weekends recap

If someone would ask me what is my favorite season that would be SPRING ! Not too hot nor too cold. I am imagining already the transient beauty and blooming flowers everywhere, fleeting's season of savorous cherries and strawberries. The goddess sunbathers of David (i call them) one piece, two pieces, topless name it we've got it, they're everywhere. Because of this abrupt transitions there goes the dramatic change of one's tune! La Mode (the fashion), the women and men in their best attire. Women, from pullover and thick leather jackets to sexy and short dresses, from close shoes to tongs (slippers or sandals) and stiletto high helled shoes. Men, in their sports wear, hunky shirts, printed shorts and sunglasses! They seem to enjoy and embrace the SPRING! Although this would also mean we will have MISTRAL in the south of France and our being allergic to pollen. Since the month of May has many long weekends we decided to spend it without wasting any single minute of it!

We had an appetizer at Kala's place to celebrate her birthday! Like Makis said we have fun with words! Exchange of funny stories, experiences, and the four of us Filipinas married with French guys are missing our native country, native language and everything in there! It was funny because Pierre was saying that it was so strange to hear again Filipinas talking in Tagalog and how he missess it and suddenly Apol crying out loud that we won (we're glad to have met Apol and Pierre too)...he he he because we talked louder than Frenchguys! A good occassion for us Filipinas to feel completely at home at last even for a shortest time!

Since we love sports, playing tennis keep us toning our sleeping muscles and hanging out with a very cute and young couple Kala and Julien. It was really a one good and sunny Saturday afternoon playing tennis! Though I am not a good player but it keeps me fit and just doing a little bit of exercise. We took our children with us so they can also enjoy roaming around playing inside the tennis court. After playing tennis, Kala cooked lunch for everyone ( and I discovered something for the sauce of gnocchi, btw thanks Kala loved it ). Makis arrived to join us and we later on went out for a walk in the park. Indeed, it is always pleasant to hang out with nice people!

Since Mayumi turned 1 year old on the 25th of April we celebrated it later on because we also need to consider the availability of our friends! Please see their own site at Angels in full Colours

I have seen a lot of nice places in the south and some places in the north of France, but I am not familiar with Carry Le Rouet where Makis lives and it's just 30 minutes drive from Marseille. I asked Frenchhoney to visit the place and then called Makis if she wanted to join us and voila, here she is ready to be our perfect and sympathique tour guide (thanks a lot Makis, it was wonderful)! After a long walk and sight seeing, the hungry troops (lol) went to a restaurant and have eaten a two big plate of delicious Pizza and Makis ordered a yummy banana split as a dessert while Basti :-) was asking her for a scoop ! A simple wander on the beach with a friend was just perfect!

There is always a time for a family getaway! We spent the whole day in Parc Borely and rented a bicylce to tour around. The kids enjoyed with the new design of the playground and parents were likewise amused and had fun! How about dining inside the restaurant of the park. Not bad for our weekend!

The next day, a friend of ours organized a piquenique in Campagne Pastré ( a park near the beach ). Unfortunately, we were the only family who were available at that time. The others have other plans! Even, we were few on that the day, it was still one of those extraordinary stroll in the park because I learned something very interesting for Sébastien and Mayumi's future outdoor sports! Horseback riding !!!

horseback riding inside the park ! excellent idea isn't it!

A FrancoFil couple friends from Paris (Ate Pat) who happened to be married to an Ex-Boss of my sister in Vivendi ( working with him for 9 yrs...company name now is Veolia Water, Phils.) came to visit Marseille! I invited them to come over for dinner and it was also a chance to meet my Frenchhoney. It is really a small world, and it's always nice to see people that we knew way back home!

Part I of rollerblading : Kala and Julien discovered a piste cyclabes (cycle track or bicycle path or runway) in Toulon therefore we drove one hour from where we live just to rollerblade! Imagine the effort we made just to have fun and see this new discovery of friends and just being together! Arriving there, at first I was excited to at last put my feet alltogether with my precious rollerblades. Sadly, it was a failure, I am worried with my left knee (problem of instability) because of that I finally went jogging and Mayumi enjoyed sight seeing while sitting inside her stroller! Though the cute couple proposed of helping me to rollerblade but there's always my fear of slipping or falling!
Part II of rollerblading : Two weeks after, I wanted Kala and Julien to try rollerblading inside the Stade Velodrome (where the famous football is being held). Though it is not as big and long as of Toulon pistes cyclabe but we had so much fun of just spending quality time...rollerblading.....talking.....laughing and just enjoying the great weather we have here in the south!