chez thompson

IN MEMORIAM

      
                         GRANT SIEVWRIGHT

                 (Jan. 25, 1970 - Aug. 27, 2006)

We are in mourning today. Grant Sievwright, John's fellow associate in the arbitration section of Shearman & Sterling's Paris office, checked into the American Hospital on Friday with severe stomach pain. After undergoing emergency surgery, he died on Sunday. This sudden, shocking, and tragic event has been a severe blow to Grant's friends in Paris, who cannot accept that this talented, engaging, and caring man is suddenly gone.

Our readers last saw Grant on June 3 entertaining friends with his singing and guitar-playing at Antonia's party.

He will soon be returning home to his native New Zealand. We will miss you, Grant.

Kumes in Paris

From July 21-24, we hosted Dave Kumar, international man of mystery. While "Kumes" was raised in India and the US and has traveled the globe, he had never visited the #1 tourist destination in the world: Paris! He managed to see a lot in a few days. For example, he saw much of the Left Bank in a late night death march led by John (motto: "You'll read every plaque and you'll like it!"). Other highlights included drinking a bottle of wine along the bank of the Canal St. Martin with all the other freaks, romantics, loiterers and disaffected youth; and seeing the finish of the Tour de France. Here's Dave on the balcony of the Musee d'Orsay, with the Louvre in the background:

And in front of the spider-like flying buttresses of the Notre Dame cathedral:

And since Kumes' picture of Tour de France "winner" Floyd Landis is better than John's, here it is:

Thanks for visiting, Dave, and thanks for the pictures!

Bon Voyage

This is a sign you see in windows all over Paris. Half the city is shuttered for "les vacances."

As for us, we are off to the States for a week . . . au revoir!