FRACTURED!!!

Mary’s flight had been delayed. Too excited to go straight to bed, we hit the streets… and in my case … literally.  The pavement was wet, my feet went out from under me and there was nothing there to break the fall. In slow motion I determined not to bump my head. I didn’t. We returned to the hotel and applied ice to my hurting elbow.  

In the morning Kath and I went to the ED at Lariboisière Hospital where we were whisked through the formalities and I was seen, x-rayed, reported on, strapped and returned to the street all within an hour I think. Kath would know though, as she were the one in the waiting room.  

Broken ulna

I needed these photos for wrapping reference otherwise I’d wake to find my hand up under my chin and the rest of me in a tangle of bandages and velcro.

I managed some sight seeing that day and the next. Here is a quick photographic summary:

We ended our Paris by Mouth walking tour with wine and cheese. It was good to have an expert to guide us. I, on pain killers, missed some of the explanations in micro sleeps. I switched from the stool to a chair… 

Jaw dropping beauty… Sainte Chapelle.. 13th century

Kath had seen Sainte Chapelle on a sunny day and spoke of the sparkling beauty.  Here on this dull day with such beauty before me, I could only imagine. 

Gothic with gargoyles 

In the Conciergerie (court house), this was Marie-Antoinette’s room where she was kept for 44 days until her execution

She was a great singer but still didn’t manage to dislodge my latest ear worm song - The Reels singing Prefab Heart, the version from their album Beautiful. It would remain with me until well after my return to Sydney and lead me to hunt down singer Dave Mason’s next performance date … Thursday 1 June at Django Bar! Tickets bought! 

Now a standard with Mary and me- harking back to Cork 2022

Great clouds! Again and again 

In 1985, I was lucky enough to be in Paris to see this bridge, Pont Neuf, wrapped by Christo and Jeanne Claude!  

Unbelievably, I heard my name called as I climbed the steps to the Musée d’Orsay. Mary and I looked at each other going “🤣…no… this cannot be happening, 🤣” but it was!  There at the top of the stairs, were Sue Burton’s dear friends Cecile and Chris!!! Too funny. We sent this snap to Sue.  😂 

We raced past so many staggeringly great paintings… this taken at speed is one of Mary’s big favourites.  I’ll have to return to this art gallery before too long. 

We sipped a cup of tea in the cafe under the clock and tee’d up a meeting spot with Elaine and Kath. Today we would only have time for the special exhibition Manet v Degas

I asked Rosemary to explain this scene. She said “Is that poor femme pregnant again?” Say no more!

Elaine and I found each other and shortly after, the wonderful Wendy Sharpe with partner Bernard, who were also loving the Manet v Degas exhibition

Mary and me with yet another crooked painting

Galeries Lafayette 

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While Kath headed off with Jackie, Elaine, Mary and I had cocktails in the bar atop Galeries Lafayette. The views of Paris with dramatic clouds, were just perfect!

Montemartre

Montmartre on zoom

Our last pm together in Paris 

Elaine and Mary wondered about this building. i think it was lost… meant to be in Dubai. 

Cosmopolitan 

Kath had booked a table at Petrelle, a really lovely restaurant and experience for our last night together. It was beautiful. Here are the skeletal remains of the delicious sole.

Candlelit Elaine

Walking home but with heavy hearts as Fabian LoSchiavo’s brother had spoken to Kath on the news that Fabian had died. Kath and Elaine are very close to Fabian. Heartbroken. 🪗

Au Revoir Paris:

❤️Vietnam Airlines❤️ changed my ticket from Monday to Friday and whizzed me away from Mary and through all formalities and gates and installed me on the plane to Ho Chi Minh, extracted me from that plane, planted me for 14 hours in a lounge area with shower and loud quiet area, then whizzed me on to my plane to Sydney.  And that’s where the whizzing shifted to something more like reluctant assistance 😂 ..ah…Australia. 😂 

Michael McCabe was there to greet me - so glad to have such a friend.  Home, showered, Carole, dear friend and doctor, came over straight away to check me out and see me to the hospital. I declined the many offers for company and just settled in to the ED waiting room for a few hours… then a few more… then a few more. All I really needed was the “concierge” - a man called Liam I think  He was perfect in that role of greeting, explaining and just soothing everyone who came into ED. What a lovely bloke. He noticed my ‘I haven’t slept for 2 days’ head bobbing around the place and placed a blanket between me and the wall. Eventually I was x-rayed and CT scanned and sent home to report back at 6:30am tomorrow for surgery. 

I was there. Victoria deployed her daughter Cleo to my side at some stage. That was perfect timing as, by 1pm, I was on my last nerve and someone seemed to be standing on it. At 2pm I was called in and emerged to find that I now have a praying mantis feeding on my elbow!  I’ll leave you with that image and say, I had a GREAT holiday. I loved it.