ethical question of the lowest order

SO.

Should I blog an extract from someone's application form? I'd be in a hell of a lot of trouble if I was caught. However, it is staggeringly funny. I am horribly torn. I'm a shameless tart for getting a laugh but should a booksellers equivalent of the hypocratic oath override my urge to tell you how someone answered; 'Describe a time when you have worked as part of a team. What was your part in its success.'

Would it sway your decision if I told you it involved mice?

what's the verdict?

Went to the hairdressers on the spur of the moment and had about a foot taken off my hair!

concert pianist or thug? choices, choices!

This evening I joined in with Bedford Film Society and watched what has to be the most awkwardly translated title of 'The Beat that my Heart Skipped'. I think it may be better translated as 'The Beat that Stopped my Heart' but anyway....

...twas a diverting evening and full of everything that you'd expect from a french film - sex, revenge, adultery and two hours of achingly beautiful Bach piano pieces.

ambrosia!

http://www.knifeandcleaver.com/

we ate like gods.

~o~

clam chowder soup with potato shavings

steamed chicken, bacon and tarragon pudding

creme brulee with redcurrants

~o~

found this gorgeous, sumptuous place in the foodie guide

and it really is worth the drive wherever you live!

tree huggers

http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/

a nifty website that saves some trees and gets rids of stacks of junk mail. spread the word!

lovely extended weekend with sunshine, dinner out with some of my favourite people, lots of lounging around, egg custard tart milkshakes, playing cards over coffee and cake out with mini me, painting the walls, great company staying over and booking tickets to see The Stranglers next month!

The Rota Almighty

Rang work today to check that I was working a late and apparantly - in the words of my colleague - no one would mind if I just turned round and went home. Translated that means the rota says I'm not due back til Monday. I'm sure it's wrong but who am I to stand in the way of a higher authority?

close shave

Monty is just out hospital after being hit by a car. All is well. He had a miraculous escape but has a few stitches and is getting over the sedation which makes him even more affectionate and cute if such a thing were possible. He looks like he's done a few rounds with the worst wound being under his right eye which is split below the lid. Precious critter.

Other breaking news of staggering importance:

I am drinking Floc de Gascogne an aperitif brought back from holiday.
I did my first oil painting today it was lousy but i had fun.
I've joined the amazon dvd rental scheme and my first film, 'Delicatessen' is on its way. Anyone is free to make recommendations if you have half an idea of my taste.
Only 2 precious days before I have to go back to work. I love my job but at this current stage in my life I'm struggling to give a credible performance of someone who gives a damn.

ululations

Oops, should have credited Mr Auster with the photos I nicked. Here you goes: http://newyorktrilogy.livejournal.com/

So anyway, thinking I was going to go to a gallery or summat today with fire-eating P, I didn't take my camera. In the end we went to Notting Hill Carnival. So I hijacked his camera and will supply you with pictures soon.

However the pictures can't show you the atmosphere, the vibration of bass in your chest, the smell of Jerk chicken, the sheer volume of people crowding the streets and the pain I still have in my right leg, akin to a trapped nerve, from having been pounding the pavement for 5 hours.

It's an experience everyone should have tucked away for posterity. I had a fab afternoon thank you Peter.

Also some sweetheart bought me presents today. Uber expensive paper, canvases and oil paints for me to play with...and a boxed set of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Whoever they are should know better. But THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!! x x x

Part VII. People.

(NB: it's best to read the entries for France in order if you can be bothered.)






(i) Armagnac barrels. Phil, mini-me and mini-him.
(ii) Pimms o'clock.
(iii) Nirvana Baby
(iv) Mini-him almost in the pool
(v) Phil at Pyla
(vi) Creperie in the Place Royale
(vii) Kids at Notre-Dame des Cyclistes.

Part VI. Centre Jean Rostand.

Thrilled, as only booksellers can be, by the prospect of finding something to do with the author of Cyrano de Bergerac, we headed for the Centre Jean Rostand to discover it was his son. Who kept frogs. Or something. Anyway, the teenagers brightened noticeably at this point so we went and learnt all about the conservation of frogs, turtles and more types of fern than you can shake a toad at. We saw irridescent blue beetles, a praying mantis, a snake and a basking turtles.

Part V. Notre Dame des Cyclistes.

The idea for this church was created by a priest to serve as a place on the Tour de France for cyclists. Now it has become more of a museum jammed full of maillots/jerseys of famous and topical sportsmen.

We saw Lance Armstrong's jersey, bicycles from the turn of the century and even the stained glass windows were pictures of the Tour de France. As something of a token gesture they had copies of the Hail Mary in many different languages around the church representing the countries of the race participants.

Photography was strictly prohibited so these snaps are literally shot from the hip.

Part IV. Armagnac.

Maps that bore no relationship to reality became a bit of a theme on this holiday and the ecomusee was no exception. Essentially we wandered round the vineyards and etangs enjoying ourselves but having no idea where we were. Thankfully the degustation came at the end of the walk because after a glass or two of floc (aperitif - yes i know i've spelt that two different ways in my blog) and armagnac (digestif) the place looked even more like a maze than before.

I've never done this kind of thing before and on most days of the holiday I felt like I was wandering through a classy travel guide or photographic art book.

part III. nicked photos.

Some great pics taken by Phil from our trip that I have shamelessly stolen from his livejournal scrapbook.

Part II. Arcachon.

This is a view from the Dune de Pyla (spelling varies dependent on your map!) which is the largest dune in Europe. It is enormous! Phil, who joined us on our trip, said that it dwarfed his 4x4 sand dune exploits in Morocco! I visited Pyla 18 years ago with Karine and her family and it was a lot of fun going back with my own family.

The pictures of the Basin d'Arcachon remind me of pictures from 'The Earth from the Air' book that you look at and imagine you'll never get to see yourself. I felt very lucky on this trip away.

Perfection part I

Back from a week in the stunning La Bastide d'Armagnac A region in south west France in the departement of Landes.

Famous for it's pate de foie gras, Armagnac eau de vie, Floc aperatif, pine forests, atlantic coast, wine regions and bastide towns.

Our accommodation was stunning. Many hours were spent soaking up rays by the pool in the back garden.

We spent mornings swimming and sleeping off the alcohol from the day before.

We took a day trip out to the basin d'Arcachon that I visited 18 years ago. At Pyla, they have Europe's largest sand dune. which is a killer to get up but a lot of fun going back down. The view over to Cap Feret, the bay and sandbanks is breath taking.

quote of the day

"Do you know if Audrey Hepburn has done any other books apart from 'The Time Traveller's Wife'?"

Laugh if you will...

Laugh if you will but I have discovered the delights of Edith Piaf. Two cd's at 97p each from Tesco have given me 30+ of her tracks without resorting to the obvious 'Je ne regrette rien'.

'La vie en Rose' has a most wonderful tune and Edith's voice is stunning whether or not you understand the French.

She has a look that is indisputably French and of the 30's & 40's that I love. Closing my eyes I can imagine the music is coming out of a bakelite wireless in an inter-war Parisien kitchen...

48 hours and I'll be back in her pays de naissance avec mes reves d'habiter encore au pays qui me manque depuis des annees.

3 work days and counting.

1405308184. page 183.

things i wish i could say (join in!)

out of print means you'll only get it by tomorrow if i sit up all night copying it out by hand and my customer services don't stretch that far.

i think the word you are looking for is thank you.

so go to the competition, we'll probably buy them for christmas anyway.

you really are very stupid aren't you.

come back when you know what the hell you want.

ooh let me think, it's blue you say, well naturally our products are colour coded, primary colours upstairs.

don't look at me like i just work behind a till, you're the one buying dan brown.