I have said this before and it is still true that one of the best things about blogging are the friends you make online. If you are lucky, you may have a chance to meet in person and tonight was one of those magic nights where once you get past hello, you laugh and talk like old friends who have been sharing secrets forever.
Kim and I have been reading each other’s blogs and corresponding through email for longer than I can remember and I have always enjoyed her blog, Sassiland where she writes mostly about her life in Paris.
I was totally enchanted by her romantic heart when she went to the gravesite in Paris where I’d left my wedding bouquet when John and I were here on our honeymoon and I loved how she took the time to send me a photo showing me that my flowers were still there several weeks later.
Back in April of 2009, I was pleasantly surprised to see a message on another blogging friend’s site directed at me. While on a trip to Paris in 2009, Carolyn, who blogs at My Sydney Paris Life had chance to meet Kim and together they sent me a little message that you can see here.
Tonight after being treated to a lovely dinner at a Paris café by Kim, we snapped a photo for Carolyn who is home in Australia. Well, we think she’s home in Australia now. Carolyn is such a woman on the move it can be hard to track where she and her partner Clive might be and although her blog is about more than just travel, if travel tips are what you need, her space is loaded with great planning ideas.
I took the photograph below in the evening light of the café so it’s not my best work, but I think the message on the map is clear and that’s what is important. (Hello Carolyn, wish you were here)
Elizabeth & Kim
I have to say too that Kim very thoughtfully remembered my birthday with a sweet-filled cup that I loved at once. If you followed the extension posts I wrote about John giving me a room of my own for a writing studio then you will understand her reason for choosing the one she did.
It was a wonderful way to bring our Paris visit to a close. Margaret and I will be seeing the last of the sights tomorrow and then we’re off to Cornwall to rest up for John’s birthday followed the next day by Margaret’s. Thanks for following us around Paris this week. I hope you’ve had as much fun as we have.
Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.
~ Virginia Woolf
Gifts Of The Journey 
Thank you, Elizabeth (and Kim)!!!
What a delightful surprise, and how incredibly thoughtful of you to remember me while you’re having such a special visit to Paris.
You’ev made my day – I hope to see you both in person sometime and until then, cheers to you both.
Take care and THANKS again! xxoo from Sydney
P.S. will be back to my own blogging soon and in the meantime thoroughly enjoy your photos of Paris.
ah, we did have a lovely time didn’t we?! Sorry that I had to go, I am older than my years and need some rest!!!
What a privilege and I’m so glad it worked out! And how appropriate — and fun! — that Carolyn is the first to have seen our message to her!!
Enjoy your last day, and happy birthday celebrations to John and Margaret in the next few days!
This is absoulutely wonderful .. so great to leave this fab message for Carolyn , and yes , that she was the first one to read it and leave a comment. Carolyn and Kim are such lovely , thoughtful ladies, which I have also have had the huge pleasure of meeting and being friends with too.
I was there when the message to you was taken, that was April 2009, when Leesa had arranged a lunch for 14 of us all, and I went over to Paris for. Kim and I have met up again since then, and had such a ball.
Carolyn was also so very thoughtful on my birthday, leaving a surprise photo and message for me , when she was in Paris in June, and she met up with Leesa and Barbara.
So I think the next to meet must be us sometime, I hope so. A very thoughtful and appropriate present from Kim too 🙂
Well after all, you two ARE in England together you know!
We must try and arrange something Elizabeth .. as Kim says we ARE in England together .. and then maybe a trip to Paris when Carolyn is over there for all four of us to meet 🙂
Fun…:)
what a great story! you were the first, and so far only, blogger friend I met – but what a great first for me. your friendship means a lot to me. I am constantly amazed at the friendships i see forming via blogging. what a wonderful world.