...Writing from Paris, where I will be for a few days before heading to London and then back home...Francois, the man at the front desk has kindly lent me his computer as the hotel does not have public internet access. As I type away, guests checking in think that I work here and ask me for their keys. I smile and keep typing away as Francois takes over and serves them. They take to Francois' helpfulness and wonder about the crazy foreigner typing away on the computer...the one that looks like she hasn't slept in weeks.

Slept a bunch today, trying to overcome 'studio lag'. Must sleep, eat, see daylight.

Paris is so alive, so much energy even at this time of the year. After emerging from the Black Box womb, I must say it feels a little strange - a good strange - to be overstimulated by the sights and sounds of this beautiful city.

Today definitely has that end-of-summer-vacation feel to it. I've yet to have my cup of coffee this afternoon after a long night in the studio...kinda holding off as long as possible as I know it will be my last one here at La Dionnaie - at least for a while.

The wind is howling outside these old farm walls and in the distance I can hear someone else's drummer pounding away in the studio. The next band has moved in and I am to move out within the next hour.

This morning, we listened to the songs on my IPod for the first time. It'll be so great to hear the songs and be reminded of this place...by a longshot, the most charming and magical place I could have ever imagined recording my first cd. I have been 'away with the fairies' as David would say. Ample time to daydream, wonder, wander and wish that the last hour would never end.

At last, I think David and I have final begun to understand each other's expressions and accents. We both had a good laugh when he pointed out that I got the name of the medicinal drink that he recommended wrong - he said, 'Paula it's called a 'hot toddy' and not 'hotty totty'. Oops. Yes....

Touching back down to earth.

David and I dropped Jon off at the train station this morning at sunrise. I felt an impending weather change, it's been really cold these past few days...frost, hail and forecasted snow. It was chilly but the real shivers were not from the zero degree temperatures but from a plaque that David pointed out. Plaques on the walls of the Angers train station were mounted in memory of the hundreds of Jews that left from that exact train station for Auschwitz. My train ride to Angers was filled with such a childlike excitement...having learned what I learned this morning, the train ride back is sure to be different.

We drove back to the studio as the sun peaked its head up from the horizon. The light off the rolling hills and farmland was beautiful, like a soft whisper greeting us good morning. I have just a few more days left here...really trying to savour this experience and the magical moments that have imprinted itself onto the tape that I will be bringing home with me.

Recorded vocals for 'Fly Away' lastnight at something like six in the morning. David has put me onto the most amazing sounding mic 'Brauner VM1'. Seems to suit my voice and it is incredible to sing into. End of sessions have generally finished with a 'hotty totty', scotch/lemon/honey/hot water. Yesterday I realized that I was washing down my 'madelaine' cakes with scotch...ymmmm.

Arrived at La Dionnaie last Sunday. Feels like I've been here for weeks already...it's a strange feeling when you feel instantly comfortable in a foreign country working with foreigners; an Irishman, a German and a Brit...

We've been the butt of jokes being Canadian and all. I don't even try to tone down the 'eh' factor...in fact, I think we've now got David saying, "That's an amazzzzzing guitar sound eh?"

Recorded guitars and drums yesterday. In between twilight hours and recording, I don't see too much other than stars and roosters but that needn't matter...a glimpse of the countryside here is enough to keep me inspired for months....

It's Valentine's Day...My worries of not having enough chocolate around have completely vanished. Ian is keeping well fed with an amazing assortement of french desserts. He jokes that I will have to credit 'Fat Box' in my liner notes.

Starting to mix my songs on this Valentine's Day. I think it is finally starting to sink in where I am and what day of the week it is. We've been working very long days recording and today is our day one for mixing. The recording process has been amazing. For the most part we've been laying down vocals, guitars and a bit of drums and bass. The mic selection is mouth- watering, as is all the vintage gear, and I am really excited by the sounds that we've been able to capture.

Outside of recording, there hasn't been much time to really do much other than ponder the differences between Canadians the French and Irish. There is an ongoing debate right now as to which is the chattier culture. I'd have to say that Ireland is definitely in the lead. We know we're in for a really long one when David begins a story with "let me tell ya..". But I do have to say that I am enjoying David's stories and tales from his days playing with the Frames.

It is truly incredible recording here..I don't see much outside the walls of the studio but the studio itself is much more than its name conveys. Each part of the studio has it's own unique characteristic and the sounds change dramatically depending on what part of the room we choose to record in.

Sometimes it feels like I am living in a different era...the Mirage fighter planes from a close by Air Force base hover over the fields and on more than one occasion the guys have found me running for cover under the console. It's not a hard stretch of the imagination, by any means, to imagine what it was like during the German occupation...the main difference being the vast provision of chocolate, pastries and fine wine. Iain has been keeping us very well fed. With the exception of working to the point of exhaustion and seeing things and hearing things that don't exist, it feels like I could be on a retreat in the french countryside..the best part is that I get to come home with an album.

Je t'embrasse fort.

Had a great laugh yesterday when I told the guys that it was Valentine's Day and reminded them to call their love ones. They both looked at me like I had a third eye. I guess the anti-jetlag diet didn't work...I can't really make sense of what day or what time of day it is. The roosters wake up call has become a send off into a night of restful sleep. We've been keeping long and very strange hours, seems like my body clock is somewhere between Vancouver and France, maybe Gaspesie. In between giggling fits, we have been recording vocals. Really amazing what we've been able to capture...by far, the most fun I've had recording vocals. Really fascinating to see David work...he really is like a little kid playing with all his favourite toys and gadgets.

A bientot!

So my train tickets arrived yesterday. (sigh of relief). I have started an anti-jet lag diet which I have been told will make me feel like a new woman when I arrive in France...it was developed by the University of Chicago and it's supposed to re-set your Circadian rhythm or body clock and synchronize it with the new time zone. Today is what's called a fasting day and I feel like I'm fasting away into nothing. I just realized that this is the first diet that I have ever been on...I am so lightheaded right now...thinking crazy random thoughts and dreaming of chocolate...

Speaking of chocolate, I'll be gone for Valentine's Day. So no chocolate for me. Unless Black Box Studio has a healthy stash that I can raid...