Poetry Under Water

Were you here on Saturday?

Rain Under Terrific Rain

Paris:– Monday, 9. July:–  If it was light when I got up today, if got darker and dimmer and I had to check the clock to make sure it was really past the wakeup time for chickens. There was a rumble and the light fell another notch. Than a clatter started banging on the fresh green leaves outside and on my windowsill the raindrops bounced, being hailstones the size of ripe peas.

Rain Terrific Rain

It just goes to show that blaming the new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, for this horrible July is hardly fair, but he is president as he wanted to be, so he should shoulder the blame for it. I mean, France Météo is just the messenger. They didn't decide to reform the country while everybody is supposed to be undressed, getting bronzed at the seaside.

The situation is so dire I paid acute attention to Sunday's TV–news weather forecast because it was for the whole week. There are maybe a half million folks looking forward to next weekend's Bastille fête with its bals, parade, bals and fireworks and all the other fête nationale stuff. The bad news is that the skies will be mixed with blue and clouds, the winds will be from the southwest and the temperatures will be rising. The good news is that this prediction is only rated at 2 out of 5 for likelihood.

It's dismal.

Tonight's forecast is another kettle of sardines. Today it rained heavily at times, about once per hour, and I think this is what it'll be like tomorrow. With wind from the northwest don't expect the high to get above 17 degrees.

On Wednesday it will be half–crummy around here, and still cool at 19 degrees. For Thursday, the eve of Bastille eve, the semi–crummy stays with us, with the breeze still from the northwest. A high of 21 may portend better times for those soldiers and sailors marching on the Champs–Elysées on Saturday. Let's hope soggy isn't in their future.

Friends of ours, can check out the following weather bulletin from the outre–Atlantique from our intrepid professor Météo Jim, with another prediction like the ones we used to have in the olden days of yore, hither and yon.

Drizzle Where It Fizzled

America's fête nationale was celebrated under cloudy skies in the morning with temperatures in the low 70s a–grad – 22 e–grad – followed by rain in the afternoon and evening. Even though it drizzled, the rain failed to fizzle the sizzle of the fireworks.

Is summer around the corner?

But in the extreme western sections of Pommelandia, where the temperatures have reached above 110 a–grad – 45+ e–grad – on a daily basis, the eastward movement of the winds and continental drift have moved this weather towards the Atlantic's shores.

Temperatures this weekend in Pommeland are in the lower to mid 90s a–grad – + or - 35 e–grad – followed by slightly warmer and more humid conditions on Monday. Tuesday should see some relief along with the weekly thunder donnerundgeboomingearsplitting followed by cooler weather in the low 80s a–grad – 28 or so e–grad, just in time for the release of the latest Harry Potter movie and Bastille Day on 60th Street in La Grosse Pomme.

A la prochaine , Météo Jim

Any season for ice cream.

Café Life

Words To Burn

This is a week in which I have few words to burn, and despite all there are probably too many here. Well, not here, but on the companion Bistro page where I have placed some slightly limp news. In compensation there are a couple of photos more than usual, more rain than usual, less sunshine than usual, and a bunch more Daguerréotypistas than necessary. Next week, of course, there will be much more, weather permitting.

This story is quite unlikely to be continued someday.

The Café Metropole Club

None of the club's absent members showed up at last week's club meeting but you know we had exactly one brand new member if you read the report. On next Thursday there will be yet another Café Metropole Club meeting. The secretary, excited by it being the eve of Bastille eve, promises to be there again in person, in skin and bones, as the French say.

The coming meeting of the Café Metropole Club will be on 12. July, one whole day before you–know–what. The Saint of the Day is a Mister. Please salute Saint Olivier Plunket. He is not made up. After finishing his studies in Rome Oliver was unable to return to Ireland because of that meanie, Cromwell. Accused of bringing an army with him, Plunket was hung, emptied and dismembered in Britain in 1681, the last Catholic to have the dubious honor at Tyburn.