... The Life of a French lad in Scotland ...

I love winter!

Je ne saurais sans doute jamais pourquoi j'aime autant l'hiver, mais une chose est sûre c'est que l'Ecosse est le pays de rêve pour tous ceux qui n'aiment pas la châleur comme moi! L'été dernier, le plus chaud a été 21°C pendant seulement 2 jours et le reste de l'été il n'y a pas fait plus de 19°C!

Normalement, l'hiver n'est pas très froid, mais cet hivers c'est du -11°C, donc génial!

I will probably never know why I love winter so much but one thing for usre, Scotland is definitely the place to be if you don't like heat! Last summer, hotest temp was 21°C and for only 2 days, the rest of the summer being under 19°C! Paradise.

Winter this year is around -11°C. Love it...

   

Photos ont été prise sur mon lieu de travail à IBM // Pictures taken at work, IBM

One of the best christmas present...

I usually don't put anything personal on this blog as the purpose of it is just for my familly abroad to see pictures of Scotland, but this time I break the rule! My good friend Jamie has painted a... well painting and has offered it to me as a christmas present.

This is one of the best christmas present ever! I love it, and it goes super well on my red wall in the living wall!

Thanks Jamie!

Flooding again! Scotland is not used of water apparently!

Don't get me wrong, I love Scotland, but there's something I don't quite get! Everytime there's a little bit of water falling down on us, it's like if Scotland discover it! Paisley was, again, under water and roads were closed! IT'S JUST WATER and it rains like 364 days a year here! COME ON PEOPLE!

Are Australians surprised by the sun? Are Swedish surprised by snow? is Bush surprised by his own stupidity? No!

 

... Glasgow Fireworks ...

Juste une petite vidéo de feux d'artifices de Glasgow. Feux d'artifices pendant 2 semaines tous les soirs!

Just a short video of fireworks in Glasgow

Talk about Flooding!?

Une petite tempête nous a surpris cette nuit! Et à Greenock (là où je bosse, non pas là où je vis), tout était innondé! Donc pas de train, les bus affolés, résultat, je suis arrivé 1h30 en retard au boulot.

What in the world is this? I'm angry at Scotland! It's raining like 300 days a year and when it does rain more than 3 hours in a row, it's like Scotland is surprised!!! WHAT???? Scotrail obviously have not discovered water proof trains yet as everytime it rains they're like "oh my god, we're dyiiiiing"...

       

Glasgow Tour with Jamie & Clare... Lots of Fun!

Avec Clare & Jamie, nous avons décidé de faire le tour de Glasgow! Ca fait maintenant plus de 2 ans et demi que je suis à Glasgow et je ne l'avais toujours pas visité, préférant aller plus au nord. Je ne regrette pas, nous nous sommes vraiment bien marré et avons vu des lieux vraiment beaux.

With Clare & Jamie, we decided to go on a Glasgow Tour! I've been living in Glasgow for 2 years and a half and hadn't visited Glasgow yet always wanting to go up north. I don't regret visiting Glasgow, it was awesome and we had so much fun. We still have things to visit though..

 

Glasgow City on a tourist bus:

   

Glasgow Cathedral :

                    

On this next video, watch Jamie's face at the end looking at the paintings!

At the Italien restaurant (great great food) in the Merchant City:

 

Glasgow Science Center:

         

Jamie (again!) playing with a "Handburger". Luckily, a cheeky brat came so we were able to make a deilicous "handburger"!

The GLENLEE (Tall ship at Glasgow Harbour)

            

Jamie was not nice so I made him wash the deck! It doesn't shine yet Jamie!

        

View of Glasgow from the Boat

    

Glasgow University:

I didn't take many pictures of the Uni because we didn't stay long and Clare said she would be my guide for a mor extensive visit later...

 

On the return to Glasgow City Center, we took the tourist bus again and had the pleasure to have a "special" guide on the bus! Was she drunk? Was she drugged? Did she watch too many "Holywoaks" espidoes? We will never know... But I had to take a video of her! WE LOVE YOU MRS BUS TOUR GUIDE!

Me, Myself & I...

J'ai revu des vidéos de moi à l'université aux US (piano, car la vidéo Grandes-Orgues a été tournée en France) où j'étais étudiant en musicologie. Rien de bien spécial, puisque non seulement c'était ma première année, mais en plus, c'était après la fin des cours en mai, donc pas beaucoup de concentration, mais bon....

Decided to put online 2 vidéos of me playing piano & pipe organ. Not that I'm the greatest player ever, but it's funny to see me playing again. The piano video was filmed during my freshman year at the uni in the US and the pipe organ one was filmed in France in 1997 I think in one of Bordeaux's catholic church.

BIG GIVE AWAY AT CHURCH

Big Give Away aujourd'hui à mon église! Beaucoup d'animations, un barbecue, un château gonflable, beaucoup de cadeaux (1 pour chaque personne qui venait nous rendre visite), 2 concerts, peinture sur corps, marionettes etc... Une très belle journée malgré la pluie, des gens heureux, que du bonheur...

Big Give Away at church today! A lot of fun, a barbecue, a bouncing castle, presents for each and every person who came, 2 concerts, body painting, Puppet show etc... A beautiful day despite the rain (but again.. this is Scotland), people happy....

CAR WASH:

BARBECUE:

GIFTS, BOUNCING CASTLE, BODY PAINTING, PUPPET SHOW, YOUTH BAND:

 

### American friends over ###

Des gens de l'association "Convoy of Hope" (Convoie de l'espoir) sont venus repeindre notre église cette semaine. J'en ai hébergé un, John de Floride. Ils sont presque tous Américains mais vivent pour la plupart en Europe, Belgique pour être précis (Bruxelles). De supers moments, beaucoup de fous rires. Nous sommes allé à Luss Dimanche dernier se promener, sur les bords du Loch Lomond, au sud des Highlands. Vraiment magnifique....

People from Convoy of Hope Europe came to do some work on our Church for 1 week. 1 of them was sleeping at the house during the week, John, from Florida living in Belgium. Most of them are Americans but living in Europe. A lot of joy, lots of laughs, it was so great to have them here. On sunday, we went to Luss, on Loch Lomond's shores. It was really magnificient and I think they loved it. How could they not anyway? We will miss the Convoy of Hope guys.... Great people, Great times....

CONVOY OF HOPE:

From Bottom left to bottom right: Barbara (LWCC), Mindy (Convoy of Hope), Joan (Convoy of Hope), Suzan (LWCC), Michael (President of Convoy of Hope Europe), Me, John (Convoy of Hope) and Graeme (LWCC)

Barbara, Joan & Mindy at Xcape in Paisley....

From left to right: Me, Joan, John, Graeme, Barbara & Mindy

 

 

LUSS:

 

VIDEOS Of LUSS:

My Brand New Flat

Beh voilà, j'ai ENFIN déménagé pour revenir à Paisley (10min du centre de Glasgow). Appart très moderne, bien sympa, calme et je ne suis pas beaucoup plus loin en temps d'IBM qu'avant car j'ai un train direct (IBM a sa propre gare ferroviaire). Je suis maintenant à 3min à pied de l'église donc ça aussi c'est bien. Que du bonheur! J'ai aussi un énorme garage ou je peux entreposer mes cartons et ça, ça n'a pas de pris! J'ai fini de tout installer, j'ai donc pris quelques photos et 1 vidéo...

At last, I moved to my brand new flat in Paisley (10min away from Glasgow City Center). Very modern & calm flat. i'm still 30min away from IBM only because IBM has its own train station. 3min walk from church, all good! The flat goes along with a big garage as that's very handy. I finished unpacking today so I took pics and 1 video....

Entrée / Hall:

 

Placard / Cupboard:

Chambre 1 (chambre d'amis) / Bedroom 1 (Guest room):

Chambre 2 (ma chambre) / Bedroom 2 (mine):

Salon / Lounge:

Vue depuis le salon / View from the lounge:

Cuisine / Kitchen:

VIDEO: