14.35 - The many emotions that can land upon us in September in France
In this FREE edition of le Bulletin newsletter you'll find an exploration of la rentrée... is it a time to panic, or just flag a fresh start opportunity...different people... different reactions. You?
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Judy - 7.9’24
“All the months are crude experiments,
out of which the perfect September is made.”
Virginia Woolf
1. “Belle rentrée !” Wishing you well!
This last week I’ve been immersed in seemingly endless quantities of lovely writing about the season: the changes… some lamenting, some rejoicing, and others caught in a nerve-racking la rentrée panic… you see, not everyone loves La Rentrée. But what is it exactly?
Now its time to spend some time enjoying how others view this time of year: September.
a) Wishing you all a luminous rentrée by Mary Fleming
…la rentrée is now upon us.” author Mary Fleming writes in her recent post “Aglow”…
The days are noticeably shorter, and there's often a sharp hint of autumn in the air.”…
…The bigger picture in France creeps back into view as the summer truce in the political wars that followed snap legislative elections in July comes to an end. President Emmanuel Macron is looking for a new prime minister like a spoiled, finicky child poking at his vegetables…”
Says Mary Fleming, author of the new book Civilisation Française and other wonderful reads.
b) What is le Rentrée? Véronique explains this & French schools… [note & article]
c) To some la rentrée brings - clarity, courage & calm
Carrie Anne James offers French lessons and more under her brand ‘French is Beautiful’ in Paris ←Find out more here.
When we say bonne rentrée (I prefer belle rentrée) in French, we are expressing any of the following: may your transition back to work be gentle, may taking up work again not be too stressful, may the start of your classes go well, may you enjoy reconnecting with (or meeting) your classmates, may you like your teachers, for example. “
We say and receive and hear bonne rentrée from mid-August to mid-September en France (in France), but most often during the last week of August and the first week of September. In July, we begin to say à la rentrée (at la rentrée) and bonnes vacances (have a good vacation) as we start to put work projects on hold and to say seasonal farewells to friends, going our fleetingly separate ways for summer adventures, whether those adventures take us far away from chez nous (home) or not. “
The distance traversed in the adventure of the pause (break) of les grandes vacances is not important; it is the distance that we cover in our inner world that we dream of each year, eagerly awaiting l’été (summer).”
One never comes back the same person à la rentrée.”
…writes Carrie Anne in her most recent newsletter.
d) Capturing the season: Farewelling August & dreaming of Bordeaux by of - [a note]
e) September is one of my most favourite times for photography by Stasia Schmidt : [a note only]
*Editor’s note: “This stunning image caught my eye and I share it even though it’s not in France: “Judy MacMahon
f) Coastal walks in September - The Iconic Riviera
These walks can be undertaken at any time of the year… but September… well… it’s just perfect. C’est parti ! let’s go.
g) “I never want to wish time away but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled to sense autumn in the air…” wrote the author as she announced a live writing circle.
h) And finally… A bunch of quotes about autumn
Below are some comments that appeared under the Beth Kempton post/note I featured above… In my view, they warrant re-posting… to share how others see/feel autumn. Do you agree?
Rachel Goddard - Create with nature
The wheel of the year is turning, I'm liking the slightly chilly mornings and the occasional need for a fleece. Glad I can make this writing circle live, as was travelling for the first.” wrote Rachel Goddard
Regan Roberts - Regan Writes Stuff
I'm excited by the fact that it's soon to be autumn too. I woke up this morning and noticed that the leaves are starting to change colour and fall. Of a late afternoon the shadows are longer and the night draws in quicker all the time. I love the autumn. It's my favourite time of the year.” wrote Regan Roberts
Matthew Sutcliffe - The Fertile Void Café
Autumn is here early and my heart knows it’s so you can enjoy it sooner.
I could say you made me write my heart.
My heart knows that you released my art.” wrote Matthew sutcliffe
Merci mille fois
Thank you to all of the writers and photographers I have featured above. Your observational skills and photographic and writing talent are impressive. Thank you for drawing us into your life.
2. New articles in My FrenchLife Magazine — Let’s explore & read…
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Here are the most recently published articles.
Escapades:
1.→ An early Spring Day in the Haut Var, Provence: Tourtour — Part 3/3
by Susanne Vidal
Arts & Culture - Film:
2.→ Film Review: Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros
by Cynthia Karena
Vie Francaise:
3.→ When is a Walking Stick, not a Walking Stick?
by Jacinta Bayard
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Here she is after 60 days - a total of 1300 km to the summit of #coldugrandbernard and downhill from the summit.
Have you ever completed such a challenge?
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Judy MacMahon
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That was a joy to read Judy despite my week ‘la rentrée’ at a tiny école primaire (privée quand même) in the Aveyron which was so far removed from any one of the beautiful telling mentioned in any of these posts!
Thank you so much for sharing - maybe next year I will have the same experience! X