tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post5087726360913926526..comments2024-02-28T23:43:49.197+01:00Comments on City On A Hill: Fear And StrawberriesEd Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-25907820047494112582009-05-10T15:04:00.000+02:002009-05-10T15:04:00.000+02:00If I didn't feel like such an idiot (or such a tou...If I didn't feel like such an idiot (or such a tourist) taking my camera to the market, I'd do that, and yet I'd better if I'm going to grab a shot of these things, and many others: what on earth are spherical zucchini for, for instance? <br /><br />And I'll have to take photos if/when the wild asparagus comes in. Although I'll buy some as soon as I see it: been waiting years to try it!Ed Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-20222438580054321362009-05-09T22:43:00.000+02:002009-05-09T22:43:00.000+02:00Never heard of garriguettes before: are they some ...Never heard of garriguettes before: are they some kind of wild strawberries? In the future maybe you should try to post a picture when you discuss strange fruits or vegetables: that would ground the discussion.Oliviernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-47138496660792760262009-05-07T20:25:00.000+02:002009-05-07T20:25:00.000+02:00I'm just battling the Evil Empire (aka DeutscheBah...I'm just battling the Evil Empire (aka DeutscheBahn) and have been googling for people who have taken them on and won... Has no-one succeeded??!! My BahnCard cancellation letter was 5 days late (I didn't know about the 6 week rule). I hope you escaped their clutches in the end...<br />ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-67394703691709981222009-05-06T15:30:00.000+02:002009-05-06T15:30:00.000+02:00I didn't have anything to say either :-))) Actuall...I didn't have anything to say either :-))) Actually I didn't understand much of what was said during the "lecture" and I was not very much interested. But nobody was going to ask us any question and we didn't have to talk to other people. I thought you were interested in wine. Many people there were "experts"....Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317498718218889741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-36938312379883596092009-05-06T14:07:00.000+02:002009-05-06T14:07:00.000+02:00Sorry, Marie, I can't fix your comment posts. I ca...Sorry, Marie, I can't fix your comment posts. I can either print them or not, but the editing is up to you!<br /><br />G, of course, has a point. It was a panic attack, but I still don't feel that it was totally ungrounded. I really didn't have much to say about what had gone on there, and I'm not naturally gregarious in situations like that. If this had been a get-together at the museum or the library -- other places I know Marie goes -- I would have had culture, just generally speaking, to lean on, and that would have given me a little bit to improvise with. As it is, I'm under some extreme pressure at the moment, and I wish I weren't, and that contributed to things. <br /><br />As for how well I speak French, that's all down to my high school French teacher, Barney Isaacson. I mentioned once to my brother-in-law that my French just appeared out of nowhere whenever I visited France and he said "Me, too: we have Brney Isaacson to thank." He must have been a remarkable teacher, because even though I spent a lot of time staring out the window, I cam in second in the New York State French exam at the end of my senior year!Ed Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846657618234700638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-91622997756729320582009-05-06T13:25:00.000+02:002009-05-06T13:25:00.000+02:00I forgot to say that I also think like G as regard...I forgot to say that I also think like G as regards your knowing how to speak French. I didn't even know you could speak French. You speak quite well!<br /><br />(you should correct my mistakes or typos..... :-))Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317498718218889741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-88414091791807214172009-05-06T13:07:00.000+02:002009-05-06T13:07:00.000+02:00Dear Ed,
I'm sorry for not answering sooner. I c...Dear Ed, <br /><br />I'm sorry for not answering sooner. I came back home late on Monday evening. As I expected, I had a wonderful time with my friends. I mainly talked with a very friendly young student who has a Bulgarian fiancée (my younger son had a Bulgarian fiancée too) and François Di Marco, a young man who teaches at Montpellier III. The food was good and the wine was divine. We absolutely didn't mention Easter-European countries or Berlin. I think like G that you got panicked (without any reason really, nobody would have asked any question about Berlin, Pierre did not expect you to talk about anything or to do anything for him, he just wanted you to feel welcomed in Montpellier, to feel at home - I think you looked like a little boy and that made me sad). Anyway I had a wonderful time. Yesterday I spent a large part of the day with my dear British friend Maggie, and then I went to "my" publisher. I typed a part of a book he is writing until almost 11 PM last night and all this morning. That is why I didn't write back. <br />Think of a day when we can meet and speak French. Allez, bon courage et à bientôt.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04317498718218889741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564134964285988310.post-49446853049220144272009-05-05T14:53:00.000+02:002009-05-05T14:53:00.000+02:00I think you just had a bit of a panic attack: I'm ...I think you just had a bit of a panic attack: I'm sorry that you felt the need to leave early. Here in Berlin, I am far less fluent in German than you appear to be in French and often am completely overwhelmed at speeches and meetings, but it is what it is. I would have stayed, had the meal, and been as pleasantly conversational as possible. That would have been no reflection as to how much money I had in my pocket. Do you know why you felt as if you had to leave?G in Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11168975470282994167noreply@blogger.com