Points on the map

I couldn’t resist posting this photo of the evening sky here in Normandie.

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Here is a collage of photos I took on the Provence walk…

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I am writing this from one of those ultra-fast French TGVs, the trains that go about the same speed as a shinkansen, but where you can get a decent cup of coffee and a croissant. I can’t believe it’s only going to take 2.5 hours to get from Avignon to Paris, which are at opposite ends of this country.
I’ve spent the last week in 3 different parts of France. I started out last weekend in Normandie at our family house with my mother. It was lovely April weather; clouds rolling across the blue sky bringing the occasional spring shower. We were out in the garden drinking cidre and eating bread and pate. There was real work to do; we had to clear out part of the house in preparation for renovation work that is due to start about now. Occasionally one of the local ‘artisans’ (tradesmen) would turn up, and we would talk about work to be done, and about how long it takes to fly from Tokyo to Paris, which everyone seems to ask when you say you have lived in Japan for 10 years. To me it seems the most insignificant detail.
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The cherries trees are out in full bloom in our garden here in France. We have 5 cherry trees, and they are all covered in beautiful blossoms.

Today’s Chilterns walk with my father Bill was a baptism of mud. My new boots got covered in the stuff. The early April day north-west of London was mostly sunny, but quite cold and windy. It was warm out of the wind, but when we came to an exposed section of the path, the howling wind made it feel very cold.

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I left Tokyo a week ago today. It was the usual affair; an early start after a late end the night before. A crowd of good friends gathered at Renald’s apartment behind the Canadian embassy, and we drank and ate, and watched slides I had taken over my 4 year’s in the IAC.

The photos I took at the party are now uploaded so you can see them here.
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