is an Australian mistranslation of Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, more commonly translated as The Lovers on the Bridge. It is an excellent film and this did make me laugh.

Pétanque, meaning ‘feet fixed’ or ‘foot planted’, is a game for the masses, born out of La Ciotat in Provence. So there was the first and then last game of pétanque this year and the ultimate feet fixing which is the last year at university. Le jeu est ouvert. The front is open, the game is on. As far as I’m aware this is a phrase they use during play.

Applying a statistical measure to this year I wonder how many cups of coffee I have drank, art galleries ambled through, how many films watched and skies blanketed in various stages of spritz consumption. Plot driven, narrative stricken moments of confidence, in a mélange with an undeniable lack of. There are some funny dating stories (honorary shout out to Hinge, you graced me a few too many times with your presence this year) and nights stayed up, almost always, too late. I now think frequently about this one sandwich shop in Marseille (Razzia), anchovies doused in oil and at what point of the year my hair was the perfect length (judged very accurately by BeReal memories). And the tale of the singular city: it was the best of times.

Coffee Date 
I suppose it’s true? 
Your intelligence unbridled,
mine rehearsed
On the threshold of a lesser
Or greater
And never the same 
understanding. 

It’s tiring no? 
Which is why we’re here 
as long as it lasts
for the coffee to cool. 

It’s funny no? 
Probably because 
It would be a fraction of the time occupied 
Thinking of the length and breadth and depth 

of the rim stained
Speckled with lipstick transferred
you didn’t notice. 
Did you ever? 

Thank you?
For paying your share
in this moment 
Seeing as I spent mine before.