I had just the best birthday this year, in part because it was so unexpected. I'd been planning to go and visit Dani, a friend from sixth form, for a while, but originally I was going to travel to Paris on the day of my birthday. However, upon finding the school completely abandoned during the weekends, and with an invitation from Dani to go meet her (and some lovely Americans) a day early, it was a hobson's choice. So, I stuffed some clothes in a bag and ran to the station and a stroke of luck: there was a bus going right to the station coming just around the corner! I flagged it down and arrived with eight minutes before the next (and, as it transpired, final) train to Paris, which was just enough time to buy a ticket and the French equivalent of young person's railcard and jump onto the train just before it set into motion.
The journey took an hour and a half- during which time I should really have investigated the address of where Dani works and looked into how to get there, but I'm an idiot and so I read my book. I arrived in Gare du Nord at 19.10, with no idea of where to go or how to get there. Naturally, I went to McDonalds and read some more. At 20.00, Dani contacted me and told me to meet her at Republique. I hopped on the metro and emerged in a grand square, with a huge column, ornate lights and a surprisingly underwhelming fountain. Dani arrived soon after and we made our way to the apartment owned by Dani's american friends with whom I would be staying, me not having managed to book a hostel behind the damn firewall on the school internet (more on this in another post). Dave and Matt, Dani's American friends, were warm and welcoming and their flat was bloody enormous and most opulent. Later, another American arrived named Elizabeth, with whom I had an unknown previous connection (more on this later). I was offered wine and pie, and then we discussed getting dinner, as nobody had eaten. We eventually decided to order a 'cheesey box' from a place called 'Burger 66', and this proved to be the Best. Decision. Ever. 8 cheese burgers, 12 onion rings and 24 chicken nuggets later, we were all full but then it was time for pie. It turned midnight just as the pie came out, making it my official birthday cake (complete with candle) and justifying the title of this blog post. I was completely stuffed, but it tasted so delicious and I was so happy not to be spending the first part of my birthday alone that I nearly cried for happiness. Dani had bought me some very lovely gifts from her place of work, and I opened these with a rictus grin of gratitude on my face; soon after, Dani and Elizabeth departed and I went to sleep on the sofa bed, thinking that the evening could not have gone better.
The next day, I woke up to my mother calling me. I don't normally transcribe conversations because that part of my life is over, but this one needs to be read in all its magnificence.
ME:
Hello?
MUM (Fortissimo):
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY-
ME (Piannissimo):
Mum, please, I'm in someone else's house.
MUM (Massimo Fortissimo):
WHAT?!
ME (Piano):
I'm in someone else's house!
MUM (Indescribably Fortissimo):
YOU'RE IN CHURCH?! WHY?!
ME:
I'm in someone else's house!
MUM (World-shatteringly Fortissimo):
OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!
Still, it's nice to remembered on your special day. After explaining things to mum, I went for a walk and got completely lost among the sidestreets- I ate breakfast in the only cafe I could find that was open (even in Paris, French establishments do not open on a Sunday) and then tried to figure out where the hell I was. Eventually, I found a metro and, having arranged to meet Matt and Dave for lunch, travelled to Odeon (I love that the Odeon metro stop opens right by a cinema) and ate some delicious Indian food with them. After this, I went to Luxembourg park where there is, no joke, a working indoor marionette theatre in the middle of the park. I paid for a ticket (the woman behind the till inquiring 'you know it's for four years olds?') and let the magic unfold before me: the show was Guignol and the Circus, and if there was a plot, I didn't follow it (although I think at some point a clown in search of a pay rise sicced a lion on the public). I didn't need to follow the dialogue, though; it was a joy just to watch the recreations of classic circus acts in puppet form.
After this delighftul diversion, I went to a tea party at Dani's place of work, the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, which helpfully provided another justification for this post's title:
 |
| Three guesses what film this is from. |
After this, Elizabeth and I went for a drink and she mentioned that she once went to Versailles with some friends. Now, I mention this because while she was there she met an old classmate who turned out to be...(dun dun dun)...FRANCES HEBERT, my one time Fresherling. Of course, I didn't learn that Frances and Elizabeth knew each other until I went on facebook later, and she didn't mention Frances by name when relating the Versailles story, but then Franny told me about meeting Elizabeth there, and I put two and two together. Truly, the world is a tiny place and the internet helps make it even smaller.
That evening, Dani and I ate crepes and reminisced about Sixth Form and then returned to Matt and David's to watch Kinky Boots. It was a lovely end to a lovely day and really I can't think how turning 23 (the age when my mum met my dad- eep!) could've gone any better. Let's hope this year continues in that vein.
COMING SOON: A post detailing my first days at work and moving to Laon. A bientot!
No comments:
Post a Comment