FLAT HUNTING

I find myself in a strange déjà-vu world. I am flat hunting again. My old Parisian flat was lovely and I was very happy there but I want to explore living in different parts of Paris so a change of scenery and arrondissement are called for. Thus I’m searching again, weighing up the allure of this one (great view, no washing machine) with that one (washing machine, no view, ghastly decoration). I just wish I could find a beautiful one that is close to the Louvre, St Germain des Prés, my school and Jean Bouin with a great view of the Eiffel Tower! That’s not too much to ask, is it? :)

BLOGGING

© drew

The bloggers of this world are numerous and varied (apparently one in four of us is blogging these days) and the extent to which bloggers reveal their private lives online varies too. In fact, my humble offerings probably represent a third of my ‘real’ life. This is not to say that during the other two thirds I am living some kind of wildly decadent exciting life, just that my blog serves its ‘keeping in touch’ purpose since I am such a terrible emailer. In case you hadn’t noticed: I am a very private person :)

But beware, your blog can get you into trouble.

Apparently Paris has its own little community of non-French bloggers. However, as am I not really ‘with it’, the only one I am aware of (apart from me, that is) and whose musings I occasionally read is another ‘anglaise’ who is far more revealing about her daily life than I am (she claims she felt egged on by the commentators)! Anyway, this anglaise has recently hit the headlines for being ‘dooced’ - which in blog language means being summarily dismissed from your job for blogging during work time and/or saying defamatory things about your employers on your blog. They are claiming that she has “brought the firm into disrepute”. Naturally, she is fighting it in the courts.

Thankfully, there is no danger of me being ‘dooced’ since (a) I never blog at work nor (b) do I ever say anything horrible about my employers! In fact, I love my beloved tutor!

TRAINING

Training has resumed at Jean Bouin (phew, imagine running around in this heat!) but at least now you can feel the new rugby season approaching and thank goodness for that! I know that we’re all entitled to summer holidays (rugby players included) but for me personally, the world is a nicer place when there’s some rugby going on! Anyway, the first game of the season is less than a month away now and although I won’t be there physically to watch it, I will be following it via the wonders of the internet. Just wish they had a webcam at Jean Bouin so I could watch both training and matches when I’m not there ..

MODIGLIANI

© RA

There have been conflicting reviews of the Modigliani exhibition ranging from “beautiful and sexy” (newsweek) to “as unchallenging as the greetings cards that his images so often adorn” (The Times).

All I can say is: It’s amazing. I felt his spirit. I was overwhelmed.

But then, I might not be wholly objective.

Just don’t believe all you read – go to the Royal Academy and make up your own mind!

OLIVEWAH

Two of the last things I bought before leaving France were a swimming costume and a wetsuit. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to run before I can walk (or dive before I can swim, even), the wetsuit was for Tristan’s ‘soulmate’ who is, by all accounts, an excellent swimmer and has even saved lives off the Sussex coast. (He speaks French too, hence the ‘olivewah’ of the title ;p ) Yesterday, we went to deliver said wetsuit and my, what a delightful treat of a day we had! Not only did we get to see ‘soulmate’ swimming manfully in his pool modelling his perfectly-fitting wetsuit (my god, he looked fabulous, no: he looked fabulously fabulous) but I also got some home-made sloe gin, made with real sloes. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of the god-like ‘soulmate’ in his figure-hugging wetsuit but I can show you the delicious gin! Mmm mmm!

SUMMER FESTIVALS

Let me say straight away: I am not the “Festie Type”, it is far too unhygienic for me and I’ve hardly ever heard of any of the bands – I am just not ‘with it’ really. But, as I was assured we would not have to camp overnight nor abandon all pretence at personal cleanliness, off we went to the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park. Funnily enough, I enjoyed it: the weather was good, the atmosphere fun, the O2 VIP party bus really fun and I’d even heard of some of the bands. And plus I provided Tristan with some entertainment as I innocently filled in my wish bubble! Despite his giggling, I’m still hoping my wish comes true! ;) But this doesn’t mean I’ve become one of those Festie People now, although I do hear that Nouvelle Vague are playing at Fruitstock ..

CULTURE SHOCK

Well, you may not have noticed but somewhere between Paris, the Channel and England, there was a slight disruption in blog updates. This was partly due to ‘technical difficulties’ as 'they' say and also because we’ve been having a hard time adjusting to being back in England. However, re-acquainting oneself with friends and the garden can do wonders for a disoriented soul. But I have to admit the severe lack of rugby is causing withdrawal symptoms, which, sadly, not even the victory of Italy in the wendyball world cup can relieve! Roll on the new season and next year for the REAL World Cup!