Did anybody record The O.C. this past Wednesday (03/16/06 - Episode 317 - “The Journey”)? The song “In Dreams” was played by my friends Crash My Model Car. I can hardly believe I missed their American debut… So if anyone’s got a copy on their TiVo, I’ll be glad to provide you with some company on your couch. Thanks!
On Saturday morning I headed out via train to Amiens, just over one hour north of Paris. I took a medieval architecture class a couple years ago where we mainly studied the cathedrals of Italy, France, and England. I had been planning on going to Amiens since I arrived - its cathedral being the tallest in France. (The choir of the cathedral in Beauvais is technically taller, but that’s all it is - the nave was never completed.) It’s been consistently sunny here in France for over a week now so I got some really good photos both inside and outside.
I made it back to Paris in the afternoon just in time for a Scottish parade. Yesterday the Scottish national rugby team played the French team here in Paris so in honor of the Auld Alliance, linking the two nations back in the 1295, they held a pipe band parade at Montmartre. The parade was supposed to start at 4 o’clock but didn’t commence until sometime after 5 o’clock. The French seemed to blame the delay on the Scottish stopping in at a bar (or two) on their way to the starting area. The Scottish appeared to blame it on the French for putting so many bars along the eventual parade route! When the bands (from Scotland, England, and France) finally got their acts together any harsh feelings were quickly abandoned.
And any true Scotsmen running up the steps to Sacré Coeur in Paris, please note that your actions might cause on-looking lassies to fall down the steps! Trust me; I’ve seen it happen.
I gave my last Rotary presentation this afternoon to the Rotary Club of Johnstone. And this evening I made a final visit to the Rotary Club of Eastwood, the club that’s been hosting me this past year. They were so kind as to give me an autographed copy of Robert Burns poems. No, not signed by the Bard himself, but signed by the club’s members.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
So I’ve finally gotten around to updating at least part of this site. More is to come - I promise! I received my first speeding ticket the other day - from the Sheriff of Nottingham! Well, actually it was from the Nottinghamshire Police Department, but that’s close enough…
At 3:00am I’ll be leaving on our class trip to Orkney—I’m excited, but not about our departure time! Yvonne’s CD is finished and off to London to be printed. I have a completely updated version of this website on my laptop back in the flat, but y’all will have to wait till I return to see it. Ahh… the suspense! I hope all y’all are doing well - Kurt, I hope you’re getting better. I’ve got to go wash some clothes now and finish packing… au revoir!
Congratulations to the all-Scottish women’s curling team who won gold at the Olympics! The good ol’ BBC describes their Stone of the Week and how you too can win a gold medal!
It’s been snowing on and off all day today. Before you start thinking dreamy winter thoughts, it’s been awfully windy and the snow’s been wet - almost none of it sticking. But the whole concept of snow is still relatively new to me, so I’ve enjoyed it nonetheless!
Scots it was - but with an American accent, of course. The supper was ‘absolutely brilliant’ - tasty haggis, drams of whiskey, Burns poetry, intergender comedy, and ceilidh dancing.
For better or for worse, February has arrived! I spoke to the Rotary Club of Gourock last night. Earlier this week there were gale force winds of 120mph in Gourock. Luckily last night things were a little more calm.
This afternoon I’m leaving for the “bonnie, bonnie banks” of Loch Lomond - the locale of this term’s Navs weekend away.
Thursday’s Burns Night was absolutely brilliant! Three cheers to Rotarian David for his rendition of Tam O’ Shanter! We’re organizing a Burns Night at the architecture school, but I think we’ll have difficulty topping Eastwood’s.
Strange Internet Site #154:
LEGO Lord of the Rings
This afternoon I speak to the Rotary Club of Greenock. Greenock is the birthplace of the inventor and engineer James Watt.
In other news, Miss Scotland placed second runner-up at the Miss World competition last night.