Squeaky!

Do you ever wish you'd gotten into the shower just a few minutes earlier? Yeah, me too! I was still slobbing around the other day around 11 a.m. when the doorbell rang, and who should be there but Stan, my Nigerian friend. He retired a couple of years ago and spends most of his time back home in Nigeria, but comes to France for a couple of months every year to be with his wife and his three adult kids who are all now parents in their own right. It obviously works for them, and when his (French) wife retires in a couple of years I guess she will spend much of her time over there, although I'm guessing she'll still want to spend most of her time here in France where her grandkids are. Like I say, it works for them. But it was lovely to see Stan again. I was sitting there (unwashed and pretty pungent I would suspect) in t-shirt and sweats and he was sitting there in a big puffy coat and scarf - I guess the temperature difference is that great right. But André was there and we all got to sit around chatting for about an hour and it was really lovely. I miss having Stan's coffee shop/bar to stop off at, and despite what was apparently promised, nothing has been set up to replace it. Maybe that's an opportunity for some enterprising young person once this damn pandemic is over!

I also got a call from my long-term friend the other day, which I couldn't answer because I was at the Préfecture for my permit, but when I called back, there she was sitting with her hair in curlers saying she didn't mind because it was only me! Now that's friendship! She had her naturalisation interview a year ago and still has heard nothing so I guess I've got plenty of time ahead of me. The other day I spent a good hour going through the "100 most likely questions to be asked at your interview" and while it was ok it was also incredibly wearing. I like history and geography but am not so interested in culture and politics, so that will be a challenge. I like reading about different political candidates' leanings but how the whole system works - nah not so much. I remember having to read "The Corridors of Power" about the UK political system many years ago and absolutely hating it. I don't know, maybe it gets more interesting with time! I certainly hope so!

We got quite a dumping of snow the other day, but 24 hours later the sun was out and most of it was starting to melt so "yay me", no more shovelling that stuff! I noticed that when I took stuff up to the partly-burned-out compost bin the other day primroses were valiantly trying to poke their noses up through the snow. A sure sign of spring on its way! Spring is my favourite season so I'll take that as a positive even if realistically I know we've got a good six to eight weeks more of winter to deal with!

When I woke up the other day I realized I was stiff all over, and tired of hobbling down the stairs like a 90 year old woman - well the first few stairs at least. So I spent 15 minutes doing a short yoga work-out immediately after getting out of bed and guess what, it worked. Fifteen minutes and I feel great again! André has obviously been feeling bored lately so every time he comes downstairs he yanks the door on the landing back and forth so I get to listen to it squeaking. So the other day I thought I'd get the bugger and brought the DW40 out and sprayed those hinges. The poor kid's lost now! That'll teach him to mess with me. In the meantime, if I find something that works on those knees I'll be sure to let you know!