chaos and noise

I know, I know - long time, no updates. Long time no internet, in fact - the closest I've come was a few minutes on CensorNet (public libraries in Devon Shire, where the mere thought of allowing people to use LiveJournal could see mild-mannered librarians having fits), and about two minutes in Perpignan attempting to use a French keyboard...

aeliel is my hero. Not only did she adapt to a left-hand-drive, large, cumbersome, manual rental vehicle, and drive on the right (and correct) side of the road, her first few seconds in the car involved navigating around the 13-way roundabout at the Champs Elysees in Paris. She then kept driving for ten of the next twelve hours, until we reached Carnet en Rousillon around midnight... with frayed nerves and tempers throughout the car, which also contained her parents (who were sharing the driving).

Since I last posted anything in here, I've travelled from Edinburgh to Nottingham (to see the Games Workshop miniatures hall and some art displays), to Oxford (to see the ever lovely deathbyshinies and Dan, and explore their town), to Birmingham (GW Games Day 2007), back to Oxford, to London (where I rediscovered an aeliel at Victoria Station), to Torquay (where we met up with her parents), through the Chunnel to Paris, down to Perpignon, to Barcelona, back to Perpignan, and finally back to Paris.

If that seems like a long paragraph, try fitting it into two weeks...

Games Day was bustling, but seemed strangely quiet after Gencon - only about ten thousand people there... Sebastian Archer (a painter from Sydney) won first place in both single-figure painting competitions, so the world is slowly developing a bit more respect for the Australian painters. Oxford has all the important things in life (good vegetarian restaurants, bike paths, excellent company) and is slowly developing the other aspects like decent Mexican food - I think given another century or so, it will be a paradise.

I fell in love with Barcelona, after a spur of the moment decision to visit it for a day yesterday (Perpignon is closer to Spain than to most things in France). I already want to go back - partly to walk down all the winding laneways in Barri Gotik, and partly to eat everything in the marketplaces of Las Ramblas. So much good food, so little time to eat it in. Also, my Spanish seems much better than my French. I don't speak much of either, but I can translate signs and menus fairly well...

aeliel and I almost missed the TGV to Paris this morning, but stumbled into the first carriage with seconds to spare. It's the only French train I've ever seen to run on time. We're staying in Montmartre tonight, surrounded by some of the best patisseries I've found so far. aeliel leaves first thing tomorrow morning, and I fly out at 11pm tomorrow night. By Sunday night, Melbourne time, I should be back home again - although I make no promises about being conscious until at least Monday.

I have about eight hours to kill tomorrow, and a grand total of eleven euros to spend. I think I'll spend some of it walking along the Seine, and the rest of my time and money in the bakeries near the hotel. Hope you're all doing well - I'll see most of you in person soon.