14/10/2024 07:14 

I’m sitting in the kitchen at work on a Monday morning.  This is part of my new job process.  I arrive rather early and take time to use time as my time.  I’m usually waking up early anyway so I figured I’d be creatively productive.  Today is rather different, tho.  I left Nev’s, I’m writing the blog and I’ll then be sat in a van for most of the day.  Usually, I leave my place, research for the podcast then be sitting in meetings for most of the day.  It’s nice, but I still have work to do. 

Anyways, it’s been absolute ages since I last took a fountain pen to notebook paper and quite a bit has taken place.  I’m actually unsure where to begin.  Life, Paris or podcast?  Let’s start with life as it’s actually unknowingly alphabetically placed first in the list.  Okay, so I’m going to try and use more Parisian photos for the blogs so that it remains a continuing theme through my Instagram feed (currently standing at 241 posts, 321 followers).  Not many people, I would imagine, want to see continual photos of my notebooks and scribbles.  Correct me if I’m wrong.  So, watch out for those. 

I’m still coaching rugby for Jasper and occasionally videoing Rory’s matches – as Jasper has moved to Tuesday training, I don’t often get a chance to help Rory’s squad anymore.  I had an absolute – am I using this adjective too much?  – dream holiday with Nev in September to Tenerife.  I’m not too sure of the details as I left everything to her (which she wanted) but it was an all-inclusive and I ate for days.  I also consumed more than the proposed “3-drink” rule that may be coming into force in the near future.  And to think, the Balearics are already moaning that the Brits are staying away.  Do they really think this will entice them back?  Erm, what else?  My bedroom is near the state of implosion but I think I’ll be getting around to that next summer.  I’m slowly getting “smart bulbs” around the house and am making things easier with technology for everyone.  I have new spectacles.  Another round pair but the lenses are all coated up to help slow the cataracts that are already forming.  Oh, I took Nev and the boys away for August Bank Holiday up to Nottingham.  Very little Robin Hood history taking place there, for some reason.  It maybe the whole hero vs vigilante thing.  Or it may not be that.  But regardless, it was a lovely little 2-night break. 

Paris?  If you want the news, listen to my podcast, “Coffee Pot Conversations hosted by An Englishman in Paris” now with new merchandised hoodies and sports top…  If you want the latest with me and Paris, well, I’m due to go out at the end of next month which should’ve seen the EES (Entry/Exit System) in place.  This is the EU’s way of removing passport stamps and monitoring movement more closely.  That’s not to say that the boats still won’t be coming across the Channel, risking lives straining resources and making crooks money.  It’s just their way of trying to keep other EU states from leaving.  Oh, and nobody has mentioned the ETIAS, yet.  This is the£7 for 3-years fee for crossing into the EU.  So, the EES was sort of meant to come in to force last year but got delayed.  Then at the request of Macron and his team, it got moved from before the Olympics to after the Olympics.  It was, the latest date, due to go live on November 10^th, Uncle Taff’s birthday, but there are talks at the moment saying that France and Germany still won’t be ready.  The UK aren’t particularly fussed by it although Eurostar are saying they have neither space nor manpower.  Sounds like foot-dragging for a project nobody actually wants. 

My trip is for the 28^th (I think) and it was mainly to report on how the newly installed process was going.  I was going to include it as either a special episode for Season 2 or as the first of Season 3.  But by the look of things, neither will be taking place.  Which means I need to re-think my purpose for going.  I’m going for a break, research and source material, but of what?  I’ve drawn up a list of photos that I feel I should take for next season; episodes are slowly being written.  I’m hoping that I find a renewed lust for things that enable the passion of the podcast to re-introduce.  I’m finding it harder and harder to simply sit and study as either the time isn’t there or the productivity wanes.  I’m still enjoying it, but I wish I had more time to focus on it.  Production times have generally reduced per episode and the format has one or two more transitions to make but all-in-all, I’m happy with it.  I do find it hard selling the concept to people and I don’t always use my microphones to their fullest potential.  That will change as confidence grows.  So I’m told.  I still need to try and work out the remote podcast interviews which would allow me possibly a greater window of opportunity for more guests and more varied topics.  I’ll get there. 

I’m just not sure when it’ll happen.