German pilates with leather shorts.

I've just had my first German pilates class. The teacher said she'd speak a mix of German and English and then proceeded to take the whole hour in German. Tough. I'm halfway to cracking French pump and yoga sessions in my swank Paris gym but this is a whole alien concept. Suffice to say I got through it. Just. Meanwhile, The Noise has been doing his usual I don't ever, ever like to Sleep routine with the parents on babysit duty in Paris. Ouch. Perhaps I didn't give step-ma and pa enough warning as to just how bad it is. Then again, they may have changed their about doing the childcare if the truth was out there. I made all the appropriate empathetic noises on the phone and offered to pay for the sitter to entertain him should they say the word. Never ones to admit defeat, they refused. Note to self; decent thank you pressie absolutely required. Oh and I'm wearing leather shorts tonight. In a German sorta lederhosen way.

The Surprise Party. And now, the Berlinale...

I have just thrown a surprise party in London for my husband's '30th plus 10'. An expression I'm keen to endorse since I'll be there at a non-specified date too. Incredibly, I pulled it off too after months of stressful planning. You try getting a bunch of friends that includes journalists and publicists to keep something quiet. I know. Impressive, right. Some dear friends even flew in from Morocco for the night which was my double-bluff since E was shocked enough when they were waiting in the hotel bar for our fictional dinner date. So now, 48 hours on and I'm sitting at the bar of the newly opened Soho House Berlin for the film festival. Tired but happy.

Better late than never?

Ok, I know it's been a while since we spoke but if you want the truth, it's not for want of trying. My techie uselessness is to blame; the fact that everytime I tried to sit down and write, late at night, Bordeaux stem in hand (y'know how Paris is!) I couldn't remember my login details and the French explanations for access were alluding me. See. Dull, dull, dull. And there were you thinking I'd run off with my gorgeous French teacher. He is gorgeous. Uber Parisien and Oooh, all of 70. Yes, I know Anna Nicole didn't mind but she had different reasons.

Listen, let's talk more when I'm in London for s'thing exciting next week - more later - and then onto Berlin for the film festival. Yay. Oh and v belated Happy New Year.