Variety pack

Having a massive colony of pigeons living in the bell tower next door has its downsides, but it has allowed me to appreciate the differences in plumage. My favourite is the one with brown wings and a royal purple breast (fluffed up and having a snooze here).

I have left the house in the past couple of days, despite the cold, but somehow not taken any photos. And this one was taken without leaving the house.

On Tuesday I went for lunch and a catchup with B. She is off on a two-week trip to Argentina in a week's time. She's very excited ... she remembers her seafaring Welsh father and grandfather telling her stories about their visits, and what's more Welsh is an official language of Argentina! Although she suspects it has diverged considerably from Welsh Welsh over the years. It sounds like a strenuous trip, from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and many points between. Looking at the atlas brought home just what a huge country it is. But it's all organised and she's going with a group and a leader she's travelled with several times before.

Last night I went to the Centre Culturel to see FugaCités, a show choreographed by Mourad Merzouki. His name is enough to make it a must-see.  Just over a year ago we saw his show Folia, and this is part of the same collaboration with baroque ensemble the Concert de l'Hôtel Dieu. It is on a smaller scale than Folia -- five musicians, one hiphop dancer, one slam poet, and a "human beatbox". I particularly enjoyed the human beatbox who made percussion with plosive sounds and a mike held close to his lips -- but also birdsong, and a brief bit of trumpet. Much of his section was in darkness illuminated by torches and abstract images projected onto the backdropThere's a sample here. And the dancer here. Wasn't so keen on the somewhat pretentious poetry, but it was an enjoyable evening. In the crowded theatre I inadvertently sat down next to someone I know who I thought wasn't speaking to me but it turned out she was, and we had a good chat :)

As for today ... hiding from the ice-cold wind at home!