Au revoir; Adieu; A Bientot; Salut; Farewell; Goodbye France!

And we are off...

Sitting on the train to London. Paris is now but a memory, as is France.

I am always amazed how time flies and what it means in different scenarios! Arriving on the sixth, five days in France seemed glorious, and now the time has vanished. And in another two hours I will be in a country where I understand most things, including menus.

My last evening was an adventure, I watched Bourges battle against Lyon. Lyon clad in netball style dresses were far from ladylike. The game was intense, physical with Bourges players being spat out and rolled across the court. Valerie Garnier did superbly, every time one of her players started to get a bit agitated, she substituted them. Celine Dumerc got ruffled a few times but mostly had a bemused smile on her face. Her training buddy Stella got irritated when her opponent just kept pushing her until she finally lashed out but got blown by the ref. Garnier immediately changed her. When Bourges did manage to get a movement in, it looked splendid. The only player that looked completely unphased by Lyon's brash play was the youngster, Romanie who was like a jumping jack livewire bouncing around like a pup.

The final score saw the home side victorious but it was a battle.

I strolled back to the hotel and sat in the hotel bar for a bit. I had a 1664 beer on tap and people watched. When I next glanced at my watch, it was pumpkin hour. I disappeared to my quarter, jumped into bed and was quickly asleep.

The next morning I showered and then packed. I had a long trek to the train station-crossing on road and a parking lot, so didn't want to be late. Snow had tumbled down again and the temperature was on a mere 3 degrees.

After a crowded train trip, I landed in Paris. I purchased a 24 hour metro ticket and headed to the familiar district of Gare Du Nord. I made it to Altona by memory and dumped my bags. I then headed out into the city.

First stop, a French kebab at my local. I devoured the huge meal, charged and ready to go. I was now ready to wander.

Snow, snow and more snow! The vast city of Paris was under a dreamy snowy blizzard, with the white particles continually gently falling. I tackled the exploration with illa inspired music (and every Morris Column-advertising boards in Paris advertising the movie) I had Les Miserables lined up on my I-Pod. I jumped out of the metro nearest the Eiffel Tower. The familiar attraction was lost at the top with the low clouds. I crossed the river Seine, the river was swollen and was lapping across the lower walkways. Brave locals strolled along the pavements, skirting the high lying water and making alternative plans where the walkways were flooded and impassable. I walked from the Eiffel Tower towards the Arc de Triomphe, at the top viewing section, the best view of the city I was stopped by a chap who made me a wool bracelet, he claimed it was warm colours and thinking back it is of course the colours of Valentine's. As he was tying it around my wrist, he stated that at the point of tying it, I should be making a wish.

I discovered the Arc, it was exactly where I had last seen it! I strolled around, the snow was relentless so I made my way to Virgin Records where I mainly stopped to dry off a bit. I met a lovely lady who served me in the cafe, bubbly character with piercing eyes.

After warming up and drying off, I left the cafe and wandered around the cd collection, finding a few Les Enfoires but they weren't on sale so I continued on with my sight seeing.

One thing that is totally bold is the fashion in France, it seems that if you were it with spunk, you pull it off. I passed a man wearing a pink hat with childlike animal figures popping up from the hat, leather boots and sparkly knee pads. He looked just darling.

Eventually after hours of strolling around with my beanie soaked through, I headed back to Gare Du Nord and the warmth of the hotel. I stopped at the shop next door to the hotel and got a beer, a lemon cooldrink, and a chocolate. Enough to top up after the huge French kebab.

In my room, I defrosted under the covers, made sure everything was charged and watched some French telly. This morning I checked out of the hotel early, left my bags at the reception and went sightseeing, on the hop on hop off bus. When I left the hotel, it was still snowing mixed with bog standard rain.

For five hours, I hopped off and on, enjoying the great city sights. Most of which I have seen and a few that I hadn't. The weather improved, so much so that I even wore my sunnies. A complete contrast to the landscape that I pass now.

Sitting on the Eurostar, I guess I am in no mans land. I checked out of France and a few paces later I was at a British passport control.

Train rides are all about the changing landscapes, Bourges was green, wet and flat. Around Paris, it is crowded filled with street art and buildings on top of each other, now on the Eurostar, the hilly surrounds are covered in snow with small villages rising out of the stark whiteness with a church spire dominating the skyline, mixed with wirey naked trees.

I think I have another hour left of the train trip. I have yet to go under the English Channel, but for now, I will enjoy the last of France listening to Mozart L'Opera Rock.

Pooh is almost in his homeland! We shall be surrounded by Brits. I am having High Tea with Trayci Tompkins which I am most looking forward to!

Somewhere.... It snowed!

It feels odd to be stating this as a true Durbanite, but it feels warmer today with the temperature sitting comfortably on 4degrees.

Overnight the temperature plummeted to -1. This morning at breakfast there was evidence of overnight snow with cars driving past with a dusting of fresh white snow but the pavements in my surrounds only had evidence of rain.

At each sighting of Saint Etienne, the cathedral  truly is magnificent! Cruising around Bourges, it feels good not to be harassed by traders asking where you are from but walk around in solitary silence, giving you time to admire.

The familiar streets holds the same charm as before. Rugged in their cobbledness embraced by beautiful antique buildings. The weather is warmer than my previous visit, all though it seems that there has been a lot of rain in recent weeks with surrounding fields all very water logged, paths are all slodgy so you side step into the street to avoid numerous puddles, at these moments you are never sure which side of the road you are on, where the traffic is coming from so you are stepping out into the road while nervously glancing in all directions looking for a car.

Wednesday night I had the honour of watching Bourges Basketball's final game in the Euroleague, they played bottom of the log Brno. It felt like it was a training game with Bourges trying a few new things, mostly pulling them off. All the players had winning smiles on their faces as the visiting team strained to keep in the picture. The coach, Valerie Garnier, ran several changes with almost everyone getting a good run. The newcomer to the team, Johannah Leedham from England, in my opinion was the player of the match. She was silently determined and got a number of rebounds and intercepts. One play when she was in support with Dumerc haring down the court, Dumerc drew the defender to her and tossed the ball flawlessly behind her back into the waiting hands of Leedham who effortlessly added 2 more points for Bourges. Dumerc however was named MVP, her play was impressive. Her legendary charge into the circle, holding up and floating the ball in was wonderful to see. The crowd went wild every time she got the ball, and as she had done in the Olympics, she secured the ball with only seconds remaining and crushed Brno even more as she played her trademark shot. At this point, the entire stadium was on their feet singing and cheering!

I sat inside the cathedral for ages reading Saul Williams poem, Said the Shotgun to the Head. I watched as tour parties moved through the cathedral stopping at the same spots pointing at a column or stained glass window. The tour guide rattling off something of interest and flashes disturbing the peace as the tourists all captured their memories.

I have spent the previous three days trying to sort out the car that I hired. It seems their machine is not communicating with American Express. I have spoken to Amex several times and they say that there is no evidence of Europcar trying to reserve money off my card so today in despair, I cancelled the reservation and walked to the train station researching various options of where to go as I fear I have seen almost all there is to see in Bourges. All the places I would like to get to, the timing isn't right with arrival times only giving me a brief window of opportunity to sight see.

 I currently sit in an Irish pub, enjoying a Guinness with my lunch. Pondering what to do this afternoon. I sit under a glass conservatory watching the ominous weather move across the sky disguising the blue suggesting I find a few indoor activities to keep me out of mischief for the remainder of the day.

My amusement for now is a rowdy group of men who are giving the waitresses a hard time and she is handling them expertly.

For now, bon appetite and an Irish Guinness Cheers.

Pooh says hic.