I don’t think we really had any Christmas traditions growing up.
There were those Christmases at my grandma’s when I was little; joyous and precious moments that has forever shaped what Christmas means to me. I do consider those tradition.
Last weekend when we were putting up the Christmas decorations, I realized that it’s become somewhat of a tradition – somewhere along the way I’d picked up some traditions of my own.
The tree usually goes up on the first weekend in December; we brought the boxes of decorations up from storage over the weekend.
The fun is in getting everyone to corporate, deciding what goes where, and the memories that comes with a few special ornaments.
And I, I’m always on hand with snacks; I made Italian wedding cookies, the unofficial cookie of Christmas – I’m not sure why they’re called wedding cookies.
I’m in charge of music too, I love Christmas songs, especially the hymns I used to sing when I was a child.
I had Enya’s ‘And Winter Came’ album playing and every time ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’ came on, we sang along reminiscently.
It’s one of my very favourite Christmas songs
And as the wonderful smell of cookies filled our tiny space, with soothing music playing in the background as we hung ornaments on the old tree I knew that this was a tradition I hoped to keep.
While on vacation last year, we stayed in the Marais district of Paris, close to Centre Pompidou.
Our mostly pedestrian cobble-stoned street, often packed with revelers, was a quite the social hub.
The area really came alive at night; with several restaurants, bars, nightclubs and people pouring out into the streets to make our little cramped quarter.
On some evenings I’d sit by the wide windows with a glass of wine and people-watch into the wee hours.
I slept with the windows open every night just to feel a part of the incredible energy outside.
Across the narrow street was a restaurant; you could see inside from the apartment, they cleared the tables and chairs at night to create a makeshift nightclub.
There was loud music, drinking, general merriment and mostly young people dancing.
The DJ was a big guy with messy long hair; he took long breaks outside, drawing leisurely on his cigarette, unfazed by the raucous around him.
After a few nights of waving bonsoir at him, I finally got to ask him what it was like to be that cool.
He laughed and we had a long chat, it turns out he loves African music – Ghanaian and Congolese music to be precise.
When I told him I was from Ghana, he’d hum/sing this old sixties highlife song whenever he saw me.
I thought it was charming; I mean, here I was… barely able to speak passable French, and he, not that great English and yet we’re bonding over Ghanaian music from the sixties.
When I came back home, I sent him a link to Awesome Tapes from Africa and promised him I’d have a favourite French song by my next visit.
I decided that I also needed a song for whenever I saw him – and watch the whole song-singing banter go from cute to annoying
It took a few months, but I too have found my favourite French song; and it’s not by Celine Dion (although she did a cover of the song).
I watched Commes t’y es belle, a French romantic comedy about the lives and loves of four Jewish Parisian women.
Yes, it’s a chick flick, but it’s French and different in a fun and charming way.
It apparently was a big hit when it came out in 2006.
The movie had a few music montages, and the soundtrack which played over several scenes was ‘L’envie D’aimer’
I loved it! So much that I shazamed it, found it and a bought a copy. Listen…
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I can’t believe I’d never heard this song before…
It’s a beautiful soft melodic tune about the courage to love, the words are simple – I added a few phrases to my vocabulary.
It turns out the song is from a popular French musical from 2000, Les dix commandements about the ten commandments, it’s the final song in the musical, sung by Moses.
I’ve listened to it so much that it’s pretty much the only French song I can sing almost word for word (the alouette and frère Jacques songs don’t count).
My favourite line from the song is “Faire que l’amour, Qu’on aura partagé Nous donne l’envie d’aimer” – something about sharing love to find the desire to love.
Watch this video, and tell me this isn’t your favourite French song too!
Well, isn’t today the most perfect of Saturdays.
A picture perfect day.
We’re headed to Ambleside Park for a little picnic.
I’m making this awesome maple cornmeal biscuits to take with us.
These maple cornmeal biscuits are super yummy!
It’s quick and easy to make with ingredients I have on hand.
They come out of the oven buttery and crunchy on the outside.
The grittiness of the cornmeal really makes that maple flavour pop.
There’ll be popcorn and drinks too!
Now we just have to leave the house
Anyone remember this song? It mostly reminds me of Trainspotting which I was mildly obsessed with.
I leave you with this and hope you’re having a perfect day where ever you are.
And yes, I know the song is possibly about drugs
I was listening to Nikki (the ‘I Believe’ girl) Yanofsky’s new album this morning on my way to work.
The songs are beautiful jazz, with a little bit of pop and soul, and she has an amazing voice.
I’m almost tempted to go see her during the jazz festival but I’m afraid my fascination is because she’s young and so talented.
Maybe my admiration is the kind reserved for child prodigies.
Someone suggested I listen to the album – because it’s ‘music to inspire travel’ as I’ve been a little obsessed with traveling lately.
It’s just a few months till September.
I spent the last week planning my vacation.
I usually take my vacation in September.
September is not a (very) high travel season, it’s also not blazing hot and I get to spend the summer in Vancouver which is the only time our weather is awesome.
When planning, I started off wanting to go to the same places I’d always gone, doing the same things I’d done.
But then I decided I wanted to try something different this year.
I’m going to rent a tiny apartment in Paris, and for a few weeks live out my Parisian fantasy.
I already have my days planned out; my days will be filled visiting open markets, boulangeries, little neighbourhood cafés, museums, sightseeing, brocantes and puces.
I’ll take a long scenic train ride to London one weekend to visit with friends and family.
It’s all I’ve been working on for the past while and it’s very exciting, I think waiting is going to be the hardest.
And when I finally return home, I want to have changed a little – because for a few weeks I lived a different life.
