Friday afternoon, I got to our Vanc’r apartment just after 3, which meant I had time for a short nap before arranging to meet Pater (naps are a rare luxury now, but my body remembers and craves them from my at-home years with little ones). When I got up, I called him and arranged to meet for an early dinner (ferry food not being an enticement to eat lunch), then settled down with a cup of tea and my book. Our windows look right out onto traffic, so I don’t pay too much attention, but the weather was relatively pleasant — grey, yes, and dull, but it wasn’t raining.
When I glanced up from my book a while later and realized it had been dark for a while, I got dressed to meet my guy, popped a small umbrella in my purse, and headed out. And as soon as I opened the front door of the building, I saw we were back in Ark territory. Pouring, absolutely pouring. I was wearing heavy leather boots, usually ample protection, and they held out for a few blocks. My wool coat did a little better, but an umbrella that folds to fit in a purse isn’t going to cast a wide enough protection, and by the time I got to the restaurant, the dampness was working its way to the next layer. Every gutter was a stream in full flow, every storm sewer grate the bottom of a small pond, some blocks I negotiated by jumping from dry patch to almost-dry patch, as if crossing a stream by leaping from stone to stone.
And when I got to the restaurant, there was Pater standing in the doorway to tell me it didn’t open for twenty minutes! I knew we were unfashionably early, but really . . . We debated waiting in the doorway (damp and cold — not so comfy for standing still), then debated wandering down to check out the Fluevog windows (he’s a very accommodating guy, yes!), but the thunder and lightning (two seconds between them — I don’t like it that close, at all!) decided us — we headed back to the sushi place a block from home, ordered a bunch of sushi and a bottle of warm saki and all was well. Picked up a DVD, and headed back to the comfort of warm clothes and the good simple Friday-night pleasure of a night in.
The movie I’ll highly recommend: L’heure d’été or Summer Hours, a beautiful, thoughtful film about family and art and inheritance and contemporary lifestyles. Set in beautiful French countryside with some scenes set in Musée d’Orsay which, I believe, had a hand in producing the film. I loved Edith Scob, who played the matriarch in this, and I also very much enjoyed the depiction of the oldest son’s relationship. The women were all lovely examples of French style, understated, casual, but impeccable in an easy way, if that makes sense. Juliette Binoche was fun to see from a slightly different angle — her hair and makeup and even her physicality were bolder than usual here, made me think somehow of Rachel Griffiths.
Next post, I’ll tell you, briefly, about the restaurant that we did finally get to — we went back on Saturday night and enjoyed it very much.
Should I rent the film? I'm embarrassed to say I have never heard of it. Isn't that terrible?
I do love Juliette.
Boy you are really having a pendant le deluge kind of week. Or is it month?
Thanks for the movie recommendation. With the holiday weekend coming up here in the States, I am looking forward to catching up on movies.
Tish: It's so hard to keep up, isn't it! I'd recommend this one, absolutely — you won't regret renting it. And do let me know, if you do, what you think.
LPC: Yes, I'm accustomed to rain, but this November has really been a challenge. Apparently, we have another storm on the way tonight!!
Angie: I think you'll enjoy this one — and do have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend!
Juliette Binoche lights up every film I have ever seen her in, she is a delight to watch. I will add this to my list.
I feel your rain pain, though it has been far worse in the north west in Cumbria. I am staring to feel like an extra in Blade Runner it is so relentless.
Saki too is a great favourite of mine, you can't beat it warm though I prefer it with tempura.
I liked Summer Hours very, very much! Especially how the generations cope with loss, the eroding of family roots (I'm deliberately being vague). A treat.
We have unusually balmy temps here and not much rain, which is a boon to the city exploring I'm doing with my Parisienne GF Daniele, here for the birth of her first grandchild, any day.
Yes, we too are drowning under the weight of water here in England – with devastating floods in the north west. Definitely curling up by the fire weather. I live too far from a cinema to make visits anything other than an occasional luxury so thank goodness for film rental. Love Juliette B, so I'll be adding your recommendation to my list.
Alison: She really does, doesn't she!
I know you're having flooding in the NW, but we've had evacuation here as well, with many homes destroyed, not more than an hour here, and some lesser damage within a fifteen-minute drive. Tonight's storm is expected to bring another 30 mm, and they're just hoping the peak rain coincides with low tide rather than high, so that the rivers don't overflow unduly and cause even more damage.
Duchesse: I appreciate your restraint — I also tried not to introduce any spoilers. Enjoy your time with your GF!
Lordfam: It's miserably sodden, isn't it! The film will bring you back some summer.
60/16: I'm sure you'll enjoy the film — perfect for a comfy fireside evening with the rain pounding down outside!