Finally got enough courage to find Toms old work place and sit down for a beer!
I’m sitting in a comfortable old leather seat that is all but triangular in shape it’s so good to sink into a chair, it’s been a while. The furniture at the studio doesn’t encourage relaxation in any form so it’s good to melt. I am the only patron and the staff are whirling around me cleaning tables and retrieving boxes of orders from the street. Every breath in delivers a scent from my prior hour in yet another perfumery and the exhale sends calming endorphins which makes me sink deeper into the leather. I am unwinding and it’s a relief.
The lightning fixture reminds me of my sister; crystal bottles with the bottoms cut out on mass, she’d like them and would have the skill to reproduce and even improve on the design.
The staff are chatting in English with mostly American accents. It’s actually nice to understand conversations fully and not have to filter them through my inadequate language brain. There’s a friendly bonjour as another person joins the adjacent window seat and orders tea.
It’s nearly 4pm and I’d usually be seeking a route home but I’m feeling calm and enjoying watching the puffer clad people hurry past the glass.
I’m bordering the 2nd, 9th and 10th so just above the cities craziness but not by much. Jam packed busses are starting to carry people away from the commercial district, they are the only means of transport along with the automated line 1 and line 14 trains which are a complete nightmare as they are the only option underground.
I’m hoping the protests went smoothly today it seems like Macron is going ahead with the changes so there’s talk of rally’s continuing til Christmas! That means it will be difficult to travel far from the studio so I’ll need to nut out some plans to really explore walkable areas in the next 11 days til Mat arrives and I’ll start some proper holidays. In saying that I’ve started my second beer it’s got a ginger base but it’s not too floral, reminds me of mats home brew! I’ll have to leave after this one cause two beers makes me very relaxed indeed! I’ve been thinking a lot about being alone away and being of the generation constantly reminded that your a vulnerable target so keep safe I’m finding it hard to break down those rules that are so ingrained. I had an interesting Skype with Tom yesterday who also finds it hard that women see him as threatening just because he’s male.. it’s a tricky time and hopefully in the future danger won’t be experienced with a gender bias.
By 5pm the sun has gone and the streets are starting to glow with Xmas. The bar has a dozen diners and it’s starting to smell like frites. It makes my tummy rumble but I’ve got food at home and it’ll make the walk back far more difficult if I carb out now! I walk home not caring that I have on a un peu pompet smile.