10/11/11 The Return.

So, had rather a lovely walk across London on my recent travels to England. With my large, heavy suitcases in tow, after journeying rather smoothly across a bitterly cold France, I endured this trek simply due to my boyfriend's sterling directions from Earl's Court Tube Station. When I had asked what seemed like the sum total of the inhabitants of old London town where on earth I was (but in reality was about 3 Polish people, some fellows in the local Sainsburys and a man with a small dog), I stumbled down the stairs of the TROUBADOUR (small music venue a Londres), where the man of the moment was rehearsing avec son groupe. Had a great night watching all the acts (a line up of Katie Ellesley, Rebecca de Jouvencal, Fiona Culley, and Cara Winter - of which the last two made a lasting impression), and eventually got a ride back to Brighton in the back of a Peugeot squidged under a drum kit (I only travel in style).
Spent some days in Brighton, some back in Bristol. Had some really lovely birthday celebrations which included beautiful jewellery, small mountains of cupcakes, and inevitably, lots of cuddling on the sofa with Molly the Border Terrier.

The actual day of my birthday was a real treat - a day that, in all honesty, just kept on giving. Unfortunately, the only gifts were MISERY and STRIFE, as I hurdled (with my suitcases still in tow) broken ticket machines, missed trains, delayed trains, the slowest passport control I have EVER ENCOUNTERED, broken French metros, cruel cruel Parisian bus folk, and hidden taxi ranks. I felt like Frodo, on his treacherous journey to Mordor to destroy the 'one ring'. I, too, was on a voyage of epic proportion, battling my way across an unknown territory. At the end of that young hobbit's journey, he has a nice sit down and a convenient ride home on a massive sort of bird, whereas my day ended by eating some cold, overpriced chips, which I consumed like a ravenous animal, and by spilling Fanta all down my jeans. Not a good look.
But skyping with my bessie, a young Alice Garrett, for 3 heures on my return, rather lightened my mood :)
Have had a few lovely jours et soirs avec mes amis en France this week, having had a rather delightful birthday meal at a friend's house, followed by a night out, sampling the delights of what Le mans has to offer (a vodka lemonade for 6 beastly euros! and lots of VERY BAD dancing. . .)
Going back to work, I have sampled new realms of pleasure. I am, of course, pulling your leg. . . On Monday, I literally fought with a 15 year old child. I was being totally unreasonable in all honesty - I had asked her to read 2 sentences out loud, from the sheet in front of her, that I had just read aloud myself. . . IMPOSSIBLE?!?!! I did, bien sur, win the battle, as after she refused to read it 6 times, and refused thrice to even leave the room (!), she DID end up reading. Perhaps it was childish of me to slowly applaud her efforts after sardonically, and ask her in a baby voice if it was difficult. .. ah well, it's a learning curve for us all!
I have bored the rest of my classes with Guy Fawkes related fun - thought they'd love it! it's got a bit of everything - attempted murder, the anticipation of huge explosions, torture, suicide, FIREWORKS. But I'm not sure they could have been any less interested. Going to quite literally jazz it up a bit next week, with some Jamie Cullum classics.
Two more bits of fun to share, and then I PROMISE, I'll bugger off:
1. I went to an International Soiree at Le Flore on Tuesday > was rather educational. Just lots of residents talking about travelling and became a heated debate about immigration, foreign policy and national spending. I didn't have a CLUE what was going on!! But people were getting very passionate about it all. The leader woman, then asked us foreign students to share a bit about why we have travelled to France, and I cracked some joke about being stuck in Mamers (stupid tiny town) for work, and about how much paperwork we need to do. . . It got a laugh, but didn't really seem appropriate after the harrowing topic of growing political and civil unrest in different parts of Africa. . . Was just proud I'd spoken vaguely coherently in front of all those Frenchies though!
2. Finally, i want to quickly tell of a little 6eme girl (11 years old). This girl came up to me on Tuesday at the end of the lesson, about 3/4 weeks after my initial question and answer sessions had taken place, where the students were supposed to find out more about me, and she said in French something like, "Harriet, Happy Birthday! I'm so sorry it's so late. I really like horseriding just like you!" and she just scurried away. What a cutie!
Looking forward to my impending visits from various wonderful people now, wahoo! Will fill you in later,
Much love and whatnot, H x