Happy new year!
Fiance has to worked on new year eve
thereafter we went for a new year eve party
at his friend's apartment
it was really nice for them to invite us
i do enjoy small gathering
than countdown at crowded places
it was a simple party with 7 of us
simple starters to munch on
hamburger party
baked dessert
with wine, beer and drinks
we reached at about 7pm
and went home at 3am
Just chatting
and playing games (Time out)
and they were really nice to played it in English
but it also made me realised that French is really knowlegable
about politics, history etcs
stuff that im bad in :(
After the countdown
was dancing
i think is the first time i had
dancing in an appartment
and that was how our new year eve went
with great food
and great people!
Bonne année et bonne santé!
I thought im considered a cheesy person
be it mac & cheese
or cheesy potato chips
to cheesy baked rice
I have no problem eating them
in Singapore
but the fiance "enlighten" me
that those are not consider real cheese!
okay, in his standard
or the average french standard...
Not cheese
or known as hamburger cheese:
The REAL cheese (Fromage)
which is really too strong
for my taste
and nose..
Once, fiance made a cheese dinner
and i almost fainted at the smell of it cooking in the oven!
but i came to realised that my endurance of cheese increases
after it has been cooked
and not just cold freshly cut..
Anyway, I am really lucky
that my future father in-law is not a great fan of cheese
dont ask me why,
he is french but dont like cheese
so i can be pretty sure i wont be having cheese meals
when we return for festivals or meals
at versailles
it is quite hard to avoid cheese in france
In a normal full dinner,
the meals goes like:
Appetizers - entree - Main - cheese - dessert
so there is a full slot for eating cheese!
however, i found a cheese / dish that i really liked
during Christmas
it was within the acceptable cheese range for my future father in-law too!
Raclette Cheese & grill
i dont think is a traditional french cuisine
but we are to put the raclette cheese on the metal spade
insert it into the electric grill
and pour the melted cheese onto potatoes, ham, etcs
i can imagine the taste in my mouth now....hmmm
okay, i admit the fun element of the grill
kept me eating and eating and eating..
a meal not good for the waistline
as usual
Bisous!
*All photos are taken from the internet
Unlike in SIngapore
i think it will be strange / rude for me to take out my camera
to take photos of our food in france
since meal times are consider a big deal here
but the fiance do allow me to do so
when there is only us at meals
Last night,
Fiance asked me what will be my new year resolutions
and i told him
"get married in france!"
"get married in singapore!"
"No baby for 2014!"
Haha
Anyway i did came up a few resolutions:
1) Lose weight
although at christmas i weighed myself
and realised i didnt put on weight in paris
im still a long way from my ideal weight for the wedding
and after 3 weeks here
i developed the bad habit of desserts and chocolates
:'(
2) Learn French
I think i have a good flair to pick up languages
but French is the most difficult language
i encountered in my life
3) Learn to bake
for the first time of my life
i have my own kitchen
and has a microwave-oven
so i really hope i can learn to bake
when we were apart in 2 countries
when i was still working
time seems to crawl
and now i cant believe its a new year!
Irony~
Spent my first christmas in France!
Christmas is a big event here
similar to our Chinese new year
where families spent time together..
Fiance has to worked on christmas eve
so unlike in previous years,
we arrived at versailies in the evening
helped dinner preparations
lots of photo taking
and we had a 5 hours dinner??
is not really as scary as i thought
it was just a many courses dinner
and food was good!
Thereafter was waiting for midnight
to open the presents
before everyone goes to la la land
at about 2am
On Christmas day
was a good lunch
spending time with the family
and a nice dinner
okay, lots of eating
hehe
On 26 December
fiance and I had to visit a wedding venue
so we took a ride from the sister
Then the family's ritual of going for a walkat the gardens of versailies
However, i hurt my foot 3 days ago
so fiance and i had a short walk around
it was nice to have some couple time
discussing about our wedding
Finally, the family decided
it was a day for a light dinner
but still plenty of food and eating
Rest of the night was reading
and watching French version of American Idol
On 28 December
We left home early
to visit the paternal grandparents at Chambord
which is 1.5hours drive way
and near a beautiful chateau
It was really nice to be able to meet the relatives
the grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins
And we had a big lunch
before we went home
and ended with light-er dinner
on 27 December
Fiance and i left home early
to visit another wedding venue
with mother in law
and finally confirmed our venue
had delicious cheesy lunch with family
and head back to our home
it was the first christmas for me:
- in france
- with fiance
- with the family
- meeting relatives
at times, it can be hard for me
when i feel like im in a french movie
with no subtitles
but thankfully
fiance is always so attentive to me
and with good food
it was a good experience
and a great opportunity for me to know the family
and for them to know me.
hopefully by next christmas
i will be able to be better in french
to understand and converse with everyone.
Bisous.
Previously i wrote about documents required
and the tedious process to apply for marriage
in france
Finally all the documents were collected
and we had an appointment 19 December 2014
At the Versailies townhall
to apply for our marriage
initially the idea was to apply for our marriage
in paris townhall
but after consideration of the costs involved
in a wedding in paris
Versailies was a better choice
especially is where my in laws are staying
I was quite nervous about the appointment
because there is no way i can fly back to Singapore
if any document was unacceptable
but Fiance was sure all will be well...
We met with the staff at the townhall
who was a really serious lady
i think it was 30 minutes into the application
before she even smiled
Fiance thinks maybe is her way
to scare away fraud marriage applications
anyway the documents were fine
just that fiance needs to provide 1 documents to them
before the marriage
oh and the lady thinks that fiance spoke well in English
and we save the time and money to look for a translator
which quoted us for Euro350!
all went well!
Our wedding date will be on 15 February 2014.
And our civil ceremony at this beautiful townhall...
Is quite cute that we put our shoes under a christmas tree
and presents are left on top or beside our shoes
to be opened at midnight of 24 December.
The fiance and I received presents as a couple
as well as individual gifts!
Cacao set from the sisters
(Shower gel, lip balm, hand lotion)
Chinese tea cup from China
and tea leaves
from my in-laws
H&M Scarf and hat set
from my in-laws
I was looking for a thick wool scarf
but didnt want to spend money
my in-laws seems to be able to read my mind
and gave this to me!
The fiance got me a pandora bracelet!
Actually, i recommended for him to get it
so that if he has no ideas what to get for me
during anniversary, birthday etcs..
he can always head to pandora to get a charm
and i love it!
Before i left Singapore
I prepared small gifts for my nieces and nephew
didnt get much feedback about their responses
except my sister said that they were more engrossed in tearing
away all the wrapping papers!
In any case, im blessed to have many presents
but the greatest gift will be having my lovely fiance
and celebrating christmas together....
<3
Had always been a fastfood fan
for the longest time.
Nothing makes me happier
to see familar brands in Paris.
Have not tried KFC yet
but will try soon...
