Cats at La Defense near Paris

Everyday, I have to walk from one end of end of La Defense to catch a tram at the other end.
Depending what time I pass, there's more or less people to dodge pass. It can get pretty crazy here, underground, especially during rush hour.
No matter what time of day, I always see the same people asking for money or a luncheon ticket to enable them to eat. There's one man who sits next to his shopping trolley and writes all day, I'd love to read what he writes, but I'm far to shy to talk with him, he seems to be different to the others at La Defense, seems contented, weird really.
Then there's Mr 20 something with his cute little dog, he never looks up and I feel uncomfortable each time I pass. His dog sleeps most of the time.
Once under La Defense, on the left (see poor photo) there's always a woman with a cat, the woman was once old but now a younger one has taken her place, the cat is the same though. 
I thought there was just one cat woman, but no there are at least three and one cat man too, placed in different areas close-by. So this makes me uncomfortable too.  All these cats look well treated, but they are on leads and they just stay underground all day.  I have been checking on the internet, I have read that they are sedated, hence why perhaps, these cats seem happy to never hardly move.
Apparently these people work at part of a organized group and you shouldn't give them money, I wouldn't, but plenty do, so until I find an office above ground I'm just going to have to live with seeing these poor cat on leads. Sad

Office hunting near Paris

Last Friday I had an appointment with a real estate agent, not for a house, but for an office. We spent the whole morning walking around La Defense and immediate  surrounding area, visiting some great offices, some way too expensive, some too big and some with amazing view of the Eiffel Tower and Paris, all were good.
I took lots of photos, but the one above, well I have no idea, how it found it's way between them, but it's kind of depicts my life as it is since working again...always on the move, "très speed" like our receptionist says, good or bad, that's me at the moment

Advent Calendar for....

                                                           Advent calendar for your cat

We did our regular dash around our local supermarket Saturday and look what we found.  An advent calendar for CATS!  Yes, every day, your bundle of fur can open a advent window and discover a different savorous meal right up until Christmas.   

Somehow as weird as the concept is, I actually  think people are going to buy these calendars, and the person in charge of marketing at "Gourmet" really should be commended for this idea, I would never have thought about doing this, not ever.

Sunday in Paris

 On a very cold yet beautiful Sunday, we all bundled ourselves in the car and thirty minutes later ended up here.  Yes, Sunday we played at being tourists, and boy, there were huge amounts of people who were waiting to visit the Eiffel Tower.  Luckily for us, we had bought and printed our tickets in advance, so no waiting

Before reaching the Tower we had  to dodge the many joggers that were out in force despite the near freezing conditions.  What a place to jog, personally I wouldn't like to, but I can see the attraction

After visiting the second floor, we managed to get the children to agree to go to the top, I never took any photos though, too cold.  Back down on the second floor somehow we found ourselves in a tourist trap souvenir store, 2 bracelets, 1 pencil, 1 pen, 1 keyring, 1 giant chocolate euro and a packet of Eiffel tower shaped sweets later, we left, hopped in the car and came back home to a piping hot Chili Choc Carni (Nigella Lawson recipe) made by Alain, and it was delicious.

Edible Christmas Wreaths (Nigella Lawson)

Yesterday, we managed to clean the house from top to bottom (excluding basement), do the weekly shopping for seven, welcome children's friends who came to play or as for the case of Charlotte, cook breakfast pancakes for her and friend who often sleeps over.

I wrapped presents, washed clothes, then hung them to dry (no drier here), put Christmas tree up, decorated later by the children and even manage to cook or make, thank to Nigella Lawson's Christmas cookbook, two tins of Rocky Road with Gaby and MK's help, two meals worth of Chili Choc Carni and these Christmas Wreaths with help from Gaby.  Besides being easy to make, they are just so adorably cute.

All that's needed is cornflakes, marshmallows, vanilla extract and some sprinkles to decorate.

We will certainly be making some more and soon, what's good about them too, is the fact that they can be frozen...I yes we have bought a new chest freezer, that lives in our rather messy basement. Why didn't we buy one earlier.

Checking in Christmas Tree Time

                                                 La Defense not far from when I work

Since beginning to work again, it's been hard to find the time do do anything other the essential, family, food, homework, cooking, eating, cleaning, working including transport to and from the office.
We have managed to do some progress in the children's bathroom, but it still not finished, maybe next weekend, as this weekend we are getting all Christmassy around here.

                                                    *Three out of five decorating the tree

Luckily the 1st of December was a Saturday this time, this helped a lot with the planning, especially for the Christmas tree.   
Now the children are older, we just them decorate, we have no colour theme, just mix and match.

 When Charlotte was five, we celebrated our first Christmas in France, and beforehand she made a Angel, using a empty toilet roll a polystyrene ball for her had and so aluminum foil for her wings, her nose is a silver star and she has silver hair.  Who would have thought would have survived all this time, but she has, and who would have thought that every year there would be a fight  debate to see who should be the one to put our little Angel on the top of the tree (like every year).  
It was decided that this year Gaby would have this honor, she needed a strong pair of shoulders(her Papa's) though to reach up high enough.  Voila, we are getting all Christmassy and it feels good.

*Charlotte was too busy with friends in Paris and Oliver too, he went to the Christmas market on the Champs Elysées, or so he said, but my guess if was visiting one of this favourite stores "Abercrombie and Fitch"

Things have been a bit quiet

I haven't had time to update the blog recently, I also have been waiting, because do you remember the job I applied for and the interview? Well I got the job with a short one month trial period, and that period ended yesterday, so yippee, I have a CDI in a small French company (part of a much bigger International company).  
The photo above is clue to which type of business I'm working in.

What can I say, they job is great, my boss, fantastic, the others employees are nice too.

Working full-time and having a family to look after is proving not to be that difficult for Alain and I. Granted I see the children for less time on weekdays (1 hour and 45 minutes less each day) but our time together is better, there seems to be less conflict* and weekends are just great, busy, but how I love weekends at home now.

Lots have things have been happening around here, we have had Gaby's German correspondant here during the week, and guess what?  We actually started to redo the children's bathroom on the top floor...post to come this weekend

*Charlotte has been very difficult, once a week, for the last two weeks for not apparent reason, she suddenly just blows a fuse...hard for us parents.