On a personal note: Time for a new haircut?

Being in a state of perpetual reinvention, at the image of this blog (is it personal? is it a business? is it an open gate for a French person lost in Scotland's frustrations?), of course, it could only end like that: I contacted my auld friend from uni the Irish poet (yes, I did google him. For hours. He was not easy to find!) and it reminded me of:

O saisons O châteaux, quelle âme est sans défaut ...

I refer you to this, here, for the full picture [in English] about Rimbaud...

Anyway - I was thinking about my jeunesse folle, and of course, as one does in such occasion, I thought,

hey, I am going to have a haircut!

I actually went as far as mentioning it to Hubby: he turned green , because of course, it is a 'damned if you do, and damned if you don't' kind of situation for him...

I saw actual despair in his eyes, as he asked me to have my hair not cut, but styled - of course, the last time I had my hair cut, he had to console me for 3 months that, yes, my hair would grow back, and no, it didn't make my butt look big.

See, now, that is true love. Or maybe plain exasperation and disbelief.

[In any case, yes, I agree this does not really have much to do with French events in Edinburgh... But sometimes we are allowed brief moments of levity, arent' we?]

Wine Tasting sessions on the cards

Some of my French groups are going to have the opportunity to sample some wines from LA PROVENANCE, a new wine venture: lucky them!!

Valerie Blanc will come in and presents the selection of wines she has imported especially from the Bordeaux region, and it will be an opportunity for the students to learn how to appreciate wines in French.

The tastings will only take place for the Elementary 2 and above levels, so that the tastings can take place completely in French.

The students will then have the opportunity to purchase the wine they preferred, with a 5% discount.

More information on LA PROVENANCE (in English and in French):

La Provenance Débute

Un nouveau concept dans la vente du vin démarre. Sous la direction de Valerie Blanc, originaire de Bordeaux et Amanda Brown, La Provenance est désormais prête à recevoir vos commandes et votre réservation pour une dégustation.

La Provenance a passé un temps considérable à choisir ses vins, en rendant visite à chaque chateau en France. Les vins proposés dans un premier temps, sont de la région de Bordeaux et ont pour la plupart gagnés des concours de vins et spiritueux à Paris, Bruxelles, et les Etats Unis. La Provenance continuera à fournir des vins venus de France et aussi d’autres pays européens au fur et à mesure que Provenance s’agrandira. Aucun de ces vins ne sont disponibles ailleurs dans le Royaume Uni.

Afin d’aider ses clients dans leur choix de vins, La Provenance propose d’organiser une dégustation chez vous et de passer commande en fin de session. Si vous avez un groupe d’amis interressés, n’hésitez pas à les réunir pour une soirée agréable. (groupe entre 6 et 8 personnes)

La gamme des vins de La Provenance est disponible en bag in box de 5 litres (l’équivalent de 7 bouteilles mais plus facile à stocker et recycler) et en bouteilles 75cl. Le Bag in Box vous permet de conserver votre vin pendant 4 semaines après l’ouverture, ce qui est idéal pour ceux qui veulent savourer un verre de vin, sans avoir à ouvrir une bouteille au risque d’en perdre la qualité le lendemain!
Nous avons aussi un superbe vin pétillant, crémant de Bordeaux, qui est un substitut idéal au champagne pour une occasion spéciale, à un prix moindre.


Si vous êtes interessés et désirez passer une commande ou organiser une dégustation, n’hésitez pas et prenez contact avec Valerie ou Amanda
Laprovenance@msn.com ou 07784736537.


La Provenance IN ENGLISH

A new concept in wine retailing is now ready for business. Under the direction of Valerie Blanc, a native of Bordeaux and Amanda Brown, La Provenance is now ready to receive your orders and book your wine tastings.

A large amount of time and effort has gone into the sourcing of the wine and each wine is sourced from a Chateau in France personally by La Provenance. The initial wines originate from around the Bordeaux region and all are medal winners. La Provenance will continue to source new wines from throughout France and further a field as the business grows. None of these wines are available elsewhere in the UK.

To help our customers decide which their favourite is, La Provenance will carry out a wine tasting in people’s homes at no cost to the host. Ideally we would encourage the host to invite 6/8 other guests to make an event of the tasting.

The range of La Provenance wines are available as bag in box of 5 litres (which equates to just under 7 bottles, and easier to recycle) and 75cl bottles. Bag in Box allows you to keep the wine for up to 4 weeks once it has been opened, meaning that those drinkers who like a glass a night can now enjoy fantastic quality wine without the pressure of finishing a bottle.

We have also sourced a mouth watering sparkling white wine – Cremant – which is a great substitute for Cava or champagne for those special occasions.


If you are interested in hosting a tasting at your home or workplace, to taste some wine before you buy, please contact us either via email at Laprovenance@msn.com or on 07784736537.

New Saturday absolute beginner course

Following issues linked to the change of timing of the original absolute beginners group, I have decided to start up a new group taking place on Saturdays between 11am and 12.30.
Please contact me immediately for more information on this course.

It is due to start on Saturday 7 October 2006.

Fees: £92.50
Duration: 10 weeks

Update on French evening classes availability

There are still a few spaces left in my conversational evening classes, in various different levels:

Film Course: 12 weeks : £105

Improving Listening Comprehension through Film [Thursdays, 7.45-9.00pm]:

• starting 21 September: FULL

10 weeks: October-December - £92.50

Absolute Beginners [Thursdays, 6.00-7.30pm]:

• 3 spaces left

Post-Beginners [Wednesdays, 6.00-7.30pm]:

• FULL

Elementary 1 [Mondays, 6.00-7.30pm]:

• 2 spaces left

Elementary 2 [Tuesdays, 6.00-7.30pm]:

• 1 space left

Intermediate 1 [Tuesdays, 7.45-9.15pm]:

• FULL

Intermediate 3 [Mondays, 7.45-9.15pm]:

• FULL

Advanced Conversation [Wednesdays, 7.45-9.00pm]:

• FULL

Please note there is a maximum of 8 people per group, and a minimum of 4. Tea, coffee, herbal teas and mineral water will be available free of charge, and the fees also include all documents used in class.

For more information, and a free assessment of your present level, please contact me (Lise Morel) either by phone 0131 557 2734, or by email lise@edilang.com