Le Kaloupile Restaurant

I had a vague idea where the Reunion Islands are in the Indian Ocean.  In fact I know several people who came from there.  Now I know that their department number is 974 since 97 is allocated to departments such as the Reunions and Guadalupe (973 I think).

One thing for sure is that the food at Le Kaloupile is really really good Creole stuff, not hugely plentiful it has to be said, but good with excellent spicing as you would expect. A definite 'must go'.  I will get you a picture eventually ......

A New Year Perspective!

Yes, she is My Moll Molls!

Lac des Cygnes - Grimaldi Forum

What a great production! Amazing costumes and colors with brilliant choreography - a wonderful evening, a feast for the eyes.  The simple sets provided elegant backdrops to the dancing which filled the stage beautifully.  It was far from staid, far from being the same old thing - it was fresh and vibrant.  Given the rapturous applause at the end together with the myriad curtain calls the other members of the audience agreed!

I would not call myself a fan of the ballet - however, if they are like this then I may well be a frequent visitor.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - What a good movie!

How come I haven't heard of this movie? Doesn't make sense.  Robert Downy Jr & Val Kilmer take the lead in what turns out to be a really funny if rather violent movie. Some excellent bits of comedy with a plot that doesn't stop giving - I like plots that do that.

In a way, apart from the dead bodies and subject matter, it is really a RomCom .... oh, ok, I will take that back although you may seen what I mean.  Well acted, not over acted.

Highly recommended!!

Pere Noel?

Proof positive that I was Pere Noel at the Feelings Club in Rue Pertinax in Nice for an OVS Group.  This video has been captured from the original on YouTube - if you think I am putting the link here then you are deluded.

What did learn was that the supposed Safari download does not seem to work per the book. Tried it a few times. Hmm.  So this was captured with Camtasia  which did a very good job of it methinks.

You will be the judge of Pere Noel!

Sens bon movie!

Les Romantiques Anonymes (Romantics Anonymous)

Superb! 

Rire a haute voix! 

Mignon!  

100%  

Regardez puis vous sentez mieux!

Audrey Perrin ..... Excellente!

J'aurais benefice de plus de francais mais malgre ma francais j'a eu une soiree excellente dans Le Theatre des Oiseaux une petite theatre en Vieux Nice ou j'ai vu Audrey Perrin!  Tres tres drole!


Il n'etais pas ruiner par le couple devant moi qui baiser pendant le spectacle - alors je suis en France!

Apres le spectacle Audrey serra la main ou a donner un baiser a tout le monde quand nous avons sortir!  Tres rare et tres genial.

Suivant il est un promo pour cet spectacle .....

Nice - Lumieres - 2012

Big kid time .....

What can I say other than it is great movie - pure escapist fun with all the usual comic book ingredients. Hollywood schmaltz at its finest.  The Amazing Spider-Man - Recommended!!

Now, that is interesting.  Unlike Superman Spider-Man is hyphenated which is probably painful in the cold weather  ....

Jewellery Shoot

I did way too many photos so it was real trial to choose which for this compilation .....

My old car makes the news ... shame about the reason!

Models shoot

Compilation of a few photos of the sets taken at the Makeup shoot Saturday
Photos from the make up stage itself

Riviera Times - Franck Olivas published

Riviera Times Facebook

More about Franck and his work:

http://www.franck-olivas.com/fr/actualite.html

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xui96d_trailer-portfolio-flagrance_creation

  

Jerry Nabung - Art without Rules

Originally from the Philippines Jerry Nabung now lives and works in Nice.  He has an interesting unique style which I experienced for the first time when I visited his vernissage today at the space MUSEE AAV in Place Garibaldi.  Jerry's exhibition runs until 1 December. www.jerrynabung.com

Sophie Mounicot - Comedienne

I actually made it to the Theatre Oiseaux for a show.  This cutesy theatre holds something less than a hundred.  It is tough to understand stand ups sometimes when they talk fast, it is worse when they speak fast AND in French.  Still, what I understood was really funny.  The show was constructed as a series of sketches.  Entertaining.

It was full which is pretty good for a Thursday night.  On the other hand Sophie is a well known comedienne in France.  What is good to know is that everyone laughs at the same things, people are the same wherever you go ...... maybe a bit sweeping as I have never been to a stand up show outside of Europe - need to check my facts!

Murder Mystery Evening!

I helped Tom with the idea for this, little did I know it would be a great success nor did he!  It was which is very gratifying. Downside was I ended up the killer! That aside I managed to do some shots in the woefully bad light at Pizza de la Place in Place Garibaldi .....

A lovely RomCom from Mel?

Mel Gibson's How I Spent My Summer Vacation - RomCom? Uh, actually no.  It has a romantic element in it as you would expect in any movie concerning a very tough prison down Mexico way ..... ok you have to see it.  Great yarn with lots of great action, Mel at his best. Say what you like about him as a person - as an actor he is really fun to watch, puts himself into the role.  It doesn't lose pace. All good. Liked it. Recommended.

There is another title for it - Get the Gringo - No, it doesn't work for me either.

MAMAC Portrait Shoot

Here are some of my photos which I took when my Nice-Photo group had a Portrait Shoot at MAMAC

A very clever movie ...

Now what sort of movie keeps me riveted? Another Stig Larson one? Oh yes.  Headhunters was a really great watch, excellent yarn, with so many twists and turns .... a brilliantly made Norwegian movie in the same class as the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.

Shabby chic or trash??

Here it is!  A first acquisition that was cheap - cheap not without pain!  It was very dirty so I had to remove the seat cover and do the only thing I could and that was to wash it.  Big huge enormous mistake as the fabric was so delicate. Ended up with bits and holes where there had been no holes. Added to this the ugly stain is still there.  Never mind it is now stitched back together.  I give you two pictures as before and after shots.  It is comfortable - is it trash??


One fun thing was getting something to cover the cushion that would act as a surface for the now tattered fabric.   It is not easy to source these things in English let alone French.  Curiously enough some fine tapestry fabric actually did the trick so where there are holes in the material the innocuous fabric peeks through.  Yes, yes it will have to be done again as it is all hand done by impatient self. In the detail the tapestry fabric is visible as is the sewing to the front which split entirely in two during washing!

A world renowned healer .....

I was lucky to film this world renowned healer (www.healer.ch) - whatever you views he has some great insights in this very casual relaxed talk one evening ...

Nice 8 - Brest 3 - Ice hockey!

I went to an ice hockey game, French division 1, where I saw Nice trounce Brest by a feisty 8 to 3! Fast and furious.

Jrean-Bouin - What a great sporting complex!  Will definitely be back for the figure skating and the ice hockey.

I still can't figure out the rules. Never could even at school.

My modelling career begins! Allo Pere Noel!

Today I decided to be the model for my Nice-Photo Meetup ..... it was great fun!  The most fun part was the little kids who just loved the idea of Santa being about ... trop mignon!


As the photos emerge they will be posted on the Meetup ......

http://www.meetup.com/Nice-Photo/photos/11569112/

Movie in .... Movie out

Watched a cute little film called Punch-Drunk Love which was the 99p special on iTunes. I was totally prepared for a dud.  Not so.  It is a peculiar but involving movie for no particular reason that I can fathom - is it the acting which was good?  The script which was clever?  How the movies was directed which was pretty nifty? I don't know.  Just enjoyed it all.  One line I did like which when someone asks if he is crazy the response is along the lines of "I don't know how other people are.", pretty much sums up the border between nuts and crazy .... sorry normal and crazy. Watch it.

Skyfall - the long awaited return of James Bond played by an ageing Daniel Craig.  What a great yarn. The villain is gay or rather demonstrably gay whereas the other villains were, with hindsight, perhaps still in the closet?  It was a good yarn featuring Istanbul, a favourite city, lots of London skyline stuff together with Shanghai and Macau both of which shone like jewels, definitely come hither looking places! If my eyes did not deceive me the supposed entrance to a Shanghai skyscraper was none other than Broadgate Tower in dear old London!  For a 007 movie it was good and a tad different. A must see? Not really. If you have nothing better to do type movie ......

An evening of crepes ....

Spent a lovely evening with my photo Meetup at Tat-0-Titon in rue Chauvain eating 'as much as you can eat' crepes!  But, there is one, they insist you have a drink with the first one and another before the third .... and I guess it goes on like that which is improbable as they are really filling!

Still prefer good old Denny's pancakes ......

Here is the link to the Meetup photos, not the greatest of photo opportunities t has to be said ...

http://www.meetup.com/Nice-Photo/photos/11521302/

Another GREAT HPN Event

It was another good turnout for another great even for HPN.  The speaker for the night was branding guru Caryn - she has worked with some very big names.  What Caryn doesn't know about branding is not worth knowing!  Lovely evening at the Cafe de la Place in Place Garibaldi, Nice.

Music? Artemis release latest .....

Artemis Robison has released her latest album Sephyra.   Great to hear more from her plus I know, as we have discussed it, that there is another album to follow hot on its heels!  If you don't know her work the isn't about time you did?



The project was funded through Kickstarter - definitely worth looking into if you have a creative project needing backing!

You know what? What? You asked so I will tell you: Lamb released an album (5) way back last year - they did not say anything to me!  A terrible shock from which I am still reeling. It is good, same stuff just more of the same - lovely!

City Out Monaco - Photos published!

I am delighted to say that I have had 3 photos published in City Out Monaco - I am very pleased. Here is the link:

http://www.cityoutmonaco.com/monaco-community/articles/monaco-usa-the-working-lunch

The lunch took place at the A'Trego restaurant at Cap D'Ail ...... this was today 16 Oct ....

Fire breathing!

An evening with Nick Devine ......

The light was really good today ....

The light was exceptionally good today around 2. Sometimes it is too strong or can be 'off' - autumn light. 

Eze village & La Turbie

Eze dates way back. Founded by the Saracens it was held for 150 years by the Turks - very potted history over.  It is now an over touristed town that is also visited by the famous and wealthy who haunt the Chevre d'Or hotel as they can afford it .... However, however (I meant that twice) it is a lovely place to visit.  La Turbie is different in character.  It was a Roman settlement.  As it is above Monaco it probably owes its current success to those who work in the principality ..... it still is a very attractive vacation spot.

Port Grimaud & Grimaud Village

A few shots taken on a very very wet and blustery day!  The village of Grimaud just gets better, the same cannot be said of Port Grimaud ....

Movies worth watching .... well I think so!

I liked Safe.  As with all Statham's movies it rockets along taking no prisoners.  It all works beautifully like a well oiled machine gun. Sure it is a tad (hugely) far fetched - watchable all the same. It could so easily have been Schamltzy - it wasn't.  In Brief - To be killed hero meets escaped to be captured (or killed) Chinese kid who join forces to beat the Chinese & Russian Mafias together with the cops on the take at the NYPD - hackneyed :)  Definitely recommended.  

For some reason I thought I wouldn't like Lockout - wrong.  Liked it a lot.  Main character is a wisecracking Bruce Willis type.  It is set in 2079 to allow for some sci-fi stuff, this didn't mean it was full of high tech gadgetry  - I am truly grateful.  Some neat comic book sequences though not too many.  It is the usual story of the President's daughter visiting a high security prison in space then the psychotic prisoners take control followed by the reluctant wrongly convicted hero being sent to rescue her - as I say, the usual.  Apart from one or two moments of the gazing into each other's eyes variety it moves along beautifully.  Definitely recommended.  

Stranger than Fiction is excellent. It comes under the heading of Rom Com. Very very likeable and watchable. Well acted.   Funny and charming with some neat twists and turns.  A must watch especially on a boring Sunday afternoon!

5150 rue des Ormes (5150 Elm Street) is a horror movie. Psychotic killer holds a young guy captive BUT there is so much more in what is best described as an intelligent thriller rather than a horror. It has to be said there are some grim scenes. I had to read the French sub titles as I really couldn't grasp the French Canadian accent ...... if you like an out of the ordinary story and don't have a horror of horror movies then it is definitely worth watching.  

HPN Event 21 September

Tango - Dance Class!

I went along to watch an Argentinian Tango dance class in the piazza between the Theatre of Nice & MAMAC.  It was good fun.  At the end Laurent and Sarah showed the desired result in a very vibrant routine.  OK There are a lot of pictures in the slide show but you should know by now how to hurry it all along ..... I hope!

Marseille

A trip to Marseille with my friends from Nice-Photo. What a great place, just scratched the surface plus didn't really do justice to some subjects - another visit.  On the way back we popped into Aix for an evening repast, another place for the list! I have divided the photos into two - one is the church type stuff and the other is everything else, there is the good bad & indifferent in each category!!



And some re-works, additions and just bits .....

London Constructing Excellence Blog

I am still doing the blog for the London Constructing Excellence Club.  It was hoped that a tour of the Shard would have taken place at the september event, sadly this has had to be postponed.  The club is very active going from strength to strength.

The Shard interested me from the start from a design/architectural viewpoint although I have to confess to disliking the actual look of the 'finished' article, if only the architect's vision on paper was realised .... ho hum.  They used BIM in various guises which of course is a pet subject of mine - still not where it needs to be, I digress. Nevertheless it is brilliant in terms of its construction and conquering engineering challenges.  Here is an ITN time lapse video that should whet your thirst to see it .... maybe pay the near £50 for the pleasure of seeing the view from the nth floor? (Not me)

International Club - We are the World Evening

A great event held in the grounds of a lovely Nicoise villa.  The storm hit through the 'show' - there was a mad rush inside where the show went on with same very damp people loving every minute.  Great evening made even greater by the weather!!

International Club of the Riviera - We are the World Photos

The music was good, shame about the lighting ... here is a hasty snippet!! ....

MAMAC Bits .....

MAMAC bits ... sometimes you notice things you didn't see before or think about what draws you to a specific work.  Given the heat of the day in Nice on Sunday and that MAMAC is air conditioned this rather ofnoparticularinteresttoanyonebutme subject seemed super (that is a French super by the way in current everyday use, not the dog eared super from way back) ..... plus there were one of two other shots I just liked ...

Laura - A quick selection from Wednesday's shoot ...

And I mean a quick selection from the studio the a few at the park at Cimiez ...
updated by the artiste herself!
 

Rockafantazia!

This is a promo I have done for ROCKAFANTAZIA! which is on at the Athena Theatre in rue Alsace Lorraine.  Worked really well as a show ....

New designs 2012

Must see movie .....

Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret

Nikki De Saint Phalle - MAMAC Nice

The wonderful work of Nikki de Saint Phalle (1930 - 2002) - one of her signature works is outside the Hotel Negresco ....

HPN Event - 20 July

Fusion evening

A great evening created by the International Club of the Riviera at an artist's house!

Artist's House - Roquefort-les-pins

Slow stroll near the old chateau ....

Christine's Color Course ....

Christine's color held at Murielle's Espace Bien Etre in Nice.

Riviera Times - Facebook page - One of mine!

http://www.facebook.com/rivieratimes

Villefranche - Quiet Sunday stroll ....

The Cocktail Party by T S Eliot - Vence

The International Club of the Riviera has brought to the Riviera a theatrical group from Cambridge University for two nights, Vence & Nice.  Both sold out rapidly.  Great location, venue, crowd and of course really good acting!

Robin Aigner at the Clair Hotel in Nice

The delightful petite chanteuse Robin Aigner at the delightful petite Clair Hotel

Musée des Arts Asiatiques

La haute couture des déchets?

Parc Phoenix - Nice

Gipsy Night at the Jazz Comedie Club in rue Scaliero with the remarkable talent of the Hungarian chanteuse Laura Riz  ....

Short walk - Cap de Nice

A cloudy afternoon after a hot day ....

Summer Solstice Party - Roquefort les Pins

HPN - Another really good event with Anne Naylor

Movie - Having discovered iTubes rentals .....

Man on a Ledge was a really good watch.  Ok it lacks credulity at some points, but as a fun action thriller it works really well.



The same cannot be said for Justice.  It is ok.  Think I have seen this before or maybe it is a remake. The idea of vigilantes going bad is not new. Nick plays himself very well, bit wooden.


Transit is another action movie with a few twists and turns.  Different.  Taut.  Yes, it is a good watch and I would put on my recommended list if I had one!



Last but by no means least is Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Absolutely fantastic escapist thriller movie - A MUST watch if you ask me.  He is not in it but he has an actor who looks like him - so much so it is sort of spooky.

Vieux Nice - Marche des fleurs

Pas beaucoup des fleurs!
 

And the show did go on ....

Monday afternoon nice was treated to a monsoon.  It lasted an hour during which time huge quantities of water fell to earth.  A lot of it came through the roof of Theatre Athena!  The place was inundated with water so Monday's showing of Deathtrap was cancelled. With superhuman resolve they got the place into condition bang on time for the show Tuesday evening.  What a feat!

Deathtrap is the latest production of the fledgling South of France English Theatre Company. They are so lucky to have professionals like David East, the star, working with the company.

Promenade la promenade - dimanche

A rather long series of photos .....

Liz's jubilee bash at Mouans-Sartoux .....

A selection of pictures from this event. A social charity gathering of expats on the CdA ....

Vieux Nice - Eglise St-Martin-St-Augustine et Cathedrale Ste Reparate

HPN Event - another success!

A Warm May Evening .......

Yes, I know there are a lot in this set ....

One heck of a Meetup event!

It was a great Meetup.  One side being the Expats and New in Town group resident in Nice meeting with other groups from the US, LA & San Diego, on a 'Paradise' tour of the Med.  Nice was not at its best having had steady rain for a couple of days, high winds and stuff like that - sort of like summer in England!  The plan was that everyone would meet on the roof top of the Elysee Palace where there is a great bar and a pool - alas, it was not to be.  However a great time was had by all with pretty equal numbers, 30 from each side, who all had a ball.  I was fortunate enough, yes me, to host the event for our group.

An interesting footnote is that many wanted to get away from the sightseeing part of the tour and savour life in France .... guess that is where we came in.  And yes, there were quite a few French, perhaps 30%, some of whom actually come from Nice - Amazing but true!

This is a picture of the rooftop pool taken in December last year ......  slightly different to its appearance on Monday night!

When  pictures are posted to Meetup I will put the link here so watch this space .......

Monaco Historic Grand Prix

Some Welcome Light from Dark Shadows ....

Tim Burton's Dark Shadows - What a very good movie. Very enjoyable.  Fun plot. In fact fun throughout.  Beautifully acted.  The artistry of the whole was great, more than great. Jonathan Frid was very reminiscent of the white poe faced Johnny Depp, same as actually, but he managed to keep the whole strangely believable. Some scenes reminded me of Meryl in Death Becomes Her plus a touch of the Addams Family.

It was a version original at the Rialto on rue Rivoli - sadly for the French they miss out on many of the punch lines as the sous titres do not deliver.  French as a language is very constrained when it comes to expressing a lot of things in a fun and tacky manner!

Recommended. Go see. Escape.

Behind .... a brief study of another world ....

St Martin du Var

Sadly the clouds were low and all that so just a couple of shots from a stunning location .... another day!

You can always click on a photo to see it larger .....

Rainy day in Nice - Nothing to do .... no way!

International Club of the Riviera at Mouans-Sartoux

The International Club of the Riviera held their Latin Fiesta at a favorite venue in Mouans-Sartoux. Where is that you ask? For me it was a train ride from Nice to get there which whizzed me past Antibes, Cannes to arrive at the small classically French station of Mouans-Sartoux one stop short of Grasse. Happily I had a ride back that took a scenic sort of route back so I had a peek at the town which looks worth exploring sometime ....... here are the montages from the vent ......

Another great HPN event!

The guest speaker was Cassandra Tanti, the editor of the Riviera Times, supported by the host for the evening Anna Fill, owner of The Riviera Woman web site. Here are my montages:

Dying once and coming back is something! BUT 8 times!!

When someone officially dies 8 times, has seen the 'white iight' and is a famous healer who creates other healers you really have to listen to him given the opportunity - Martin Brofman PhD is the guy.  He took an enthralled group through his journey and provided some insight to how he teaches healing.

One heck of a story. One heck of an evening. One heck of a guy.

Trigger's Broom reincarnated in Nice?

I recall fondly the great nights at the White Hart Tap in St Albans when Trigger's Broom was more often than not the winning team. That was way back in 2009-10.

Can the name Trigger's Broom again be a team name that makes others quiver?  Judging by my performance tonight at Ma Nolan's in Vieux Nice probably not!  Hey, I was on my own, not close to winning but up there - so I will do the scoffing at my abilities svp!!

It is a neat format with 5 rounds of 10 questions in the usual categories, e.g. music, general knowledge (yes, I know it was Da Vinci, please stop going on about it!).  The questions are shown on the large plasma screens.  The sheet for each round is collected then checked, the results are then entered into the computer after which the answers are flashed up. It takes a while - doesn't really matter much as the atmosphere is good. At the end the computer churns out the rankings. All in all a great evening!

The painting on the right is by Leonardo Da Vinci not by Rembrandt .... what was I thinking???  Ah maybe Rembrandt said he wished he had painted it? Any excuse!!