Is That A Bell I Hear?

Some summer reading…

One of those curious little ironies of life: I get tons of ideas for blog posts when I’m in ‘no writing allowed’ holiday mode. Whilst Madame Persolaise and I were trying to distance ourselves as much as possible from everyday realities, the workaholic side of my brain – which I can never fully switch off – constantly insisted on using a well-cooked meal, or a wander through a cathedral, or the sight of some unfamiliar landscape as inspiration for scent-related musings on this site. Regular readers will know that I didn’t give in to these urges. And it’s probably just as well that I didn’t; I think it’s important for breaks from routines to be complete.

But now that September has started, it’s time to resume those very routines. Unlike most people, those of us whose day jobs are centred around the world of education always see this month, not January, as the start of a new year. That’s probably why I’m in a fairly pensive mood as I type these words. Another twelve-month cycle is about to begin… which means I can’t help looking back at the previous year and taking stock of what was and wasn’t achieved. Needless to say, my thoughts are reaching into the future as well, trying to imagine where we’ll all be in September 2014 and whether we’ll still be in the privileged position of being able to write and read blogs.

As I crank up the ol’ cranium once again, I have no doubt that the many and varied experiences of the last few weeks will pop up in one way or another in future posts. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself reading about the austere beauty of Reykjavik’s Hallgrímskirkja, or the sensation of biting into a freshly baked tomato tart from Antibes’ Patisserie Cottard, or the unsettling experience of reading Maziar Bahari’s harrowing Then They Came For Me whilst lying on a gloriously carefree Mediterranean beach.

Until then, enjoy the arrival of autumn.

Persolaise