My Word has this new weird thing called Copilot that pops up when you open a new document. I do not like it. Sam I am.
I’m not prepared today. I was hurrying the end of January along and distracted and on Saturday I did one of my flying trips up to London for the day.
Saw a friend I haven’t seen in almost a year. Did some other stuff and did some things-you-can’t-do-down-here shopping.
Anyway, we talk periodically about how many of us love train travel. Indeed. But making a 7 AM train can be a bit frazzling.
I drank my mint tea, watched the flooding on the Somerset levels, ate my cinnamon bun, and read. By the time we ended up in London I was happy to get off and meet Roza.
I love me a catch-up. Never know what you’ll find out.
And then wandered through Covent Garden. Attempt to get new-to-me macarons failed mightily as they came from a gelato shop and … what a surprise … were filled with gelato. So, no chance of getting those home without them melting into a mess.
Ended up at Laduree and a small box.
Then wandered along to Soho for proper bagels, not realising it was Chinese New Year celebrations. Which meant huge crowds and following google maps around hither and thither little streets.
Did get bagels in the end.
Then back to train station to discover the Kiehls shop had closed down. So, more mint tea, ate my little bag of nuts, picked up last food that you can’t find where I live and got on train.
And 10 minutes into return trip everything stopped. Someone trespassing on the tracks. It took another hour for said person to be whatevered: to run away, be escorted to safety, who knows. Not something they tell you.
Motored on home. Picked up car from station carpark. Drove through the night (that sounds very dramatic – I no longer like driving in the dark). Home, really hot shower, best sleep I’ve had in days. That’s what happens when you get up at 5:50 AM.
I wore Arpege for my adventures. I’m not completely sure why. I needed something sort of benign – that wouldn’t bother others and wouldn’t distract me. But that would smell good.
I find Arpege something of an enigma. I’ve had people say it smells boudoir, but I just find it classical and it can be soothing. It doesn’t shout but it has a presence.
Floral and resinous. Doesn’t punch you in the face. A thinking person’s fragrance?
See: unprepared. At least the rain has stopped for the next week. Plus, the dog has a spa appointment which will enable me to lounge about at the local bakery I love drinking chai lattes for an hour.
I could use a spa appointment too.
Pics: Pexels
Ha! I tried Copilot in Word just the other day, while writing a letter to a friend. Wrote the letter, then gave Copilot a prompt about the weather (I explained in the letter what I was doing.) Got some turgid prose about longing for spring etc. that makes me wonder if fragrance companies are using it 😀
I don’t think I can stomach trying something like that. Just makes me twitchy. However I can imagine a marketing department using it as a short cut and not proofreading what is puked up.
What a great day trip, Cinnamon! That sounds like a really lovely time. As I’ve mentioned before, Arpege was my signature scent for roughly a decade and will always be a favorite. Someone classified it as a woodsy floral, and I think that’s fair. The list of notes is long and includes all kinds of things. I just know that the blend is pleasing to me — it hold my interest and always seems beautiful and timeless.
It is a kitchen sink list. Complex, interesting, fascinating. Definitely timeless.
Was the Arpege modern or vintage? I have a vintage mini & a bottle of modern. Not too different to be fair.
Your trip sounds as good as a rest! Maybe one day I’ll get to get the train somewhere, anywhere to shop.
Per the guy on eBay I bought it from, vintage, but who knows what that means. Trip was good — was also for more serious purposes than bagels. There was a huge demonstration in Berlin over the weekend. That’s the reaction we need. Sounds like some retail therapy might be good for you.
I can buy online. It’s the being out & about I crave.
I love Arpege, but like Portia I don’t wear it much. I think of it as “confident” which is no bad thing. Your trip sounds wonderful, and your unprepared posts put mine, prepared or not, in the shade.
For me it’s not quite love. More enjoy and deep appreciation. I still need to have a good spray of the Clinique you described as witchy. Basis for a trip into town.
Hiya Cinnamon,
That sounds like a fairly perfect day. Did you happen to buy a gelato macron? Just to see what the fuss is about?
I love Arpege but hardly ever wear it. There’s a little vintage parfum around here somewhere too that is well preserved. It came to me unopened.
GAH! I miss London.
Portia x
It was a good day but no, no gelato macaron. Do it when it’s warmer. But definitely want to check it out. You should dig out the Arpege. I think it’s sort of surprising. And visit London! Yes, please. We can do central this time: Liberty, Selfridges, etc.
Yeah, I get the gelato in Summer, cool.
London was on the cards this year but we made other plans. We do have a couple of Paris days in March if you want to Chunnel over and lunch/perfume/art?
It would be wonderful to meet up but not going to happen. London occurred mostly because I went to join an anti-right wing demonstration with my friend and the other bits that I wrote about were extras. I can justify that sort of flying visit, what with all the house projects, but not going farther afield this year. I plan to be in Paris next year.
Let’s try and co-ordinate that