As we head to Germany this weekend we are just going out for a quiet Italian meal tonight at our favourite local restaurant in Queens Square. We don't go there often as it is for special occassions.

To Megs, Nic, Phil and Rochelle, thanks so much for contributing to such a wonderful day. We had a ball and so much more fun to have shared it with you guys. 

Love Carls & Steve 

With bad weather about it makes you look for other options. Last weekend we gave indoor skiing a go at the Snowdome located at Tamworth. Situated just under 2 hours from Bristol it is an easy drive on the motorway all the way there. For only 21 quid this gives you 2 hours skiing including boots, poles and skis. Should you get bored of skiing then you can always go swimming, ice skating, spend some time in the gym or go for a facial or massage. Covering 170 metres there is enough of a run to get some speed on and they have ensured that the run isn't clogged up with horizontal bodies by not letting anyone up the slope unless they are of a passable ski standard. If not, then you join a ski school at the bottom. This way it keeps everyone safe and the slopes moving more efficiently. As your skills improve then you can move up the slope. By the end of the 2 hours I was getting my ski groove back on again, able to ski without poles and really starting to enjoy it (although I still lack in confidence the coaching by Steve was very valuable in getting me to the "no poles" point). 

The Bristol Harbour Festival was on a couple of weekends ago. This too was also getting rained on but we had to go and have a look at the french markets. Hooray for fine french food. I must say though the bread truly was a let down this year. Mind you we had only been in Paris 3 days prior to the festival and had stuffed ourselves silly with bread from there. The memory of it was still lingering so there was no bread that was going to meet the high standard we recalled. I did however pick up some more cheese, Steve found his Croque Monsieur and I indulged in a sausage and vege sandwich. Yum. 

This weekend Steve heard about the Hard Rock Festival in Devon so we drove down for the day.  Rock climbing, slacklining and the South West Film Festival were some of the key drawcards here. There was great doco called Dying for Everest regarding the media furor surrounding a double leg amputee climber called Mark Ingles. He and a number of other climbers attempting to summit Everest came across a climber (David Sharp) that at first appeared dead, but upon closer inspection proved to be alive at the time. The choice was made to leave David there and continue on. Sir Edmund Hillary even came out to condemn Mark Ingles. I am not sure why the media chose to focus on Mark specifically considering 30+ climbers also took the same decision. It was a really interesting doco and posed a number of different questions for consideration. Although I have never been in extreme conditions such as Everest I do understand and have experienced what happens to your body, your thinking, decision making skills, basic tasks such as eating or speaking when affected by the cold. Also we recently experienced the debilitating affects of altitude sickness when we were in Chamonix (Aigulle du Midi - 13847 feet). If anything it taught me to appreciate the fragility of our bodies and what it means to be out of control of it. A very scary experience I don't wish to revisit.

When we arrived at the Hard Rock Festival I found a frog. My first frog! Ever!!!! Not counting frogs at a pet shop or zoo, this was the first real, live, wild frog I have ever seen. It was gorgeous. I probably shouldn't have picked it up as I have no idea what type of frog (or maybe its a toad, I don't know).  Tiny, tiny frog, coloured green with black/brown markings. Just wonderful to see. 

Finally, as it was still raining the next day we decided to take another ride in the car for a Sunday arvo drive. We found yet another gem of a town. Malmesbury in the county of Wiltshire. The abbey here is a real gem, very accessible and has the most amazing collection of bibles and antiquities in the Parvise (steps leading up to a tower above the porch. This one can be found to the right of the doors as you enter). Just outside the abbey are the abbey gardens, home of the naked gardeners. Yes, that's right - naked gardeners. We were rather surprised to, especially to read that it was a "clothes optional day". At 6.90 each for entry it proved a bit pricey for us. Maybe on a sunnier day and possibly when it is a "clothes preferable" day ;)

Look you can't dislike the acting, CGI or storyline as they were fine but it just didn't have the fresh wit or cheeky humour of the last two. It just seemed to rehash the same old things or put forward the obvious one liners. The cheesy bad humour (which was so funny in the last movies) just didn't come off well in this one. I'm quite left flat by it and can't even be bothered to finish this review. 

1.5 out of 5.

One thing to be incredibly thankful for is that they replaced Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes. 

Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman all return to take up their previous characters. All are fabulous in continuing the efforts from the last movie, the story moving on from where it left off last time - Batman finally capturing the Scarecrow then facing the next villian, the Joker. 

It is quite a long movie but at no point was I bored or wanting it to end. I won't give any of it away as the twists and turns are great but pretty obvious. Go along for the ride and don't overthink it. 4.5 out of 5.

So the second movie titled "I want to believe", how was it? Gillian Anderson's reprised role of Scully was like watching the series. She dropped back into character seamlessly. Mulder played by David Duchovny just didn't have the witty lines to deliver that were always a riot in the series. Billy Connolly was superb (as always) and it was great to see Mitch Pilleggi do a short return at the crucial moments as Assistant Director Skinner.

The plot was interesting and although not a big screen blockbuster style movie it held its own. It came off more as an extended series version which in my opinion worked well. You can only get so much CGI in movies before it all starts to get old hat and the art of story telling is lost. I enjoyed this however a little bit less relationship angst between Scully and Mulder would have served better and more subtle humour substituted instead. 

There were inhouse jokes or memories for keen X-Philes (those obsessed with the show as they were called) such as the pencils stuck into the roof, a jibe regarding GW Bush as a possible alien or abductee etc. Look out for more as I am sure they are in there. 

Anway, I would give it 4 out of 5.

After the gardens Steve and I wandered into the Latin Quartier to the area we stayed on the very first trip to Paris. Rue Mouffetard is a superb area for shopping and dining and at a cost that is far more reasonable than where we were currently staying. Steve found a lovely bakery and we managed to polish off a huge piece of Souffle Normand. We felt very ill afterwards but is was fabulous and surprisingly only 2,55. We also purchased some macaroons for everyone for dessert that night. We brought Paul and Sharon back here in the evening for dinner in this area. For 15 euro we got a 3 course meal each of which Sharon and Steve decided to do the escargot. The meal was spectacular. 

Tuesday we realised that the Louvre was closed so that sunk any places for that day. However it turned out rather good as we spent it shopping instead. Time to get gifts for mates in Bristol (note this was the first time we had even thought about Bristol at this stage!). 

Wandering through the back streets parallel to Rue Rivoli you avoid the throngs of tourists and more often than not find the most interesting shops. We found a fabulous shop selling all manner of teas that you could dream up. It is within the shops located at Place Des Voges (another spectacular spot for shopping and people watching). Seriously this tea shop was an "experience".  I wanted green tea for a gift so you pick one, then he gets you to smell it, then he selects some more that get gradually stronger. You smell each of them until you get to the pungency that doesn't suit your nose, this becomes your stopping point then you know the range in which to choose from. Who knew there were so many to choose from. Finally he packages it up neatly topped off with a fab bag. Presentation is everything in France. Next we found a confectionary store with all manner of amazing items from chocolate tennis balls to a nicoise salad made entirely from marzipan. 

The final destination was Galleries Lafayette. I had heard that this was a spectacular building inside. It truly was. I would probably take this building and the shopping experience over Harrods any time. Basically it is one huge department store with individual brand names selling within the building. The crowds of people were overwhelming. Tour buses were lined up outside, tourists were running around loaded down with bags and bags of shopping. Thankfully we were there to take in the ambience and building itself rather than shop. It was mad!

In general we have found over the last 2 weeks that prices have definately increased in France since we were last here. Also, that prices are generally the same as in England so really no deals to be had except on some electronics. The range/style of clothing and shoes are far more beautiful but again the prices are the same and I would probably stand out (in a bad way) in Bristol if I was to buy some of the things on offer here. For example I loved this stunning bright red coat with incredible detailing on the collar. It fits perfectly into the Paris environment but really would have stood out far too much walking around Bristol. What a pity. 

Finally, Wednesday was our last morning so we all went out for breakfast. Steve and I had found the place we went to with Kerryn and Tony when we were last in Paris. It is in La Marais district right across the road from BVH. They do a great brekkie for 10 euro. You sit there and watch the world go by as you sip on coffee and OJ while eating your bread, crossiant and omlette. The waiter was great and even took a photo for us. 

I can't remember if I told you that while in Paris we were staying on Rue Beautrellis right across from where Jim Morrison (The Doors) lived and tragically died in the 70's. We found out that our apartment looked straight across to his. 

Anyway, next blog will be our stay in London where we caught up with Anne-Line and Shehan. 

Yesterday we visited Montmartre and found the restautrant that we love La Relais Garcon. The salads from here are phenomenal. Thanks Axel for introducing this place to us. We look forward to it every time we come to Paris. At this stage, we are now incredibly tired, feet are sore, spending money is getting low but we have enjoyed Paris yet again. This city, the culture, the lifestyle, the people, food and the ease of the metro totally rocks! As we have said before, smile, use what french you have to try to communicate (don't be obnoxious and expect everyone to speak english, you are in their country) and many great experiences will unfold before you.