Back in Brighton, where the sun is shining and the pool is full of little kids, and where life guards are already on duty (though there are few people in the sea)!

Wheel of a bicycle on a roof top in surburbian Leeds.

Apparently this is the longest artificial slope in Europe. But not too much of a challenge for me who is so used to the Alps! But it was still very nice, I was missing it.

You will never guess what I’ve done today: I went skiing in Leeds!

Little Mila, with her dad’s magician hat; and a proud Philippe behind!

This doll was in an old doll repair shop window - it looks out of a horror movie!

This is the cafe-theatre where my brother, Philippe, was doing his one-man-show until this week. Very neat little place!

This is near the hill of Montmartre, an area full of small staircases in the streets. I like the illegally parked Mini in this image!

Today I am turning 25!

Sorry I cannot add a photo to this statement, but I am travelling and I have failed to make this computer function properly; but I promise you a few images of Paris when I am coming back, on Thursday! (yes this is a very short trip and I appologize if I don’t have time to see all of my parisian friends!)

I have been missing most of the Festival events - bad me! But at least I can still enjoy the nice decorations in Kensington Gardens - I love the red fringes.

A whole world under our feet.

I was looking down through the cracks on the Pier at the sea underneath, when I started to notice that there were quite many birds underneath. They seem to be feeding on the sea shells attached to the structure of the pier. It made me realize what an amazing world goes on under our feet which we never think about.

I was coming out of the bookshop, and since the rain was pouring I decided to take a couple of pictures before braving it. I love to see the drops falling on the ground, and the reflections, and the people running not to get wet. So I was starting to really get into it until a security guard stopped me.

“You can’t take pictures in here, it’s private property of the Churchil Square Shopping Center
- But I am taking pictures of outside!
- Yeah but even the direct outside is the property of the Shopping Center.”

It was a completely ridiculous answer, and I could have argued, called on the manager and all that but I wasn’t in the mood. I just thought - how sad. As a photographer, so many people try to stop you. Grr!

My mum, having a fantastic time discovering Brighton!

This is one of the many beautiful works of art that we have discovered today, going through some of the open houses of the Brighton Festival. This one is a wood carving made by Tach Pollard. I love how the face emerges so beautifully from the tree!

Those two policemen seemed quite friendly - though one of them needs new stockings! (I love the disapproving look on the little boy’s face)

There were many of street artists in the North Laine today, it was a joy to walk around and see all these shows and performances.

Hundreds of musicials filled up the Pavillion Gardens this afternoon, performing in harmony. Depending on where you were standing or sitting you would get a very different sence of the music!

This show, called “3600,” was performed tonight in a park - lots of music, light effects, use of live video and a mix of English and French languages. Very interesting to watch!

The texture and the light… it is what makes this image amazing!

White chalk drawing on the pavement, by the sea, by unknown artist.

One thing I like about the seaside is that even when the weather is overcast and rainy, you can look to the horizon and chances are, you will see that the sun is still out there somewhere!

Today I went to see “Control Room” by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Mostefa Souag and Hugh Miles, which was screened as part of the Brighton Festival at the Old Market in Hove. It was an amazing film raising serious questions about the ethics of journalism and the impact of the channel Al-Jazeera on the world during the Iraq war. I highly recommend it!

As you might already know I love reading. I love being able to lose myself into a novel so breathtaking it transports me in another world, and I can feel what the characters feel. As a child, as soon as I was able to read you could see me hidden away behind a book (before that I would be pestering everybody for stories!) – and after finishing my books, I would usually find someone to tell the story to. My grandparents, during the holidays, would expect me creeping into their bed very early in the morning, and I would tell them all those wonderful legends that I had read in great details, sometimes even recalling the exact words of the book.

But I was wondering recently, how much of all this reading is left in me? How many books can I actually remember today, how many of them I would I absolutely insist must be read?

The first one that comes to mind would be “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupery. This is a book that you could read at age 7 or 87 and you would find something in it for you quite different every time. This is one of those rare books that talk about life, its meaning, and its beauty. A rose, a planet, a child, all those simple things that represent so much more than what they describe…

I also love old legends and tales, so in addition to the classics (the real “Peter Pan” by James Barrie, and the real “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen – not the Disney versions – are beautiful) I really liked reading about the legends of Merlin and the chevaliers of the round table – I especially liked Marion Zimmer-Bradley’s books (“The Mist of Avalons”) and also Rene Barjavel’s “L’Enchanteur” about Merlin.

My brother and I were also into Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”, and we were creating our own little worlds with role playing games in the same universe. I was always playing a forest elf. Hours of fun!

I also loved science fiction, and for me Rene Barjavel was the best. I must have read “La nuit des temps” about five times! It is an amazing story. I also recommend “Ravage” – one of these books you read and think – this could happen!

In the “real world” category, I was a huge fan of all of Marie-Aude Muraille’s books. She wrote a whole series of book following the teenage years of a boy named Emilien, in the Parisian “banlieue,” going through things such as baby sitting to earn some pocket money, finding out about who is father was, having to deal with a suicidal friend, falling in love, and of course, throughout, learning about the stuff that life is made off. I was lucky enough to met Marie-Aude Muraille when I was 13 – I felt so honored to shake her hand I remember!

Today I never miss the new Amelie Nothomb – “Les Catilinaires” is probably my favourite, unfortunately it has not yet been translated for the UK (it has been translated in the US as “The Stranger Next Door” I believe) and then there is also “Metaphysique des tubes” “Le Sabotage Amoureux” “Stupeur et tremblement” ("Fear and Trembling” in English - also a amazing film by Alain Corneau) “Antechrista” and “Attentat” not to be missed. Amelie Nothomb’s books are dark, deep and extremely clever – some of them are very autobiographical, others are more on the murder story type; but they are always breathtaking, going deep into your mind and dazzling you at the end. And I was lucky enough to also met Amelie Nothomb last year! I have a dedicated book to prove it!

It will come to no surprise to anyone that I am also a huge fan of Harry Potter. I was caught at the bookstore at midnight when the last book was released and I will most certainly do the same for “The Half-Blood Prince” when it comes out. I really like the fact that J.K. Rowlings is not afraid of exploring the dark side of this story. I simply cannot wait to see how it will evolve.

Then there is the very inspiring “His Dark Materials” from Philip Pullman, another book classified for children/teenagers but which are, I think, much more than that. I think this trilogy deserves even more attention than Harry Potter…

Of course I am leaving behind a whole lot of books that I love but I think I have written quite enough for today as it is! If you have any recommendations for me, I would love to hear them - thanks in advance!

Today was the first day of the Brighton Festival, which started off with the children’s parade. It was really nice to see all the sculptures and costumes that the children had made, not to mention all the performances that they had worked on (lots of percussions!) And of course the kids were cute as can be!

How cute are they?

I want the same dress!

Of course the adults were also a big part of this parade! It’s not every day that you get to see a pirate on the phone…

Perfect temperature, cloudless sky, soft grass, and the sound of a saxophone not too far away… Amazing spot to relax and look at life go by!

Today was voting day in England… Unfortunately I was not able to join in, as this is a national election and I am a French citizen (I guess I am already lucky to be able to vote for the local elections!) - so I can only wait and see what will happen!

The most beautiful thing about this spot is what you hear - the sound of the tide carressing the stones, when it returns to the sea; the occasional scream of the seagull, and you feel the wind on your face.

I could not believe it when I arrived at the beach today! That’s it, people are already swimming… As to me, I don’t think I am British enough yet to be able to bear the cold – I’m giving myself at least another month before trying!

I took this picture yesterday, on my way to visit a friend, in Surbiton. I think this beautiful flower is the perfect image for the first of May, which I think is the most beautiful month in the year (not only because it is my birth-month!)