Christmas Update from France - 2020 edition

Happy Holidays!

Life goes on here in Aix-en-Provence. We’re trying to ‘bloom where we’re planted’, by making friends and participating in both the ‘expat’ community and local life. We don’t consider ourselves ‘expat’s’ but rather immigrants. This is our home now. And as to that, we have now gotten four things that one has to have - French driving licenses, health cards, residence cards, and mobile phones (though we’ve had the phones for quite awhile).

The driving license exchange process took from January 2019 to November 2020. Now, we can throw all those cautious habits we had away because we were driving on foreign licenses. We can drive like the French - texting, speeding, eating while driving, shouting at other drivers, tailgating, and smoking.

Mrs Gos has been a guest writer for a blog called Aixcentric over the past year, reviewing restaurants, market traders, bakeries, and wine shops. She has a good following and hopes to continue. She’s also been recognised by the Mairie (Mayor’s office) as a volunteer for feeding, trapping, and neutering feral cats, complete with an official badge. And eating whatever I cook. And to that end she has been walking, sometimes 7km a day - far more than me.

I’ve been taking more photos, inspired by the black and white photography of Peter Turnley and others. I post regularly on Instagram, and keep trying to put together a photoblog. I do a bit of writing. I do a lot of cooking. And, if I’m bored, I can shout at random strangers on the innertubes(sic). My guitar continues to stare balefully at me from the closet.

Our French is not improving, though we continue to try. The ‘confinement’ has made it very difficult to get out and speak French. And just watching movies and TV isn’t enough. However, we will keep at it.

We’ve both gone back to learning more about wine. And it’s not all rosé in Provence, despite what everyone thinks.
We have been adopted by a cat. Dora lived upstairs and used to use the elevator. Then her ‘mom’ died and Dora moved in with us, mostly on the balcony. She’s a joy.

What an ‘Annus horribilis’ it’s been for everyone. The political situation worldwide started the year off and then there was Covid. The amount of existential dread, free floating anxiety, and generalized (or grande) ennui just kept getting larger. We all no longer had anxiety cupboards, but anxiety condominiums with double garages and additions for the extra bits.

However, there would seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel (here’s hoping it’s not an approaching train), in the recovery of sanity in the US with the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Glad to see that Biden is picking competent, experienced, actual human beings for his cabinet. So glad that the shape shifting aliens with the ill fitting human suits will be shown to the exit.

Plus, the vaccine roll-out has started! And there might be the added benefit of addressing some other diseases besides Covid-19.

Hoping that next year is better for everyone, with small joys and big delights, many meetings, and hugs.

Peace, joy, kindness, health, and love.

Sam

'Love Actually' - Fun and sweet or cringey?

We just watched 'Love Actually' for about the sixth or seventh time.

There are some absolutely brilliant performances, little 'Easter Egg' appearances by noted actors, fun music, and a very English sensibility.

I've seen some people online go after the plot and characters, and yet it made us both teary.

John le Carre, author of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, dies aged 89

A loss to the world of literature and the world.
One of my favorite authors.

Match Dot Com - Satan and 2020 - directed by Ryan Reynolds.

A new Christmas perfume ad to top all Christmas perfume ads. With adorable dogs!

Be sure the sound is up to hear the subtlety of the soundtrack.

Beef suet for pastry? Anyone done it? Because I want to make these pies!

I can get lots of duck legs, wild boar, kidneys of various sorts. The dry aged short ribs are the only problem.