Winter Weather - Vendredi, 01.12.06

Vendredi 01.12.06 Winter Weather

Nic and I catch the 5,50 bus this morning. It’s way too early but at least we haven’t caught a cold yet. There are a few snivelling teachers and spluttering students in school today. Madame Bois and Mr Carval are my first two points of contact. Between the two classes I’ve got an aspiring Queen and wannabe midwife. The smiley fJce exercise keeps them all quiet. It works a treat too for Madame Pamphile and Madame Edragas’ broods. I get talking to Madame Pamphile and she’s nothing like the tough-cookie she usually lets on to be. I keep my distance from Madame Edragas but only because she has a cold and insists that I don’t take any risks for the weekend. Before I leave I ask Odile and Madame Do if the Rectorat rang. Negative. Though Madame Do tries to call them. The electricity was off today so there’s a possibly they did try to call but I’ll not know unless I go to the Rectorat myself.

I just miss the bus to Point Simone and have to stand at the bus-stop for half an hour with a crazy old lady who talks to herself and a young guy who tells me I’ve a German accent. We’re an odd trio but our chit-chat passes the time. In town I get another bus to Rond Point and I meet Nicola at Lycée Technique just before 1pm. We find a buffet bar which serves up a pleasant selection of food and festive fun. There’s live music and some couples are already up waltzing around in an attempt to shed traces of their midday stuffing session. The complementary buffet spread is more my thing and a bit of rum and punch sets me up for my trek to the Rectorat.

I’m there by 14,30 but there’s hardly anyone around. There’s nobody at the main desk and the gardener is not much help. I knock for Madame Profit and Madame L’Inspectrice but there’s no reply and the doors are locked. I walk around the back of the building to peak inside the windows but there’s not a soul to be seen. I wait back at the entrance until 15,00 and two ladies appear after a tipsy lunch-break. One of them get out her mobile and a minute later I’m informed that Madame L’Inspectrice is at a Stage this afternoon. Damn EDF strikers. Maybe Madame Profit did try to call Chateaubouef after all. I write a note asking her to contact me again and I slide it under the office door.

Thankfully the rain has eased-off and I walk back into town. The warm weather window closes just as I get on the bus. The rain is driving even harder than the bus driver is. I’m almost morphed into Mary Poppins as I sail down our road with my umbrella and the rivers of rainwater under my feet. The wind whistles through the house and despite closing the shutters I can still feel the odd violent spit of rain. The downpour is so deafening that I have to find my AirFrance earplugs so I can finish FILTH in peace. Thunder and lightening are not long coming and it’s a stormy night which sees in the start of December.