Greetings from St Nazaire!
Yes, the holiday goes on. Working for the Commission as a freelance interpreter is a bit like being a teacher, in that you have no classes, I mean meetings, in the month of August, and so you're just compelled to go on holiday.
In many ways this particular holiday is a little bit un-Daniel. For a start, it's in France, and way over to the West, on the Atlantic coast. It's a part of Europe that I don't know at all, as given a free week and a full wallet I'll normally instinctively head North and/or East to have fun, to where they speak German or one of its Nordic cousins.
It's also rather a small place to qualify as a Daniel holiday resort, as I'm normally something of a city person.
But I have to say that I'm enjoying myself very much indeed. I've been lucky enough to be invited by Bart to spend ten days here, first at a beautiful rambling house in this small seaside shipbuilding town, where you can explore the bunkers left by the Germans before eating sardines from the local market, and then on to Quimper, which awaits us next week.
I often have difficulty relaxing on holiday, but I'm certainly getting there. The combination of food, sea air and Frenchness is quite conducive to unwinding.
If I had a digital camera I'd post pictures, but they'll have to wait a bit, I'm afraid.
Posted by Eurodan at August 14, 2004 11:51 AM
Dan, bud, when are you back in Brussels? Starting to forget what you look like!! Oh, and before I forget, many happy returns in advance for the 21st!!
Loadsa love,
Leahxxx
Posted by: Leah at August 14, 2004 5:11 PMThanks sweetie!
I'm back this Sunday, so I'll give you a call forthwith.
Let's go for a drink... I'll wear a red carnation so you know it's me.
Posted by: Eurodan at August 17, 2004 11:45 AMI'm very glad you're enjoying yourself. Not that you seemed anything other than on form when last we met (sorry about that -- I promise to be in better spirits next time). I'm envious -- I'm happy to be working again, but I could still do with a holiday. But I digress.
The real reason I'm here is to tell you Marion just got a name-check on Newsnight Review. (It was a discussion about women in stand-up comedy -- Stewart Lee described her, positively, as "a determined miserabilist"!) I mean, I don't suppose it will lead to immediate fame and fortune, but it was cool for me ("I've met her! She's Dan's sister and she's really funny!").
Anyway, I suggest you casually drop it into conversation with her to demonstrate that your spies are everywhere.
Posted by: matt at August 20, 2004 11:51 PMHi Matt!
Thanks for that - I'll let her know that my spies are out the next time I give her a ring.
Back in Brussels now and back in the saddle, and taking the photos to the developers tomorrow!