An Inconclusive Expedition

I slip out from my daughter’s flat at the crack of dawn. What could be more wonderful than the Paris streets in the early morning, when the world is full of possibility? A café, a coffee and the morning newspaper – sheer bliss!

Later on I set out again, but this time make the mistake of stepping into a children’s bookshop in search of something for my grandchildren, aka the Nours. Big mistake! Like so many shops in Paris, this one looks as though it has been designed by dwarves with other dwarves in mind. I scarcely dare move for fear of creating instant mayhem among the packed shelves. On these occasions I have a “window of opportunity” of about 10 minutes, before my brain starts to seize up at the sight of such variety, such QUANTITY! I feel like a refugee from Communist Europe, suddenly let loose in a department store and very soon reduced to tears at the impossibility of ever being able to choose from among such bounty.