was right here, in the present, in the middle of Paris, captured in the moment by this music.

With wide eyes and whole heart, I listened, watched, and felt. My senses were enchanted.

I watched as a lady in the crowd waved her arm in the air and gently dropped it with each fall of each note. I watched the conductor – who was also playing a violin – as he came to the woman and played his instrument, just for her. The space between them was filled with admiration, love, passion, understanding and pure pleasure.

I was present.

The music filled my whole body and my heart heaved. As I took my next breath tears welled in my eyes. I watched this lady enjoy the performance without inhibition and I understood: this is life, and I am living it.

Please press the play button below…

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This one’s for you, Mum.

Please press the play button below to be whisked away with me as we wander through the parc around the sacre coeur, in montmatre, paris. As you scroll through the photos, you may even forget you are in paris. Well, that is until…

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…a favourite street crossing at rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. now are you ready for a soundscape?

Yesterday I was going through some of my old photo albums in search of something in particular for inspiration, but instead of finding what I was looking for, I found this…

My heart stood still for a moment as I looked at it, whisking me back in time to a place, people, and land that I so dearly love. In this photo I am picking beans for dinner in my ex-partner’s parent’s home (gees, try to say that fast ten times), on Vancouver Island, in Canada. I remember asking my partner if he’s be so kind to snap a photo of me in this moment, because I wanted to remember it for always. I’m so glad he did. thank you m.

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It’s been a busy week here in le petit bateau, with lots of wonderful things happening that I hope to be able to share with you very soon. This weekend I would like to try to spend some time outside as it is forecast to be beautiful weather. It’s a long weekend to boot, so I will be back in the (blog)house on Tuesday with a very special week for you – it will be dedicated to my weekend in Paris, complete with soundscapes. In the meantime, if you would like to get a little bit more behind-the-scenes, you can join in the fun on my facebook page, where I write what I’m up to, and chat with friends.

Thank you everyone, for being here. My world would not be complete without you.

xx

Being so far away from my homeland can be hard sometimes. Sure, I love Holland. And I adore France. But I love my home country, with its dusty deserts, sparkling ocean,golden sands, and fabulous foliage. Not to mention my family and dear friends. My homeland inspires me tremendously, and I miss it.

So every now and then, it does me the world of good to receive little pieces from home, little memories, little handmade creations, little notes. It makes me feel less far away, and allows my wandering heart to play a little by my home shoreline, if only by imagination, triggered by these little mementos.

Yesterday, I received some very special creations from Australia that I have had my eye on for some time now…

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when I first saw these pencils on the paperboat press blog, my heart sang. They say “fill your paper with the breathings of your heart”, by wordsworth. I can’t wait to start writing with one of them, I find myself calmed and nurtured just by the sight of them on my desk.

beautiful handmade tags, with perfectly handpicked quotes. They are smooth to the touch and they remind me of the glassy pacific ocean on a still and sunny day.

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As soon as I opened the package I wanted to photograph them. So, on this sunny morning, that’s exactly what I’ve done. I thought they looked pretty on my window sill, with it’s watery background and shadow-happy light. I hope you like them.

I’d also like to make an official announcement here in the (blog)house that their creator, dear Kylie of paperboat press, has recently opened her online store! It is filled to the brim with her handmade goodies, ready to be shipped off all over the world, wherever you may be..

So, make yourself a cup of tea, and take a look around her beautiful online boutique. While you’re there, please check out her blog which I adore, her book of poetry published by murdoch books, and here’s a sneak peek into her studio too (I want to play in there!).

Thank you Kylie, for being such an inspiration, and for ‘bringing me home’. I can’t wait to meet you one day.

xx