Category Archives: year 1993

Wednesday May 5, Paris           Went to Martine Boileau’s workshop in the rue Poliveau expecting at last to be given the sculpted teapot she owes me for translating her exhibition catalogue. Thinking I ought to get her a present, I went into a florist’s and bought some freesia. They have the fragility and ugly beautyContinue reading “May 1993”

Thursday April 1, Paris           Sitting in the café in the rue de Flandre in the break between my classes. The other customers, all standing at the bar, are petit parisien and working-class. Correction: unemployed class. It’s mid-morning pick-me-up time: expresso for some, a little shot of white wine for most. The typical customer isContinue reading “April 1993”

Friday March 5, Paris           When I got Jimmy from school, he was over-excited so I took him out for a walk to “explore”. We took a path I’ve never taken before down under the railway line to the slopes called Les Coteaux. I was immediately fascinated to discover unfamiliar houses, alleyways and views. IContinue reading “March 1993”

Wednesday February 3, Paris           Heavily armed with arguments and statements to impress my second-year students, I gave two classes in which I did most of the talking and to which they contributed little. The choice of text for the first of the ‘American Studies’ student exposés clearly earned their respect. It’s an extract fromContinue reading “February 1993”

Tuesday January 12, Paris           There’s a severely damaged van parked on the boulevard outside the kitchen window that attracts a lot of attention. Many passers-by stop to inspect the compacted, burnt-out engine. The wreck has been there for several weeks now and has more success with the public than any sculpture or work ofContinue reading “January 1993”