springspringspring

I'm so happy to say that whilst writing this, there's a gorgeous hazy sunshine outside in Nogent today. It seems spring finally has sprung here.

I had a predominantly lazy weekend. On Friday, I did venture out to the shops in a caveman style hunt for food and upon my return, felt as though I'd run a marathon. On Saturday, I set out on my mission for a walk into the middle of nowhere, mostly because I wanted to get a bit lost and find some hidden beauty at least somewhere in the vicinity of Nogent.

I'm afraid to say that this is not a successful story. I walked along a small road for roughly an hour, only to be greeted with a row of houses with vicious little dogs guarding the gates, a derelict scrap yard and an empty caravan site. Feeling very much like I was part of a gritty horror movie//the apocalypse, and with the impending potential doom of an unusual breed of humans leaping out from the woods, I made my way back to my little house, feeling downtrodden that I hadn't stumbled across some peaceful lake or woodland.

Sunday was a pyjama and film day for me, with the odd spattering of sketching and just a splash of classical music. Lazy but blissful.

Feeling much better now, even though my grasp of the French language seems to be less than brilliant at the moment. I'll blame it on the cold. 

Would anybody like to make me a roast dinner and some hot cross buns? I'm rather craving them as of late.

I'm also on the search for something to do this weekend, a four day affair. Tempted by Tours, Rennes, Brussells and even Budapest and then remembered I'm actually not a millionaire, unfortunately. Definitely will be on the search for a spa of some kind though.

That's about it for today I'm 'fraid. I'll update you when I have something slightly more interesting to say.

Bordeaux and washing up

Friday night and I'm sat in on my own, having done the housework and helped myself to a somewhat generous glass of Bordeaux. Not what one generally envisages of a 20 year old's Friday night but I've found that I enjoy these evenings on my own, time to reflect and enjoy a few French luxuries.

Last weekend was good. On Saturday, we toddled off to a "pub" in Senonches called the Fox and Frog. Bless the French and their attempts at a pub. It's basically a glorified bar with lots of wooden beams. Not a whiff of bar snacks, or jukeboxes, or fruit machines, or in fact anything that slightly resembles a British pub, except a copious amount of alcohol and the odd suspect character. Overall though, a very merry night.

This week has, again, gone extremely quickly. I've been very busy with my lessons and tutoring. Unfortunately though, a vicious breed of French virus struck me halfway through the week and so on Thursday, I took the day off to feel sorry for myself and have a menthol party.

Today I have been mostly unproductive. I'm very content to sit on my own and make my way through endless hours of British TV and classic films. I did receive the most excellent news today, that I will no longer have to teach the worst class in French history ever again. I actually squealed with delight.

With just 3 weeks left before I leave la belle France, it's time to start planning my goodbye parties and lists of things to do before I leave. I realise I've actually accomplished many of them already which is really something to be proud of.

Anyway, apologies for my slightly lackluster post which definitely represents its writer at this point in time.

La neige

Just one question, where has this week gone please?

Time seems to be running by on its little legs at a frightening speed, which is actually quite bizarre conisdering how little I have done in terms of work. Even my co-workers have begun to remark upon how little work I do. Mainly, this is because of the one thing I have started to dread hearing about, la neige. Yes, this week has been a rather snow filled semaine with drifts coming in on a few occasions so far. As a result, all the school transport was cancelled and instead of acknowledging that there would be an average of maybe 3 pupils at most in each lesson and thence closing the college, us teachers were forced to come in as normal in a typically proud-to-be-French-and-make-everyone-keep-working-even-though-this-is-a-huge-waste-of-time fashion.

Snow besides, I've had a few tutoring sessions which I'm really feeling at ease with now, rather typically since I'm leaving so soon. Yesterday, I did a lesson on agony aunts. One of the problems was a girl in a long distance relationship who really loved her boyfriend but missed spending time with him. When I asked the kids what they thought she should do, they immediately (and in a somewhat brutal fashion) said she should break up with him. Oh, the sweet naivety of youth.

I've been tying up some loose ends, both in terms of my year abroad and in terms of life in general really. I'm proud to announce that in roughly 6 weeks time, I'm off inter-railing around Eastern Europe. A trip of a lifetime with 6 countries to discover and just over 3 weeks to discover them in . Route planned and first flight booked, all that's left is to start thinking about how I, potentially the least practical packer ever, am going to squeeze 3 weeks worth of stuff into a backpack that weighs at least slightly less than a baby elephant.

Exciting news over and done with, I think I'm going to sit in bed and eat Prince biscuits (glorified BNs).

See you in 4 weeks England!

Dear diary

I'm on a mission to try and document as much Nogentaise life as possible before I leave. Somewhat difficult with a slight writer's block this morning.

So my weekend has been quite jam-packed. On Friday, I took myself off to the pool. After so long without dipping my toes into a pool I'd forgotten what it feels like to swim. Therapeutic would be a good word to use. That evening, after I had been tutoring, we trotted off to Vista Verde for another "interesting" soirée, full of the usual unlikely types that one often finds in said bar, including one Polish guy who liked boxing and insisted on thumping me on the arm every time he made a (seriously unfunny) joke, fab.

Yesterday was the journée gastronomique in Nogent, essentially a farmers market. I bought some of my most favourite cheese ever, Morbier. It has a soft, slightly elastic-y texture with a line of ash through the middle which gives it a wonderful smokey flavour. If ever you find this marvelous dairy product, do yourself a huge favour and buy some. It's magnificent.

In the evening, I whizzed off to the local Chinese restaurant with a group from "on va sortir", a website where people suggest events and you just tag along to whatever you like. There were 28 of us and whilst we had all pre-ordered from a set menu of about 4 dishes, the staff still insisted on bringing everyone's meals out one at a time. After waiting for two and a half hours and playing "50 things you can do with chopsticks", it's fair to say that by the time my meal arrived, I had become slightly delirious and lost the will to live. It's at occasions like that when you learn to appreciate the logic of England and find yourself questioning the sanity of the French. Afterwards, we popped back to Vista Verde for an evening of different sorts with some enjoyable company.

Onto today, I have resigned myself to doing nothing but catching up on Channel 4 programs, because nothing can beat the blissful feeling you get from resting your brain with such mind-numbing television.

Times Like These

Hello world. I realise it's been a long time since I sat down to do this, partly because I was back in England for the past three weeks. I'm sure (at least I hope) you'll be glad to know that I am okay.

I've done so many drafts and so much thinking for this blog that it will probably never turn out how I want it to. So much time has passed and so much has happened, that there's a risk that it will all just come spilling out from my keyboard. I will try my hardest to write some well chosen words.

I feel that I'd be cheating myself if I didn't start with the most recent important occurrence.

I know what it is to have your heart broken, but I also know what it is to truly love, and to be truly loved.

There's one word which, ironically, I can use with certainty: confusion. Let's say it's an epic battle between brain and heart. As a hopeless romantic (and dedicated watcher of Disney films), I have always been led to believe that you should always follow your heart. At the moment they seem to take it in turns to win.

There's no amount of words, however powerful or well chosen, that could do justice to the last two and a half years, so I'll just say this. 
The good times truly were the best times.

As with any relationship that doesn't end in a screaming row with each party throwing crockery at each other, there's just an over-riding feeling of emptiness.

We each seek comfort differently. For me, comedy and music. Not Adele, or all that cliche break up music that just sends you spiraling into a state. Strangely, I seek a lot of comfort in Demons by Fatboy Slim. Simple and the tempo gives you time to breathe. That and Fleetwood Mac - my old friends.

If there's one thing I've learnt, and there's plenty (oh, why can't I go back in time?), it's how much focus and determination I have. It's time to channel that in a different way and focus on myself for a while. Some of you will know that I have some big plans in store, but I don't feel that it's fair to share them on here just now.

I will, however, share some of the smaller goals I have;

- Get fit, and get FIT.

- Pick up my guitar again

- Swim like a fish

- Throw myself into opportunities at university whilst I can

   (a goal I had set myself previously)

- Always assume the best, instead of expecting the worst.

It all comes down to a simple fact. I am a social butterfly, and I've been in a bell jar for far too long.

I think that recapping the events of the past few weeks is a hopeless task, so I think it's time to leave this here. I just wanted to thank all of my friends for their kind words, and Damien for two and a half years of unconditional love.

You lost a diamond while you were busy collecting stones.