For whom the bells tolled, pealed and madly so ...

The Cathedrale Saint-Etienne was very close to our house, possibly the tallest structure in Meaux and can be seen from miles around. It has a bell tower which clangs to announce - you would think - the hour? Well, it rang at 1/4 past every hour, 10 minutes before every hour and sometimes much more than the hour it was supposed to announce! I'd catch myself gnashing my teeth ever so often and then stop as these were after all god's bells.

I lived in Meaux for two years around 2003 - 2004.

A different sort of red kolkata

 Somewhere on Middleton Row, Kolkata. Panes missing, somewhat derelict but still beautiful 

The morning crossword

The morning crossword.

Lil sis gets through it first. Then I fill in the blanks. And between the two of us, we solve the crossword each morning. Or we used to.

For as long as I can remember, she always had the first go. Even on those rare days she would not, I'd feel guilty filling in a totally blank one. First rights after all. 

 

How strange it is to find a blank crossword.I find myself starting each morning. 

 

Then I remember, there is only me now. Lil sis has flown the coop. 

 

Seemingly small and insignificant rituals become so enormously important. 

Missing you in so many ways!