¦ dialling in from a lounge in the South of France ¦
20:25 in a place called "Les Lac des Reves" outside Perols, near Palavas and Montpellier. Golden sunlight slopes through mosquito nets, everything is moving in the strong yet warm breeze blowing across the lake. I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor, my back against the base of a sofa, laptop on a tiny coffee table... there's a my Konica Minolta Z5 camera, a half-drunk glass of Leffe, and a copy of Andy McNab's "Recoil". On the small but excellent ghetto-blaster to my right, I'm playing MITHODEA by Vangellis. Jo and her sister, Sarah, have gone out for a night in Palavas. I've done it several times before... and I'm in the mood for a night alone with my imagination...working on the plot lines of Dog Eat Dog.
It's been a good day. Woke up around 10.30 after a night of crazy dreams (yet more). A mug of tea outside in 36c to wake up, then paper scissor stone with the sisters to see who had to trudge down to the local shop for bread. I lost. It's only a ten minute walk there and back. Another mug of tea whilst Jo sliced the french stick into 3 and stuffed it with ham, port salut and tomato. I added freshly chopped garlic to mine. Wrapped up in kitchen foil to be enjoyed later. Sarah drove the hire car - a TWINGO - to a local beach around 12 pm. We stayed there until 5.30...during which time I read Andy McNab, made notes for Dog Eat Dog -whilst clutching every sheet of paper against the strong hot wind - and went for swims in the sea.
Getting back here, we lounged outside on the patio... drunk coffee and listened to CD's... I showered, washing away sun lotion and gritty sand, leaving me with that delicious fresh skin feeling, and then made dinner around 7pm, Fajitas, washed down with Leffe.
20:37 the glass of Leffe is empty. I'm halfway through a litre bottle of the stuff. Time for a refill. I was planning on writing up notes for Dog Eat Dog tonight but a day of sunshine followed by evening beers has left me with a brain like cotton wool. I might just lie down and listen to Vangellis, drink my beer and chill with a smile on my face.
Next week, back to Bristol.
Djr