A WARNING: Dear Guest! Don't gnash your teeth everytime you meet a spelling or a syntax mistake! English is not my first language! So, please, be clement and keep in mind that, beyond the form, it's the content which truly matters!
You are intrigued by my personality? My sheer sagacity? My broad, shrewd, swift mind? The pertinence of my words? And you want to know more about me? I suggest you click on the three following links:
[Sheri - A Brief History]
[Sheri's Pictures]
[Sheri's Articles]
Reviving breeze
So here I am, listening to Helene Grimaud's interpretation of Chopin. Piano Sonata no.2 in B flat minor (whatever it means...), op.35. I feel in the mood for it.
Today, my moral being a bit low -- for no particular reason except perhaps that I feel ill fit for this world (as always) -- I went for a lonely walk amidst the surrounding, freshly ploughed fields. The weather was grey, but a light reviving breeze chased my dark thoughts away. The hunting season has begun and I passed a few hunters as I wandered about the plots. I was wearing my Aigle hunting boots which made me look like some sort of gentleman farmer to the local people. Being somewhat counter-productive in my professional life -- in short I'm a total failure --, I particularly endeavour to keep up appearances...! Not that I behave like a snob (snob = Sine NOBilitas), far from it ! But... err... though I would never permit myself to look condescendingly at someone wearing sport shoes, you wouldn't often see me wearing those in the street. That's the way I am, I'm afraid. Appearances are all that is left to me...
Christelle has had a miscarriage. It was last week. At first, the gynaecologist said all was fine. But a few days later, things got worse. And it came as a shock to Christelle when she was told that the heartbeat of the baby (more like an embryo, but I don't like that word) had ceased. Oddly enough, I only feel the effects of it now. I mean, physiologically speaking. I feel tired and confused.
Normally, one is advised to wait three months before announcing that a baby is 'on its way'. But as Christelle's first pregnancy was a success, we didn't think necessary to take that precaution. Now we must pay for it.
Brinsley (see above picture) took it rather well. We tried to explain the matter without beating around the bush, though I'm not sure he is fully aware. He is merely four years old.
The three pics below are (organic) tomatoes from my beloved kitchen garden. As I keep saying, it's always a great satisfaction to eat what you produce. True happiness comes from the soil.
- Taking part in the Vendanges
Remember the script I sent to the BBC, A Syrian Summer ? Well, I've revised it and sent a translated copy to the French producer I talked about a few weeks ago. Once again, the die is cast. I feel it's time for me to return to day-to-day life and reopen my dear study books. Yurk.
Studying doesn't mean that I cannot have moments of recreation. Last week, a friend of mine, a wine grower, offered me to take part in the vendanges (grape harvest) which occured yesterday in the Condrieu vinyard. It was fun. The weather was rather fine, the landscape quite enjoyable and, most important, the harvested grapes were of great quality.
Condrieu, like its neighbour Côte-Rôtie, is an appellation which doesn't suffer from the wine crisis in France. It is well-appreciated by the connoisseurs throughout the world and the clientèle is mostly international. The demand is higher than the supply, leading henceforth to high prices.
Having said this, I would recommand you to click on the picture for a more pleasant aspect of that activity which has sadly become a real 'business'.
[6 comments]- How thick can you get ?!
- Sorry, folks, for being so brief. I hope for a return to normality soon.
There is one thing I must tell you though. It happened yesterday in the weights room. It shows you how thick they are. I was greeting everyone, and particularly a member of the staff whose wife and little girl were also present. The girl was acting like a little pest, bothering her father while he was briefing a newcomer. I said, in a teasing tone : "what an impertinent little girl" !* You should have seen their faces. Father, mother and daughter stared at me aghast. I could read sheer incomprehension in their eyes. Not the faintest hint of a smile. I felt very lonely...
* Mais quelle petite impertinente !
[3 comments]
