Hands of clam

29th July '09: AMSTERDAM

I saw, whilst browsing Nijhof & Lee (a more than lovely book shop in Amsterdam), there were some creativey type's business cards by the till. I ummed and ahhed as to whether I should ask to be added to the collection. Of course, I should have - what was to lose? Anyhow, I wound up getting nervous hands of clam so didn't. Instead, I waited until the cover of dark and posted a few through the closed shop's letterbox with a note of book shop admiration! I wonder if they put my cards out or binned them.

Treat a complete stranger as a lover

26th July '09: PARIS

It was dresses all round. Lucy in spotty, me in red wrap. We had waited months for this evening. We followed the directions: From Alesia; take exit 6 and walk ahead about 10 steps, turn left and continue to traffic light; turn right and walk about 39 steps to big green gate, push open gate; walk to doorway A in the garden.

We were at Jim Haynes' for Sunday dinner. His philosophy was there, in every person in the kitchen and spilled down the steps into the courtyard garden. Every Sunday for 30 years, people from all over the world have come, along with 60 or more others for dinner. Jim is wonderful at remembering names, introductions and welcoming.

You meet such an array of people: Bernard, the software designer; Egor, the film distributer; D'yan, the singer-cum-comedienne, the list goes on. Its good to talk to people you wouldn't normally have the pleasure to. The whole experience was a pleasure.

A warm, friendly evening that was ended with a walk back to the Metro with new friends.

More fun than the Metro

My love for bikes was fed further in Paris. Velibs are the way forward. Lines of the basket-fronted bicycles are on what seems like every other street in Paris. You take one from their dock and can return to any other dock in the city. For the first half hour it is free and then €1 for every half hour after that. So much more fun than the Metro.

Look for the red balloon

25th July '09: PARIS

With some friends from home and some new french friends, we went to the very well attended outdoor cinema at Parc de la Villette. We sat under a red balloon so as to find our way back through the crowd. 'Into the Wild' was showing (in English, thankfully). I'd never seen it before and loved it - so beautifully shot.

However, probably not the best film to watch when embarking on a trip!

'...a little bit more attention and imagination'

26th July '09: PARIS

By chance we saw a little flyer for a Jacques Tati exhibit that was on at La Cinematheque Francaise. I am now desperate to see all of his films. Love the graphics for posters - their playfulness makes them work well with the films thay are attached to. A very well curated and designed exhibition.

Here are a few quotes that were on the exhibition walls:

"I want my film to start when you leave the cinema" - Tati, 1967

"My method merely presupposes a little bit more attention and imagination from the spectator" - Tati, 1966

"I'm one of those film makers who love their films and don't mind not being seen by everyone, like an artist doesn't mind not having his work hung in every living room" - Tati, 1979

New found respect for Nike

25th July '09: PARIS

Since reading about the Stages exhibition on the 'Its Nice That' website, I had wanted to visit. 'Lance Armstrong and Nike unite to launch Stages, a global art exhibition to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer.' It seemed especially fitting that we go, as the Tour de France was to finish the following day in Paris.

I like the idea behind the exhibition and especially liked Tom Sachs' Tequila bike for girls.

It gave me a new-found respect for Nike too.

www.stages09.com

Punched Paper

25th July '09: PARIS

Outside the Jardin du Luxemburg we came across a man with a rather impressive portable music box. Look how lovely the punched paper that he is feeding in is. Lucy (Mrs Music Box herself) was especially taken with it.