Au Cochonnet Marin

“The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.”

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Life is unpredictable.

All the weather forecasters were formal: it was going to rain on Sunday.
In that case, instead of participating in the last tournament of the season (and getting soaked), I decided to forgo that event and stay home to count my bullions.

As a matter of fact, when I looked outside that morning, I noticed that the pavement was wet. Even my crazy cat seemed reluctant to go out.
So it was settled: I was not going to play.

My wife and I went to the Rustic Bakery for breakfast and later on went grocery shopping.
On our way back, we decided to stop by the pétanque court to see how many fools were willing to put up with the heralded rain.
There were not many.
When they saw me though, they tried to change my mind. Come and play with us they said, we need you, pleeeaaase…

To make a long story short, they coerced me into playing (which considering my weak will and my love for the game was not very difficult).

At 10:00 a.m. when I checked the board to see who my teammate was going to be, my heart sank. My partner’s name was Jinx (can you believe that?) or Jencks as it was spelled (probably in error).

I am a somewhat superstitious person, and I thought that this did not augur well for the day. Was I jinxed from the outset?

The plucky contestants were as follows:

1. Alain Efron & Nancy Jencks
2. Joss Krauer & Charlie Davantes
3. Henry Wessel & Larry Cragg
4. Christine Cragg & Susan Wyatt
5. Francois Moser & Eva Lofaro
6. Bernard Passemar & Claudie Chourré
7. Bijan Guilyardi & Calvert Barron
8. Noel Marcovecchio & Helga Facchini

Two games were to be played before lunch and two games after.

On our first game we started badly. At one time we were led 1 to 7 but we rallied and won the game 13/11.
Then we won the second game 13/4.
Was fate teasing me?

In spite of my initial apprehension, Nancy’s rather unorthodox style seemed to work on our bone-dry field and she pointed very well the rest of the tournament.
After  lunch we won our two next games 13/10 and 13/4 respectively for a total of 4 victories.

As they say in cheap novels, the rest is history.
And it didn’t rain at all!

Late in the afternoon, among lusty cheers we were crowned the winners and pocketed our cash. I graciously signed a few autographs, pushed back some groupies and went home.
And that was the (dry) day that was!

Final results:

1^st place: Alain Efron & Nancy Jencks
2^nd place: Henry Wessel & Larry Cragg
3^rd place: Bernard Passemar & Claudie Chourré

Alain

 PS: The totality of the tournament proceeds was splurged on the winners.

To look at some photos of this event and listen to the accompanying background music, turn your computer’s sound on, and click on the link “My Photos” located on the right side of this page. For best viewing, go “Full Screen”.

This is my victory dance (compliments of Carolina Jones:

In my house I never have to worry about anything.

Whenever I need a question answered I ask my mate.
She is all seeing, all knowing. In one word she is omniscient.

I don’t know how she acquired her fabulous knowledge, but she has a ready-made answer for everything.

Personally, when somebody asks me something, I am fairly cautious with my response. Tamara is not! She just knows!
Where did she get her mastery of the world?
From her ever-present computer tablet? (she sleeps with it) or from the entrails of chickens?
I don’t know, but I know that she knows that I know.

The other day I asked Siri an innocent question.
Ask Tamara, she said rather abruptly. Oh oh…
Catfight?

I don’t know how polygamists manage to deal with their concubines.

Paradoxically my wife is the most indecisive person I have ever known. She is totally unable to make an on-the-spot decision.
She needs to mull over the various possibilities and consequences before committing to anything.
She just cannot be rushed.

Personally I have learned that it is futile to argue with an haruspex.

For a while I thought that if I plied her with drinks, I could get the best of her, but drinks make her even more contentious.
The only way that I could win (?) an argument would be to debate her in French. She does not speak that language and I should be able overpower her with my solid arguments.
But I am pretty sure that she would counterattack in Russian and wear me down just like her comrades did in Stalingrad.

I cannot risk that gambit. I am just buying my time.

Revenge is sweet and not fattening. Alfred Hitchcock

Alain

 

In Mexico, November 1^st is traditionally known as Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). In the rest of Christendom it is celebrated as All Saints’ Day.

“The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.”

Last night at dinner I counted about 30 people, which is about half of our total membership. Does it mean that half of the club kicked the bucket?
No, some people simply chose not to attend to express their displeasure with the chosen venue.

Le Chalet Basque has some good things going for it (central location, easy parking, private room) but inspired cooking is not one of them.
The food is bland and sorely lacks originality.
Our tasting buds (at least mine) need to be satisfied and so far they are not.

Last night, the food still lacked pizazz but the service (orchestrated by a single waitress) was excellent.
This waitress is a pro and deserves a medal.

The annual dinner/meeting is a good idea. It is a way for club members to socialize and get to know other people and their (seldom seen) mates more intimately.
Yesterday I enjoyed talking to Noel Marcovecchio who as a former (repented) barrister proved to be an entertaining conversationalist.

After dinner, Christine Cragg (our steadfast president) gave a short State of the Union address.
I think that our union is fairly strong but (like vampires) we need new (young) blood.
We could loiter around high schools and proposition young people… but on second thought it might look a little suspicious.
Anyway, we need to find a way to attract more energetic people.

After thanking numerous deserving members for their help throughout the year, Christine Cragg told us that Brigitte Moran accepted to be part of our Board of Directors.
An excellent bit of news.

We were extremely lucky this year to snag Herb and Brigitte Moran. Their dynamism and good cheer is propelling our club to new heights. And the best is yet to come.

At the end of the dinner, people signed a book (Pétanque Memories) that will be sent to our dear friend Colette Van Der Meulen who is presently feeling a bit under the weather.

Get well quickly Colette, we miss your smile and your contagious laughter.

Alain

PS: Go to “My Photos” to watch the few pictures I (hurriedly) snapped last night.

Watch the following video in “Full Screen”.