So time for catch up.
The pre-Christmas meals I attended were delightful, filled with good food, rich wine and engaging conversation. The festive spirit in the schools and street carried me through the last few days until it was time for me once more to don my backpack and battle with the french rail system, but this time to go home!!
Every step was a challenge. I woke up to five or six inches of snow. And so, at the very cold and darnk time of 6.30am I half stumbled half slid to the train station. This small voyage involved having to dodge a snow plough and falling flat on my face. It simply was not a good start.
However, a 'few' hours later I arrived to see a very beautiful friendly face meeting me at St Pancreas! Seeing my friend again was definitely a highlight. We spent the night consuming a little too much wine in London pub followed by food at an Indian restaurant...couldn't have asked for much more on my first night back in England!
The next day was, finally, hometime! My family met a very tired me at the station and quickly rushed me home to hear all the stories and see all the photos. Being back in my tiny snow covered village with my family and friends was all I needed for a perfect Christmas! I also had time to pop back to my much missed Sheffield for a fleeting, but fantastic visit! The end of the week was topped off when yet another friend came to visit me at home for a long catch up and once again a little too much alcohol consumption, quite the novelty after 3 months of very little drinking.
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| reunited. |
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| My village under the snow |
A potentially sad departure was eased by plans to spend New Year in London with my University friends. We had a fantastic night, even if it did result in us walking five miles in order to get back to our hostel!
**Note to self, NEVER attempt use London public transport on New Years Eve**
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| These guys. |
Having now been back in France for three weeks it would be very easy me to say returning was easy, as now, I am truly enjoying myself. However, the first couple of weeks back here were pretty hard. But its not a hard life... Since being back I have explored the beautiful snowy slopes of Les Rousses in glorious sunshine whilst munching on Swiss artisan chocolates and have visited a very dear friend over in Dijon for a weekend of shopping, food and gossip!
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| Les Rousses from the Church |
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| Sun peeking through the sapins |
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| A very nice coffee! |
And the excitement continues! Last night I spent a lovely time at ‘Une soirée anglaise’...which, whilst didn’t really help my french, it did introduce to me to more people, most of whom have studied or worked in England (one studied in Crewe, another was an assistant in Stoke-on-Trent and one had lived in Sheffield ! Small world).
In the coming weeks I have plans to go Lyon and Bern, and then I shall be making a fleeting visit home for the February holidays.
Today I’m hopefully heading to Geneva with some other assistants, quite excited!
Thats all for now, au revoir!
