This is the `St Ouen Update` , much-hyped and finally here!
Below is a pic of the Marche Jules Valles - One of our favourites.. loads of old junk there as well as lots of
great items just needing some quality `TLC` ..so we rescue things from here and find them a great new home
back in `Blighty!.. We do love going to France and the French people but they dont give a hoot about
looking after things! ... Anyway last year (2005) before the Olympic 2012 bid was decided lots of the worst and
tattiest parts of Paris were given a major `spruce-up` , one of which was St Ouen and Clignancourt.. So pavements were
replaced with cobbled stones...( not very practical with the Parisians refusal to lower themselves to even
think of using Doggie pooper-scoopers!) ..Bollards were placed along all the sidewalks adjacent to the Antiques markets
making it impossible to get anywhere near for loading great big fragile lumps..without people yelling at you..!
..and helpful large `Streetmaps` were set up all
over the place to show visitors where all the `Marches ` are located.. 3 years too late for us! ..and of course now
they are mostly being targeted for yobbo destruction ! ..Actually despite the French Governments determination to
smarten up the place it just seems now to be reverting back to its old scruffy dirty lovable old self!
Next pic is of the biggest Louis Phillipe Mirror weve ever seen .. so much so that less than
half of it is in the picture..! At `Phillipes` Mirror shop.. very nice guy too!
Next.. the street alongside the antiques markets for half of the week gets filled with market traders
selling trainers and handbags and any old thing.. hundreds of them.. and tucked in amongst them and open all week
is this little stall with a Jamaican flag flying above so that you can find it! Full of rare 7" Reggae singles and CD`s and
Bob Marley stuff and Incense and Jamaican clothes and bags and run by this great guy William!
Next this is the Cafe that we frequent for great croissants and coffee for breakfast whilst
planning the day ahead , and great Steaks `avec Pommes de Terre et Salad Verde`
for after we`ve spent most of our money!..( which doesnt take long! )
Here is 50% of the entire workforce of `Ornate Gilt Mirrors` soaking up the culture of France
at the Louvre.. and thinking that we dont want any framing jobs like this..!
and finally here is the main workforce of `Ornate Gilt Mirrors` outside of the Palace of Versailles..
we were supposed to go in and study all the great mirrors in the `Hall of Mirrors`
..but that would have meant missing the ferry home..! So maybe next time!
