Tacos, coats, Irish stew and french classes
You know it’s officially October when you’re sitting at work with slightly soggy socks on, leaves stuck to your shoe and a giant wool scarf swathed across the shoulders like a modern day Peig Sayers. It’s been raining quite torrentially in Paris, to the point where I briefly wondered if I should really be living in Valencia. But I am Irish so I reminded myself this is probably very normal and not yet a reason to fear a hurricane occurring in France. The upside of these watery, chillier days is threefold for me: 1. Excuse for more hot drinks (caffeinated, because how else can I be properly productive on slothful Tuesday) 2. Staying in more and having a reason (avoiding imagined potential for impending floods) 3. The return of my favourite kind of seasonal dressing- which includes things like cord, tweed and fluffy cardigans. And no, I’m not aiming for the stuffy male university professor look (intentionally at least). I do throw in flashes of autumn colour and right now that includes some russety orange and plummy crimsons. See below example from Sézane.
Not that’s it’s all that relevant, but to ring in the new season I also very randomly got ‘bangs’ as the Americans say. Known alternately as a fluffy fringe, which wasn’t the original Debbie Harry type look I had in mind. While a little bit bedraggled and knotted up in aforementioned scarf, autumn = exciting new hair.
So what else, apart from ye old Irish pagan ritual of Samhain (Halloween to the internationals) has October got in store?
First off, it wouldn’t be the run up to Christmas (uh oh, I said it) without a steaming stew or homemade chunky broth. Ideal for soaking up the rooty, boldly coloured goodness of some seasonal veg. Or am I just very Celtic and predictable in my ways. These two soupy gems come from none other than Ballymaloe (the most renowned of our cookery schools, based in Cork) courtesy of the Irish Independent. I have procured a large aubergine and even have harissa paste in my fridge as a result. Yet to be tested but quite chuffed I’ve at least gotten to step one of this cosy October culinary ritual. Equally on my to do list, are these delish looking Spicy meatballs with pickle rice posted by Molly Baz.
In weather like this, we can also begin marshalling the best resources for cosy nights on the sofa; must read books, series, tea, and if you’re a fan of Garron Noone’s Best Dunking Biscuit rankings (who in Ireland isn’t by now), then you’ve already stocked up in case of an emergency sugar fix. Add to your list the Netflix guilty pleasure Nobody Wants This. I’m not the first person to jabber about how fun of a watch it is, but I may as well enter the chat. It’s witty, wry and the female lead, played by Kirsten Bell, is L.A sassy in a way that’s not cringe or girl boss. Bell’s character is the host of a gossipy podcast with her slightly jaded, spicy older sister and the relationship is impacted when Joanne (Bell) encounters an intriguing new beau. So far, so rom-com. But her chemistry with the ‘hot rabbi’ played by Adam Brody (definitely triggers some O.C nostalgia pangs), is magnetic. They have banter and sex appeal. I’ll admit there also seemed to be loads of Jewish stereotypes involved in the storyline, but the series was written by a Jewish woman, so we can assume a sense of humour. All in all a light and escapist watch for the darker evenings ahead.
Another chime in, is on Sally Rooney’s latest- Intermezzo. I’m always curious about a new novel from our much lauded national literary talent. This interview with Rooney in the Paris Review is an enticing little window into her processes and key themes of her work. Some of it did strike me as rather self-conscious, but if you’ve read the book or are planning to, this article pleasingly illuminates the nature in which Rooney approaches her craft.
I also feel the need to share publicly this month that my continued goal of mastering the French language is steadily taking over my life and brain. Three nights a week attending classes sounds like nothing much when endeavouring to become fluent in a foreign tongue, but it actually eats into a schedule like nobody’s business.
On the plus side- I am and always have been obsessed with stationary and most things script related. My Grandfather insisted on only writing in calligraphy, and I always assume that I inherited his quirky gene for penmanship. It genuinely gave me a shot of pleasure going into the papeterie and having an excuse to stock up; clicky multi-colour pen, sharpener I won’t use, Clairefontaine notebook in purple- tick. That said, I’m rather ashamed of the current state of affairs in my French notebook, it should have at least a couple of different highlights going on- less scribble. But analog note taking genuinely does satisfy my inner goody two shoes. The teacher laughed impatiently last week when I asked if the word ‘avocat’ really does mean both lawyer, and avocado. Which it does.
All this to say, learning a language can be brilliant brain fodder. I alternately used Lingoda and highly recommend it for 1:1 classes. Equally, I enjoyed an article in this week’s Guardian about doing a French language exchange as an adult. She mentions the Reddit Language page and it’s worth a gander if you’re looking to brush up. Frenchie podcasts are always good, or France Inter has lots of resources, as does RFI.
Book wise I’ve just downloaded Into the Unknown by astronomer Kelsey Johnson. This is a test to see if I can enjoy a more scientific take on the cosmos, sparked by a recent fascination with the so called Great Attractor, black holes and China’s slightly perturbing explorations on the moon. Which we don’t really want prodded and probed too much thank you.
Also, Pandora Sykes looked lovely (phone screenshot incoming) in this mini dress. Looks like this one from Reformation.
Speaking of fashion, what about coats. We need them, and if you’re like me you always crave a new one come the cold months, even if your cupboard is literally stuffed to the gills already. I did a Marie Kondo on my wardrobe in September and found that indeed, most of it was no longer giving me joy. Coats hold a special place in my Irish heart however. So here’s a couple I’ve pinned from various places on my map of internet shopping.
Arket *see below
My final sprightly October intention is to go on what I call a local holiday this weekend. I don’t mean a staycation- which has an air of the hotel next door or reigniting dwindling passions. This is more of a neighbourhood jaunt about- to try new places in Paris and my corner of the arrondissement. Patisseries, parks and galleries, that sort of thing. I did this in Lisbon periodically too, where it’s not hard to act like a tourist because to the Portuguese, I likely couldn’t be anything but a foreigner by the absolute cut of me. I also attempt it, when I have time, in Dublin where I haven’t lived for some years, so it makes it all the better to meander with eyes afresh. This weekend looks like a good time to venture into Parisian pastures new- starting Saturday with a visit to Furia for tacos and vino- with a bit of Manu Chao on the side. Happy Friday!
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