Timbre

Sonnet and Stan join me in Paris and so we have dinner at Le Timbre in the 6e, on recommendation from a friend chez Astorg. Le Timbre is one of those perfect neighbourhood restaurants and, as Stan notes " it really is a two man operation" - in fact, man and woman, as she takes reservations and serves us and maybe ten squeezed tables while he prepares the boeuf. And what boeuf it is : terrine de campagne confiture d'oignons, foie gras de canard maison.. . filet de cabillaud compote de tomates .. .the menu, below. Me, I go for the boudin noir bearnais puree aux herbes which also known as "blood pudding" in Ireland. And it is wonderful - a salty dried mash with crumbly bits over a potato herb puree. Thibault tells me : "It is what I would have ordered" so I know I am on to something special.

Today Sonnet and Stan at the opening of the "Degas et le nu" exhibition at the D'Orsay which, Sonnet notes, "titillating " as the painter spent some considerable time at a French brothel painting his hosts.  From the D'Orsay, Silver and Stan return to London via Terminus for oysters and lunch; me to work on rue due faubourg st honoree.

$SA

L'Eclipse

While I have seen a number of images of the solar eclipse in San Francisco and beyond, I particularly like this one by Marco Pelo, posted on Flickr, of 34 exposures spaced by 5 minutes. The track of the sun was followed shooting at 50mm using a DIY ND5 solar filter made out of Baader film. The photos taken from the Marina in San Francisco using a Canon EOS 5D.

I write from the 8e.

UEFA Trophy

Chelsea, improbably, remarkably, win the UEFA Champions League, defeating Bayern Munich, making Chelsea the best club team in Europe (Interim manager Roberto Di Matteo holds the Cup, snapped from the TV). The game a tense back-and forth until Bayern sinks one at 82 minutes. It looks over but Chelsea's Didier Drogba sling-shots a dramatic 88th minute header and the game enters extra time tied, 1-1. Eitan notes (already past his bedtime): "It's going to be a late night." 

Neither team can capitalise on the 30 minutes of overage and so. ..  to penalty kicks, which has left England bereft on so many occasions. Five strikers selected from each team; the winner takes all. Chelsea misses the first PK and Munich hits their first three. But then Bayern misses and it comes down to the very last shot : Drogba , of course, who - without a moment's pause nor doubt - slams it home. Joy! As Chelsea race on to the pitch. Sorrow, as the Germans collapse in tears, stunned.

Eitan and I pump our fists and jump up and down : A victory for Chelsea is a win for England.  Now to the European Cup and summer Olympics.

Eitan: "Can I watch a bit of Sunday morning cartoons?"
Me: "No."
Eitan: "Why not? I hardly ever watch any TV."
Me: "You watched football all day yeterday."
Eitan: "Yeah, but that doesn't count."
Me: "Oh? Football isn't on TV is it?"
Eitan: "But it's not the bad kind of TV.  It's not bad for your brain or anything."
Me: "The answer is still no."
Eitan: "Give me one good reason then."
Me: "Because I said so."
Eitan: "That's not a reason."
Me: "It is the only reason that counts."
Eitan: "So I can't watch cartoons then?"

Madeleine: "What are you going to get mum for her birthday?"
Me: "Nothing."
Madeleine: "What? Really? She's your wife, Dad."
Me: "I just don't like to make a big deal of these things, that's all."
Madeleine: "She is your own wife, Dad."

Stan And A Mortgage

Stan with us for Sonnet's Ballgowns and the Queen, God bless.  He is in great shape, too - jogging a couple miles each morning or a long walk.  We were together last month for Marcus's wedding, which already seems ages ago.

Me: "It's tough being a young person these days.. . "
Eitan, Madeleine:
Me: "Buying a house, for instance.  It has become very difficult to buy your first home."
Eitan, Madeleine:
Me: "How do you buy a house anyway?"
Madeleine: "How should I know Dad?"
Me: "What do you need, I mean?"
Eitan: "Money?"
Me: "Good. But what if you don't have it?"
Madeleine: "You can get it from your parents. Or steal it?"
Me: "Let's be a little less creative please. Where else do you think?"
Eitan: "You could borrow it from a bank."
Me: "Excellent.  Now let's say the house is worth, like, a million pounds.. . "
Madeleine: "I have £320 .. ."
Me: "Say it's a million pounds and you have to borrow the money.  What do you think the bank looks for before giving you the dough?"
Eitan, Madeleine:
Me: "Will they lend to anybody ? Most likely they will lend a million pounds to ...
Madeleine: "Somebody who will give it back!"
Eitan: "So they will look at your job."
Madeleine: "So, if you're ,like,  a butcher or something, the bank will give you a million pounds?"
Me: "What are some other things ?"
Madeleine: "How long you've been a butcher?"
Me: "Good work.  The bank will also look at your credit card and make sure you always pay up on time. Can you think of anything else?"
Eitan: "If you're rich?"
Me: "How about the value of the house ? If the house is worth £100 and the bank lending you a million, does that make them happy?"
Madeleine: "I guess so if they gave you all that money."
Me: "If you can't repay the loan what happens?"
Eitan, Madeleine:
Me: "The bank will take your house."
Madeleine: "So you mean the bank is going to take our house?"
Me: "Let's hope not. This is a lot to take in so let's think about these things a bit.  It may one day be important to you."
Madeleine: "So can I have some ice cream now ?"
Me: "Go for it."

Facebook

The Shakespears work the kitchen.

Facebook goes public at 38 bucks a share valuing the company at $100 billion, give or take. Since I am one of 900 million FB users, investors think I am worth $111.  Give or take.  I am with Pierre Michel, a French tech banker in London, who is sceptical of the offering and who can blame him ?  I do suggest that if not P M, who champions European entrepreneurialism and venture capital , then who ?  The nasty jealousies felt 5,000 miles away.

So today Facebook creates five billionaires and 1,000 millionaires while providing California with $2 billion of much needed, and deserved, taxes.  The funds should go straight to California's once world-leading public universities but, alas, Jerry will probably apply it towards the state deficit.

Pierre Michel and I talk about FB and he notes the US system rigged while IPOs are about luck as much as hard-work.  I  ponder this but do not agree : if Silicon Valley rigged, why does it attract top talent and capital despite a 95% investment failure rate ? As for luck. . well, of course - but one creates one's own luck. Europe's venture market 10% of the US, and so less chance for .. luck.  While the Western World mis-steps from war to financial meltdown to recession to crisis, Silicon Valley continues to present opportunity for those who embrace it. And work hard. Starting with kitchen.