Christmas : New Job, New Year, New Hope

The J-A Tree.

Well two months have slipped away and as the year comes to a close, I'm reflecting on the good, the bad and the more grey.

In October I got a job. Huzzah! And so The 9-5 Lifestyle begins and my itchy feet are tucked up in sensible work shoes. After this terrible/wonderful year it all seemed to work out okay, in the cosmic way that things seem to. Touch wood.

I worked so hard to boost my French, but in France I felt too far away from my family during a crisis period that it wasn't sustainable. Luckily (read: Thanks to a gazillion job applications) I managed to find a French-speaking role in Yorkshire. I share responsibility for our French client and can look forward to business trips to Paris. What are the chances of that, I wonder.

This year's theme: Funky Reindeer

And so my strange year of wandering comes to a close with that often-dreamt-of Family Christmas.

I'm thankful that all four of us are safe, healthy and home. 

I'm thankful for job security, a salary and annual leave. 

I'm thankful for the snow this weekend. 

I'm thankful for our shared opinion that the Weirdest Trees are the Bestest Trees. 

I'm thankful that, despite my atheism and my disdain of capitalism, my hypocrisy and childish optimism allows my to enjoy the festive period without qualms or guilt. 

I'm thankful for giving gifts that were well-received and getting presents from people who clearly understand me. 

I'm thankful for family who are friends, and friends who are family.

The Best People

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.

xoxox

A British Summer

Perhaps it's time to move on. The previous post of my final night in Paris now feels like a distant memory. I've been in the UK for 3 months+ now and my constant nattering in French is becoming less acceptable. I always try to control myself by a little reminder of a favourite quotation from The Jane Austen Book Club whenever I start to say "Put the milk in the frigo":

Allegra: If only she'd stop speaking French

Jocelyn: Or at least go to France, where it would be less noticeable

 So I'm now back in Yorkshire following my summer internship in London. Living in the South was filled with celebrations: birthdays, small victories, big decisions and a reunited family.

  

And many many many many weekend roadtrips.

For example, this one! Arundel Castle

Magical warm evenings...

Like this one! Brockham village fair

A final trip to the seaside. We picked Bexhill-on-Sea by pointing at the map. Great descision in the end.

And after all the adventures and misadventures, we rented a big van for our old man to drive us back up the M1 to our lovely abode.

It's almost three weeks that we've been back now. I was greeted on the first evening with the spectacular sky from my attic window.

 

Whatever is next? There is another internship opportunity in London, more job applications. Fingers crossed for those already sent out into the world. But either way, the long and lovely summer that graced us this year was certainly appreciated.

But I do love autumn....

Bring it on!

English wine and future plans

buckets, bottles, barrels

So before I get back to my posts of Paris, I have one more from England. My sister lives in Dorking where I spent most of the holiday. A lovely little town that happens to have the largest English vineyard, Denbies, which covers 267 acres. My sister kindly gave us the tickets she couldn't use and we went for a Sparkling Wine Tour. Don't mind if I do, thanks Em.

The tour comprised of a film, a tour of backstage, a tasting and a little train ride around the grounds (with another little tasting). I have done a vineyard tour in Bordeaux before on my Erasmus year and my lasting memory was that although I understood wine and could say things like: "mmm, oaky...slightly tanic...smooth," with meaning, it didn't stick.  Only mere days later and all I could say was: "Yum, grapes"! This time I am really trying to commit it to memory. Here is what I learnt:

• The soil is similar to in the French Champagne region and therefore they make great sparkling wine.
• The slopes protect the vines from the cold Northerly wind so the grapes can grow in peace.
• The chalky geology in the area means the soil doesn't get water logged. Yay.
• The Queen's favourite is Surrey Gold.

Lovely day, lovely wine, lovely company.

This is the end of my England photos however, I will be returning. In June, I'll be starting an internship in London for a publishing house. I'm super excited to begin and can explore a whole new city - I've not spent much time in London. I'm equally sad to leave Paris. But we'll always have Paris and who knows what my next step will be post-internship, I may be back. Good things ahead. Until then, more Paris posts coming up...

Can't wait to see you again London...

Life is strange, so let's go to England

South coast of the UK

A lovely little two week holiday popped up suddenly this April, how time flies in Paris. I had only planned for 5 days back in the UK but, such is life, I ended up staying the full 2 weeks.

Presented without comment...

While I catch up on my grammar homework and job applications, I just wanted to post a few shots from my time hanging in the old motherland.

Although I didn't actually get to go home at all, I still spent every second with my family (and one cheeky old friend who slipped in there!). But despite the strange circumstances, reconnecting with the people I love was a perfect way to spend my quinze jours.

So thank you Great Britain. God save the Queen. How cute is Prince George? Thank you and goodnight.