Goodbye 2021, but let’s not fool ourselves about 2022, chances that the next year is better are around slim to none in my predictometer.
Anyway, I’m on vacation (already halfway through, these things go too fast). Trying to be a good dad with more or less success. Trying to write stuff with more or less success. Sadly for you, I’m mostly into writing fiction these days. After more than a decade of not doing it, I felt that it was time to get back to it. I’m saying “sadly” because while my English is not too shabby, I don’t feel comfortable enough in the language to use it for writing fiction. So, in French it is. You can still learn the language. It’s not too late. Or if by any chance, you actually can read French, this is where the fun is: MetaStructure.Zone
Concerning the rest of my blogging activity, I have a few things for you.
I hope you didn’t have to spend Christmas alone - but to be honest I also kinda hope you did if not spending it alone required traveling, possibly spreading the virus, and all that. In any case, this reminded me of all the times I spent Christmas alone when I lived in the US, especially that one Christmas (2003?) which possibly was the worst Christmas of my life. You can read all of it there: “Spending Christmas alone.”
I also have an old Christmas postcard dating from the 1920s for you.
And if you’re craving France at the moment, I have something for you too.
A picture of Albi Cathedral, which is one seriously impressive building (I’ll show you more at a later date).
A more detailed post about Carcassonne Castle.
If you’re ever in the French South-West (the better South of France) these are two destinations you must add to the top of your list.
Not much about Japan. I just reposted in Setouchi Explorer the video I showed you the last time. Here it is again, in case you missed it: Naoshima Pavilion.
I’ll try to have more Art and Japan content in the next newsletter, but I’m not making any promises.
In the meantime, have a good end of the year. Stay safe. Please don’t travel, and just stay home for New Year’s. It’s a good year to try the Japanese-style new year’s eve: stay home and watch TV.
Unless you really don’t want this pandemic to ever end.
On a side note, I really like this AI-generated art, I may use this to illustrate my newsletter on a regular basis.
Cheers.
Wishing you and your family well, David. Also, I'd be interested in reading your stories. Is there an order to them or a way that is best to read them?