France (after some other stuff)

So, sat at home in OS for a wee while. Month plus or so. Had to rejog travel plans after Zoom went belly up. Done. Flew into London with brother and mother, Lowestoft for a cousin's wedding where sister met up with us.

Afterwards, through various modes of transport, we all headed up to Edinburgh where sister lives to spend some quality time wedged into her two room pad. Quality. Nothing like 4 people squished together walking around all day and getting really tired an grumpy.

Eventually mother and brother departed, and sister and brother (me) hung about for a few more, relaxed days. Then down to London by bus, stayed there for a few and after an arduous journey, during which I watched more trains (overground and tube) pass than I thought possible I eventually managed to wedge myself aboard one and get to where I needed to be. Too late for my planned train to Dover of course, so I took the bus.

The bus takes a ferry from Dover to Calais, the same route some fella flew across the channel with a rocket pack on his back. I did not see this and it saddens me. After getting into to Paris (nasty traffic jam just north of the city) and metroing to Austerlitz I was unable to call my friend before getting on a train to Orleans.

Originally I was meant to arrive at 7. NO! Just before 10 by the time I got there, and all I could do was apologize that I didn't get in touch. WHy? France does not believe in coins (at least when it comes to their phones). And all credit cards here use the little chips meaning my credit card was useless in phones. By the time I found and bought a phone card (7.60 euros for 50...seconds? of talk time - maybe a bit more but not much) I was on the train.

Anyway, I made it and have arrived...in Orleans. An hour's train ride from Paris I will head into the city tomorrow for some exploration and return here for Saturday and Sunday. On Monday I catch my train to Rodez. Destiny awaits!

As for the French. I am cautiously pleased an optimistic. I still have a very hard time understanding what people are saying to me, but I'm talking with a reasonable fluidity and confidence. Actually much more than I might have expected. I'm pleased I came down to hang out with Raph and chat with her. It's nice being able to be corrected by someone you know, rather than not be corrected by a stranger. But there's something else.

Really trying to speak french all day is melting my brain. There's something in the back of my mind that says this will all be over soon. Treating it almost like a joke. Not a joke exactly but something akin to this. Simply put there is a dissonance and confusion as my brain attempts to develop new neural pathways and junk. I don't really know, but it's kind of exciting and aside from the exhaustion I am quite enjoying it.

Well, kind of. I'm also freaked out for speaking with people I don't know and who might not have the english or hte patience raph does. We shall see. As always we shall see.