For the last month Benoit and I have been waiting for the Strasbourg Scottish Dancing group to restart for the season. Even still, last night around 7.30pm I thought we were going to miss our first night. Why? Because, although the dancing started at that time, I was still stuck in traffic between Colmar and Molsheim and about to take a wrong turn and so delay things further....
My excellent man, rather than listening to my ranting that we were too late, calmly explained even if we were late, we'd still have the chance to dance and so to experience something different than watching Tuesday night TV.
Little wonder then, I was really pleased when we arrived around 8.30pm and saw we were just as welcome late as early!
Indeed, I must be a nerd because I exclaimed outloud when I saw we were going to dance 'the round reel of eight' and 'wind on loch fyne!' .. and that Ben and I would be just fine with this group.
And, so the night darkened outside as inside a rather sweaty squashcourt the lights shone on groups of ten people quietly counting to themselves, 'one, two, three, four, promenade hold for three, then cast to the right, and set to the side.."
And, so I was happy.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
September Sundays
I love lazy Sunday mornings!
I work up at 8am and was so tempted by the clear morning sunshine that I crept through to the living room to listen to Diane Krall's soulful melodies and to finish Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. Then Ben came through and read quietly beside me. Now we've drunk our respective cups of tea and coffee and are making plans to quietly visit Obernai this afternoon.
The gentleness of the morning is all the kinder, as last night was filled with conversation and good food (chicken cooked in beer; fresh salad with an olive oil and garlic dressing; apple pie with a homemade custurd layer). A work colleague/fellow mountain biker/badminton player came over with his girlfriend and so we talked work, and politics, and travel, and castles, and mythology. Lovely stuff!
Indeed, I think weekends are all the nicer after a busy week of work because one really appreciate the contrast! So, here's to lazy weekends!
regards,
Robynx
ps/still celebrating my gypsy article on http://www.pilotguides.com/community/travel_writers/gypsy_hearts.php
I work up at 8am and was so tempted by the clear morning sunshine that I crept through to the living room to listen to Diane Krall's soulful melodies and to finish Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. Then Ben came through and read quietly beside me. Now we've drunk our respective cups of tea and coffee and are making plans to quietly visit Obernai this afternoon.
The gentleness of the morning is all the kinder, as last night was filled with conversation and good food (chicken cooked in beer; fresh salad with an olive oil and garlic dressing; apple pie with a homemade custurd layer). A work colleague/fellow mountain biker/badminton player came over with his girlfriend and so we talked work, and politics, and travel, and castles, and mythology. Lovely stuff!
Indeed, I think weekends are all the nicer after a busy week of work because one really appreciate the contrast! So, here's to lazy weekends!
regards,
Robynx
ps/still celebrating my gypsy article on http://www.pilotguides.com/community/travel_writers/gypsy_hearts.php
Thursday, September 22, 2005
autumn is in the air
You know that tired yet satisfied feeling? Well, I've got it!
The day began early as I drove south through the hills to Saulcy sur Marne. From the warmth of my car, I watched as the chill of the autumn air forced the mist into a silky blanket that rose and fell slightly as the earth breathed into life. And so the milky green of the fields contrasted nicely with the darker green of the background hills...making North Carolina seem all the closer as Shaina Twain and I sang along to her older songs.
Then I arrived at Forexpo for my first day of teaching English to the tree-guys.. though isn't that what I've been doing for the last 7 years? hmm.... Needless to say, it all felt very natural and pleasant.. and especially as I got a free lunch in a 'roadside cafe French style'.. that is, and alongside a bunch of truckers, I tucked first into 'crudities/salad' and then duck/potatoes and the a sweet and juicy creme caramel!
Tonight, I've crashed - as my man in Brussels doing 'European Commission stuff' :-) Alena helped the process as she distracted me from (saved me from) Star Academy and so we chatted - ooh - for 'around an hour' Lovely, lovely, lovely. Google representatives - if you are reading this now, give her that job! She'll save your socks 'cos she's ace!!!
So, with my fingers crossed for Alena, I'll end my noting ZG is now 'APY to know that retirement is around the corner. What am I talking about? My Honda - with her new APY 67 registration plate - is being replaced next Thursday by her friend, our new shiny Voltswagen Golf!!!
Vavavavavoom... so later autumnal or wintery scenes will be accompanied by the quiet hum of heaters and the great knowledge that there are airbags and fancy tyre-stopping technology between me and any road-skidding accident. Phew!
Bye for now,
Robyn
The day began early as I drove south through the hills to Saulcy sur Marne. From the warmth of my car, I watched as the chill of the autumn air forced the mist into a silky blanket that rose and fell slightly as the earth breathed into life. And so the milky green of the fields contrasted nicely with the darker green of the background hills...making North Carolina seem all the closer as Shaina Twain and I sang along to her older songs.
Then I arrived at Forexpo for my first day of teaching English to the tree-guys.. though isn't that what I've been doing for the last 7 years? hmm.... Needless to say, it all felt very natural and pleasant.. and especially as I got a free lunch in a 'roadside cafe French style'.. that is, and alongside a bunch of truckers, I tucked first into 'crudities/salad' and then duck/potatoes and the a sweet and juicy creme caramel!
Tonight, I've crashed - as my man in Brussels doing 'European Commission stuff' :-) Alena helped the process as she distracted me from (saved me from) Star Academy and so we chatted - ooh - for 'around an hour' Lovely, lovely, lovely. Google representatives - if you are reading this now, give her that job! She'll save your socks 'cos she's ace!!!
So, with my fingers crossed for Alena, I'll end my noting ZG is now 'APY to know that retirement is around the corner. What am I talking about? My Honda - with her new APY 67 registration plate - is being replaced next Thursday by her friend, our new shiny Voltswagen Golf!!!
Vavavavavoom... so later autumnal or wintery scenes will be accompanied by the quiet hum of heaters and the great knowledge that there are airbags and fancy tyre-stopping technology between me and any road-skidding accident. Phew!
Bye for now,
Robyn
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Preparing to Leave
Well, the boxes are almost ready and I'm in the midst of grading my very last papers.... and Ben has aleady moved to Molsheim and is due to begin work tomorrow...
So a change must be in the air!
So I thought this was an excellent time to restart my blogs....and so to descibe our new home in Alsace the best that I can.
Watch this space... here goes!
love,
Robyn
So a change must be in the air!
So I thought this was an excellent time to restart my blogs....and so to descibe our new home in Alsace the best that I can.
Watch this space... here goes!
love,
Robyn
Saturday, November 27, 2004
the bells of st pauls
Last weekend found me treading the streets of london with Nina, Leah, Katie, Lis and her students.
I flew out of Nice on Friday afternoon and so had time to meet up with the crowd for dinner and drinks (cups of tea, all round) in the lcal pub. Then, Saturday morning found Nina, her mum Marie, and I treading the streets of Covent Garden and gawking at all the pretty hand-made goods and the rather daft street performers. One performer got the shock of his life as Marie crept up behind him to turn up the false time-winder on his back! We stopped for a look in a grat tea shop before muching down on a great Veggie lunch in Food for Thought. After lunch the rain came on, so we bustled along the streets to the British musuem where I was to meet up with the others.
In the museum, I'd love to say i walked and walked the corridors and studied and studied the art and architecture. i have to be honest, though, and say that after a quick look at the Elgin marbles, Leah and I nipped to the upstairs restaurant for several cups of tea and a might good chat. After the museum, we headed for fish and chips before arriving at the dark gates of the Tower of London. Therein, with our invitations, we were privy to the 'changing of the keys' - an event that has passed every night for the last 700 years and is wonderfully dramatic.
Halt! Who goes there?
The Keys?
Whose Keys?
The Keys of Queen Elizabeth II.
Whey-hey, great stuff.. particularly as the bugeler sounded his bugel at the bells of the tower sounded their 10pm goodnight cries.
And particularly because 10am the following morning found us crossing the Millenium (wobbly) Bridge to Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern as the the bells of st pauls resounded overhead.
And particularly bcause by 2pm I was on a train to Canterbury to talk and walk with Jillian, and to spend the night all content curled up in her house chatting with her, Josef, and Aena.
Long weekends are magic....and not least when they are spent with old friends from distant places.
love,
Robynx
I flew out of Nice on Friday afternoon and so had time to meet up with the crowd for dinner and drinks (cups of tea, all round) in the lcal pub. Then, Saturday morning found Nina, her mum Marie, and I treading the streets of Covent Garden and gawking at all the pretty hand-made goods and the rather daft street performers. One performer got the shock of his life as Marie crept up behind him to turn up the false time-winder on his back! We stopped for a look in a grat tea shop before muching down on a great Veggie lunch in Food for Thought. After lunch the rain came on, so we bustled along the streets to the British musuem where I was to meet up with the others.
In the museum, I'd love to say i walked and walked the corridors and studied and studied the art and architecture. i have to be honest, though, and say that after a quick look at the Elgin marbles, Leah and I nipped to the upstairs restaurant for several cups of tea and a might good chat. After the museum, we headed for fish and chips before arriving at the dark gates of the Tower of London. Therein, with our invitations, we were privy to the 'changing of the keys' - an event that has passed every night for the last 700 years and is wonderfully dramatic.
Halt! Who goes there?
The Keys?
Whose Keys?
The Keys of Queen Elizabeth II.
Whey-hey, great stuff.. particularly as the bugeler sounded his bugel at the bells of the tower sounded their 10pm goodnight cries.
And particularly because 10am the following morning found us crossing the Millenium (wobbly) Bridge to Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern as the the bells of st pauls resounded overhead.
And particularly bcause by 2pm I was on a train to Canterbury to talk and walk with Jillian, and to spend the night all content curled up in her house chatting with her, Josef, and Aena.
Long weekends are magic....and not least when they are spent with old friends from distant places.
love,
Robynx
Monday, October 25, 2004
camping
Hello,
We (Simon, Alena, Vince, Ben and I) have just come back from a weekend's camping in Castelane. Yup, its nearly November... but, with numerous cups of coffee and more than a beer or two, anything is possible!
We had a really great time because - before camping on the Saturday - we hiked in the Gorge du Verdon (saw a snake, some circling birds of prey, and teeny, weeny rockclimbers up way above us in the distance. The walk we did was particularly cool as it combines long dark tunnels through the rock with tremedous, airy vistas down the vast gorge and into wooded cliffs. Fanatastic stuff, I can tell you!!
Then, on the Sunday, we slowly woke up and watched as the inverted clouds in the gully to the left of us disspated in the yellow of the morning light... and - less romantically - munched on pain aux chocolats :-) Then we collectd sandwiches from Castellane and headed out to the lakes... where the boys threw stones and we all found fossils.
Now, we're back home - rested and ready to plan our next camping, skiing, hiking trip!!!
(yeah for weekends)
We (Simon, Alena, Vince, Ben and I) have just come back from a weekend's camping in Castelane. Yup, its nearly November... but, with numerous cups of coffee and more than a beer or two, anything is possible!
We had a really great time because - before camping on the Saturday - we hiked in the Gorge du Verdon (saw a snake, some circling birds of prey, and teeny, weeny rockclimbers up way above us in the distance. The walk we did was particularly cool as it combines long dark tunnels through the rock with tremedous, airy vistas down the vast gorge and into wooded cliffs. Fanatastic stuff, I can tell you!!
Then, on the Sunday, we slowly woke up and watched as the inverted clouds in the gully to the left of us disspated in the yellow of the morning light... and - less romantically - munched on pain aux chocolats :-) Then we collectd sandwiches from Castellane and headed out to the lakes... where the boys threw stones and we all found fossils.
Now, we're back home - rested and ready to plan our next camping, skiing, hiking trip!!!
(yeah for weekends)
Sunday, October 10, 2004
fish eggs
Sunday morning lethargy is stopping me from grading papers...but fits well with the weather as last night's thunder storm is slowly disolving into bird chatter and misty clouds.
This morning I ran out for croissants, and complained as my feet got wet in the morning's puddles. Such complaints are funny though, as yesterday we (Ben, Alex, Cyril and I) were snorkeling and so soaking wet. That swim was wonderful because the wind was slowly preparing for th storm, and so left us with a playground of waves and currents. Equally special was the experience of swimming through fish eggs. Not one or two eggs, but thousands and thousands of them circling around the underwater caverns and rocky inlets. Coloured pink, they floated like miniscule jelly fish - unassuming yet awe-inspiring in their potential. Swimming through them, we reached out hands forward to grasp at their forms.. but held by an underwater wind they blew onward and outward to sea.
Today, as the white of the sun breaks through the moisture of the clouds and my lethargy dissolves into action, I expect such memories will help me through the grading that lies ahead!!
First, though, its time to put the kettle on.
So, bye for now!
This morning I ran out for croissants, and complained as my feet got wet in the morning's puddles. Such complaints are funny though, as yesterday we (Ben, Alex, Cyril and I) were snorkeling and so soaking wet. That swim was wonderful because the wind was slowly preparing for th storm, and so left us with a playground of waves and currents. Equally special was the experience of swimming through fish eggs. Not one or two eggs, but thousands and thousands of them circling around the underwater caverns and rocky inlets. Coloured pink, they floated like miniscule jelly fish - unassuming yet awe-inspiring in their potential. Swimming through them, we reached out hands forward to grasp at their forms.. but held by an underwater wind they blew onward and outward to sea.
Today, as the white of the sun breaks through the moisture of the clouds and my lethargy dissolves into action, I expect such memories will help me through the grading that lies ahead!!
First, though, its time to put the kettle on.
So, bye for now!
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
octopus
I saw my first real-live octopus last Saturday -- when snorkeling with Benoit, Melanie, Simon, Alena, and Vince at La Trayas.
Ben, Vince, and I were swimming out toward the rocky island when Ben beckoned for us to come and see. At this point the ground was about 20 feet below us.. and there she was... buried in the sand.
Tucked outside her sandy cave, two of her spotted tentacles held court - while her delicate head and body were folded inside the sand.
Diving down, I could see its dark eyes looking outward from its cream, jellylike form huddling backwards.
Returning to the surface (gasping for air!), I wondered about its world and then swam on....
Ben, Vince, and I were swimming out toward the rocky island when Ben beckoned for us to come and see. At this point the ground was about 20 feet below us.. and there she was... buried in the sand.
Tucked outside her sandy cave, two of her spotted tentacles held court - while her delicate head and body were folded inside the sand.
Diving down, I could see its dark eyes looking outward from its cream, jellylike form huddling backwards.
Returning to the surface (gasping for air!), I wondered about its world and then swam on....
Friday, September 10, 2004
Graham comes to visit
Hello there,
Graham arrived on Wednesday night and so I thought I'd write a wee word saying what we've done so far...
After he arrived at 5.30pm and sat through over an hour of Riviera Ruch Hour traffic, I think he was more than ready to sit on the porch and drink beer and eat ravioli and relax!
Thursday was more energetic... as we replenished the cupboards by going foodshopping before going for a swim in the pool before lunch. He beat me at frontcrawl bringing our score up to 1-1. Standby for a grand finale sometime soon! Then, after lunch and a wee siesta, we drove up to Gourdon and then to Greolieries to do a bit of sightseeing... and icecream eating and some photo-taking (Graham!). Later, after a great dinner, the boys beat me at Skipbo...so I fell asleep on the couch as they continued with Uno :-)
Today, Graham and I pottered around Antibes (trying out chickpea pancakes and staring at the gooods in the marketplace). Then, Graham caught the train through to Cannes to see the Cruiseboat show....
The weekend plans include some snorkeling and a beach BBQ... so for tonight i think I'll be quite happy to collapse on the couch with some (bad) French TV!
Graham arrived on Wednesday night and so I thought I'd write a wee word saying what we've done so far...
After he arrived at 5.30pm and sat through over an hour of Riviera Ruch Hour traffic, I think he was more than ready to sit on the porch and drink beer and eat ravioli and relax!
Thursday was more energetic... as we replenished the cupboards by going foodshopping before going for a swim in the pool before lunch. He beat me at frontcrawl bringing our score up to 1-1. Standby for a grand finale sometime soon! Then, after lunch and a wee siesta, we drove up to Gourdon and then to Greolieries to do a bit of sightseeing... and icecream eating and some photo-taking (Graham!). Later, after a great dinner, the boys beat me at Skipbo...so I fell asleep on the couch as they continued with Uno :-)
Today, Graham and I pottered around Antibes (trying out chickpea pancakes and staring at the gooods in the marketplace). Then, Graham caught the train through to Cannes to see the Cruiseboat show....
The weekend plans include some snorkeling and a beach BBQ... so for tonight i think I'll be quite happy to collapse on the couch with some (bad) French TV!
Sunday, September 05, 2004
water
This weekend was wonderful... as its hours were filled with water.
On Saturday morning, Melanie and I spent an hour or so wandering alongside the Brague river. We talked and talked, but we also saw small fish dart away from a falling orange leaf, the way leaves on fir trees dash upwards in streaks of green paint, and how stone arched bridges lean over pretty streams of blue water.
Returning home, we thought our exercise for the day was done, but - oh no! Our boys (Benoit, Simon, and Ivon) had other ideas. So, after a great lunch of steaming spaghetti and lardon, we crammed into Ben's laguna and headed for the hills. The joke was we were interested in 'swimming in the loo' ... but really we were interested in the Loup river and particularly the part where it carved its way down the gorge toward 'Pont-sur-Loup.' After scrambling down to its limestone banks, Mel and I sat and gossiped as the boys swam...and then had our turn. Plunging into the water was cold, cold, cold... but also incredibly refreshing as our breaths were swept away and downstream!
Today, we awoke at 7.30am and met Vincent to go snorkeling at the calanques. Reaching our usual place, we were pleased to see we were alone and that the water was calm. We had a wonderful swim... watching shoals of larger fish shimmering silver and green as they fed from the seaweed... as smaller fish pecked at the thin underlayer of the waves... as Scottish, tartan fishes darted along the underwater caverns. Ben and Vince even saw a Moray eel and an octopus!
Needless to say, the rest of today has been spent relaxing... but then there is still tomorrow...and soon thereafter Wednesday when Graham arrives :-)
On Saturday morning, Melanie and I spent an hour or so wandering alongside the Brague river. We talked and talked, but we also saw small fish dart away from a falling orange leaf, the way leaves on fir trees dash upwards in streaks of green paint, and how stone arched bridges lean over pretty streams of blue water.
Returning home, we thought our exercise for the day was done, but - oh no! Our boys (Benoit, Simon, and Ivon) had other ideas. So, after a great lunch of steaming spaghetti and lardon, we crammed into Ben's laguna and headed for the hills. The joke was we were interested in 'swimming in the loo' ... but really we were interested in the Loup river and particularly the part where it carved its way down the gorge toward 'Pont-sur-Loup.' After scrambling down to its limestone banks, Mel and I sat and gossiped as the boys swam...and then had our turn. Plunging into the water was cold, cold, cold... but also incredibly refreshing as our breaths were swept away and downstream!
Today, we awoke at 7.30am and met Vincent to go snorkeling at the calanques. Reaching our usual place, we were pleased to see we were alone and that the water was calm. We had a wonderful swim... watching shoals of larger fish shimmering silver and green as they fed from the seaweed... as smaller fish pecked at the thin underlayer of the waves... as Scottish, tartan fishes darted along the underwater caverns. Ben and Vince even saw a Moray eel and an octopus!
Needless to say, the rest of today has been spent relaxing... but then there is still tomorrow...and soon thereafter Wednesday when Graham arrives :-)
Thursday, September 02, 2004
initial scribblings
Hello, and welcome to my blogsite...
As 'la rentree' swings into full effect, new pens and new notepads are being bought and prepared for the semester ahead. And, I'm being filled with a sense of anticipation for the months ahead.
This is an exciting time for me, as I begin my married life with Benoit and as we share our days together in France.
Hence, as we are far from many friends and family (and as I do like scribbling), I thought this would be an ideal place to note and reflect upon things that have happened to us and sights that we have seen during our daily lives.
Feel free to drop in and out as you like.
I'll be here!
Best Regards,
Robyn
As 'la rentree' swings into full effect, new pens and new notepads are being bought and prepared for the semester ahead. And, I'm being filled with a sense of anticipation for the months ahead.
This is an exciting time for me, as I begin my married life with Benoit and as we share our days together in France.
Hence, as we are far from many friends and family (and as I do like scribbling), I thought this would be an ideal place to note and reflect upon things that have happened to us and sights that we have seen during our daily lives.
Feel free to drop in and out as you like.
I'll be here!
Best Regards,
Robyn
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