Returning

Let us draw a discreet veil over Friday night's drunken ramblings; doubtless I thought the words meant something when I typed them, but my judgement was impaired. My last weekend of freedom has proceeded pretty well since then, albeit I was a little the worse for wear on Saturday morning. But Summer has popped back for another visit -- having left her cigarette lighter behind last time or somesuch transparent excuse -- and hospitality demands etc. Always welcome, of course.

Last night we went to see Pedro Almodóvar's latest, Volver, and what a thoroughly delightful film it is, wonderfully rich and warm and compassionate. Then we dined outside at the Cafe des Amis. If truth be told it was cooler than ideal for that, but you've got to take advantage of these opportunities in the slow dive towards winter. After being out and about in shorts and flip-flops in the afternoon sun, I'd rushed home to change before the movie -- I knew the evening wouldn't sustain such attire.

Today, though, was high and blue and warm as toast. I skated, alone briefly, then with KT, who tried to teach me the art of braking before she dragged me on the Sunday Stroll. I didn't complete the course, bailing after a few miles and some lacerating wipeouts, bloodied and frankly bowed, but I learned a lot and I'll do it again; I'm pretty sure I managed to avoid harming anyone other than myself. After cleaning the wounds with tissues and mineral water at Pimlico, we meandered back and forth through the parks, eventually hooking up with Warrick for an impromptu picnic:

Home, shower, bandage, dress, then Ian and I headed off for dinner with various extended parts of my side of the family, including the ever-charming Samson. Food was eaten, water and wine were drunk, and far too many references were made to the bad dream cliché of my return to school tomorrow.

And now, here we are.

My satchel is packed, my uniform ironed, my lunch carefully cut and wrapped in greaseproof paper -- okay, obviously none of those things is true. But tomorrow we start again, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
Posted by matt at September 10, 2006 09:39 PM