Sneaking in a rambling post for November

While I should have been handed an eviction notice from the internet police for abandoning this blog, it lives on mes amis! I must apologise to the handful of you who actually have some interest in my life- I've been waiting for some big news stories to hit so I could wow you with my spectacular life. Alas I am still waiting to save that run away pram, and find an abandoned winning lottery ticket on the street. So instead of these heart racing, perspire inducing thrillers, here are my everyday life experiences comme je vis à Bordeaux. (Although an apartment did burn down over the weekend, so that's something?) 

My self esteem has taken a beating lately as the cooler months have crept up, as I'm assaulted daily by seeing les enfants dressed infinitely better than I could ever dream of. I found myself walking behind a small boy and his mother on the weekend when I noticed that this 5 year old was just casually wearing a Burberry kids coat. No biggie. Not to mention the little girls who I see playing in the jardin publique who appear to have been styled by winter angels. (Actually just their super stylish mothers). Honestly, if I could wear a scarf as well as a 4 year old french fille, I would be thrilled.

I call this, "Autumn in the garden." 

To counter this daily soul crushing, wine must be consumed! A few chip Friday's ago, I went to a wine bar in town with mes amis australiens called "Aux Quatre Coins du Vin." It was cool, you guys! I know I'm going to make a terrible mess of explaining it all, but bear with me. Patrons are given a credit card with a chip, which is loaded up with an allocated amount of credit. We started with €30. Then you take your wine glass and the card and pop the card into a slot above the selection of wine bottles before you. Then comes the decision concerning wine quantity. A taster, half glass, or full glass. Then the cost of your glass is deducted from your card and you retournez to the table and enjoy your wine and order a delicious charcuterie plate. The prices for all of the wines are displayed above the bottles, so you can play a fun game of "do we use up all of our credit on a €19 glass of wine?" It was a really cool way of trying lots of different wines without having to commit. Perfect for anyone who struggles with decisions or has minimal wine knowledge ie. Me. 

This the road where my laundromat is!
You can see the white, blue and red sign on the left (if you squint a little).

And now time for Sarah's book club! I recently read "Us" by David Nicholls. I pretty much only chose this because I love, love, loved "One Day." Unfortunately I didn't have the same experience with Us. I mean, it was nice enough, but I wish I had borrowed it from a library instead of buying it, you know. Harsh but true. I did like the little tour of Europe that featured, but I got a bit bored, generally, and just wanted it to finish. Awkward. Read it if you're living in a foreign country and need the comfort of your mother language.

I also downloaded Lena Dunham's biography. Easy reading while I waited at the laundromat, but I can hardly remember any of the anecdotes, so it obviously didn't change my life at all. 

Taking a slightly different turn, although not entirely unrelated to books, I went and saw the latest instalment of The Hunger Games. It was everything I imagined it to be. Citizens of the districts being murdered. J. Law being pissed off that citizens are being murdered. Fight scenes. Special effects. A Hemsworth. Me laughing at the way J.Law says "Pee-dah." An unresolved ending. Yeah. It was solid. 

A building. 

Back to more important matters! French markets! Ahh what glorious places. Les marchés have reminded me of what "seasonal produce" actually means. While I was devastated when stone fruit started slowly disappearing, I was excited to see what would take it's place when autumn rolled around. And it was my excitement of bountiful fruit and pressure purchasing which lead me to "accidentally" buy 2kg of mandarins the other weekend. "Two kilos," you say, "that's not too bad!" Oh, dear friend, picture this- one ordinary plastic bag. Full. Of a fruit that I ordinarily refuse to eat. Yes, I was charmed by the fruit lady, who encouraged me to try the sample, and then I thought to myself, "that wasn't too bad!" She then informed me that I could purchase 2kg for a mere €4! What a bargain! And it was fruit! That's a healthy choice! Better than 2kg of butter! (But is it?!) A mere 2 weeks later, and I had finished my fruit bowl full of what I believe to be the most tedious fruit in the world. However I did somewhat enjoy these , so perhaps I've been converted. 

A posy from the market.

As the weather grows cooler, and I become increasingly nervous about living through a full length french winter, we also approach the most wonderful time of the year. This year I haven't had the advantage of observing when the bloom of the jacaranda tree is here to signal when Christmas might be near, but instead I have watched as Bordeaux slowly, slowly erected lights and trees throughout the city. Including a Christmas market! And a giant Christmas tree in front of the cathedral! And window displays! And lights everywhere! It's all very exciting. I shall let you all know how the market is. (And I promise it won't take me a month).

Much love to you all as we approach my most beloved time of year. Bises xxxx