le Lyonnais

Just before I left for Hong Kong, I went to dinner with a group of friends at L'Ouest - a restaurant run by local hero and national treasure Paul Bocuse. As expected, the food was first class. The company was good too and we managed to put the world to rights around the table. Many good friends were there, as well as a few people I had never met before.

The food eaten, wine drunk and bill paid, we prepared to leave. As I put on my coat, one of the 'inconnus', a Lyonnais guy called Martin, asked me if I wanted to share a beer on the way home. The restaurant is a bit out of town, and a forty-five minute walk from my place. But it's a pleasant walk along the river Saone and so I chose to walk rather than taxi. Martin, having arrived in a cab, agreed to walk back with me and we stopped off at a bar in Vaise for a couple of beers.

As he left my apartment the next morning, I wondered what I actually thought of this guy. He's short, but then I'm in the wrong country for leggy lovelies. He's opinionated, but again, this isn't the land of the shrinking violet. He smokes and drinks, and didn't shower before leaving. I think it may be love. ha ha.

The point is, that I always meet people just as I'm about to leave. And so I left for Hong Kong wondering if I'd see him again, but hoping I would.

I've been back in Lyon for two days now, and he's called me twice a day. I'm seeing him again tomorrow - he's cooking dinner for us. Who knows. Is this the start of something? Even if it's the end of something I'm happy. Back in the saddle, back off the shelf. For the time being, at least.