Dear Kitty,
quote that made my day: 'Hey, isn't this Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' album?' 'Yeah, I think so. That was the one I bought.' 'Nice - why?' 'Well, you said you liked them, so I thought I'd try and get into them.'
So much has happened! Katie and Charlotte arrived on Friday night, and, oh, happiness! Freya made her appearance the next morning, and we all went out to the supermarket shortly after that. Following groceries, we went to the Champs and to the Left Bank for serious shopping time. The Left Bank has my favourite shop ever on it - the Shakespeare and Co. bookshop. There's a piano upstairs in there, and when we'd been in there for half an hour, a man came in and asked for a singer. It turned out that he knew EVERYTHING, so Charlotte, Katie and I worked our way through 'Moon River', 'Hey, Jude' and heaps of other songs. (Freya was standing outside the shop at the time, and we had no idea! Still haven't quite got over that guilt...) After that, we made a lovely healthy vegetable soup, and then went out for drinks. Well, we meant to go out for drinks - instead, we wandered around for hours and then ended up having milkshakes in Quick.
The Sunday began with a Malagsi service at the church I sing in - which was really interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. After that, we meant to go out sightseeing, but ended up watching 'The Vicar of Dibley' and eating ice cream. That was still totally fun, and then after tea, we went out for actual drinks. We went to Montmartre and found the Moulin Rouge! That's where all the cheap drinks are to be found (thank you, Freya) and we did find two very nice bars. Before then, though - DISASTER! Relations between Katie and Freya had been strained all weekend, and things finally came to a head when Freya walked off, I followed her, and Katie (despite not having the key, not knowing the code to the villa and not being able to speak French) decided to go home by herself. This erupted into an argument in the middle of the street, and I very nearly lost it. Eventually, we did get going, and went to a nearby bar for cocktails - and the evening improved from there. We each got through two cocktails, and then in the second bar, we (Katie, Freya and I) each had a shot. Katie also got a lap dance from a random French guy (who dropped his belt on my head and then attached it to my bra). By the time the shots appeared, I was having minor issues standing up, then failed to get the lid off the salt, and poured half the tequila down my chin (according to Freya, the barmaid was trying not to laugh at me). Overall, though - a marvellous evening.
On Monday, Charlotte was the first to leave, and then Katie, Freya and I went to Galeries La Fayette and looked at all the shops (there's a Tiffany's!) Freya bought a super-cute hat with ears on it for skiing, and Katie and I lost ourselves amongst the Jimmy Choos. I had to work that afternoon, but it was made much more bearable by both of the girls being there. Katie left us shortly after, so Freya and I went shopping at Chatelet, where we bought TACKY BEST FRIEND CHARMS! So now we have unicorns called Sparkles and Marshmallow. Oh, we're normal. She left the next day, and I was sad to see everyone go, but at least we did have a wonderful few days together.
Wednesday saw my return to England, and I was so happy to see countryside again! At CDG airport, I met a guy called Avery who is moving to Lyon from California - he's half French, but speaks none. He's lovely, though - down-to-earth, musical and cheery. He came and sat next to me on the flight, and we couldn't stop talking. He's added me on Facebook, and we've decided that we must meet up next time he's in Paris. I changed at Lyon to fly to Birmingham, and couldn't stop smiling when we landed. Even the rain made me happy - you don't get proper rain in Paris, just stylish drizzle. Good old northern rain heralded our landing, though, and I was promptly soaked. Hearing English again, and not having to worry about how to ask simple questions has made me so happy and relaxed. I walked around singing 'Jerusalem' for an hour yesterday after I got to see Norfolk in daylight again.
As for Thursday? Alex. Oh, how I'd missed him! Seeing him again at the station made me so happy. We then walked around Norwich for ages (mostly because we were both dithering around and wondering what to have for lunch), and we went out for lunch because it was my turn to buy him lunch - even though we did have a mini-fight at the counter because he didn't believe me. Mum picked us up afterwards, and we went home. Later that afternoon, we went out to the cinema and saw the newest 'Johnny English', which was great. When we got back, we were going to watch a film, but just ended up watching 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Family Guy', and just teasing each other and chatting. I felt so happy to be in his arms again (oh, how cliched), and I felt so comfortable and at home. We went upstairs at midnight, and I spent five minutes chatting in bed with him before going back to my own room, happy and feeling content and complete again.
I woke him up this morning with a cup of tea (milk, one sugar) and then cuddled for a while. Going back to the station was awful - I'm not going to see him again until my birthday party, but at least we've had a day together. I also managed to embarrass myself in front of him, after I fell up the stairs, tore my jeans and ripped my knee open, but he thought it was cute. Oh, Kitty - I really do think I might be in love. How dreadful.
I was worried about how our gap years would affect our relationship, but, despite it being long-distance, we're writing, emailing, texting - anything! He seems to still want it, as do I - so I'm just going to hope from now on. Also, he's had an offer from Manchester - I want him to get into Oxford, but it's nice that he's got an offer for where I'll be.
Apart from that, Mum put an offer on a new house today. We're renting at the moment, and the house is hideous. But the house that we did look at today (for the second time) is really nice and brand new. The road it's on isn't the nicest, but the village is very pretty and seems friendly. I hope we'll be there by Christmas - it'll be nice to have a place of our own for the best time of year.
Yours,
Francesca
P.S. Alex looked at me last night when we were in bed and smiled. I asked him why, and he said 'you're so pretty.' I shook my head and said no, but he kissed me on the nose and said 'no, I'm the man - I make the decisions.' I was smiling too much to contradict him.
quote that made my day: 'Hey, isn't this Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' album?' 'Yeah, I think so. That was the one I bought.' 'Nice - why?' 'Well, you said you liked them, so I thought I'd try and get into them.'
So much has happened! Katie and Charlotte arrived on Friday night, and, oh, happiness! Freya made her appearance the next morning, and we all went out to the supermarket shortly after that. Following groceries, we went to the Champs and to the Left Bank for serious shopping time. The Left Bank has my favourite shop ever on it - the Shakespeare and Co. bookshop. There's a piano upstairs in there, and when we'd been in there for half an hour, a man came in and asked for a singer. It turned out that he knew EVERYTHING, so Charlotte, Katie and I worked our way through 'Moon River', 'Hey, Jude' and heaps of other songs. (Freya was standing outside the shop at the time, and we had no idea! Still haven't quite got over that guilt...) After that, we made a lovely healthy vegetable soup, and then went out for drinks. Well, we meant to go out for drinks - instead, we wandered around for hours and then ended up having milkshakes in Quick.
The Sunday began with a Malagsi service at the church I sing in - which was really interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. After that, we meant to go out sightseeing, but ended up watching 'The Vicar of Dibley' and eating ice cream. That was still totally fun, and then after tea, we went out for actual drinks. We went to Montmartre and found the Moulin Rouge! That's where all the cheap drinks are to be found (thank you, Freya) and we did find two very nice bars. Before then, though - DISASTER! Relations between Katie and Freya had been strained all weekend, and things finally came to a head when Freya walked off, I followed her, and Katie (despite not having the key, not knowing the code to the villa and not being able to speak French) decided to go home by herself. This erupted into an argument in the middle of the street, and I very nearly lost it. Eventually, we did get going, and went to a nearby bar for cocktails - and the evening improved from there. We each got through two cocktails, and then in the second bar, we (Katie, Freya and I) each had a shot. Katie also got a lap dance from a random French guy (who dropped his belt on my head and then attached it to my bra). By the time the shots appeared, I was having minor issues standing up, then failed to get the lid off the salt, and poured half the tequila down my chin (according to Freya, the barmaid was trying not to laugh at me). Overall, though - a marvellous evening.
On Monday, Charlotte was the first to leave, and then Katie, Freya and I went to Galeries La Fayette and looked at all the shops (there's a Tiffany's!) Freya bought a super-cute hat with ears on it for skiing, and Katie and I lost ourselves amongst the Jimmy Choos. I had to work that afternoon, but it was made much more bearable by both of the girls being there. Katie left us shortly after, so Freya and I went shopping at Chatelet, where we bought TACKY BEST FRIEND CHARMS! So now we have unicorns called Sparkles and Marshmallow. Oh, we're normal. She left the next day, and I was sad to see everyone go, but at least we did have a wonderful few days together.
Wednesday saw my return to England, and I was so happy to see countryside again! At CDG airport, I met a guy called Avery who is moving to Lyon from California - he's half French, but speaks none. He's lovely, though - down-to-earth, musical and cheery. He came and sat next to me on the flight, and we couldn't stop talking. He's added me on Facebook, and we've decided that we must meet up next time he's in Paris. I changed at Lyon to fly to Birmingham, and couldn't stop smiling when we landed. Even the rain made me happy - you don't get proper rain in Paris, just stylish drizzle. Good old northern rain heralded our landing, though, and I was promptly soaked. Hearing English again, and not having to worry about how to ask simple questions has made me so happy and relaxed. I walked around singing 'Jerusalem' for an hour yesterday after I got to see Norfolk in daylight again.
As for Thursday? Alex. Oh, how I'd missed him! Seeing him again at the station made me so happy. We then walked around Norwich for ages (mostly because we were both dithering around and wondering what to have for lunch), and we went out for lunch because it was my turn to buy him lunch - even though we did have a mini-fight at the counter because he didn't believe me. Mum picked us up afterwards, and we went home. Later that afternoon, we went out to the cinema and saw the newest 'Johnny English', which was great. When we got back, we were going to watch a film, but just ended up watching 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Family Guy', and just teasing each other and chatting. I felt so happy to be in his arms again (oh, how cliched), and I felt so comfortable and at home. We went upstairs at midnight, and I spent five minutes chatting in bed with him before going back to my own room, happy and feeling content and complete again.
I woke him up this morning with a cup of tea (milk, one sugar) and then cuddled for a while. Going back to the station was awful - I'm not going to see him again until my birthday party, but at least we've had a day together. I also managed to embarrass myself in front of him, after I fell up the stairs, tore my jeans and ripped my knee open, but he thought it was cute. Oh, Kitty - I really do think I might be in love. How dreadful.
I was worried about how our gap years would affect our relationship, but, despite it being long-distance, we're writing, emailing, texting - anything! He seems to still want it, as do I - so I'm just going to hope from now on. Also, he's had an offer from Manchester - I want him to get into Oxford, but it's nice that he's got an offer for where I'll be.
Apart from that, Mum put an offer on a new house today. We're renting at the moment, and the house is hideous. But the house that we did look at today (for the second time) is really nice and brand new. The road it's on isn't the nicest, but the village is very pretty and seems friendly. I hope we'll be there by Christmas - it'll be nice to have a place of our own for the best time of year.
Yours,
Francesca
P.S. Alex looked at me last night when we were in bed and smiled. I asked him why, and he said 'you're so pretty.' I shook my head and said no, but he kissed me on the nose and said 'no, I'm the man - I make the decisions.' I was smiling too much to contradict him.
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