Une Belle Femme

Now a familiar complaint, public transport, in particular the trams. They have not been working for the day, and replacement buses...well if anyone sees one, please give me a shout! A struggle to get into school involving a lot of walking and changes on the public buses was not how I was planning on spending my morning before school, but hey ho...not much you can do about it bar carry on!

On arrival in school I was informed that all my students were leaving anyway so they could attempt to get home themselves...but all was not in vain as I had to meet up with my own private student in a little while after, so I could actually take my time getting to our workplace for once! On the way to our usual rendez-vous place I was stopped in the street by a guy and asked if I would mind if he took a picture of me...of course I agreed rather readily, knowing what it is like to walk up to a complete stranger and ask them if you can capture their soul (well, from some reactions you'd think that was what you were doing!). Turns out he is doing his own little project, finding 100 strangers to take pictures of...think he was rather surprised how readily I agreed, as from what he told me he had had a lot of rejections.

Anyhows, was rather nice to have a little me-time before having to continue with life, so I installed myself in Tour Solidor with a chocolat viennois and continued with my reading of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's 'The Shadow of the Wind'...well worth a read if you ever get the change. And my summing up quote from the book: 'Few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind, accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a palace in our memory to which, sooner or later - no matter how many books we read, or how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget - we will return'. Leads me to think, which was the first book that really found its way into my heart...I guess that one day I will return to it, and then realise.

My two hour lesson with my student went really rather well, I am still very impressed with how she is getting on, and just how much she is improving. I didn't realise that one-on-one attention actually helps that much...but from the improvements of not only my private student, but the ones I work with at my collegee, it really does help. The only problem I had was that I had forgotten my iPod, and a lot of the work I had given them to do was to fill in the missing words in song lyrics (one of the best ways to learn actually!)...but I improvised and worked more on the news articles and written work I had given them to do, followed by actually singing some of the songs to them! Lucky I give my favourite songs out so I know the tune!

Conjugated verb of the day, s'en foutre (meaning to not care about it)
- Je m'en fous
- Tu t'en fous
- Il/elle s'en fout
- Nous nous en foutons
- Vous vous en foutez
- Ils s'en foutent

The rest of my afternoon was spent socialising with various people (I know, hard life)...I headed round to the flat to find Thibaud, Thomas (still in dressing gown!) and Pierre playing computer games, watching television to the background noise of a Lady Gaga concert courtesy of Pierre. Sometimes I worry about these boys! They have Flavie to keep them order though, so all is well...and they did stop playing to chat so they're not accro yet! Lovely chilled out afternoon, interspersed with me taking photographs of everyone and them all taking the Michael out of the English accent (I should be used to it I know!)

My next social event on the calendar was finally catching up with the beautiful Laura (pictured), and going to Dolly's for a good chin-wag, tea and scone time. While we were there, a small jazz band started setting up, so we decided to call the girls and install ourselves there for the evening. Cue Becky and Claire coming along, and me having the biggest plate of spare ribs I have ever experienced. I mean, I love my food...and waste not, want not...but I could not finish the plate! The rest of the troops (Kendra and Pawel) then joined us later for a few casual glasses of wine which was awesome, especially with a live jazz band playing in the background I felt rather sophisticated, not going to lie!

And now you would think my evening was finished, but no...I headed back to the apartment to spend a bit more time with Thomas et al. Ended up watching house makeover programmes with Thomas and Flavie, having some very strange conversations when Thibaud came down to join us all (no comment!) and just generally chilling out. Lovely end to a lovely evening. Tomorrow will be a struggle to get up...