Hair scare

Grim grim atmosphere all over France this month in the wake of the attacks. What a way to start the year. I'm not going to get into it here, but I can't even begin to process or understand how someone gets to the point where human life has no value. Where they actually want to create fear and terror. 

The closest I've come to being a terrorist was enjoying the look of panic on the faces of small-town French hairstylists when I walked into their salons. I was accompanying a friend who wanted to make an appointment. There aren't many "fro-friendly" professional hair solutions available where I live, and that day my hair was unleashed in all its kinky, curly and apparently scary glory. It was good, clean fun.  

I really wish the violence and hate could stop.

Love, peace and hair grease.

Ho ho humdrum

First day back out to work and I'm already getting drunk on the job. Yes, that's what swapping bright, 32°C weather for freezing foggy temperatures and a pile of work does to you.
But don't worry, I'm just eating some black cake at my desk, that's all.

I had a wonderful Christmas at home with family, the first in four years. I'm really glad I made that trip, and it was great seeing everyone, although now I feel like I need a rest!
But here it's back to the grind and I'm hoping spring gets here veeery soon.

In the meantime here's to a happy new year for us all! *munch*

Sunny went home

Well, we had a good run, Sunny and I. We went to the beach, enjoyed open-air concerts, and did lots outdoorsy stuff as much as we could. He even stayed past mid-October*. But as they say, all good things come to an end...

*I live in South-West France.

Mmmm...hmmm

Sunday evening unwind.

But...if I have wine with grapes, is that redundant?

Shut up

How I feel at work today.

Dr. Drill Sergeant

As part of my fitness fight (fitness journey sounds lovely, but I like to keep it real) I've signed up for a Zumba class starting in October. The gym makes you submit a medical certificate before you join any class (maybe it's a French thing?) so I went to my doctor today for a check up.
I've been going to this doctor for a couple years now, and I'm really glad I found her because I feel completely at ease with her, which for me is reeeaaallly important. And it's not about her being a woman either. She just has the right balance of kindness and professionalism. Once I went to a very cheerful, gentle male doctor, but he was so jolly and laid back that I didn't feel I could take him seriously. I imagined  him as the kind of doctor who after breaking some horrible news to his patient, would try to cheer them up with a knock-knock joke. Or, even worse, use the joke to deliver the prognosis:

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Dead.
Dead who?
Dead you. In 6 months.
LOL. 

So anyway it was just a regular check up to confirm that my health was no obstacle to my physical activity. The doc checked my blood pressure (120/70) listened to my heartbeat (Parfait, she said), and then she asked me to drop and give her 30 squats! 

Thirty?

Oui, trente. And afterwards I'll check your heart rate again.

After 20 squats I was almost panting and thought maybe I should just come to her office for a workout every week instead! I didn't feel like I was dying or anything, but I guess I was more caught off guard than anything else. In any case, I passed her fitness test with flying colours, and I'll be able to add Zumba to my fitness routine starting mid-October. 

All in a day's wok

Bargain of the week (this doesn't actually happen every week):
I found a secondhand wok online for €5 in excellent condition. I felt like doing a stir-fry with Chinese noodles this weekend, so it definitely came in handy. My frying pan has given me decent enough stir-fry results until now, but with the wok it was sooo much faster and Chinesier and just...better. :-)