Alone..(well almost) in Versailles 'Hall of Mirrors" after Royal Opera House triumphe

My American friend Alex drove me from Paris to Versailles Palace. Finding a park near the gates, we teetered across the cobbles in our heels past the throngs of hawkers and noisy tourist lines. It was a gorgeous feeling to be dressed up going to an event in such a romantic Palace. Later, sipping a coup de champagne in the long hall lined with pale statues of past Kings and Queens of France, we mingled with other guests. Meeting up with my friends Gerard and Roberto from Canada, we moved into the Opera House, taking our seats on turquoise tapestry in a little gilt box with upholstered door behind us. Fabulous crystal chandeliers blazed, gilded decorations glowed, the house was packed for the final performance of Lully's Persee presented at Versailles by Opera Atelier from Toronto. My friend Gerard Gauci is set designer.  I made this trip to Paris especially to join him at the Opera.

Roberto and I inside the Opera House (top left) The chapel at Versailles (bottom right) The palace viewed from the gardens (top right) Sipping champagne before the Opera. 

Gerard's opulent painted curtain shrouded centre stage. His marble floor stretched out beneath. From curtain up to the last tumultuous curtain call Gerard's wonderful artistry set the scene for glorious music and costumes.

The opera was a great triumph and it was wonderful to see my friend up on the stage taking his bow with the Opera Director and conductor.

Gerard Gauci (far left) and Marshall Pynkoski take a bow with the cast of Persee. 

Later Alex and I gate crashed the second only private photo shoot in the Hall of Mirrors, Annie Leibowitz being the only other photographer granted such a privilege. This famous room without people was suddenly golden and intimate and wildly glamorous!

With Roberto (at left) and Gerard in the Hall of Mirrors. 

Alex in front of Versailles and in the Hall of Mirrors. 

I couldn't resist!

A private tour of the kings apartments followed then our own photo shoot.  Alex and I slipped away down the time worn stone spiral staircase and wandered through empty apartments. Finally we found someone to unlock the Palace.

Seeing the gardens deserted we walked out and watched the sunset at 10.30pm! What an extraordinary feeling to have the Palace and Gardens virtually to ourselves. Silence broken only by birdsong and the crunch of pale gravel underfoot!

The whole evening was a pinch yourself moment and we loved every minute!

Marche Poncelet and Brocante Marche at Rue Courcelles

A brisk morning walk started day two. Alex and I strolled to her gilded Russian Orthodox Church 'Alexander Nevsky'. Worshipers intoned vespers while the Priest swung a golden orb wafting difts of frankincense over the congregation. Worshipers kissed an ancient icon, genuflecting  as they walked towards the altar. Many lit candles or wrote prayers to be read during the service.

Crossing Avenue des Ternes we meandered through Marche Poncelet where food and flower vendors display their wares with all that incredible French flair.

 

 

 

Leaving Poncelet we turned into Rue Courcelles to find the Brocante Marche in full swing. My heart sank and soared as I spied all the covetable accoutrements of life on offer. Such deliciousness. So I shopped with my camera. My pics show some of the items I'd have loved to bring home!

  Mindful of an important date at 4.30 we strolled home through the fragrant Parc on Rue Pereire.

Roses at Roland Garros

Hong Kong Airport

Standing outside Charles de Gaulle Airport just after dawn in the chilly greyish light after two long flights (via Hong Kong) totaling 27 hours, trying unsuccessfully to escape the clouds of obligatory cigarette smoke from gasping travellers as I waited for my shuttle, I thanked my lucky stars I'd packed tights, boots and down vest necessary for Paris in Spring.

Later that day after a 'magic' shower then catch up brunch  (delicious ham, brie, baguette and pastries) with friends Alexandra and Phillipe Watrelot and their gorgeous babies, Anya and Seraphine, at their charming apartment in the 17th (just off the long narrow parc on Pereire), we all bundled into a local bus heading for the famed Roland Garros armed with umbrellas and rain jackets. It was great to get straight out into the streets, walking to and from bus, getting the feel of Paris again.

First day of play is tomorrow (Sunday), however today's event is the hugely popular day of Exhibition matches with all proceeds going to a Children's Charity. Parents in their thousands brought their children.  There was an air of carnival with clowns on stilts, balloons, music and lots of ice cream.

Dotted around the centre are several stadiums with the distinctive red clay courts, lots of side courts, all landscaped beautifully with clipped topiarys, roses flowering profusely, banks of white jasmine and hedging. We moved around watching a game here and there, getting to know the lie of the land!

Back at the apartment I took a walk to buy wine then we ate little black-blue mussels with pasta drenched in garlic, wine and butter for dinner. Délicieux.

Mother Moira's 80th Birthday lunch in Spring Sunshine

Mum was excited when I suggested doing a 'Pig on the Spit" lunch for her special day. Locating Bronco in West Auckland, owner of Broncos Spit Roasted Feasts  who promised to deliver a gas and electric spit with a handsome pig loaded and ready to roll was a coup. Just three hours of toasty roasting on the day, delivered succulent soft pork. I whipped the crackling off as the boys started to carve and threw it under the grill perfecting unctious crackling in a matter of minutes.

A family affair, everyone brought a little something to share for lunch. Earlier, with the help of Canadian visitors Nick and Reggie, Pip and I set up a long table out back, setting up umbrellas to shade the welcome Spring sunshine at midday. Yesterday's purchase of tall olives and corokia hedging were placed around to soften the scene.

Mum was tickled pink, finally she got her wished for 'long table lunch'! I guess some things are worth waiting for!I also delivered wine and fruit flavoured jellies with meringues and cream. Also requested by the birthday girl!

Happy Birthday Mum.

Canadian Opera Set Designer and Artist Gerard Gauci's latest Exhibition in Montreal

Gerard Gauci's latest exhibition in Montreal, Quebec

GAUCI, Gerard

Gerard Gauci is a painter and a theatre designer whose sensibility is literally and figuratively operatic. As resident set designer for Toronto’s Opera Atelier he creates vast and sumptuous on-stage environments for the works of Monteverdi, Lully and Mozart. As a painter Gauci, creates miniature tableaux depicting famously preserved interiors of grand homes and palaces throughout Europe and America. Looking back to an artistic genre popularized in 19th century Gauci renders these rooms with a precision that documents their theatrical architecture, magnificent decor and intimate personal effects. Acknowledging their creation in 21st century, he subjects the paintings to the splashing, dripping and scraping of pure pigment. These intrusions point to the work’s essential reality as paint on a flat surface and simultaneously suggest the energy held by spaces, whether the ghostly residue of the past or the volatile atmosphere of the present day.

http://debellefeuille.com/gauci-gerard-2/

Another Day another Duck!

Bugger! My heart fell at the sight of another duckling flopped on the front lawn, both dogs circling. Neither giving the game away.

Cradling the little dead thing in my arms I realised yet again that since coming to live in the country I'd held well over 10 dead animals or birds in my hands. Life and Death. I am coming to terms with it in a very real way. I love these creatures while they are alive like treasured little parts of the family. But once dead, my pioneer spirit rises and my need to turn valuable game into delectable fare comes to the fore.

 

This second plucking, using the hot water and dish liquid method was much quicker. (Simply dunk and swirl your bird in hot water 150F that has a good slosh of dish liquid. Hold head in one hand, grasp feathers and rip downwards in direction of growth.) I gutted the bird with one single swoop of my fingers inside the cavity this time. After a day drying out in the fridge, uncovered, I quartered and used the same Nigel Slater inspired dish as before. Oh me of little faith added to chicken quarters to the pot just in case as there were three of us. They made a nice lunch next day!

               *This last picture shows the quartered bird browned and ready for braising in the oven.

 After checking we found the electric fence was shorting and not shocking as it should hence said dogs or said ducks have ventured into territory not conducive to duck longevity. As I write the fence is back to its shocking best! Fingers crossed it stays that way. I don't think I'm up to another plucking this weekend!!

The Oyster Weekend: How To Eat Oysters

Click here to check out recent post from Charlotte Broadbents fab foodie blog "The Oyster Weekend"

How To Eat Oysters: A brief guide to the fine art of oyster eating. Step 1: On a sunny afternoon bundle dogs, family, friends, and a chilly bin full of oyste...