GENTLY DOES IT

I have been dropped back in to the giant pond and it seems I have forgotten how to swim. In layman's terms, I am back in Paris and my heartbeat can be felt in my throat. With that, yesterday morning I slept in, watched a film and made a huge pot of vegetarian chilli before heading out the door. I may be missing the belly laughs of home but I will put one foot in front of the other, camera in hand and explore.

I have told everyone how much I love Paris, how I am loving my time here and I am, but it's hard. Mainly so because once again it's something I'm doing solo (like so many others!), and that gets rather lonely. Yet, I get up and push myself out the door, even on heavier days. Yesterday I took myself for a walk to Montparnasse, taking streets I don't know, to find new haunts, I took streets I have walked down time and again, to notice details on buildings I may not have given a second glance before. I needed to appreciate things even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

The days are seemingly shorter, my hibernation mode is on the horizon and with it comes a desire to do little, be little and say little but I am going to fight that because Paris is still alive. There's a set of Christmas lights being erected on every corner, cafes remain lively and buzzing and the patisserie windows seem as tempting as ever. The elderly are wrapped up, their best winter coats taken from the back of their wardrobes, sit beautifully on their shoulders and silk scares draped round necks, a nod to the not yet so cold weather. Along with the leaves on the trees, the colours on the street and damp pavements from a morning of rain, all does seem a little subdued, though I am certain this won't last long, soon the streets will be aglow with lights much like that late summer sunshine.