Tuesday 30 December 2008

Christmas Eve in Paris


The 23rd December is mine and Hubby's Wedding Anniversary (that's last Tuesday if you're anything like me and forget what day of the week it is at this time of year!) and Hubby took me out to Dinner........in Paris. If you'll just allow me a minute or two to be slushy, I'd just like to brag a bit about how wonderfully romantic my man is - He always likes to treat me for our anniversary, last year we spent a lovely couple of days in London, another year it was New York, but this year he chose Paris as we visited there on our honeymoon and loved it. He always tells me how ridiculous it was to get married so close to christmas and do I have any idea how difficult it is booking something at this time of year? (no is the answer!) But secretly we both loved our Winter Wedding and it makes the whole christmas and new Year festivities even more special. In fact we like christmas in our house - if you read my last post you will see that it was our Nathaniel's birthday on the 28th December, mine is one New Years Day and Hubby's is the Day after mine, the 2nd January so we are pretty busy anyway at this time of year.

I wasn't planning on doing much shopping in Paris (not with the current state of the Euro) in fact on arriving at St Pancras International it seemed that everyone was going in the opposite direction to us - that is, the French were all heading to Oxford Street to do their christmas shopping, seeing as they were getting much more for their money. I wanted my 24 hours is Paris to be more about soaking up the atmosphere, wandering up and down the Champs Elysees and having some nice food and wine

I had intended to go up the Eiffel Tower, having run out of time to visit there on our Honeymoon, but when we arrived the queues were so long, I decided that my time in this beautiful City was too precious to be spending it in a queue. You will have to make do with a photo looking up at it instead!

I didn't intend to do any shopping, but there was one shop on my list which I had to visit - the huge Sephora Store on the Champs Elysees. As a self confessed make up junkie, this store is my idea of heaven, I don't know why we don't have them in the UK, as a trip to their website shows that just about every other country going has a chain of Sephoras. I didn't take a photo this time, but here is a photo taken of me looking very happy with my purchases way back on our honeymoon

Although we weren't in Paris for too long, the trip didn't end when we arrived at the Gare du Nord, travelling back to York first class was a truly relaxing experience which I spent planning my next trip to Paris, and snoozing, and sipping my lovely red wine.
Thank you Tim for our lovely trip - You are a wonderful Husband who never fails to surprise me - love you lots x x x x
So one week later, and what has everyone else been up to? - After recovering from our trip, and visiting family, we now have a few lovely relaxing days at home - at the moment one son is starting a Simpsons puzzleball, the other is playing on his DS Lite, my little girl is tired out from her bike ride (don't you know how tiring it is being pushed whilst peddling backwards?!) and I am going to spend my afternoon finishing off my new Maeve Binchy Novel and catching up with all your news.
If I don't see you again before Thursday then I would like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY 2009 thank you all for your friendship, your kind comments and your generosity throughout 2008 - Natalie x

20 comments:

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

oh what a lovely thing to do for your anniversary!! Paris is fab I love it there :-) must have been nice to do something different at Christmas as well!! Happy New Year I hope you have fun :-)
Lesley x

Jo said...

sounds brilliant, you brag all you like, its hubby's birthday on xmas day and we never do anything like that!, I'm sooo jealous! your photo's look great. wishing you and your family all the best for the new year
Josie x

MelMel said...

How very romantic!

Looks wonderful!

xx

Gem said...

What a fantastic trip - you hubby sounds very romantic! Thanks for your message before :) It looks like I'm going to have to have the tooth extracted but I'm trying to find a dentist who will take me on to get it done. We moved here two years ago and I've been trying to get a dentist ever since but no-one here is taking new patients :( I've got 2 different types of painkillers and am on anti-biotics so it looks like I won't be partying the New Year in :( xx

Poppy said...

Wow, what a fantastic trip!

We got married in December, on the other half’s birthday!
My idea not his… :o)

I hope you all have lovely birthdays and a happy New Year, and May all your dreams come true for 2009.
Look forward to your posts next year!

Love Lou xxx

{Love, Love, Love} said...

Looks like a wonderful trip!!!

FYI...there used to be a Sephoria at Bluewater but it closed :(...don't know of there were any others in the UK though...they are very good though x

Debbie said...

Happy new year Natalie!! :) I think you will have to get your hubby to drop some hints to mine please - he sounds really sweet!

MelMel said...

Hello huin, happy new year!xxx

Garden Girl said...

What a lovely way for you both to celebrate. I was a Christmas bride as well, you can't beat a winter wedding!
Have a lovely birthday tomorrow- is my hubbies today, that bunny was very busy at Easter wasn't he?!x

mollycupcakes said...

Fabulous trip honey, sounds wonderful.
Happy new year to you and your lovely family,
see you in 2009 keep blogging.
Hugs,
Catherine x

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

Happy New Year Natalie and Family !!!
I now need to concentrate on losing a stone how boring!!!! bring back Christmas :-D
Lesley x

Carol said...

Happy....New Year, Anniversary and Birthday! what a special time of year for you all!
How wonderful to spend your time togther in Paris.
I have not been there but would so love to, one day.
We did have a Sephora in Bluewater when Bluewater first opened, I think the shop may have closed last year, such a shame.
So many more shops will close in 2009...was is to become?
Anyway, best wishes to you and yours.
Love and hugs,
Carol xxx

Claire said...

Happy New Year to you all too! may it bring you lots of love and luck! We've been poorly in the Serendipity household, all over christmas and new year!
What a wonderful surprise, your husband sounds wonderful, where too next year?? We married on my husbands birthday so I always have to think of extra nice treats too!
Take care Claire xx

julia said...

Wishing you a very happy new year! A trip to Paris, what a fantastic anniversary present, you lucky thing!
Julia xx

prettyshabby said...

Oh You lucky girl! Paris of all places, how wonderful..
Have a very Happy New year Natalie..
xx

Chocolate Cat said...

Wow! I am so jealous!! It is our
20th anniversary coming up in February and I think I better drop hints for hubby of what he's up against!!! Glad you enjoyed your getaway and made the most of it. Happy new year to you and your family.

Miss sew n sew said...

I've never visited Paris somewhere I would really like to go one day. Your husband is very sweet to you, you look very happy what a lovely way to celebrate Christmas Eve and your anniversary. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Sarahx

Claire said...

Of course not, no its me, I still havent sent it...sorry, I'm a bit useless I know! I will try and get in post next week!!
How cold is it, it's supposed to be 9 here in Cardiff tomorrow, I'm expecting to see people in shorts and tshirt....lol....have a great weekend! Claire xx

Gem said...

Hi,

I read that book on the strength of reader recommendations on amazon - like you said, it's good to read books that have been recommended to you :) What sort of books do you tend to read? I read all the time and read all kinds of books!!!
xx

Carolyn said...

wow what a perfect holidays :-D
Very nice & intresting pix u have here, q for sharing with us!