Lovely gifts from abroad

It's been rather busy lately as my mum hasn't been too well, but it hasn't all been tough by any means. We were delighted to get some really great foreign presents in the last couple of days, so I thought I'd share them here.

The first was a Cat Bus album from Japan.    If you've watched the magical film "My Neighbour Totoro" you'll recognise the Cat Bus (above) a spirit bus which is shaped like a cat and takes you where you want to go.  I'm very fond of the Cat Bus and our Japanese friend Rie, who was over here in the summer, printed out some photos of us all and put them int the album which you can see below, which has the Cat Bus's head on it.  I'm so pleased.   

Our second gift was a package of amazing foodstuffs which K and F got us in Paris.  Paris is one of the cities which at times can really live up to the hype and cliches, and I often marvel at the glamour, elegance and refinement and .... well, Frenchness of it.  Yes, yes, yes, of course it is French, and also of course there is a whole lot of grunge and garbage in Paris, too, but, at its best. it actually lives up to its idealised image.

So here are some beautiful macaroons from Fauchon at 26 Place de la Madeleine,

including a gold one at the right of the box

Plus a large box of three different types of cheese, cut into elegant bite sized chunks

Plus also a loaf of the most gorgeous bread, now disappeared forever

The cheese is also no more, we shared it with guests last night.  We've eaten the gold macaroon and the violet coloured one, the rest are in the fridge.

So now I feel as if I have had a little private visit to both Paris and Japan.