25th November

I had a lovely email from Pascale today. She says she is enjoying reading my blog, which is nice. The house in Cherruiex is nearing completion and it’s almost ready for furniture. I could tell from the “Yesssss” that followed that sentence in her email that Pascale is very happy! 🙂

Pascale had also read that I would like some work in France and she suggested my doing some English lessons. I was initially, a few years back, going to do the TEFL course but I still had my house etc and so it wasn’t possible. But now, things are different, and she’s got me thinking………Merci à toi, Pascale 🙂

I also heard from Richard. He’s been playing doing all sorts in England, including playing in the orchestra for one of my favourite shows “Chicago”, but is now back in France until the 13th December then back to England again- like me 🙂

There’s no television here so I’ve been watching all sorts of stuff on YouTube and Netflix- the latest thing being “100% Hotter”. Deary me, I know! But you just have to keep watching don’t you- to see the transformation. And then the next episode starts without asking if it’s ok- and you’re off again! So many young women in the public eye, from reality shows etc, with everything on show and massive trout pouts! Make up too, an inch thick, and when it’s removed there’s a really pretty girl underneath but with no confidence now because her “suit of armour” has gone. The most shocking one I have seen though was a girl in her twenties, not a celebrity, worked as a beautician, had had so many procedures done- and was now planning on having some of her ribs removed! I mean, I didn’t even know that that is a thing! Terrible. Shocking stuff. But how do we, as a society, stop this? Shocking.

Manu arrived just before 1 o’clock and we embarked on an epic, but fabulous, 3 hour French lesson! Loads of grammar! I loved it!!! We’ve scheduled another lesson for next Monday too.

I needed some cash to pay him so, after the lesson, we left my apartment to go to the bank but went the long way round so he could show me some places of interest, including the last brothel in Tours which closed in 1946! This is a very old city and many of the buildings, including the one I’m staying in, date from around the 15th century. It’s beautiful and Manu knows the place inside out. He’s doing a tours of Tours on Saturday for a French couple and suggested I go along. I can see the sights and improve my French at the same time! I said I will go if the weather is poor but, if it’s a nice day, I have a château, Chenonceau, that I really want to visit- and time is running out before I leave here mid December 😦

The alarm on my phone went off during the lesson today to remind me I needed to pay another 2 hours parking. I paid the parking but didn’t reset my alarm!!! Bugger! So after I left Manu I’d been home for a while and then suddenly I thought about parking- and I should have renewed it almost an hour earlier! Bugger again! Fingers crossed that there wasn’t a warden about and that I don’t get a (genuine this time) fine.

It was about 6 o’clock by this time so I put on my pjs and poured a lovely glass of Beaujolais Nouveau 2019. It’s delicious 🙂

Then I had another one!

Then I got a text message from Manu (8 o’clockish) saying did I want to go for a drink. Nice. Well, yes I really did want to- but I couldn’t because I had had beaucoup de vin (that’s a grammar point we had covered in the afternoon- and I’ve probably still got it wrong!) I text back and said could we do it tomorrow instead. No reply. So, because of the problem with texting the other day, about an a hour later, I sent another text. No reply again.

Will rang me to let me know the plans for Christmas and New Year so we’re all sorted now and I can’t wait to see them. I spoke to Mum too, but still no news there. Dad was busy in his workshop so that’s good 🙂

Still no reply. So, either my messages aren’t getting through- or the message for a drink wasn’t for me. My money is on the latter.

Bonne nuit 🙂