Miss Kolka

Something I thought I would never miss in the countdown to christmas was book advertising. Now I just can't help but wonder why so few books are on commercials here in France just before christmas. I never see one on tv or hear special adverts on the radio. Sure there are radio shows with book critics all over (no radio talk show can exist without their literary commentator it seems) but somehow this does not seem satisfying to me. Often the choices these critics make can seem obscure or a bit above my comphrehension and yet I love to read. Isn't it a bit unusual for a country that praises itself for literature that it seems to hide these particular assets during the biggest shopping fest of the year?

 Pan pointed out to me that perhaps it is because it's "cheap to have to sell your book", its beneath the author's dignity to advertise, people should just know what to buy. And Im sure 2 or even 3 % of France's population knows exactly what book to buy when and where and is very aware of the choices they have. The problem is that the rest (perhaps 97%) are totally lost when they enter a bookshop. Shouldn't book editors try to reach them as well - instead of counting only on the small intelligentsia? Books should be for the masses. There is nothing more enjoyable than reading a good book, and it can certainly compensate for all the bad tv programs like the reality shows about France's poor that live on the streets, Star academy with their awful singers or all the replays of old and corny christmas movies shown on tv every single year (WHo want's to see "Le pére Noel est une ordure" yet again?? Its from 1982 for crying out loud!)

But I guess its all down to traditions. In Iceland, its common to get at least 2-3 books under the tree, so a few weeks before christmas, tv stations are drowning in book commercials - advertising gets twice as much time than usual in this golden period - and you hear about most of the books at some point - so before you go to the bookstore, you actually already have an idea of what to buy. I have gotten many of the most interesting books I've read this way. From Santa. But then again, at this time of year, In Iceland, its dark and people love to stay in their warm homes with cookies and a good book. Christmas in Paris is more like, "lets stuff the goose and eat it - then we'll drink some champagne to celebrate". Here books are just for the metro - and now the ipods have taken over. So its cultural I guess.

SO I have added more pictures of the babyshower, of a danish christmas "party" we had at home and some belated ones of the auntie-to-be on Flickr. Check it out.

Had such a great day.

The girls at work had planned a proper babyshower today at Amanda's place - that is Alexandra (which has previously been referred to as the best assistant ever here on this blog) made the invites, told people what to bring (cakes, crepes, cheeses and candy) and decorated with lovely golden laces, animal balloons and Amanda's typical american decorations from NYC. Babylicious was spoiled rotten with wonderful gifts - pyjamas, towels, stuffed animals, shoes, its first book, a lovely story with my childhood's "Ernest and Celestine",an "I love NY" body with a pin saying " my mama loves Obama" on it, a picture frame, beautiful clothes from Petit bateau exc exc. So lucky.

Apart from having a stuffy nose and not being able to taste all the sweets, I enjoyed these few hours in the girl's company, talking babies, gossip and laughing at Cecile's hilarous jokes. Shame she didn't bring over her new "baby" miss Coco, famously known for leaving unpleasant and gooyie things all over the appartment's floor, but she's only 2 months. Oh and she's also a dog.

So a big thank you to all the girls.. Even the baby daddy got some leftovers of cake so noone was forgotten.

It was good to see people again- get out of the house and mingle. Also, I liked the attention, better cherish that because in a few weeks its not going to be about me anymore.

Its going to be all about you, baby.

xxx

 

Haven't really been in the mood for updating lately, maybe its the cold outside, the days that seem to get longer since all I can do is wait or the fact that my computer broke down for a few days? Thankfully Pan came to the rescue (as he always does) and the little routine I had establised these last few months is back on track. (what would we do without computers?).

There are two weeks left of the confinement (now Im talking like the taliban have locked me up like a proper Afghan wife) - 2 weeks that is until babylicious is allowed to come into the world safely and all ready for the real adventure to begin- but it could just as well become 5 more weeks if it decides to play it "primadonna -style". Well with a mom like that, who is not really known for good timing it could happen. Lets hope the daddy-effect counters it.

So what have I done? Besides the endless paperwork that always has to be filled out before the birth, during pregnancy as well as the birth plan and after-birth arrangements, Ive kept myself quite busy:

-I knitted 3 items (one too big and one too small, hopefully one left that fits)
-I've made sure we can see our favourite programs (Its always sunny in Philadelphia, The Mentalist, SVU, Desperate housewives, How I met your mother, Gossip girl, Fringe, Pushing daisies and Grey's anatomy (just for me to cry out a bit) and lately Eli Stone) and I can tell you that is almost a full time job! But its so much more interesting than the things that are on Tv.   
- Read a few books, Obama, Fred Vargas, Tales of an economic hitman, the kite runner, Still haven't finished Robert Fisk's "The great war for Civilasation" and now got such an interesting book from Pan in my Advent calendar called the Kabul Beauty school  (real story of an american beautician who goes to Afghanistan to help women help themselves)
- made christmas decorations and cookies
-in the process of making well wishing cards
-been better in being in contact with friends and family
-drunken so many chocolats liegois downstairs with friends
 -Made plenty of lists of baby things to buy and do - that Pan is no doubt thrilled about
- Gone to midwife preperation classes that scared me but tought me how to breath correctly
- cought a cold and a soar throat - Im especially proud of that one, dont know how that happened since Im almost always at home.
- Spent countless hours on the internet reading celebrity gossip (because Im totally off world news, so weird) or writing useless comments on Facebook.

These have been the last 4 months, I just dont understand how I could spend all that time working before.

But without support from our friends, our families and my special one , it would have been so much harder than it was.

Now Im ready. Lets be the 23rd soon. Oh and Im also looking forward to christmas...could there be a christmas spirit hiding there somewhere underneath? Every child needs magical christmases - I will do my best to honour that in the next 20 years at least.

Its finally december.

I wrote a post about what I think about the midwife classes - but it of course disappeared. I dont seem to have any control over Flickr either - that loads pictures just in any order so it doesn't make sense anymore. And since Im still in my pyjamas and its already way past midday I can't be bothered. Not that I have anything special on my agenda today.

Check the new pix on Flickr of the visit this weekend by Pan's sister and the South African Traveller.

I could also tell you what I got in the Advent calendar today - but don't think I will.
.... To confuse you though I'll give a hint: Diamonds are a girls best friend.

You'll never guess.

 

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