Tuesday we got there about 11am and appointments were all gone. We had breakfast and went to Notre Dame. Came back to FSH about 1pm to try again. The leather dept hostess told me it was full but try again in an hour. 2pm I tried again and she said try again at 3:30pm. At 3:30pm it was another hostess who recognised me and said it was unlikely to get an appointment that day and I should come 1-2 hrs before 10:30am the next day. Off we went to Sevres again to look for the nice SA and to have a coffee at the cafe. She was a little less friendly this time and again told me to try in Sep. We looked at homewares and spoke to a jewelry SA about resizing my ring. Had our coffee and left.
At this point I didn't feel like trying anymore for Wed (our last day in Paris). On a whim, we made it to the queue at FSH at 9:30am. I was at the main door and DBF at the side door. He got an appointment for 11:40 while mine was 2:10 pm. Guards were very alert watching the queue. They let a few ppl in at each door at a time, alternating.
We sat at Bread and Roses and appointments were jumping forward fast. 11am we hurried back as an SA was suddenly ready. It was a lovely French lady who was really nice and chatted with us. She said she would do her best. Came back with a burgundy medor clutch and a smaller bag (I don't recognise style). She said she was sorry but there wasn't anything from my list. I believed her as she seemed so nice. I got her name card although she was vague about whether I could ask to see her again. Generally the entire store had a much nicer vibe than the other days before. Everyone seemed nice and friendly.
DBF left to go back and check out of our hotel. I was gonna shop around the area until my appointment but it was moving up so fast. By 1pm my SA was ready. It was an Asian guy SA who spoke with a French accent whom I felt a good instant rapport with. I gave him my list and he disappeared about 15-20mins. He came back with a box but said don't get too excited, it's not exactly what I wanted. So it turned out to be a black L30 which was a tad big for me but I actually quite liked it. I was trying it on for a good 20 mins or so. DBF came back and we looked at it for another 10 mins or so. While that was happening, a b30 in bleu nuit became available and he offered it to me. It was so close a colour to black! I was tempted but I said no. Just when I told the SA I'd take the Lindy, SA replied "How about this? I'll hold the Lindy for you for 2 hours. You can walk around a bit before deciding". To that, DBF asked him if anything might change in terms of availability in 2 hours. SA said maybe, and to look for him at 3:30pm after his lunch.
So off we went to Eiffel for a few hours. I was quite happy with the idea of bringing home a black Lindy and wasn't expecting more, especially after the experience of the past few days. We had crepes and took photos at Eiffel. I thought it was a nice way to end our Paris adventure.
3:30pm we were back at FSH. Found my SA and he looked at me and said "only black, right?" He went away for a few minutes, didn't seem very long. Came back with a big box and a smaller one. In my head I was thinking it was the L30 he had on hold for me. He took us to the men's shoes section at the back. When he was opening the box, I peeked at the sticker on the box and saw Noir... then Birkin... and before I could freak out he was opening the dust bag and there it was. My bag. Just like that, as though it dropped from the sky. I asked if it had just arrived and he said "I don't know? I came back from lunch and there it was". In a daze, I tried it on and thanked him a million times. And yes I got his card and he said I could look for him again next time in about 4 months, although a Constance will be harder to get we could always try.
We went upstairs and picked up the belt I tried the other day. And concluded our H mission this time.
Thank you to everyone who left kind words for me! So glad I didn't give up.