Sorry for the delay in response. Christmas, et cetera. I also spent my youth abroad (well; if you can call my past "my youth" when I am still rather young) but I have the sense from your letter that you were traveling, while I was not. I was raised in the South of France with my father; it's fashionable I think for English men to marry French wives but my parents were unfashionable and did the opposite. In any case, I've now come to England to live with my sister while my father's house is entirely remodeled, and apparently nothing at all of interest happens in this country in the winter. Between that and not knowing anyone here, I've found myself quite lonely. That's my excuse — and now that I've shared it, what's yours?

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