The Ten is coming to hang out with us today while her teachers have a Pro-D Day. Before she arrives, I’m going to slip into running gear and out into the dawn-dark streets. . .
First, though, I’ve had fun coming up with a new approach to Five Things Friday. . .
The photo is of yesterday’s entry in my Sketch Journal, where I’ve been playing with collage and doodles and sketches in pencil, ink, watercolour pencils, and watercolour — the paper isn’t designed to accommodate much water, so there have been #fails along the way, but that’s okay, I tell myself. That’s okay. . . The numerals are a digital addition, thanks to a new app I’m trying out (Word Swag).
And those digital numerals organize my Five Things. Here goes:
1. As I explain in the top right corner of the page, I have an idea that I’d like to draw a map of my neighbourhood — not necessarily (or at all!) geographically representative but rather reflective of what places matter to me in this community. My first pick would be The Whip which advertises that it offers Libations for the Working Class. Underneath the little sketch of the heritage brick building, I’ve written, The Whip is our default for a quick casual meal that can still feel like a date. . .
2. Reading up the left side of that sketch of a Sonos speaker (yep, you’ll have to take my word for it ;-): Sadly, this ink also ruined the preceding page. . . This experiment with using the Pilot V7 pen to colour this sketch of the Sonos speaker that B & M got us for Christmas? A great big #Fail!! But the Speaker is Such a #Win, as is the Spotify account they set up for us.
3. Cast off this little sweater I’m knitting for Cohen’s birthday — Pattern: Flax Light by Tin Can Knits. Yarn: Whiskey In a Teacup by Victoria’s Gauge DyeWorks
4. J’écoute Radio Canada — 97.7 FM. Un chanson “Tout va bien” joue en ce moment que j’écris. J’ai recommencé hier soir mon cours au Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver. . .which says, possibly with errors, that I’m listening to Radio Canada [a French branch of our public broadcaster, CBC] A song “Tout va bien” (Everything’s going well) is playing as I write. Yesterday evening I started my course again at the Francophone Cultural Centre.
5. Reading Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s The Leopard, borrowed the ebook from Vancouver Public Library.
And there we go — Five Things Friday, Illustrated — and the sky is beginning to lighten, ready for me to lace up my runners and get outside. Leave me a comment to read when I get back? Maybe tell us One or Two or Five Things of your own. . . No sketch required. . .
Happy Friday!
I hadn't heard Tout Va Bien. I depend on my kid and exercise class to keep me up with pop culture. Though one day, some time ago, I was walking through the hardware store and became aware of the lyrics of a pretty song being played and they actually moved me to tears. "Je Vole," by Louane. Take a listen, and read the lyrics. (voler as in I'm flying, not as in I'm stealing…one of those very tricky French words)
Wish we could meet up at the Whip!
As sung by Louane, 'Je Vole' is from the final scene of a great French film 'La Famille Bélier". My daughter and I made the mistake of watching it the night before she left for 5 months solo travel in South East Asia. To say there were tears is an understatement….
Thank you both. I'm listening to Je Vole as I respond, and I understand the tears. . . 😉 I've found the film on iTunes and will watch it soon.
Are you enjoying the course? I haven't enrolled in anything because I'm working on call and going to Mexico in a month. I miss French and often listen to the radio or watch French movies. I'm off the buy produce and have my morning walk before going to see the Ruth Bader Ginsberg movie this afternoon. Have you watched Roma? Enjoy your 10.
Yes, I'm enjoying it although I suspect I might find more rigour in an Alliance Française course — this suits me for now, but someday I'd love a true immersion experience.
I did see Roma — wonderful! Did you ever get to see the wonderful 1954 film Salt of the Earth? I see some definite parallels between the two. . .
I periodically pencil sketch from wildlife photos others have posted–strictly for myself–but even in my journal I cited the person who took the original photo. No French classes near me, nor does our library system carry any books in French so not much opportunity to improve my language skill other than daily lessons I do.
I'm calling this 'Frustrated Friday' myself — after driving to town, I discovered I'd forgotten my purse/handbag, so I couldn't pick up my library books on hold, couldn't get a few groceries, couldn't buy the tax software…arrgghh. I've never left home without my purse/phone. Think it was because I picked up my library book bag and just didn't register the lack of a purse. That–or I have a worse problem coming on.:( Nevertheless, as it is a 10 mile journey, it won't be repeated–at least, not today. Sigh.
I applaud your commitment to crediting the source material — it only takes a few seconds, and who knows if you'll ever want to wend your back back to the original.
I'm so sympathetic to your frustrations yesterday. Living on the island, I always tried to be so careful before heading off for the day, but occasionally, I'd forget something important. Once in particular, I got to my office, went to unlock the door, and realized my purse hadn't made the commute with me. Luckily, island life was such that I was able to phone a neighbour who agreed to pop next door and have a look 'round (I rarely locked the door, but even if I had, she knew where the spare was). Since it wasn't there, she obligingly hopped in her golf cart (alternative transportation on a tiny island) and found the purse in the basket of my bike, parked by the ferry dock. . . So I still had to manage without keys or phone or money, etc., for the day, but at least I had peace of mind. . . You, on the other hand, probably just had frustration and a wasted hour or two. Hope today is going better!
5 things Friday for me
1. It is normally one martini a week around here, this week it is 2 starting in 10 mins.
2.Actual daffodils coming up outside my window capture my attention
3. Have worked all day in my PJs, so no photos/illustrations from me
4. It is lighter, later, each day. Really noticed it today
5. Looking at my desk today I realize it tells so much about the essence of me if anyone notices such things
Like the idea of your local(pub), and, especially your idea of creating a map that is unique to your view of your hood. Can't wait to see that.
A. in London
Here's to a 2nd martini! and to daffodils, PJ days, and shorter nights. . . .
We have snow-it snowed three days ago! It is an excellent excuse to stay home,reading (thank you- The second Michael Robotham's,The Drowning Man ,is even better than the first) and watching new Agatha Christie's ABC Murders with John Malkovich (did you know that his grandgrandparents were from Croatia?)-,nevertheless I'm still in denial (get Suchet back)
Enjoy your day with Ten
Your French is excellent-do you have a conversation course now?
No Spica tomorrow-too cold-,I might meet friends for coffee and Prosecco on Sunday
Dottoressa
I agree — I much prefer The Drowning Man to the third book as well. Serial killers can become tedious and too many plots based on them strain credulity.
The Malkovich (and I didn't know the Croatian connection) ABC Murders won't be available to me unless I add an Amazon subscription, sadly (and I never watched the Suchet version)
YEs, the French course is conversational, and I have so much room for improvement, especially in hearing. . . If you can't have Spica, Prosecco is a fine substitute! (remembering our lovely bubbles and Kava sa šlagom that morning in the very glam bag 😉
It was -28c this morning (but no wind! no wind!) when I walked to the library to pick up my books. So the illustration to accompany that would be well within my talents (in fact my talents since age 5). White ground, bright yellow sun, blue sky, and me, a navy rectangle, arms out from sides, topped by a furry oval with two eyes, nose and mouth covered. I didn't even wear my glasses, it was too cold.
Curled up now with Mapp and Lucia and their adventures.
Well, thank heaven for small favours re no wind. . . but I'd be giving gratitude from indoors, I must admit, and my sketch would feature the couch 😉
Stay warm now, you and Mapp and Lucia . . . xo
Love the clever names – The Swag, The Whip, Whiskey in a Teacup. You captured the façade and age of the heritage brick building very well. I wouldn't mind stopping at The Whip for a meal and some libation. It was a beautiful day here cold but sunny. Had my annual mammogram. I slipped in the cd player one of my favorite Leonard Cohen's Cd "Live in London 2008" before heading to the Clinic. With Leonard, and the beautiful vista of the city in white surrounded by snow covered mountains, I couldn't be any more grateful(ler) to be alive. The soreness came with the territory, but it didn't detract from how I feel as I walked out of the clinic humming Mr. Roger's "It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood". Yep…Polyanna is alive and well in my house today…haha. Have a great Friday! Amelia
Aren't those all good names — that would make a fun journal page as well, if I were better at lettering!
Good on you with the annual mammogram. I should add that to my to-do list…
Hope Pollyanna sticks around for the weekend — she can be good company if she's judicious 😉
Exactly. Pollyanna in small doses. 🙂 Have a great weekend. Amelia
Ooh, for your map of your neighbourhood you might like to look at the work of Common Ground, and its Parish Maps project commonground.org.uk/parish-maps/ There have been many of these maps produced as a collaborative effort by rural and urban communities in the UK, including by schoolchildren about the places important to them in their world – often things of no significance to adults.
I had a wee listen to Radio Canada and thought of TV in France where they provide subtitles in French for French Canadian programmes. My own day started as always with the France Info radio app, switching to the tv news on France 2 at breakfast.
Apart from that only 3 things in my day: working on the website for my new business, an hour's walk in sunshine! by the river Spey, and sadly an evening messaging family about the sudden deterioration in the health of a very dear uncle, aged 95. Our day today will be us gathering at his home.
There are some wonderful projects around personal and communal mapping, aren't there? We have them here as well, and I've collected a few books about them along the way. Not sure yet what will develop out of my wish to do this. I've been sitting on it for at least a year. But at least now I've drawn one of the landmarks.
I know they subtitle Québecois programming in France — they've been known to dub it as well, which I find a horrifying interference with an artistic product. I can't bear watching A-V whose A doesn't match its V — my attention to lips being well-honed thanks to my challenged hearing. . .
I'm so sorry to hear about your uncle's health. 95 is a very impressive age. I hope you're able to draw strength for him and for each other from gathering together. Take care.
Dubbing is horrible. On British tv news we have all 'foreign-speak' dubbed. As if we would be contaminated by hearing or even – gasp – learning a foreign language. No wonder the Brits are reluctant to learn other languages.
Map of the neighbourhood. Great fun. We used to do that with the children at the daycare centre as part of social studies. They would draw the pics. We had the library, community centre, park, grocery store etc a short walk away.
Fun for kids to do and a good way for them to integrate their sense of community.
I hope you enjoy the "Leopard". I liked the way the author captured social change in Sicily at a particular time. And the eternal quote, of course: "Everything has to change in order to remain the same."
I'm enjoying it very much, thanks. Have you seen the film version? Thinking I might watch this now, if I can find it streaming somewhere.
I haven't read The Leopard in so many years, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. George had an ancient and battered (and well read) paperback. Do I recall that your (newer) edition has an introduction by the author's son? Never saw the movie though. Might look into that, or rereading.