I wonder what else might I have missed?

Still loving the book. Am at the place where you have just met Jim in Rennes at the concert. Luscious reading, thanks.

PS I just discovered your blog at the weekend thanks to the Sunday Times (bought by my own Meetic boy to stop me whinging all day about how much childbirth is going to hurt – I’m currently bored at home all day awaiting an overdue baby). Anyway, many congrats on your success – I wish I was innovative enough to find a way to make a living that doesn’t involve sitting in an office all day (I was on the Assedic for a couple of years once, but instead of doing something useful like writing a book I just turned into Frank Gallagher off of Shameless).

Incidentally, I thought I’d use my newfound spare time to sort out getting pacsed (apparently your taxes for that year are halved if you do it on or about the middle of the year – I’m just an old romantic me), so I waddled off down to the Marie yesterday to make enquiries. Crikey – talk about complicated – many documents required from many different sources, all translated by a certified translator and all with a seemingly short validity period. Thus good luck with the whole marriage thing – I imagine you will have a similar rigmarole ahead but probably worse.

And finally, enjoy your trip to York – I worked in the King’s Arms many years ago when the landlord was a bloke called Ian – great pub as I recall and very nice city altogether!

But I feel left out.

My opinion, which really isn’t being asked for in the slightest, is that I’m quite pleased that marriage of itself is not yet dead and that PA has actually opted for it with someone she’s found worthy to commit to so seriously. I’m sorry she doesn’t want anything traditional, but then, I’d love to know what the new non-traditional is that actually will become the next-traditional.

I’ve never experienced the macaron piece montée, which might taste wonderful, but from the picture given, I’d definitely go with the chou. I think they are beautiful, especially as they are so different from our typical American wedding cakes (of which I’ve supplied many myself). See, I can also accept non-traditional sometimes, I’m not always old-fashioned pig-headed.

Congratulations, Petite, and I hope you share enough of your celebration to let the rest of us feel like we are participating in the culmination of this romance as much as we’ve been a part of the build-up.

Jen.