I needed help translating part of Tessa's story (below), so I posted this phrase on Facebook–and chose Joy's lively entry. Then Jean-Marc recorded another entry… and Olivier suggested a word replacement or two. Oups! Many chefs in today's post.
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TODAY'S WORD: bavarder
: to chat, talk, chatter
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Malgré Thomas, qui n'arrêtait pas d'aboyer et de pleurnicher, on a bien bavardé.
-Translation by calligrapher Joy Fairclough– with help from Olivier Hermon
ECOUTEZ – Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the example sentence in French: Download Bavarder
Néanmoins, entre les pleurnichements et les aboiements de Thomas, nous avons bien bavardé, sans arrêt.
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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
(The following post was written by Tessa Baker)
I have just come back from Kristi’s house in St Cyr-sur-Mer, my little dog Thomas made what was meant to be a tranquil trip with dear friends into a manic frenetic trip. How can a small dog turn life upside down to such a degree I had to cut my visit in half? In short his overwhelming desire to leap about and have fun with Smokey was less than peaceful, and whenever we tried putting either one of them in another room or outside Thomas made such a noise about it, we were being driven to distraction!
Still, in between Thomas whining and woofing we managed to chat, pretty well non stop. That's what we do when we haven’t see each other for a while. There is something so magical about a long friendship that has blossomed and grown over the years. That special feeling that we have when we know that the other person knows us a least as well if not better than we know ourselves. That special feeling we have when we know and feel safe, so safe in the other person's love for us that we know we are loved unconditionally, where ever we are, whatever we are doing and how ever we are being.
The magic or even the jewel of a friendship that has blossomed and grown over the years is that we can listen to one another with out judging, that we can tell each other truths without anger and that we can leave one another’s company loving each other more than before if it is possible. I always come away from Kristi and Jean-Marc feeling this way. My dear friends who I will love always.
I am home now, and Thomas, exhausted, is lying asleep in his chair and I am writing this little piece for Kristi. We were discussing blogs and blogging and comme d’habitude I was bemoaning the fact that I don’t get very many readers and don’t know how to get myself out there more. Kristi said “Well Tess, it’s simple you just have to blog more and make it interesting.” Well it is simple really. So it is my resolution to blog more and make it more interesting. Thank you Kristi I shall start thinking of a good blog for Saturday and I will dedicate it to you. Make sure you read it!!
Tess's blog: click here
Tess's website: Painting Trips in Provence
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Bavarder surely translates as: To gossip, no?
Bonne année!
Terry Kelleher
Thank you dearest Kristi. I love Jean-Marcs translation and that you put this on your blog. I am honoured!
Bavardé not bavarder
Thank you all for a lovely blog. Dare I say – and please put that plant pot down NOW! – that I think it should be: on a bien bavardé and also nous avons bien bavardé – i.e. past tense/paticiple. How very impertinent of me to correct but I know/think that many readers and fans – like me – use your blog as a useful and very good model of French – which it definitely is and thank you. Best wishes from Margaret
I have a suggestion for Tessa. I went to her blog page and did not see any way to subscribe to her blog. She needs to do something like what you have Kristi with your page coming into my email. If there is a subscription area, it is not readily apparent nor available. This would make a big difference in the lack of traffic that is an issue for her.
Tessa’s post resonates with me .I have such a friend .We have known each other since the age of 3 & are now both in our eighties .She lives in the UK & I live inFrance ,which makes no odds .We are there of reach other through thick & thin .
I agree with Tessa ,how do we get regular access to her blog ?
Did I miss the translated sentence, French to English?
Hi, Trina. It is at the very top of the blog, as the opening image.
Shouldn’t bavarder be in the passé composé? Bavardé?
Looks like you had a beautiful day for your visit. How is JM elbow?
JM’s elbow is much better, thanks – good enough to help him prune all the grapevines. It’s that time of year.
Your friend is so very talented and loved her mother dearly. If one has a beautiful heart it will manifest itself. Speaking of mothers and daughters, how is Jackie?
Yes. Thank you all for the correction.
Jackie is good, thank you. Still a bit tired. She is home for the weekend, studying for her fashion and design exams.
Love that little dog! Must be hard to keep him quiet as he’s so cute. I too treasure my long-time friends who go back 50+ years. Glad JM is improving.
Our dear Kristi,
Your post today wrapped us in hugs,especially to know that dear Jackie and JM are improving!
Friendship is such a special grace;the one you share with Tess(and adorable Thomas!)reminds us to stop and give thanks for the treasured people in our own lives.
My oldest friend,really by now like my sister,and I go back 65 years.
Hard to imagine where the time has gone,but as Eleanor Roosevelt said,every day is a gift,that’s why it’s called the present.
Blessings and prayers always.
Love
Natalia. xo
Oh,yes! How did I miss that!? Thank you.
I totally agree with you, that is what I was looking for after reading some of her blog.
I went to Tessa’s page from her post above. The top line in large print says Join my newsletter for free enter your e-mail address (in the white box) Subscribe Now
If that was a problem, it is not one now. Tessa and her painting classes, it is the same person? The little dog makes the big noise, so it always goes.
Ah oui, I was one of the cooks. ☺ My original sentence was “on a bien tchatché” but Kristi’s friend Olivier suggested changing the word to bavarder, and it looks like it slipped in there without being conjugated. Sneaky little French verbs! 😉
Olivier says “tchatcher” is maybe too “sudiste” — a southern term for chat which perhaps wouldn’t be understood everywhere. I love halftime in Paris now, but like Kristi, I’m a fille du sud. 🙂
*live* half-time in Paris now, that is. 😉
So glad to hear Jackie and Jean-Marc are doing well. Love Tessa’s story today and will check out her blog as well.
xoxo
I’ve been following your blog for years and today for the first time when I got down to the bottom of the page I noticed you use Feedblitz from right here in my small home town of Sudbury,MA. Now there’s something to bavarder about.
The trick for not making the bavarder / bavardé mistake is to substitute the verb “finir”. One would never say: on a bien finir. Hence, use past participle not infinitif!
Hello, KRISTI,
To me, you have become the Julie to Julia Child’s Julia…
With each blog, you transport me to a place where I may or may not wish to go,
but always cause me to reflect upon and confront my own successes, failures, and those fleeting and somewhat trivial matters and tribulations which remind me that we are all a work in progress until our final page is written.
You have a God-given gift of reaching the SOULS or your followers, so please never abandon your blog!
Bons voeux et bon courage!
Francine
Néanmoins, entre les pleurnichements et les aboiements de Thomas, nous avons bien bavarder, sans arrêt. Why is the translation of this sentence from your blog?
I went to Tessa’s Jan 23rd blog entry and was able to log in there and leave a comment, and checked off wanting to receive the next entry by email, so I think I’m set up to get it … What gorgeous paintings…
Beautiful dog!
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