Sweet memories

“Youth would be an ideal state if it arrived a little later in life.” – Herbert Asquith

According to AARP, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones celebrated his 80th birthday last December and continues to rock. I reached the age of 85 myself on January 6 of this year, and like Keith, I aimed to show that we ‘oldies’ can still swing (mainly our arms).

So, I decided to throw a small party for my fellow Capricorns: Jacques Gautier, Jean-Claude Bunand, and myself. The challenge with these birthdays is their timing in January—right in the heart of winter when daylight is limited, and the mood for celebration a bit subdued.

It seemed that our pétanque court, equipped with picnic tables and ample parking space, would be the most convenient location for this little shindig.

In the past few days, I kept a close eye on the weather forecast and hoped for a decent day on either January 6 or 7. Thankfully, fate smiled upon me, granting me a sunny day on January 7. With the weather on our side, I promptly invited a group of people to join us for some Galettes des Rois, Champagne, and a bit of pétanque.

Around two dozen individuals responded positively, and last Sunday, we all gathered to celebrate our birthdays. Unfortunately, our dear friend Jacques Gautier could not attend due to serious health problems. Nevertheless, our thoughts were with him throughout the festivities.

The merriment started around noon, as we shared some tasty (albeit pricey) Galette des Rois and Champagne, along with a delectable ‘tarte aux pommes’ baked by Tamara. Sara Danielson and Mireille Di Maio found the lucky charms hidden within the galettes, earning themselves the titles of Queens for the day.

The remainder of the day was dedicated to playing pétanque. Despite the brisk (but sunny) weather, everyone had a great time.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, to share food, drinks, camaraderie, and the joy of pétanque.

Alain

Practical advice from Sabine Mattei:
“If all the toilets in your house are occupied and you’re waiting for one to become free, try turning off the Wi-Fi.”

PS: Due to a lack of time, I have only a few pictures to share. Sorry

The soulless abomination of self-service

In ancient times, the self-service concept was non-existent—an unthinkable and probably forbidden practice. When individuals required something, they’d request assistance, and an attendant would present the item. A courteous and skilled attendant often led to successful sales.

Today, however, the landscape is vastly different. The invasion of so-called “self-service” permeates stores and institutions, often leaving customers frustrated and angry.

Yesterday, after completing errands at a Corte Madera shopping mall, I longed for a cup of coffee and a light snack… an exercise easier said than done.

Firstly, America isn’t particularly renowned for its fancy cafés. A genuine café is a place to unwind, relax, decompress… yet Americans seem to have little use for such environments. Relaxation isn’t a core aspect of American life; movement or activity seems essential for happiness. The concept of “farniente” (the sweetness of doing nothing) so loved by Europeans, is considered suspicious—not to be trusted or used.

Consequently, there are presently few pleasant leisurely spots in America. Yesterday though, we stumbled upon Boudin, an establishment with a reassuringly French name, hinting at authenticity. Boudin, ostensibly a boulangerie-café, offered bread, croissants, etc., and a promise for relaxation.

Regrettably, over the years Boudin has lost its convivial way. At some point, a bad marketing decision led to the implementation of a self-service system, and Boudin morphed into a soulless, grey McDonald ‘s-esque operation.

“Self-checkout is detrimental as more retailers lose the personal touch. Customers yearn for businesses where they are known and communicated with.”  Debbie Allen.

The original Boudin, founded in 1849 by Isidore Boudin, once offered exceptional food and service, but this ethos no longer holds due to the ill-thought implementation of “self-service.” There is no joy at Boudin anymore.

Customers now grapple with an unfamiliar and unfriendly software system hindering quick goal accomplishment. The cherished human touch is now conspicuously absent from this establishment.

What happened to the age-old mantra, “the customer is king”? With this new practice, customers find themselves relegated back to humiliating serfdom.

The soulless abomination of self-service must be eliminated.
Boycott this dreary marketing practice and bring back the warmth of the human touch in business.

Alain

With the cooperation of ChatGPT

A few days ago, a message from Cynthia Hendricks, affectionately known as ‘the lady with the ski poles, popped up in my mailbox, inquiring if I was still at the helm of Cochonnetmarin.com

Indeed, Cynthia, I am, albeit at a more measured pace, engaging in an experimental partnership with ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformers).

Presently, my inclination to write has dwindled. Fueled by the cheering of irresponsible leaders, numerous extremist groups worldwide are goaded into acts of violence and aggression against their neighbors. Isn’t it clear to them that such senseless brutality only begets retaliation, perpetuating a cycle of more violence? Even a young child in kindergarten comprehends this principle: “Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête.”

Like many of my contemporaries, I hold strong democratic views, but I refrain from fruitless controversies on my blog. What purpose would it serve? It would merely add fuel to an already blazing firestorm.

In the evenings, my anticipation of being uplifted by TV news is routinely disappointed. Instead of enlightenment, what unfolds is an unrelenting procession of tragedies—a cacophony of conflicts, wars, and calamities. It’s not the content I wish to witness or absorb.

My good spirits hinge upon witnessing ordinary acts of kindness or courage. I yearn to witness “La Vie en Rose,” an existence colored by optimism, rather than perpetually engulfed by grim news.

When tired of American channels, I turn to TV5 Monde, a French broadcasting outlet. Its content seems to place less emphasis on gore and violence in its daily broadcasts. I don’t wish to be oblivious to the grim realities of murder and violence worldwide, but I refuse to be overwhelmed by them.

Reflecting on it, the cause of these predicaments is rooted in ignorance, poverty, and inequality. These issues could be easily eradicated if a fraction of the billions spent on wars and destruction were channeled into construction and restoration.

Hence, Cynthia, you’ve heard little from me lately. But when peace prevails in places like Ukraine or the Middle East, just like the Phoenix, I might resurrect and resume writing once more.

Alain

PS: I find ChatGPT rather pompous and try to tame it as much as possible.