Some kind of a summer

I was recently chastised (only verballyL) for not having blogged for more than a month. I didn’t intend my last blog to announce a retreat from blogging – but maybe it was sub-conscious.  Part of the problem was I have become bored with ‘superficial blogging’ – celebrating gigs and restaurants in Brussels or grumbling about the the recurrent and petty grievances of being a self-employed ex-pat, still learning how to manage having Power of Attorney etc.. Sometimes it feels like swimming in a bog- but I always remind myself how much better it is than living in Cameron’s Britain. Especially when there is no viable or credible alternative. 

But this summer politics and economic woes have been banished to the back row. I became a couch potato: addicted to the European Championships (despite England’s less than impressive performances and the sheer fiction that leaves them ranked by FIFA as the third best national team in the world), the Tour de France, the Olympics and lastly Andy Murray winning a Grand Slam. What a summer for British sport!

Between that there were some good points and some bad ones.

I visited Florian (intensely disappointing), saw John Cale play in front of the Palais Royale, had a few lovely sunny hot (adopted) family days on a sandy beach in Zeeland had a couple of memorably great meals out, got a lot of work -much from new clients-, read a couple of good books and had an article on organic farming published.  On the downside I stressed about family finances, became acquainted with a dentist who is turning cavities in my mouth into cavities in my bank account, didn’t get laid and didn’t write a novel.  Plus ca change!

 
Summer’s nearly over.  Routines and plans for the coming winter are being established. Lindy Hop classes are my top priority. Tennis coaching is second (dentistry costs notwithstanding).  I’ve decided French classes are not so important.  I manage to get by, and feel a sense of bonhomie with the language.   OK my grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation could improve but the basics are there and it doesn’t feel insurmountable.  I just need to watch more French TV and/or find a French speaking lover.  Note to self: make the latter the top priority for 2012-13.