Late afternoon light over the rooftops

Friday
I've been missing for a while again - we were back in the U.S. over Thanksgiving, spending the holiday with our daughter, son-in-law and son in Houston, then we both came back with colds and I've been feeling really down and not like photography or blipping.
We were both at home today for a "cross-cultural training" session arranged by Roger's company, to help us adapt to life in France. It was somewhat late, since we have been in the country since July, but then nothing much happens in France in August and we were gone for two weeks anyway, and then we've had to reschedule it once or twice for one reason or another. Also, having spent ten years in France previously, we aren't as ignorant of French ways as people coming here for the first time. However, it was still an interesting and informative day. None of this support network was in place the last time we came (with the exception of language lessons) - it was sort of "sink or swim" back then! We just picked things up from other expats in the community as we went along, and Roger from his colleagues at work. The day got off to an embarrassing start as we overslept, waking at 8.15 instead of the 7.15 we had intended, and then to make matters worse, the lady doing the presentation arrived 30 minutes early - at 8.30 - we weren't even dressed yet! She had driven down from Senlis, northeast of Paris - a dreadful drive in rush hour, so she had left plenty of time! She went and sat in the car for about ten minutes while we rapidly made ourselves respectable and gulped down a bowl of cereal then, with some fresh coffee to wake us all up, we got started! There were two other contributors, one by phone and one in person, so they covered quite a bit of material between them.
Soon after she left I was looking out the window at the back and thought the late afternoon light falling on these autumn leaves and contrasting against the grey clouds was quite striking and worth a blip. This evening we went out to eat in Fontainebleau, and I was hoping we'd see some Christmas lights. However, while the lights were up they weren't turned on yet - apparently that happens tomorrow.

One year ago: Sparrow