Friday: dresses, crêpes and happy thoughts

I got stopped by a lady on the metro on the way home Thursday night and she checked my ticket and said my photo was missing and then something about a fine but then after writing something where the photo ought to be she handed it back and moved on. This scared me sufficiently into getting one done but the machine wouldn't work for me in my home station and I didn't have the right change this morning so I had a nerve-wracking journey to work where I then found a "photomaton" and got it done, having found a friendly cleaning lady who went to find the ticket desk lady who gave me change for a tenner.

Then tonight after work I went shopping in the sales and bought two dresses (and I'm wearing one now and it's the first time I've felt pretty since being here - such a mistake not packing a single dress! And I feel so much cooler, there was actual drippage down my leg on the metro on the way home - revolting!) When I came home I found more post on the floor which I gathered up into my bag and took with me to the crêperie down the road (having first taken a deliciously cold shower and changed into a floaty dress). They recognised me there, (which was so nice!) and I got shown to a table in the corner of the courtyard where I sat and opened my post: the first was a wonderful epistle from Chelsea and the two smaller envelopes which were parts one and three of Laura Harman's post. I spent ages trying to decide whether to open part three or whether to wait for part two to arrive but in the end I couldn't resist and was delighted to discover the most sensational piece of gossip which nearly caused me to fall off my chair trying not to laugh out loud when I read it! I then wrote a letter whilst eating this:

It is a crêpe with asparagus and cheese and cumin, topped with guacamole and tomato and was downright tasty! It took me FOREVER to choose what to have, but I have resolved to simply work my way through the menu, thus I will get to try everything. This does sadden me a little as I don't like the thought of reaching the end of the menu. But perhaps by then will be so when known I'll be able to commission a crêpe and fill it with my favourite things from the others and it shall be known as a Sophie and it shall win awards...

I drank this, which seems to be pure lemon juice, probably with a little water. It is SO sour but incredibly refreshing!

And then I had Wesley two scoops of that yummy chocolate ice cream:

The crêperie is very beautiful indeed, especially in these summer evenings; there are vines growing up the walls, bright pink flowers, colourful chairs, a tree in the middle of the courtyard, hanging lights and a wonderfully energetic buzz of chatter, as well as very friendly staff!

I appear to have been bitten on the arm - twice actually - and I noticed it at lunch but it's really itchy now.

Finally, the mini highlights of the week were:

- butterflies outside the window at work

- loads of lavender at work, I saw Blandine had pinched some (a wonderful conversation about bees ensued) and so I nipped a bit on my way home and I put it in the pocket of my bag and everytime I moved on the way home I caught a whiff of it and it made me so happy and reminded me of Paty.

- "prestidigitation" - a fabulous word learned during our school experience training and which I thought I'd never meet again until I found it at the start of a chapter in my french novel! (The fact that it is the same in French also brings me untold joy)

- I am on page 151 of my book.

- a girl on the metro coloured my old metro ticket (which I've been using as a bookmark) in in orange and now every time I see it I smile

- I passed all my uni modules adequately (doing astonishingly well in German and Spanish culture, given I have no clue about either) and do not need to re-sit any German, thus making me officially free from ever having to be examined on it again!

- lastly, I have found that making my bed with sheets and blankets, not a duvet, is strangely satisfying.