Yesterday I witnessed a disaster. I need you to prepare yourself for what you’re about to see, because it’s not pretty.
I was on the way to pick up some groceries taking a stroll along a local street, when I encountered this. A horrifying scene had clearly taken place. Somebody must have pulled up, ready to drop off various delicacies at a patisserie. Eclairs, tarts, cakes, pastries and maybe mille-feuille. It’s only a little jump up to the curb, but it’s a cobbly street laden with bumps and holes and if you’re not careful accidents can occur. Still, he probably thought this was just a simple drop off. And yet, when opening up the back of the van, chaos ensued. Tumbling out came a box filled with French delicacies, the seal of the box breaking and spewing out all types of creams and toppings and crumbs. And then, with indignity, picking up each sweet treat and in to the black bin bag. All that deliciousness splayed across the floor. I was distraught, for the man himself and for such a waste, a waste of good dessert now covered in Parisian dirt. On reflection, maybe I shouldn’t have taken a photo of the poor man and his indiscretion. As I was taking it I was sure he noticed and shot me a glare so I put my phone away and scuttled off. A picture was probably the least of his worries, he’s got bigger fish to fry………
NEW FEATURE KLAXON it’s time for…
French Phrase of the Day - 26th February 2025:
avoir d’autres chats à fouetter - have other cats to whip (lit.)
Sometimes you might get caught up in the little details of life, knowing that really you’ve got other things, bigger things that are more important that you should really be giving your undivided attention. It happens to the best of us. For you and I, we might say ‘I’ve got bigger fish to fry’. Why focus on your sardines when you’ve got a whole turbot right there that needs a good cooking. Well in French, forget about the fish, you’ve got other cats to whip. What a horrible little idiom, leave those cats alone.
Yesterday afternoon after a day of writing, learning French and embarking on my TEFL journey (more on that in the future), we went out to do some errands. I’d received a ‘sorry we missed you’ type note for a letter that required signature, so we went down to the address listed, about a ten minute walk away. It was a collection office of sorts but didn’t feel like it. There was a reception desk with a smiley man and 2 other colleagues chatting away, I was welcomed, showed my ID, he went off to get my letter, crosschecked, crosschecked again and got me to sign. I took my letter and went off. I know I’ve done a whole thing about La Poste already but I can’t get over the postal system here. I am so much happier doing anything related to mail than I was in the UK, with Royal Mail. I loved all my posties and I think they are undervalued and underpaid but going to a Royal Mail office was never a pleasant experience, if anything it was a chore that had to be endured. Enduring the sighing, the huffing, the purposefully making it difficult. It could be that that is to come and La Poste are just storing up their bile, but it doesn’t feel like it. So after that smiley experience we stopped at a less smiley art supply shop for Inês to get a notebook.
As I’ve previously mentioned I used to love the stationary aisles at French supermarkets as a child and for that reason, I know that a rubber eraser is a gomme and a fountain pain is a stylo plume - words that I would not know if you asked me but are in there, somewhere, waiting to be brought back in to my brain’s dictionary.
We picked up some rotisserie chicken with potatoes again and I grated some carrots at home for a nice easy Monday meal. It felt like a days work for me yesterday (0€ earned) so I wanted to just get home and rest, which is what we did.
It’s been pouring all morning here but is just starting to ease up so after some French I will try and buy something more exciting at the store to cook ce soir. Have a lovely Tuesday.
à demain !
I think the take away from that sad story is ‘ ne mettez pas tous vos gâteaux dans le même panier’ (;