Gillian Polack's Blog, page 238
August 5, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-08-05T16:40:00
I am full of news. And it's been too long since I've done a list, so I've decided not to report listlessly. The first two items are the sort of things that need to be reported all over the place, so if you are enthusiastic, please feel free to use my words, ideas, braincells. The rest, well, possibly not of general interest. Just possibly. Except for numbers 11 and 12, which I can't encourage you to report everywhere because it would be seriously self-serving to do so. Also, if I earn enough money then I might have to put in a proposal for ICFA and visit my US publisher.
1. Bob Kuhn, who is a wonderful voice actor and a generous soul, has offered to do readings of Australian authors at Renovation in a few days time. Despite me being in transit in exotic places when he made the offer, he has managed to fit me into his Sunday reading. I'm so excited! if any of you get there, I would love a report back. (For anyone at the June BSFA meeting, it's the same segment I read then, only he reads *much* better than I do.) It's a really interesting range of Australian writers and the sessions should be awesome.
2. I keep forgetting to remind people (while we're on the subject of conventions) that Conflux banquet tickets are open to anyone. You do not have to be attending Conflux to go to the banquet. You do, however, have to book in advance. The sooner the better, from my point of view (and probably the chef's). Also, there's *heaps* of parking at the Hellenic Club and the bus interchange is nearby. (Also, the draft Conflux program is up and worth a squiz.) If you need links, hoy me in the comments and I will cease to be lazy and find them for you.
3. My Estivales wineglass made it safely from France.
4. I have seen the doctor and she was very impressed with my leg. Not too impressed with my jetlag (which refused to listen to me) and I have tablets. I'm also up to another round of bloodtests, it seems.
5. When I make bad jokes to random Australians, they make bad jokes back. Unlike the French, who sometimes eyed me nervously and backed away gently.
6. I read 2 1/2 books while waiting for the doctor. I now know exactly why there was a deficit in information about governance at Saint-Guilhem. I have no idea if there was a permanent armed force there, but I know who held the key to the various towers. The tourist information people at Saint-Guilhem had a reproduction of the 1907 publication that tells me this. All I would have done if I had spent that day in the archives was reinvent the wheel. Also (even better news) my theory about the fortifications turned out to be 100% correct. When on earth did I learn to interpret ruined walls?
7. Tonight I will have paid back all monies owing. I intend to celebrate this by seeing either Captain America or the last Harry Potter, over the weekend. I could have seen them dubbed into French, of course, in Montpellier, but I thought I would wait until I could actually hear the dulcet tones of the original actors. Anyone who is interested in joining me is entirely welcome (and gets to choose the session - if it's not at Woden, they also get to provide transport).
8. People keep posting me review books. The post office keep making jokes about it. And I forgot to send the post office their postcard. I got an aggrieved look for this, and rightfully so.
9. My freezer and cupboards are now fully stocked. My brain, alas, is not.
10. Open question thread on the other post is until Sunday. If no-one actually wants to ask questions then I might not have another one for ages and ages, since obviously they're not needed any more.
11. I'm teaching punctuation and etc in Sydney at the Writers' Centre very, very soon.
12. I'm teaching a seriously cool new course on Tuesday evenings at the ANU, starting Tuesday week. It's all about magic and myth in Europe over a rather hefty chunk of its history. All the fun stuff. None of the boring stuff. Lots and lots of stories and their contexts. Some cool new photos from my recent trip, if I need them to illustrate things. If there aren't enough enrolments by this Tuesday, however, it will be cancelled (standard ANU policy - I just thought I'd mention it this time, since I haven't given anyone much warning ie you might want to book in a great hurry.)
13. French streets and other places that harbour numbers still often skip the number 13. This is why, for you, I have that number here today.
14. And that's it!
1. Bob Kuhn, who is a wonderful voice actor and a generous soul, has offered to do readings of Australian authors at Renovation in a few days time. Despite me being in transit in exotic places when he made the offer, he has managed to fit me into his Sunday reading. I'm so excited! if any of you get there, I would love a report back. (For anyone at the June BSFA meeting, it's the same segment I read then, only he reads *much* better than I do.) It's a really interesting range of Australian writers and the sessions should be awesome.
2. I keep forgetting to remind people (while we're on the subject of conventions) that Conflux banquet tickets are open to anyone. You do not have to be attending Conflux to go to the banquet. You do, however, have to book in advance. The sooner the better, from my point of view (and probably the chef's). Also, there's *heaps* of parking at the Hellenic Club and the bus interchange is nearby. (Also, the draft Conflux program is up and worth a squiz.) If you need links, hoy me in the comments and I will cease to be lazy and find them for you.
3. My Estivales wineglass made it safely from France.
4. I have seen the doctor and she was very impressed with my leg. Not too impressed with my jetlag (which refused to listen to me) and I have tablets. I'm also up to another round of bloodtests, it seems.
5. When I make bad jokes to random Australians, they make bad jokes back. Unlike the French, who sometimes eyed me nervously and backed away gently.
6. I read 2 1/2 books while waiting for the doctor. I now know exactly why there was a deficit in information about governance at Saint-Guilhem. I have no idea if there was a permanent armed force there, but I know who held the key to the various towers. The tourist information people at Saint-Guilhem had a reproduction of the 1907 publication that tells me this. All I would have done if I had spent that day in the archives was reinvent the wheel. Also (even better news) my theory about the fortifications turned out to be 100% correct. When on earth did I learn to interpret ruined walls?
7. Tonight I will have paid back all monies owing. I intend to celebrate this by seeing either Captain America or the last Harry Potter, over the weekend. I could have seen them dubbed into French, of course, in Montpellier, but I thought I would wait until I could actually hear the dulcet tones of the original actors. Anyone who is interested in joining me is entirely welcome (and gets to choose the session - if it's not at Woden, they also get to provide transport).
8. People keep posting me review books. The post office keep making jokes about it. And I forgot to send the post office their postcard. I got an aggrieved look for this, and rightfully so.
9. My freezer and cupboards are now fully stocked. My brain, alas, is not.
10. Open question thread on the other post is until Sunday. If no-one actually wants to ask questions then I might not have another one for ages and ages, since obviously they're not needed any more.
11. I'm teaching punctuation and etc in Sydney at the Writers' Centre very, very soon.
12. I'm teaching a seriously cool new course on Tuesday evenings at the ANU, starting Tuesday week. It's all about magic and myth in Europe over a rather hefty chunk of its history. All the fun stuff. None of the boring stuff. Lots and lots of stories and their contexts. Some cool new photos from my recent trip, if I need them to illustrate things. If there aren't enough enrolments by this Tuesday, however, it will be cancelled (standard ANU policy - I just thought I'd mention it this time, since I haven't given anyone much warning ie you might want to book in a great hurry.)
13. French streets and other places that harbour numbers still often skip the number 13. This is why, for you, I have that number here today.
14. And that's it!
August 4, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-08-04T14:39:00
I'm going to do two very daring things today (because I am, of course, a very daring person - part of this daring is that it's 20.4 degrees outside today which means that my winter day is about as cold during the day as most of my English summer and so windows are open and I am feeling not too worried about the jetlag).
Daring Thing number one is an introduction for all those (also very daring) people who have recently friended me, both here and on FB (since this copies to FB) and Daring Thing number two is for those who worried in June that question threads would be a long way in their future.
Actually, I hate introducing myself. I used to say that I wore different hats at different times of day and that some of those hats were writer, historian (mostly Medieval and cultural), foodie and possibly critic. Now I think that I'm simply myself and that Gillian is rather a complex person. I don't feel at all complex from my perspective, though. In fact, I feel like a simple soul who loves tea, coffee, chocolate and books (not in that order, however).
I guess I'm suggesting that if anyone has a better way of introducing me, the comments for this post are at your disposal. I ought to say (very clearly) that evil introductions open themselves up to consequences.
Since I am a great believer in fairness, this is also a question thread. For those of you who have not had the rather mixed blessing of encountering a question thread before, every now and again I open a thread up and answer any questions posed.
This all started because a bunch of writers had quick questions (that didn't need research) for their fiction. When I turned up to SF conventions, I would spend a lot of time answering them and it was cutting into my social life. Since I opened up question threads, some writers still use the threads for simple research (and if I don't know the answer I will try to refer you to somewhere that might, but I won't do your research for you, because more than a few minutes work at my end and it turns into paid work and income is important) but others use it to stir me or be silly. All this is fine. Personal questions are fine, too. If a question cuts too close to the bone, you might get a silly answer or none at all, however. Questions that have already been asked and that I'd rather not see again include my shoesize and how long a piece of string is.
This will be the only question post on the blog until after Conflux, since I have a cookbook coming out and am on the Convention committee and am writing and studying and working and reviewing and generally a bit surprised at how busy I am. I only came back to twelve books to read immediately, however, so this week things are reasonably under control. This means you have until Sunday night (in any Earth timezone) to pose your questions.
Daring Thing number one is an introduction for all those (also very daring) people who have recently friended me, both here and on FB (since this copies to FB) and Daring Thing number two is for those who worried in June that question threads would be a long way in their future.
Actually, I hate introducing myself. I used to say that I wore different hats at different times of day and that some of those hats were writer, historian (mostly Medieval and cultural), foodie and possibly critic. Now I think that I'm simply myself and that Gillian is rather a complex person. I don't feel at all complex from my perspective, though. In fact, I feel like a simple soul who loves tea, coffee, chocolate and books (not in that order, however).
I guess I'm suggesting that if anyone has a better way of introducing me, the comments for this post are at your disposal. I ought to say (very clearly) that evil introductions open themselves up to consequences.
Since I am a great believer in fairness, this is also a question thread. For those of you who have not had the rather mixed blessing of encountering a question thread before, every now and again I open a thread up and answer any questions posed.
This all started because a bunch of writers had quick questions (that didn't need research) for their fiction. When I turned up to SF conventions, I would spend a lot of time answering them and it was cutting into my social life. Since I opened up question threads, some writers still use the threads for simple research (and if I don't know the answer I will try to refer you to somewhere that might, but I won't do your research for you, because more than a few minutes work at my end and it turns into paid work and income is important) but others use it to stir me or be silly. All this is fine. Personal questions are fine, too. If a question cuts too close to the bone, you might get a silly answer or none at all, however. Questions that have already been asked and that I'd rather not see again include my shoesize and how long a piece of string is.
This will be the only question post on the blog until after Conflux, since I have a cookbook coming out and am on the Convention committee and am writing and studying and working and reviewing and generally a bit surprised at how busy I am. I only came back to twelve books to read immediately, however, so this week things are reasonably under control. This means you have until Sunday night (in any Earth timezone) to pose your questions.
August 3, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-08-03T12:36:00
More useful information!!!! Book your Conflux banquet ticket, now. I can answer questions about dress and etc. Karen did much wrangling while I was away to make it all happen (she rocks). $50 is a very good price, too.
August 2, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-08-03T09:06:00
This is a quick welcome for all the kind people who friended me while I was away. If you feel a mad impulsion to introduce yourselves, I might feel an equally mad impulsion to return the favour. If you don't feel a mad impulsion, then, no worries. (First time I've used 'No worries' since June!)
And now I must run. My Wednesday class has apparently missed me and is waiting for me at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, where I am to lead an excursion. I'm jetlagged and overtired, but less than I've ever been before after such a trip. This is good, otherwise I would have caught the wrong bus today and wondered where everyone is.
And now I must run. My Wednesday class has apparently missed me and is waiting for me at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, where I am to lead an excursion. I'm jetlagged and overtired, but less than I've ever been before after such a trip. This is good, otherwise I would have caught the wrong bus today and wondered where everyone is.
gillpolack @ 2011-08-03T03:17:00
I didn't intend to be up all night, but I can't sleep. If I can't sleep, I might as well get a few easy things out of the way and make space for sleep to come, tomorrow night.
The two things in which you may (or may not) have an interest are my latest BiblioBuffet article, on Latin poetry (short but sweet) and a report I did for the Specusphere.
I really wish I *could* sleep. I'm exceptionally tired. I had trouble sleeping on the plane, too. When my body finally unwinds, I suspect I shall sleep for two days.
The two things in which you may (or may not) have an interest are my latest BiblioBuffet article, on Latin poetry (short but sweet) and a report I did for the Specusphere.
I really wish I *could* sleep. I'm exceptionally tired. I had trouble sleeping on the plane, too. When my body finally unwinds, I suspect I shall sleep for two days.
gillpolack @ 2011-08-02T23:41:00
This is a quick note to let you know that, not only am I safe back, but friends picked me up from the airport, and Matthew was lurking by my front door when I got in, with groceries. I don't have to shop until I am over jetlag! (I give myself three days for this recovery... during which time I shall still work, of course)
I'm about to have a hot bath (while my linen is airing) and am all ready for tomorrow's teaching. I apparently look well, despite having been on the move since 6 am Sunday. I just checked my leg (since it was time to take the final dressing off and I am finished with the various medicines) and it looks amazingly good. While twenty-off hours of plane flight is not normally good, I rather suspect it helped my leg (it got to rest).
I meant to work on the planes back, but instead I watched lots of TV. About 18 hours worth, in toto.
And so I'm home. I look at my desk and see a note "What does the shape of the universe mean for female characters?" This is quite obviously a reminder to get back to work tomorrow. I have a few days to sort out that article then a few more days to format it in MLA-approved style. This means, of course, that from tomorrow afternoon, I'm in the land of lists again.
I've decided to forgo jetlag this time round. I've told my body so, very strictly.
I'm about to have a hot bath (while my linen is airing) and am all ready for tomorrow's teaching. I apparently look well, despite having been on the move since 6 am Sunday. I just checked my leg (since it was time to take the final dressing off and I am finished with the various medicines) and it looks amazingly good. While twenty-off hours of plane flight is not normally good, I rather suspect it helped my leg (it got to rest).
I meant to work on the planes back, but instead I watched lots of TV. About 18 hours worth, in toto.
And so I'm home. I look at my desk and see a note "What does the shape of the universe mean for female characters?" This is quite obviously a reminder to get back to work tomorrow. I have a few days to sort out that article then a few more days to format it in MLA-approved style. This means, of course, that from tomorrow afternoon, I'm in the land of lists again.
I've decided to forgo jetlag this time round. I've told my body so, very strictly.
July 30, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-07-31T02:41:00
Last update before I leave for home! It will take me a few days to get home, because of seeing friends en route and because of dateline changes, but I actually leave at an unholy hour tomorrow morning. It's so unholy an hour that the wonder airport bus (that leaves a block from where I'm staying) goes 45 minutes too late. I asked if I really did need a 2 hour check-in, at a regional airport, on a Sunday morning, and everyone says "Sorry, but you do." So I do.
It's just as well I'm going home. Each day I start off a bit more tired and hurting. Today I got going by about 11.30 (which means that by the time I get going tomorrow, I'll be in London), which I had allowed for and all was fine.
Today was the day I had allowed for final stuff-ups all round. There were several. The one that could not be remedied was that no Thierry was waiting for me at Virgin (they had forgotten to put the order through as urgent), so I spent the money on a book (the original of the Pevel I reviewed in translation - I need to know how much of the problems I had with it were due to the translator - the cash register lady had a great fascination with this and we talked about it). I so hope that book will fit into my luggage, because it's too late to post.
Can I strongly, strongly recommend that anyone passing through Montpellier pay a visit to Album. It's a BD/comics shop and every single one of the people there is wonderful and generous and knowledgable. And yes, two more parcels are on the way to Australia for me. These people spent ages sorting out what I actually wanted/needed, finding the cheapest way of sending it and making it all happen. They are just beyond awesome.
I checked out the last 'Medieval buildings' in Montpellier today, and they aren't. Others are, but not marked as such on the tourist map. What I got out of today was a functioning understanding of the Medieval city and how it operated plus a rather more interesting understanding of how the later kings of France have tried to remake it to meet their needs.
I checked out my secondhand booksellers and had a couple of interesting conversations as a result. There really is nothing I haven't seen that the locals know about. They didn't even know about half the stuff I *have* seen. We name-dropped at each other and talked about studies of different places: if I had chosen the Camargue, or Montpeyroux, there would have been a ton of secondary material. The rare book people in Montpellier think I really have covered everything. The rare book people think this and the monuments specialist thinks this and I have done my usual bibliographical checks. Not a bad place to be, as long as I have enough material to write a good novel.
In the middle of things going wrong, I went for a coffee. Sitting at a table alone seemed a bit desolate, so I went inside to the counter. The locals were there (it turned out to be a local coffee shop, not a tourist one) and we talked for ages. The bloke next to me was taking time off while he could because he was getting up at 5 am tomorrow to paint the house of the coffee shop owner, who was the wife of his cousin. He used to travel a lot and so we swapped currency stories. The lady on my right was getting disconsolate (young children, can't travel) so she now has the wherewithal to buy a cup of coffee should she ever be in Turkey. They were all sympathetic that I had to return to negative degrees when today was such a perfect summery day. The Monoprix checkout lady wasn't at all sympathetic (I was dehydrated after a day of wandering and not having a water bottle - I really didn't need one until the last three days - so I stopped off to stock up on drinks) - she wants to come to Australia, regardless of the weather. She said I could swap and take her checkout, instantly.
Montpellier during summer is fabulous. One day I'd like to come back here, staying at the same place, but with friends, stay two whole weeks and see the region and explore the Estivales and streets properly and have my friends carry all my books back. There were a lot of books I wanted that I didn't buy! I did well on postage, though - it averaged at $12 a kilo, which isn't bad from Europe to Australia. Six parcels. Or was it seven? I will have to wait and see! I have another 6-7 kilos of books with me, of course. These were the ones I couldn't possibly survive without. In fact, my luggage is mostly books, dirty clothes and presents.
I ought to go downstairs and arrange that taxi, and then I can change and pack and the lounge around watching French TV for one more night. Also eat the sad ends of food and drink much, much water and tea.
See you on the other side of the world!!
PS I am sunburnt. I seldom sunburn, but winter to summer and indoors to outdoors has done it. Tomorrow I shall reverse everything and start working on looking pale and interesting again.
It's just as well I'm going home. Each day I start off a bit more tired and hurting. Today I got going by about 11.30 (which means that by the time I get going tomorrow, I'll be in London), which I had allowed for and all was fine.
Today was the day I had allowed for final stuff-ups all round. There were several. The one that could not be remedied was that no Thierry was waiting for me at Virgin (they had forgotten to put the order through as urgent), so I spent the money on a book (the original of the Pevel I reviewed in translation - I need to know how much of the problems I had with it were due to the translator - the cash register lady had a great fascination with this and we talked about it). I so hope that book will fit into my luggage, because it's too late to post.
Can I strongly, strongly recommend that anyone passing through Montpellier pay a visit to Album. It's a BD/comics shop and every single one of the people there is wonderful and generous and knowledgable. And yes, two more parcels are on the way to Australia for me. These people spent ages sorting out what I actually wanted/needed, finding the cheapest way of sending it and making it all happen. They are just beyond awesome.
I checked out the last 'Medieval buildings' in Montpellier today, and they aren't. Others are, but not marked as such on the tourist map. What I got out of today was a functioning understanding of the Medieval city and how it operated plus a rather more interesting understanding of how the later kings of France have tried to remake it to meet their needs.
I checked out my secondhand booksellers and had a couple of interesting conversations as a result. There really is nothing I haven't seen that the locals know about. They didn't even know about half the stuff I *have* seen. We name-dropped at each other and talked about studies of different places: if I had chosen the Camargue, or Montpeyroux, there would have been a ton of secondary material. The rare book people in Montpellier think I really have covered everything. The rare book people think this and the monuments specialist thinks this and I have done my usual bibliographical checks. Not a bad place to be, as long as I have enough material to write a good novel.
In the middle of things going wrong, I went for a coffee. Sitting at a table alone seemed a bit desolate, so I went inside to the counter. The locals were there (it turned out to be a local coffee shop, not a tourist one) and we talked for ages. The bloke next to me was taking time off while he could because he was getting up at 5 am tomorrow to paint the house of the coffee shop owner, who was the wife of his cousin. He used to travel a lot and so we swapped currency stories. The lady on my right was getting disconsolate (young children, can't travel) so she now has the wherewithal to buy a cup of coffee should she ever be in Turkey. They were all sympathetic that I had to return to negative degrees when today was such a perfect summery day. The Monoprix checkout lady wasn't at all sympathetic (I was dehydrated after a day of wandering and not having a water bottle - I really didn't need one until the last three days - so I stopped off to stock up on drinks) - she wants to come to Australia, regardless of the weather. She said I could swap and take her checkout, instantly.
Montpellier during summer is fabulous. One day I'd like to come back here, staying at the same place, but with friends, stay two whole weeks and see the region and explore the Estivales and streets properly and have my friends carry all my books back. There were a lot of books I wanted that I didn't buy! I did well on postage, though - it averaged at $12 a kilo, which isn't bad from Europe to Australia. Six parcels. Or was it seven? I will have to wait and see! I have another 6-7 kilos of books with me, of course. These were the ones I couldn't possibly survive without. In fact, my luggage is mostly books, dirty clothes and presents.
I ought to go downstairs and arrange that taxi, and then I can change and pack and the lounge around watching French TV for one more night. Also eat the sad ends of food and drink much, much water and tea.
See you on the other side of the world!!
PS I am sunburnt. I seldom sunburn, but winter to summer and indoors to outdoors has done it. Tomorrow I shall reverse everything and start working on looking pale and interesting again.
July 29, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-07-30T05:27:00
This update is specifically for the friends who enabled it. In other words, it is brought to you by that group of friends who gave me money for my birthday and specifically said it was for enjoyment and making life easier overseas. It is also brought to you by my estivating.
"Estivales" is the Montpellier summer festival. and every Friday it has markets. Actually, it has markets every day (and often twice) but the Friday markets are, it seems, a bit different. Tables are set out for those who must sit. People walk around eating (enormous amounts! I noted that I ate nothing compared with everyone else - you could buy a tapas plate containing 10 different portions). There are antique stalls and bookstalls along with the regional stuff. The food stalls are part gourmet, part regional and part pure junk food.
And there are wine tastings. For 4 euros (provided by my very thoughtful friends) I bought a glass with 3 tickets. Three tastes of regional wines. As you possibly know (stop laughing, those of you who have seen me choose water above alcohol) I am not a big drinker. I do come from a family who loves wine, however, and I do like to taste, so I bought a glass.
French 'tastings' at the Montpellier Estivales are not at all like tastings at the Canberra wine show. It's more like the way everyone ate the food tonight. Full glasses, I got. Very full glasses. Three of them.
I bought some frites to help cushion them then, when I realised that I needed more, I bought some tourtons.
Tourtons would go down nicely in Australia, I think. Little, square deep fried pastries filled with yummy purees. I asked for the four most traditional and got potato, potato and cheese, potato and a much stronger and smellier blue veined cheese ("Do you like cheese?" she asked me dubiously. "I love it," I said. "Oh good then."), and spinach. All very yummy.
Not quite enough to offset a glass of white (more semillon than chardonnay, but not quite either - and no leaflet to tell me), a table muscat ("C'est tres moelleux," the owner rhapsodied) and a dessert muscat. The former was from Chateau de Stony, in Frontignan, and was called "Fleur de Muscat" and the latter was from Lunel (the closest I could get - no busses run to Lunel in summer and I regret to say I didn't think of the train until it was too late - Lunel was actually where I *wanted* to go today, and not going there turned my day off into a day of work, but not unhappily). I think I had their Spring Muscat (Vins de pays d'Oc), but I wouldn't swear on it, even now, with the leaflet in front of me.
All I know was that I left a bit earlier than I had intended, for I saw myself trying for another 4 euros worth of tastings. And I saw myself buying many, many things, lubricated by wine. There were no books I needed, but a lot I wouldn't mind having, and my luggage is full and it might have spoiled the evening's experience if I had woken up with the need to post another parcel.
The Estivales were fabulous, even by myself. There were two different sets of music. There were massive choices in food and wine. There were (not quite enough but still awesome) stalls that sold everything. It was great.
My only problem now is getting my Estivales wineglass home safely. I do want to keep it, you see. I am examining the problem right now, just checking along the way in case there is a drop of that nice muscat left...
"Estivales" is the Montpellier summer festival. and every Friday it has markets. Actually, it has markets every day (and often twice) but the Friday markets are, it seems, a bit different. Tables are set out for those who must sit. People walk around eating (enormous amounts! I noted that I ate nothing compared with everyone else - you could buy a tapas plate containing 10 different portions). There are antique stalls and bookstalls along with the regional stuff. The food stalls are part gourmet, part regional and part pure junk food.
And there are wine tastings. For 4 euros (provided by my very thoughtful friends) I bought a glass with 3 tickets. Three tastes of regional wines. As you possibly know (stop laughing, those of you who have seen me choose water above alcohol) I am not a big drinker. I do come from a family who loves wine, however, and I do like to taste, so I bought a glass.
French 'tastings' at the Montpellier Estivales are not at all like tastings at the Canberra wine show. It's more like the way everyone ate the food tonight. Full glasses, I got. Very full glasses. Three of them.
I bought some frites to help cushion them then, when I realised that I needed more, I bought some tourtons.
Tourtons would go down nicely in Australia, I think. Little, square deep fried pastries filled with yummy purees. I asked for the four most traditional and got potato, potato and cheese, potato and a much stronger and smellier blue veined cheese ("Do you like cheese?" she asked me dubiously. "I love it," I said. "Oh good then."), and spinach. All very yummy.
Not quite enough to offset a glass of white (more semillon than chardonnay, but not quite either - and no leaflet to tell me), a table muscat ("C'est tres moelleux," the owner rhapsodied) and a dessert muscat. The former was from Chateau de Stony, in Frontignan, and was called "Fleur de Muscat" and the latter was from Lunel (the closest I could get - no busses run to Lunel in summer and I regret to say I didn't think of the train until it was too late - Lunel was actually where I *wanted* to go today, and not going there turned my day off into a day of work, but not unhappily). I think I had their Spring Muscat (Vins de pays d'Oc), but I wouldn't swear on it, even now, with the leaflet in front of me.
All I know was that I left a bit earlier than I had intended, for I saw myself trying for another 4 euros worth of tastings. And I saw myself buying many, many things, lubricated by wine. There were no books I needed, but a lot I wouldn't mind having, and my luggage is full and it might have spoiled the evening's experience if I had woken up with the need to post another parcel.
The Estivales were fabulous, even by myself. There were two different sets of music. There were massive choices in food and wine. There were (not quite enough but still awesome) stalls that sold everything. It was great.
My only problem now is getting my Estivales wineglass home safely. I do want to keep it, you see. I am examining the problem right now, just checking along the way in case there is a drop of that nice muscat left...
gillpolack @ 2011-07-30T01:33:00
I worked today after all. While I was mucking round with busses, some of what I'd seen started to process. I have one of the missing character arcs done and some rather crucial thoughts for a small bit of the dissertation. I also saw a flamingo in the wild, found out more about how that region makes salt, pondered the reasons for walled towns, sorted out what I went to Aigues-Mortes for, and realised that my inner battery life is not very high. I came home early to rest for a bit. This evening I shall take two hours off (I am so determined tto do this, this time!) and I shal estivate. There may be wine tastings, or there may only be an evening market. This depends on my level of estivation.
Food has been a bit tricky in Montpellier because of how it's handled and because fish is on every menu. I walk by and watch and have ended up relying on Monoprix for basic ingredients. I had the same problem in Spain, years ago, but didn't have access to any cooking facilities or refrigeration and so relied on takeaway Spanish omelettes (in baguettes) for a lot of my time there. The cuisine isn't the problem - it's the handling of the food. So please don't ask me about marvellous French food. I've had some, but I had to err on the side of safety, given the last few years and given that I'm travelling by myself. Last time and the time before, France wasn't such a problem because there was so much North African food round. Now that's a bit harder to find, and I don't really want to spend all my time hunting. Also, I rather like coming back to my bedsit and sorting things. It's the last few days in over a month away, after all, and yes, those abtteries need recharging.
Anyhow, tonight are the markets. If there isn't any food there I want (and there may not be much food there at all- the French don't eat while wandering the same way Aussies do and takeaway food is really to eat at home, it seems) then I have my emergency tin of ratatouille and my emergency gourmet cheese to eat with it, plus my emergency chocolate for dessert. None of this is tough, you realise, except at lunchtime today when I was reduced to raspberry and coffee iceream in a waffle cone. Which wasn't really that tough, either, just not something to live on longterm.
I ought to tell you something substantial, but today was a nice summery day, not too hot. Not the day for seriousness. It ought not be, anyhow, so why did I do a day's work when I announced I was on my weekend? It was a very good day's work.
Oh, and my right left is nearly healed, but my left still has some infection but is definitely smaller and less angry (dressing change today!). The result is possibly the battery charge problem. Anyway, I still have 3 1/2 days of antibiotics, so I will be fine.
No other news. Tomorrow is my various messages and spending of moneys and sorting things prior to my return.
Food has been a bit tricky in Montpellier because of how it's handled and because fish is on every menu. I walk by and watch and have ended up relying on Monoprix for basic ingredients. I had the same problem in Spain, years ago, but didn't have access to any cooking facilities or refrigeration and so relied on takeaway Spanish omelettes (in baguettes) for a lot of my time there. The cuisine isn't the problem - it's the handling of the food. So please don't ask me about marvellous French food. I've had some, but I had to err on the side of safety, given the last few years and given that I'm travelling by myself. Last time and the time before, France wasn't such a problem because there was so much North African food round. Now that's a bit harder to find, and I don't really want to spend all my time hunting. Also, I rather like coming back to my bedsit and sorting things. It's the last few days in over a month away, after all, and yes, those abtteries need recharging.
Anyhow, tonight are the markets. If there isn't any food there I want (and there may not be much food there at all- the French don't eat while wandering the same way Aussies do and takeaway food is really to eat at home, it seems) then I have my emergency tin of ratatouille and my emergency gourmet cheese to eat with it, plus my emergency chocolate for dessert. None of this is tough, you realise, except at lunchtime today when I was reduced to raspberry and coffee iceream in a waffle cone. Which wasn't really that tough, either, just not something to live on longterm.
I ought to tell you something substantial, but today was a nice summery day, not too hot. Not the day for seriousness. It ought not be, anyhow, so why did I do a day's work when I announced I was on my weekend? It was a very good day's work.
Oh, and my right left is nearly healed, but my left still has some infection but is definitely smaller and less angry (dressing change today!). The result is possibly the battery charge problem. Anyway, I still have 3 1/2 days of antibiotics, so I will be fine.
No other news. Tomorrow is my various messages and spending of moneys and sorting things prior to my return.
July 28, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-07-29T05:04:00
At 5 pm today I stopped and thought "I've done all the work I came here for." This is not quite true - I have a few hours follow-up on Saturday. Anyhow,tomorrow I can do anything. What I wanted to do was go to Lunel, but the busses don't run there. Aigues-Mortes is my second choice. The only reason it's a second choice is because I've been there before. summer bus timetables area but limiting, and the idea is to take a long bus and see the cuntryside.
Today I finally asked someone why I got such extreme reactions to my French (either everyone is "Oh wow" about it or they assume I don't speak a word) and I found out that there has been a wild wave of Australians through Montpellier this last year. Some of them speak just a little French. Most speak none. I'm an anomaly, it seems. What this means to me is that most of the Aussies are younger than I am, for elsewise they would have learned French at school, as I did.
My accent in French is so strange right now. It's no longer quite as broad Australian, but it's not French, either. I'm picking up on the southern accent, I think. I even found myself saying 'lou' which is not just a southern accent, but Occitan. Someone just accepted that of course I understood some Occitan, too, which suggests that all the languages of this region are mingling in my mind in an odd way. I was going to read some Mistral this evening, to see what happens, but instead I happened across a TV program (harmonyis still happening in TV-land) and got to hear someone explain in good Occitan how there was a new program to teach the language in 7 months, with a certificate at the endand that some cool theatre is happening. That settled it. I not only know what day it is, I don't know what languages I know or speak. I'm turning into one of my own characters.
I now understand the street development and layout of Montpellier. This does not explain why I get lost when it rains and find places when the sun shines. I can get lost in blocks I've visited just five minutes earlier. It's altogether interesting. Also interesting is that the markets are all fresh produce or crafts or clothes - nothing second hand. There is just one more that is supposed to have books, but it's just as well I found my books elsewhere.
And that's it from me. I'm beyond tired and plan to watch junk TV.
Today I finally asked someone why I got such extreme reactions to my French (either everyone is "Oh wow" about it or they assume I don't speak a word) and I found out that there has been a wild wave of Australians through Montpellier this last year. Some of them speak just a little French. Most speak none. I'm an anomaly, it seems. What this means to me is that most of the Aussies are younger than I am, for elsewise they would have learned French at school, as I did.
My accent in French is so strange right now. It's no longer quite as broad Australian, but it's not French, either. I'm picking up on the southern accent, I think. I even found myself saying 'lou' which is not just a southern accent, but Occitan. Someone just accepted that of course I understood some Occitan, too, which suggests that all the languages of this region are mingling in my mind in an odd way. I was going to read some Mistral this evening, to see what happens, but instead I happened across a TV program (harmonyis still happening in TV-land) and got to hear someone explain in good Occitan how there was a new program to teach the language in 7 months, with a certificate at the endand that some cool theatre is happening. That settled it. I not only know what day it is, I don't know what languages I know or speak. I'm turning into one of my own characters.
I now understand the street development and layout of Montpellier. This does not explain why I get lost when it rains and find places when the sun shines. I can get lost in blocks I've visited just five minutes earlier. It's altogether interesting. Also interesting is that the markets are all fresh produce or crafts or clothes - nothing second hand. There is just one more that is supposed to have books, but it's just as well I found my books elsewhere.
And that's it from me. I'm beyond tired and plan to watch junk TV.
