Going French

This is the surprise image today – the Cathédral St Galtien at Tours, taken in 2014 when we holidayed there. Once more I‘m in France.

Yesterday took on a somewhat French theme when I heard Desert Island Discs (Radio 4 11.15am to be repeated on Friday at 9am). The guest was the fashion designer & sculptress, Nicole Fahri, who grew up in France. The records she took included Jacques Brel’s “Ne me quitte pas” & a song sung by Serge Reggiani. I didn’t catch the title of the latter song but Serge Reggiani’s gravelly expressive voice is unmistakable. I love his dramatic “Le Loup” (“The Wolf”), a song about the Nazis (the wolves) at the gates of Paris during the Second World War.

Come the evening we decided to have a chat over a drink with music in the background. Inevitably we went French with a collection of French chansons, including Reggiani among other artists.

The Fox is already dreaming of another holiday in France, visiting Paris again maybe. However, that won’t be until next year. This year we still have our visit to the French Alps to look forward to, & we certainly won’t be going to Paris on that trip.

It’s good to have that to look forward to, on this very wet grey morning. I’m beginning to think summer has gone for good this year! I dream of warm sunny days sat outside in our beautiful garden, playing dominoes with the Fox, a cool drink at hand, but it doesn’t seem to be happening very immediately.