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