La Rentrée
La Rentrée is upon us. Officially (if there is an official date) it is next Monday, the 4th of September, since that's when school starts; but people are trickling back into the city and stores are re-opening so it's really a bit more of a gradual thing.The term, la rentrée, just means the re-enterance, because everyone is coming back at the same time (more or less). It's more of a production than our Labour Day since it's not just school children who are starting anew; everyone has been away from their workplace for a month. Nothing much gets done for a day or so while everyone kisses everyone else on both cheeks, catches up on their news and shares holiday snaps.
Of course, little of that applies to me; it's Janet who will have to face the cheek-kissing on Monday. I'm just happy to have my bakery back. Not a single one of the four bakeries we regularly frequent has been open since the beginning of August; but my favorite across the street re-opened this week. The familiar face across the counter was tanned and relaxed; and there was more butter than ever in the baguette céréale.
Equally delightful was the return of our cleaning lady. She spent most of the month in Mauritius, whence she originates. An idyllic tropical island that I'd love to visit - but not in August, I'm advised, since it's winter there now. Her holiday was spent in cold and wet. But the French take their vacations in August and our cleaning lady is French (albeit from a colony) so off she went.
posted 31.8.06
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