Books
- My first choices would be the full set of Harry Potter. But, being French, I’m very patriotic, so I would also choose the poems by Jacques Prevert (above), as they influence my writing. For a laugh, I would take the full collection of Stephen Clarke, who gives a perfect and funny picture of France from the eyes of a fictional Englishman who works for a French firm, based on his own experiences. To go back to Harry Potter, it has a special place as it accompanied me through my studies in Scotland, with my first line being read during my year of assistantship in Kirkintilloch, to the final line being read as a probationer teacher in Aberdeenshire.
Music
- For my Scottish part, I am a fan of Belle and Sebastian, particularly the album The Life Pursuit, which I bought on the day I was accepted to study teacher training at the University of Glasgow. The British part of me would choose the full complement of Pink Floyd, particularly The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, which I translated into French as a teenager. For my French part, I enjoy the stories sung by Benabar because they reflect reality with humour and precision - for instance, behind the soft facade of a lullaby, he voices what so many people feel when their children won’t go to sleep.
Film
- Being a 1980s kid, the full collection of Star Wars. But nothing will beat the romance and humour of French films, such as Delicatessen and Untouchable.
Special item
- Thinking about what I’d need on a desert island, teaching would not be complete without the help of my loyal green and hairy teddy bear, Zozo. I am sure he is more popular than me - everyone remembers his name, not mine.
