Treasure troves

Early start today with a meeting at the bank to tidy up some bits and pieces around our accounts ... then coffee!  We were in the 2nd arrondissement and found a cool bar with an outside table protected from the breeze - only 10 degrees this morning ... frrrrresh!  The barman said they had run out of croissants but that there was a boulangerie a few doors away.  So I ordered coffees and Brent did the croissant dash - award-winning croissants as it turns out ... et voila!, petit-déjeuner!

Next stop, Sajou, a shop for embroidery supplies.  I have ordered from Sajou online but have never visited the physical shop before - ooh la la, what a treasure trove!  Only one thing missing from the shop -  my stitchin' sister!  I could just see us sitting at that communal table working on the next project.  The shop runs a series of in-store embroidery classes, and the surroundings just couldn't be more inspiring - such a rainbow of colours and textures.  The proprietor was lovely and said I was welcome to take a photo ... so, Fi, these are for you!

Then onto the metro and off to the Marché aux Puces at St-Ouen ... a huge, sprawling treasure trove in which to lose yourself.  The market is open Saturday to Monday, and Monday is the perfect day to visit if you want to avoid crowds.  We both found some treasures!  Our favourite find ... a round metal film tin, stamped Pathé, containing a 9.5mm film reel made for the Pathé Baby amateur cinema system, which was first launched by the Pathé film company in 1922.  The tin contains a short documentary made in 1943 titled La Main de l'Homme.  There was a shelf full of tins, as well as old cases, like shallow suitcases, in which the films were carried, and tiny Pathé film cartridges also used for the same projector.  It was so hard to stop at one ...