I'm back - but why? and who cares!

So we're in Paris for the first time in 14 years. Not sure how that has happened but suffice to say we've been busy with other things!

Our friend Jimmy C - oft mentioned for our regular readers - is celebrating his 80th Birthday and in light of our past relationship it seemed like a good idea to show up uninvited for his birthday lunch.

With some help from Kim, we arrived in time for pre - lunch champagne on the banks of the Seine

The restaurant was able to make room for us and we passed a very pleasant afternoon with Jimmy and Kim along with their Parisian friends Laurent and Corinne.

Despite the usual copious quantity of wine - of every colour - I managed to stagger home 'sans embarass' and even managed a late supper in a local bistro.

I'd forgotten how much we used to enjoy our regular visits to Paris when we lived in London but it's great to be back.

We spent today on a Seine cruise, a visit ato the Musee d'Orsay and finished with dinner at Le Chardoneaux - a restaurant of TV chef Cyril Lignac. We enjoyed an excellent meal - worthy of a return visit - and joined a French couple at the next table in celebrating their anniversary.

I'm sure we will enjoy tomorrow in Paris before our flight home to Edinburgh.