Asian style pork bites

I love to cook and try new recipes but lately I just don't have the time or the energy.

When we were younger, well before we had kids, I was always trying new things. I loved it, and so did hubby!!

Today I was looking for something fast, tasty and simple. And this is exactly that!!!

480g organic pork mince
1 egg , lighty whisked
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
1 Tbsp Kecap manis ( I didn't add this )
1/4 cup of rice flour, but I guess you could use plain flour
1/4 cup of thai basil leaves finely chopped, I used half regular basil and half cilantro
1 green shalot, finely sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Mix all the ingredients and leave for 2 hours in the fridge for flavours to develop.

Roll into  balls and fry until golden in a little oil.

Olivia , my eldest has her school play next week and the parents have to take something along for the buffet afterwards, so I guess this is what I'll be taking.
These little bites will make a pleasant change from the usual quiche, chocolate cake and mini pizzas that normally cover the table.

Bon appétit

A is for Apple, A A Apple!

I can't get this damn alphabet song out of my head. Our youngest is always singing it. God forbid if the cd changes in the car and the next one is hers.... there's no stopping it!!!

Just thought I'd share this delicious  recipe for apple crumble. I know crumbles conjure up thoughts of chilly autumn days, chestnuts, apples, woolly socks and roaring fires.
But hey, I'm in Hong Kong, so unfortunately none of that.

This crumble is easy to whip up  and always gets devoured.

Apple crumble (serves 4-6)

Filling :

1.2kgs apples ( I use granny smith)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Half Tbsp corn flour

Crumble

3/4 cup of plain flour
3/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup sugar
113g  cold butter

Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Place into large bowl, add sugar and corn flour. Toss to coat. Place in baking dish.

Pulse all the crumble ingredients in a food processor. If you don't have one, the butter can be rubbed into flour, sugar and oats, until it resembles bread crumbs. You can also add cinnamon if you like.

Spread topping over your fruit mixture. Place crumble into preheated oven on 190° and bake 45 minutes until bubbly and brown.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or custard or gently whipped cream, whatever takes your fancy.
We always have it with yummy vanilla Haagen Dazs.

Bon appetit 

Two sick little girls

What a week !! I'm so glad its over.

Last week-end I called in the babysitters (AKA grandma and grandad) to take care of the girls while Alex and myself went to watch a movie. Its just 5 minutes up the road but as we stepped out of the lobby, we were greeted with torrential rain. So into a taxi we hopped.

Its been years since I've been to watch a movie.The last time it was Happy Feet with our little  Olivia. Alex has taken Olivia quite a few times here in Hong Kong. I prefer not to go as I um, fall asleep!!

We watched Pirates of the Carribean .... and yes, I dosed off. But only until a big bang woke me. So I made it through and only catnapped twice, not bad!!
Alex asked if I fell asleep as he knows how it goes. Told him yes, he didn't notice and we had a good chuckle.

Sunday came, invited my parents for lunch , then the plan was for Alex and myself to hit the streets and just have some us time.
As I'm sure many of you know, when you plan some alone time and you have kids, they quite often get SICK!
Olivia didn't want to eat and fell asleep before lunch which sent alarm bells ringing. Took her temperature and... fever.

Monday, no school and off to the doctor we trot as she had fever the whole night with bouts of coughing. When she's like that, I don't wait it out as she normally ends up worse for wear!

Verdict.... she has bronchitis.

Monday night, Mathilde starts with... fever!! So its meds every 4 to 8 hours. After tossing and turning and a few turns of musical beds, the night is finally over!

Mathilde has full blown tonsilitis and is so sore, I feel so sorry for her. She's still eating and takes her meds no problem which is always a good sign.

I was just saying how we hadn't been to the dr in a whole month, which is a record and there I went and jinxed it!! We got to see our dr Chows new office twice this week. She recently moved there and I was thinking that she proberly thinks that we've desserted her or left Hong Kong as I'm always at her office.

And as you guessed our plans of being 'childless' for a few hours turned into a week of clingy and grumpy girls.
Topped off with sleepless nights, musical beds, phlegm vomiting and extra clinginess.

So thank heavens this week is coming to an end. I now have happy faces and quiet nights and no more fever. Everyone seems to be on the mend.
So to celebrate that, we went out this afternoon to fly our kites.

Sisterly love

Yesterday, Mathilde and myself were looking at photos of when she was a baby.

Amongst the many, many photos were a few of her when she was small, sitting on my sisters knee. I explained to her that it was her when she was a baby, sitting on Jades knee.

She then looked at me and said 'thats your best friend, thats your sister!!'

I was gobsmacked, this from a two and half year old.

But then it got me thinking. No, its not that difficult for her to comprehend.
Her best friend is.....her sister!

Battling the bulge!

Well, not so much the bulge, more like ripples or should I say dents that one calls cellulite!
Yes, I admit.
I HAVE CELLULITE!  But then again so does my 2 and a half year old little girl. How come hers looks so cute? I want the same please, 'cute cellulite' like the one the 2 year olds have!

Now with the heat and humidity hitting us smack, bang in the face, its time to cool off. Its beach time, pool time, well any time where there's minimum clothing and maximum skin exposure, with sunblock please.
Add 2 young girls to the mix who love splashing and swimming and there you have it, no more hiding under my long , flowing dresses!

So our first trip to the beach was a little over a month ago.

Oh my, that was harsh. Bright sunshine on whiter than white skin didn't do the body any justice.  But, like the previous winter months, I just ignored it!
Now after a few more trips to the beach and to the pool in our complex, I can't do it, something, anything, needs to be done.
I kid you not, I can feel the one 'dimple' (sounds cute but it really isn't) through the material of my dress . Yikes. This is just out of control.

I've started speaking about 'it' to my hubby and of course he's seen it. He'd have to be blind or completely not interested in me not to. And because he's neither of these, he's spotted the dreaded dimples/dents.

And so I say stop!!! Drastic times call for drastic measures!!

So for one whole month, I'm going to cut out completely all the 'baddies' in my diet.

No more choco, sweets or chrisps.

No more alcohol and up water intake.

No more coffee, yes, I said drastic measures.  

Exercise. Even though I'm on my feet the whole day and don't stop until night, I need proper , fat burning, muscle toning exercise. So I 'm going to squeeze in two weekly trips to the downstairs gym.
When we were in South Africa, we had a yearly gym memebership. I never went once. I always said to my hubby, its too far away and I have too many things to do. It was 10 minutes away!
Now we have this state of the art gym downstairs  and I still don't go. I  just don't like to exercise. But like I said....drastic measures!!

I've also been out and bought myself some essential oils and mixed them with my sweet almond oil to make my own anti cellulite, detoxifying miracle oil . I must say, after a week of using it, I do see a wee difference. It also leaves the skin silky smooth which is an added bonus.

We already eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

So now its wait and see if my efforts and sacrifices  pay off.

Below are a few of the beaches we've visited recently.

Now you see them, now you don't.

Well the easter bunny made his appearance yet again this year!! You'd think my girls would be fed up of cute chocolate bunnies, sweet easter chicks and yummy eggs. But no.
As soon as the easter chocolates hit the shelves, my little chocolate munchers make their way slowly but surely through the easter range!!

I think that mabe they've had enough but as soon as the easter bunny leaves their goodies, they are equally psyched, to find yet more choco!!

I eventually succumbed to the enormous box of chocolate that had been calling me since one week, and this is how it looks today!!

Damn that easter bunny!!!

Exotic fruits

Living in Hong Kong we get to sample all of these delicious and bizarre looking fruits.  Markets are filled with local and international produce. Here is a run down of some of our favourites.

Olivia loves these. The longan or 'dragons eye' as we call them, resemble an eye ball once opened. Crack open the brown brittle shell ( a bit like you would a litchi) to reveal the whitish translucent pulp enclosing a glistening black seed.  The flesh is juicy and sweet. We chill them and pop them into the mouth for a sweet, refreshing treat!

Dragon fruit, Pitaya fruit.

Olivia loves these too. For myself and hubby, they don't have much taste. It is a fruit filled with water and I guess when temperatures are above 30° C with a humidity of 98% a fruit like this that quenches the thirst is more than welcome.
Its slightly sweet and filled with black poppy like seeds.
On the outside they are equally beautiful. Bright pink with flipper like growths. These flippers/spikes are  I guess what gives it the name dragon fruit.The thick rubber like skin peels off easily revealing a stunning white fruit speckled with black dots. 

Waiting list .... for preschool!!!

Last Wednesday I decided to contact the French  School here in HK as Mathilde is supposed to start in September. After looking on their web site and seeing that they should have contacted us in February to let us know if she is accepted or not. I started to get a little worried. Of all the things I've worried about while bringing up our girls, I never once thought that getting one into a preschool would be at the top of the list.

With Olivia, we applied while we were still in South Africa about 3 months before our arrival in Hong Kong and she was accepted. So with Mathilde I didn't really give it much thought.
Even though I applied and sent off the application form when she was about 15months, I didn't think for 1 second that she wouldn't be accepted.
So after speaking to the ever so polite french lady, I was told that she is now number 26 on the waiting list and that chances of her getting into 'petite section' were next to nil. I know this is completely stupid and nothing to do with this situation but I always feel that when I speak to french people and I don't get my way, its because I'm english. The french have a thing with the english and visa versa.

She tells me that she'll stay on the waiting list for next year where she'll proberly get into 'moyen section'. I tell her to do that but I'll be sending her to an english school ( that is if I can find one!!).

In Hong Kong most of the international schools ask that a debenture be paid. For the french school a sum of 110 000 hkd is paid to the school along with the 3 800 hkd registration fee and 500 hkd application fee. All of this is kept by the school and only once your child leaves the school, will they reimbourse the debenture amount. And on top of that the annual school fees close to 80 000 hkd.

I thought that with her being french ( well, she has a french passport ) , having a sister in the same school and paying the debenture , she would have her place, but no!

So off to find a school. I'm looking at Woodlands and I think if she likes it, I'll leave her there!!  So now its time to cough up another debenture, application fee, registration fee etc and hope for the best!!

Hong Kong Markets

Fabric, fabric everywhere.

The past week I decided to get my butt into gear and go to the famous fabric market. Its situated in Sham Shui Po. So I take the bus, pick up my mom and off we head with Mathilde.

We take the MTR Tsuen Wan line from central and get off at SSP. Its starting to get quite warm here now, but its still enjoyable so perfect for walking outdoors. First shop I see is one filled with dentelle so I run inside. I don't know where to look, I'm getting dizzy. Rows and rows from floor to ceiling of every pattern imaginable. Just before I walked in they were burning incense, not a stick, I think a pack the size of a log, flames and everything. I think the mixture of excitement and smoke fumes left me a little short of breath. Decided to carry on , surely there more shops like this to come.

The next street was on filled with buttons and ribbons. The stalls looked beautiful. All different colours and patterns. We carried on past  more buttons, beads, thread, craft supplies.

Finally the fabric.  Oh the fabric, its everywhere. I just wanted to see what they have and yes, they have everything. So when we go back to France, measurements will be taken, fabric purchased and curtains, blinds, duvet covers, pillow cases and cushion covers will all be made at a fraction of the cost!!!

On our way back to Hong Kong Island we quickly stopped at the station just after SSP, which is Prince Edward. This is where you  find the flower and bird market. I wanted to look at the bamboo bird cages. Mathilde was sleeping, so off we plodded. Before we even left the station, she jumped up, I then realised she didn't have her blanky. OMG panic mode set in! I rush back through and speak to one of the MTR employees. I explain that I've dropped a pink blanket with white hearts on it. He quickly phones someone and asks them if anyone has seen it or brought it in? No, no blanky, he hands me a telephone number of lost and found and takes my details.
I think...but only 10 minutes have past since we left SSP station, so it could still be there. I run back up to the platform where Mathilde is waiting with my mom. I tell her that I'm going back to look for it. I can see she thinks I'm crazy but she doesn't say anything, she just follows. So all the way back down to hopefully find my little girls blanky. I'm scanning the floor, people as much as I can. We walk up the stairs to exit the MTR and at this point I'm ready to walk all the way back to try to find this bloody thing and my mom knows it but remains quiet.
 I whizz around the corner where the ramp is for the pushchair, scanning everything and low and behold , there is her pink blanky on top of a pile of black dustbin bags. HALLELUYAH!!!  I grabbed it off the pile shook it and stuffed it under the pushchair before little M asked for it!! Gave Mathilde a big hug, I was so happy for her.  I took her head in my hands and said  ' If people knew how much Mama would have paid for that blanky, they wouldn't have chucked it away like that!!' I then turned to my mom and gave her a big hug, I was so happy to see this blanket.

So after all the commotion we head home, still a little shaken but oh so relieved. Now I can thank my lucky stars!!

And the famous blanket had its wash at 60° and is now safe and sound where it belongs!!!

You can say that again ....and again.

Olivia and Mathilde were playing earlier . They we laughing and larking about when Mathilde said 'that was fun!' Olivia answered by saying 'you can say that again!'

And thats exactly what she did, again and again and again!!! Ah , that just put a smile on my face!   

School Bus

Last week I read about a 3 year old little french boy who was left, for the whole day, on the school bus. Apparently his mom strapped him into his seat and then got out of the bus, the bus driver then drove to the school. The little boy had fallen asleep and when the bus driver dropped off the kids, the little boy was fast asleep and strapped in. The driver didn't check and drove the bus to the depot where he parked it and left. When he returned at 4.30 pm to take the bus to go and collect the kids, he heard sobbing and found the little boy, strapped in and crying.

Here in Hong Kong, most of the kids go to school by school bus. When we first arrived here, I wasn't so thrilled about the idea of our eldest taking the bus to school but they are really well organised.

Each bus has a 'bus mother' who helps the child onto the bus, helps fasten the younger ones seatbelts and makes sure the older ones don't get up to mischief.
At 4 pm when she gets dropped off, the bus mother will only let her off if I'm there and if not then she'll phone and I'll let her know what to do.
I think its a great system they have here and if its only to make sure the younger ones get to school and back safely, its worth every penny!!!

You know you have kids when ....

Apart from the obvious that it was me who pushed them with all my strengh and deep breathes out into this world, here are a few more little reminders.

My makeup bag is full of paracetemol and voltaren suppositories.

My fridge door is better stocked with medicine than the closest pharmacy.

My cutlery drawer houses more mini syringes than spoons and forks put together.

Our bath is no longer surrounded by essential oils and candles, but buckets, ducks, watering cans, straws and plastic bottles, just to name a few.

You know all the words to the songs of the programmes on cbbs and playhouse disney.

You can name the teletubbies and their colour.

You know how important it is for the different foods not to touch on the same plate, that is ofcourse if you want them to eat it! 

Mama, can you please.....

Ever wondered why, they always ask mom?? When you are really busy with three or more things, like us moms normally are. The kids bypass the one doing 'less' and demand help, need something, as its a matter of life and death!!

Just this week-end I witnessed it first hand , and its not the first time.

Its almost lunch time, so the food is busy cooking. The house is tidied, well as much as it can be with 2 little girls. The washing is finished in the machine so I quickly  hang it out to dry.  Olivia walks right past her dad who is sitting on the couch and asks me to read her this story that she'd brought back from school.
I look at her and say 'listen , when you want something, please look at whoever isn't doing anything and ask them ' all this while pointing to her papa!

It doesn't rain, it pours!!!!

Thants been my saying for this past week and I now feel drenched!!

Started our chinese new year holiday on the Wednesday evening. Hubby had a whole 4 days off work which is really rare for them! Well he came home with a sore throat, high fever and all together pissed off that he was sick on his days off and therefore our days together.

Olivia started coughing last week Wednesday. Thought it was post nasal drip so gave her some meds and off to school.
Thursday, coughing more so I thought I'd keep her off school but they're doing their poem recitals and she begged me to let her go and ofcourse mama gave in.
So Thursday afternoon, she's still coughing but she didn't get her turn to recite her poem and it will be her turn tomorrow so I just decide to take her on Saturday.

Off to the Dr on Saturday morning. Inside the dr's rooms, it was complete chaos - I'd never seen it like that before and god knows I've spent more than a good few hours in that place! Kids coughing, crying, passed out on their parents knees.
Olivia  was  lying against me so she didn't look very healthy!! Once you get in they have little kiddy masks , which I appreciate in times like this. Mathilde is told not to touch any of the toys but she sneakily  grabs the shopping trolly , her favorite ( I know, its sad they have a favorite toy at the drs, just shows how often I'm there!!)
Just hope that little Mathilde doesn't catch any of the nasties that are flying around in this confined space!!
So verdict is, a little fluid on lungs but nothing too serious. She's gives me the antibiotics incase temp spikes (as it often does on week-ends).  This is where she worried me, she knows how i feel about antibiotics and I know she won't give just to have peace of mind!

Arrive home take temp, 38.5, ok give her paracetemol and 30 min later take it again...39.4 what the hell!! I know she rarely has high fevers and when she does, its something bad. By now its 4.30pm, dr closed of course! She told me to contact her if she got worse, and I don't need much convincing to take her up on that! Sent her an sms, 5 min later she phoned me back. Thats why I love this doctor, she's amazing and always takes the time to take care of my little girls and put my mind to rest. So start antibiotic sounds like she has flu!
By Monday, coughing still not better but no fever. So back to doc on Tuesday. One x-ray later....PNEUMONIA!! Not exactly what you want to hear after a week-end of hell!
So my poor little girl has to have antibiotic jabs for 2 days and then carry on with them orally.

So now she's better and this week I feel I can face the world again. I have decided that next week , I'm going to go to the hairdresser, have a pedi and get myself a whole new wardrobe - yes a whole one!! Its about time I took time out for me and not end up in the kids part of the store with bags of clothes for them.

It is so much easier shopping for them and everything is so damn cute. Just recently went to buy a little boys outfit for a friend and boy was it hard. After all the choice little girls have, I was sent over to the corner of the shop, with jeans, navy, kaki, white, shirts and jumpers and some cool jackets but that was that. Not very inspiring shopping for little lads. So next week is my week, but for me, its easier said than done.Shopping for my girls is so easy. I don't have to worry about muffin tops, flabby arms, bulging thighs, I could go on. But, next week I'm going to make an effort . Yikes, what has happened to me.... I now have to make an effort to shop for me !!

Ice princess

On Wednesday, Olivia started her ice scating lessons. She's taking semi private lessons with her best friend so they were both really excited.
After school they were both dropped off at our house. Everyone quickly had a nutella filled pancake ( got to keep those energy levels high ) and a drink. Then the fun began.

Luckily my mom was there to help because taking the bus with two 6 year olds ( who think they're 16 ) and a little girl of 2 who wants to do exactly the same as the other 2. Lets just say we had our hands full.
Just outside our residence there's a bus that goes directly to the shopping centre where they'll be having their lessons. So after hearding everyone and the pushchair on to the bus, we could relax.

Mathilde finally fell asleep and it was time for us to get off, so all out, M in her pushcair and off we went. Walked through the MTR ( underground here in HK) and arrived at Cityplaza.

In HK there are 2 shopping centres with ice scating rinks (Cityplaza and Elements which is in Kwoloon )
They have group lesson at 550hkd for 5 lessons @30mins each.
Private @ 925 HKD for 5 lessons for 30min each.
Semi-private @ 725 for 5 lessons for 30 min each.

They had their photos taken for their student cards ( giggles all around ) then it was time to fit the scates. They both managed to walk and stay up, I was quite amazed.
Marco, their coach came and took them onto the ice and they did their thing. Olivia was very cautious and done really well. They both had lots of fun and didn't want to leave. When they get a little better, after their class, we'll stay for them to play and practice.

Then it was off to catch the bus, and back home. All in all they enjoyed it and can't wait til next wednesday.

10 things I love about Hong Kong.

1) Shop for 500HKD or more ( in more or less any big super market) and have your groceries delivered to your door. And, if you're not in, they'll leave them next to your door and get this, no one will pinch them!!

2) Safety. You can walk around day or night and feel safe! After coming from South Africa, this is a big plus!

3) Efficiency of public and private services.

    Once again, coming from South Africa where most of the public service leaves much to be desired- to say the least - queing for anything is no longer a nightmare. So organised, but then again I guess they have to be with a population of  about 7 000 000 people.

4) Plaform to access amazing places.

From HK international Airport ( which is the best airport I've seen ) you hop on a plane and within a few hours.... Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore  just to name a few.
I have to get planning. With all these exciting places on our doorstep, we'd be fools not to take advantage!
 
5) Octopus Cards

An Octopus card is an electronic debit card the size of a credit card which can be used on public transport, parking meters and many retail outlets in and around HK. Vey handy, as you just swipe as you get onto your bus, MTR or ferry and the exact fare is deducted.
There's the adult card, child card and children under 3 ride free on public transport.


6) Parks, greenery and beaches.

Even though  its a big ciy filled with skyscrapers, its so green with parks.

Most of the parks and beaches can be reached by bus. A pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of central. The girls love building sand castles.

7) Helpful and friendly locals.

    I find the locals to be very helpful and friendly, or mabe they just see me with Mathilde and pushchair and feel sorry for me! Quite often get help on and off buses and up and down stairs.

8) The Lights

Hong Kong is a city that never gets dark, mabe thats why its a city that never sleeps ( except on public transport) . The city's lights are spectacular! Buildings are 'decorated' with different coloured ligths that light up as the sun sets. Entertains many tourists and locals alike. 

9) Shopping

    Shops stay open til late, really late. Unfortunately we can't take advantage of the late night shopping bonaza as we have 2 small kids. But I can quench my thirst for shopping during the day. M normally sleeps while being pushed past shops ranging from Louis Vuitton to shoe shiners!
Malls have everything  cinemas, designer shops, normal every day shops, ice scating rinks, activities like art lessons, learn english / madarin for kids, muscians playing music. Lets just say they love to shop!!


10) Taxis

Taxis are a cheap and easy way to get around Hong Kong if you're not travelling great distances. Compared to other major world cities, HK taxis are a bargain.You can catch a taxi any where at any time. This becomes a little more difficult when its pouring with rain during the rainy season so remember to always have your umbrella. 

Truffles

Just a few of the edible treats brought back from France.

Olivia eating every last morsel. Its the first time I've ever seen her plate so clean. Expensive taste this little girl. Brie with truffle shavings, fois gras with truffles and to top it off, pasta with  fresh black truffle  shavings!!!  

Sleep over

 My little Olivia is sleeping at her best friends house , its her first sleep over!! I dropped her off and she didn't even look back! Come to think of it, I don't think she even realised that I gave her a kiss, said good bye and left.
I rememeber one of my sleep overs when we still lived in the UK. I packed my bags, was so excited. Played, then came time to eat. I loved my food and still do, so when my friends mom put SMASH on my plate, I cried and wanted to go home.How come her mashed potatoe not taste like my moms mashed potatoe? We played , then came time for bed. I cried and wanted to go home,so a  phone call was made and my dad came to pick me up.

So my phone is charged and I'm waiting..... Mabe she'll suprise me and sleep the whole night, she proberly will!!

And so the saying goes... 'Ah , they grow so fast ' and its true. But when she was younger, it certainly didn't feel like she was 'growing so quickly'. She would wake up at the crack of dawn ( we had those hadidas birds in our garden and every am at the same time they would screech). Most of the time she was awake but if not, then she was after hearing the calls of the wild!!She would come and lie next to me and fiddle and faff with everything. Poke her finger up my nose in my ears, pull my lips and annoy me so much that I'd just shoot up out of bed.

I would say come on , just sleep for a little bit more, but she never did.

Now, since she started back at school in September, she's a different Olivia. I have to set my alarm, otherwise she'd miss her bus. When she wakes she cuddles me and says ' ah its so nice, I'm so tired '
I've waited years to hear those words and I can't even take advantage of the situation because now its a mad rush in the mornings.

Yes, they grow up so fast.
So,yes I need to take more time to just look at them and see my little girls and stop ( even if its just for a while )and enjoy the moment!!

Ma, Ma, Mathilde!

Since 2 weeks, our little Mathilde is finally saying her whole name. She could say everyones... but not her own.
She's always called her sister olivia, well oliyia.  Olivia used to call herself, Li, then Oli, then Olivia. So I was quite surprised when Mathilde came right out with Olivia!  Mathilde used to call herself  Ma.

Lately she is trying a lot harder to articulate and try to say the word as best she can and she's doing a really good job!! Her face lights up when she realises that she said it properly and keeps on repeating over and over.

Yesterday she said 'mama, i go doctorrrr, i go doctorrr chow ' (thats her paed). It was just so funny and I was completely amazed at how she knew her drs name. Come to think of it, thats not a good thing for her or our bank balance!!!

So now when we ask her 'whats your name?' or 'comment tu t'appelle?' , she'll answer 'Mathilde' .

And never has her name sounded sweeter!!!