Jonna and Karu visit Rennes

It`s great, two old friends from back in the Teesdale years came to visit me in Rennes for two days but three nights!

I had just had my first sight seeing trip arround Rennes with Gunther the other Uchi Deshi at the Rennes dojo. The girls arrived about 5 but I was training from 7 until 9 so I planned to meet them after training.

It ended up being better to goto their hotel, a hotel that they were told was in the centre of Rennes. 5km later and 8 euros worse off I arrived in a Taxi I took from the Station. It was great to see the girls but so so sureal...it was strange enough seeing them outside of Teesdale and in Finland the first few times but now they coming all the way here to see me... wow.

We chatted a little, well I jibber jabbered on about moving here and told them all about Taya. We had a few drinks and then set off into town. It was kinda cool that I had to play translator all the time and order Taxis and things.

I thought I would take them to the Rue De La Soife "Road of the thirsty". Great atmosphere, if not a little edgy but great, and sit and chill. Nothing too heavy as I had morning Suburi (7am folks in the dark meditating then spending the next 45 mins swinging some pieces of wood arround).

I was starving so we just had one or two drinks at a bar then set off on what was to become the longest restaurant cruising trip ever...yes ladies and gents I got us lost...Well I knew we were in Rennes...just not which part. We tried to many places but by the time we finished chatting in the first bar, most places were closing. We ended up in a Irish Bar for a quick one then set off to find the nearest Kebab.

We found it and it was pretty dam good!
I set off home and didn`t get much sleep until Gunthers melodic house tune alarm on his mobile woke us up.

After Suburi, a sleep and afternoon class I went to the centre to meet the girls. This time I was determined to take them for Crepes, crepes being Rennes speciality. We met up again and found the nearest creperie. One thing I noticed was the girls weren`t talking to much, it was supposed to be me with the hangover and being tired not them lol. We had a quiet meal but even then the tensions between me and Jonna were starting. With me she is just constantly sarcastic and tuchy about anything. The girls enjoyed the meal and we set off to discover the city some more before going back and get ready to go out.

A few shops and coffees later we were back at the hotel eating baggettes, drinking cheap wine with 7up and again me jibbering away. Funny thing was we were drinking and drinking for almost hours before actually heading out but we were stone cold sobre.

We went straight to the club arround 12am (see picture), I had to pay 8 euros but the girls got in for free. I thought this was cool but I later realised it was because of the soon to be ratio of 5-6 desperate sleexy frenchmen to each half/completely pissed girl.

The club was under ground, very cave like with sheek new bars with neon lighting and lots of reflective perspex surfaces kinda caveman meets star trek. The roof and walls were lined with pin lights giving it a sort of xmas feel. Abstract provovative art accasionally hung arround on the walls. The club was in a kind of L shape, the first part being the bar then arround the corner another which lead on theo the sleezy...sorry dance floor and then another bar area after that. It wasn`t a big place which aided in the shere concentration of desperate guys to square cm.
The girls bascially just watched the TV, me too as they weren`t taking all that much, maybe from the shock of the drink prices. 6 drinks came to a wopping 60 euros...do the maths people!
Every time I left the girls for a moment when I got back they would be doing the "piss of smile and yes I am not French gimmace" to some froggy trying it on. Every girl was hounded by guys in that place! We went on the dance floor and two girls dancing together had at least 8 guys all dancing arround taking turns to try and grab them from behind and humo them. An elbow and "de gage!!" later and the next guy would be. It was like a gun firing bullets, only one gun filled with carteriages desperate to get down the barrel...but these guys were all firing blanks trust me. While Karu and I were dancing here was a fight, soem big guy covered in blood and a very scared guy who just realised he picked a fight with a raging bull.

Eventually we left, I just wanted to go home discusted by my own sex and the stench of the place. Desperation really makes you want to shower! I walked home in a bad mood and eventually dropped off to sleep wishing I was in Taya's arms.

OK, next day we did the same things but with more shopping and less walking. When we got back to the hotel I had a sleep while the girls chatted and do what girls do. I was tired from a whole days not talking much and Jonnas sarcasm. We cracked open the cheap wine and 7up again while munching some crisps and chatting away. After a few drinks its great with Finnish people, they will talk until the sun comes up, but until then its like talking to a iglo kinda niobut kinda cold.

We all fancied Tapas so we headed out to the a place we saw that day, and sat and chatted all night. I kinda felt judged on a lot of what I said but esencially we had a great night there. It was not until we left until the fireworks started. Jonna was aking what was wrong and I explained i was tired of her sarcasm and judgments. I just wanted to have fun and relax not all this tension from some stupid relationship we had back in Teesdale. I was to blaim also but still it was a holiday not the Spanish Equisition. It ended up she stormed off leaving me and an upset Karu wondering what to do.

When she finnaly came back she blackmailed me into coming back to the Hotel by saying she wouldn`t go back if I didn`t go. It turned out that it was a great thing that I went as we chatted all night about some really deep stuff and it was great to talk about these things with two inteligent girls.

I slept uncomfortably on the floor and in the morning we set off for the Train station for the farewell. It was a little wierd as there was still a bad atmosphere but I wished Karu lots of luck in her new future (secret of which I cant tell just yet...stay tuned).

I had a text from Jonna saying they were in Paris for a while and having a great time and that they loved the city!

The end

Visiting Rennes 12 Oct 2006

Visiting Rennes
===============

Today was finally the day I get to see the city I am living, Gunther and I decided to go for a trip arround the city.

He showed me the main streets that I kinda already knew but then we went highter up into the centre where all the cute little pictuesq streets lined with Bars, Cafes and more Creperies than you can shake a bottle of cider at.

There is a great atmosphere, lots of friends chatting in the Authumn sun, people passing by window shopping and tourists taking the pictures....ahem.. see below.

Rennes itself is filled with young people more so than other cities due to the two big Universities. One languages, history, journalism and the other sciences such as computing, chemistry, physics etc

In one of the squares close to the Hotel De Vile for Rennes a tent which was due to start live performances that night, we took a few leaflets in case I wanted to take Jonna and Karu who were arriving from Finland that night.


We wandered arround a few squares dotted with trees, cafes filing their area with typically french straw seats and small round tables until we reached Rue De La Soife "Road of the thirsty". One of the most famous streets in Rennes this is where the atmosphere was buzzing. Street level was bar after bar and just above the old archtecture loomed over the bust street. Thick ecternal beams traced the buidings with leaded windows and buttrasses everywhere. Very charming.

We carried on walking arround and back down into the central part called Republique. Then down towards the shopping centre.

When we arrived there were lots of university girls dressed in white coats protesting about something... I took a few pictures of homless people and we had a look arround the shopping centre. Much the same as any other but one thing I am noticing is more younger French girls are going for the cheap fashion and bad style that our Engish girls have...eek. Are French girls starting to loose their charm?

Finally we visited the Library, an nice building with a great design about it, lots of security tho its like fort nox but for books. I note own the science exiition that has a cinema that projects all the Galaxies on the roof 360 degrees...ohh goto go visit that!

End

Day 3 - Final day of Stage with Daniel

DAY 3 - Sunday
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Again I arrived late even tho i got up early. It was a pain because they had already started doing weapon practice and I hadno weapon. Luckily the sensei of the club saw me and came to my resque. After a while we went outside and starte my favorite, 31 jo kata. I felt confident and happy and especialy with the gorgeous view in the background.

I then paired up with a blackbelt who liked like a an old French sailer with tattoos to prove it. I relaxed and felt confident in the moves I had practiced to much with Tom. The sailor corrected me on things like intention of my strikes i.e harder! It was great as he slowly expained little corrections to my posture and stance. He gave me more and more corrections but I found thm easier to implement because I knew what foot went where so I could concentrate on the corrections.

After class I thanked everyone and and the sensei thanked me for coming all the way down for the stage and invited me back. I love how people who do Aikido or indeed people who share a passion come together and are so friendly.

I met up with Mel and we had a quick drink and then went home.Mel had to work that day so Nelly took me out of a walk all arround Marseille. It was great to get to know her and again I was talking in French ALL the time. She told me about her job and where she worked and the funny story of how she met Mel lol. Later me joined us and we went for a drive. Marseille is huge, there is the city part where I was with the girls then it stretches for miles and miles along the coast. It didn`t look as alive as I hoped but it was mid Autumn getting quite late. We went home and cooked a fantastic meal and had the gorgeous bottle of wine given to me by Andy for a leaving present. Thanks Andy again it was EMmmm good.

The next day was not such a rush as I got up early and finished my packing. I went out to buy croissants for the girls and we had a nice breakfast even if everyone was half asleep. I have Mel and Nel a massive hug and jumped on he train to Rennes.

The journey was lovely, just writing this blog and listening to music as the French countryside speeded past at 200kmh. Three hours later I arrived in Paris, navigate the Metro and arrived on time for my train to rennes.

I arrived safely and Gunther, a Uchi Deshi student already there picked me up, took me to the dojo....

Tune in next blog for the life of a Uchi Deshi !

Day 3 - Final day of Stage with Daniel

DAY 3 - Sunday
--------------

Again I arrived late even tho i got up early. It was a pain because they had already started doing weapon practice and I hadno weapon. Luckily the sensei of the club saw me and came to my resque. After a while we went outside and starte my favorite, 31 jo kata. I felt confident and happy and especialy with the gorgeous view in the background.

I then paired up with a blackbelt who liked like a an old French sailer with tattoos to prove it. I relaxed and felt confident in the moves I had practiced to much with Tom. The sailor corrected me on things like intention of my strikes i.e harder! It was great as he slowly expained little corrections to my posture and stance. He gave me more and more corrections but I found thm easier to implement because I knew what foot went where so I could concentrate on the corrections.

After class I thanked everyone and and the sensei thanked me for coming all the way down for the stage and invited me back. I love how people who do Aikido or indeed people who share a passion come together and are so friendly.

I met up with Mel and we had a quick drink and then went home.Mel had to work that day so Nelly took me out of a walk all arround Marseille. It was great to get to know her and again I was talking in French ALL the time. She told me about her job and where she worked and the funny story of how she met Mel lol. Later me joined us and we went for a drive. Marseille is huge, there is the city part where I was with the girls then it stretches for miles and miles along the coast. It didn`t look as alive as I hoped but it was mid Autumn getting quite late. We went home and cooked a fantastic meal and had the gorgeous bottle of wine given to me by Andy for a leaving present. Thanks Andy again it was EMmmm good.

The next day was not such a rush as I got up early and finished my packing. I went out to buy croissants for the girls and we had a nice breakfast even if everyone was half asleep. I have Mel and Nel a massive hug and jumped on he train to Rennes.

The journey was lovely, just writing this blog and listening to music as the French countryside speeded past at 200kmh. Three hours later I arrived in Paris, navigate the Metro and arrived on time for my train to rennes.

I arrived safely and Gunther, a Uchi Deshi student already there picked me up, took me to the dojo....

Tune in next blog for the life of a Uchi Deshi !

Marseille, Course with Daneil Toutain

DAY 2 -Saturaday
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I arrived late but in time and was greated warmly and looked after, even got my own translater but I was not too bad at understanding what Daniel was saying, he says more with movement and a little nod "Thats all your getting, now your go".

We went outside with an amazing view to do suburi. I was happy that I had practiced a lot with To before coming, especially in the 31 Jo kata. Today we did Ken suburi, I felt proud of my suburi and it was great to see Daniel and his solid posture, cuts and amazing energy. I didn`t give it all my Kai but it did give it some stick, in more than one way. We did some Ken awase with a partner. I partnered up with a beginner which help me feel better and relax more.

We went for a nice lunch at a restaurant and I chatted to Eric about working with him on the Aikido-France.net website. We talked about me desighning icons and about the different tools of the web deisign trade. Not an amazing conversation but one I could follow in French.

After a while we went inside to do Tachiwaza. Again I had a beginner partner and it was great to train in the basics again like Ti No Henko and Morti Dori Koku ho. These are the techniques I had learnt to love in Edinburgh as I was told their importance and it felt great to know i was doing techniques that will benefit the very core of my Aikido ability.

I managed to find the bus and meet up with Mel and Nel, I told them the days stories and we had a beer as people past by looking at us speaking a mix of English and French.

That night was was due to meet some friends of Nelly for a meal. We set off and meet Pauline, a cherpy but shy lass with a definate Lesbian style. Weaved down the streets to a area with a similar vibe to Bar 1001 on Brick lane London. Lots of hippy freespirited and drunk people chiling anc chatting. We arrived at the Alsas restaurant and I met more of Nels friends. I was in good spirits as alawyas being arround Mel. I love her energy and she always brings a smile to my face. We ordered some beers from the cute waitress that all four of us noticed he he. Everyone infact was very cute and err...gay apart from me and the girl sitting next to me who hardly said a word to me al night, but i`m used to that with Froggies who are shy to speak English like I was with French.

The night was great, we joked some random buy played songs from Pulp Fiction (see sily pic) and the girls kept teasing me by saying Sausages in a sexy way, see clip. Not bad having so much attention from Nellys friends. We drannk and drank then the dreaded question....."to club or not to club that is the question". OK before I say what answer I have let me remind you that I had these gorgeous girls all wanting me to go out dancing with them, pleading, bribing and being very irristible. Then it hit me that that life was over. I had to stop somewhere and say NO. That Aikido was no what is important and that I needed to go home.

OH just to finish with a clip..this is all the girls teasing me about the way they say sausages he he

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Day 1 - Mars Attack Festival

01 OCTOBER 2006
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MARSEILLE, FRANCE


Every journey starts with the first step and mine was comming to MArseille to meet up with Daniel Tourtain at his first course. But one of the best thigs was that I got the opportunity to stay with Mel and Nelly.

I left early on Friday for Gatwick, paid an extra £15 to easyRobbingBastardsJET, the fight passed quickly by watching Black Adder on my laptop and arrived in Marseille late afternoon. The two gorgeous ladies were watiing for me with big smiles and friendly hugs. My mind prepared itself and I launched into what little French I know in the attempt to explain all the Brighton News.

It was great to catch up with Mel with all our news while the many cruise liner boats sat chilling in the Atlanic ocean. My eyes scanned the scenery as we projected down the freeway.

Marseille is a very big city, busy, messy, full of micro communities bussling arround and yet has the air of a city full of life. The architecture is French with the Frenchyness turned up to max, I think it would give Paris a run for its money on balcolnies. One thing that MArseille has is charm but one massive thing it does not...is space! There are cars packed on every pavement, even bins need to have parking permits not that they get used much. Another apparant thing is that every single car in maseille has battle scars! Motocycles are in a word of their own, buses rule the roast only because they are bigger. A crazy busy messy place but full of life!

I left my two bags at their place after recieving a few digs on that ive compressed 25 years of life into a green medium suaitcase with a dogy wheel and a ex-vientnam army bag with a hole in the righ pocket, (Personaly I felt proud to be able to do that! Ok ive left some stuff for frients to look after but all in all what i have is my material life) and headed out.

On the menu tonight was MARS ATTACK, yes i`d landed in one of the biggest party times in Marseille....err wups lol It is a 5 days festival with lots of music, maddness and tents. The vibe was buzzing as we met up with Mels sister, her girlfriend and her other friends. See pics! We had a great time and I was like a little kid in a candy stall. Music, people and good energy ... puurrrfic!




We danced, checked out, massaged, chatted, laughed, cued for drinks, went crazy, got lost, jumped, moshed and left. I got to bed about 3 am knowing that I had to be up at 8.30 for Aikido.

Great night Had by ALL