A few applications later followed by a good session of aerobics in my bedroom and I find myself thinking about university and the fact that I miss it more than usual. I really enjoyed studying for my degree in Linguistics, adored most of my tutors for whom I had the deepest admiration and now looking back at the past 3 years I wish I could still be there. The student life is a nice sheltered life, even for mature students like me who have to keep a job on the side and can't afford getting plastered on Skittles three times a week, all that paid for by the bank of mum and dad.
I miss how learning new facts made me feel and I miss the sheer satisfaction (pointless as it was) I would get from sharing interesting facts about language with my husband over dinner at night. It was good to know things that few people actually took the time to consider.
Less than a year later and I'm forgetting the once known by heart Principles A, B and C of the Government and Binding Theory or how the use of modals evolved after 1500. That once cherished knowledge is slowly being replaced with more practical skills such as how to write the perfect covering letter in order to show yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. Mind you, I haven't cracked that skill yet cos I'm still waiting for full-time employment to find me!
I know it's useless to look back and regret but I get a bit mellow at times and question my past choices. If I had the money I would register straight away either for an intergrated PhD or maybe a Master's. I believe life is about learning and when I get in that sort of miserable mood I need to focus on something else. I therefore baked a little chausson aux pommes as we call it in France with some remnants of puff pastry I had in the fridge. It's basically an apple turnover but calling it by its proper French name feels more appropriate.
A bit of apple and pear compote (a gift from my sister on her visit) a fold, and a bit of yolk with sugar for a lovely finish:
15 minutes in the oven...and a little heart to make it more personal.
(Note to self: my kitchen worktop is reminiscent of a grave I know, we need to move big time)
My dad loves nothing more than a chausson aux pommes for breakfast. I remember working in his firm over the summer when I was 18 or 19 and sometimes on our way to work in the morning we would stop at the baker's and get a pastry. I have always been partial to a croissant in the morning but would sometimes go for a pain au chocolat or brioche but my dad always had the same. We would eat in the car, smiling faces with oily fingers and pastry crumbs on our lap. The little things!
In addition to this bit of baking I also some meringues to go with some roasted fruit I am making for tonight as dessert but as they're not quite done it's another story for tomorrow. They looked good before they went in the oven...
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