Friday 18th July‏: Pepin

Solange came over this morning to tell me about her new dog, a little poodle called Pepin. He was running around her ankles barking. She explained he used to belong to an elderly lady with dementia who could no longer take care of him. Solange said the children really like him but he cried last night and she had to sleep on the sofa with him. Shame Laura isn't still here; she would have loved him.

I managed to run through several pieces this morning for the wedding gig in September. I really like Corcovado by Antonio Carlos Jobim. (Rodrigo told me last week how the song is about a guitarist and his girlfriend who are looking out of their window towards the view of the mountain in Rio and thinking how beautiful it is). Also ran through The Girl from Ipanema; everyone seems to know this one. Another favourite of mine is Quando, Quando, Quando (the original Tony Renis version, that is). I really like the arrangement of Cumparsita which Grace Jones sings (I've Seen That Face Before). Alexander's not too sure of this one, but I think it sounds great.

Walked to the village and had a beer in Pascal's bar. Not many people out drinking tonight. Chatted to him about football (his favourite subject). I'm sure he believed France would win.

Got back and gave the garden a good watering.  

Monday 16th June 2014

Not sure about the cover illustration for my short anthology. I need something which has the right colour tone and style. Laura's revisions have arrived, not too much to alter. Her main point concerned the chronology in one of the stories (Neighbours). She pointed out that two of them are ghost stories and wrote to ask if this is a subject which particularly interests me. I can't deny that the whole subject of the supernatural does interest me, but so do many other subjects. Right now, I've been thinking more about writing a story from the point of view of a psychopath.

Took the Peugeot out this afternoon. Went to the village, got some bread and rolls from the boulangerie and then stopped for an espresso in the café-bar. The television was on as usual. The Pascal and his daughter were cooking and serving. So hungry, I ordered a croque monsieur which was very good. I didn't talk much to Pascal (he speaks too fast), just made a few comments about the weather.

The Peugeot's developed a new noise; a sort of clunk-clunk sound. Just hope it holds out for Laura's visit.