Au Cochonnet Marin

Most of us live in a bubble called the “comfort zone”. That’s where people and things are familiar, and where we feel most anxiety-free.

But changes are unavoidable, and the transition from the comfort of our bubble to some unknown territory can be difficult and stressful. It is therefore better to embrace a new paradigm early than to fight an angry and futile rear-guard battle.

For the last 2 or 3 years I have been using an Apple application to produce this website, but due to fact that this program will soon be obsolete, I have decided to migrate to another piece of software.

As I said, changes can be painful and I am now compelled to tackle an unfamiliar program and relearn once familiar routines. It is not easy and (like Saint Michael) I am struggling to tame the dragon.

But the most satisfying undertakings in life are self-taught; when you are not coerced to walk in step and when instead, you take it upon yourself to learn and master a new discipline.

That’s why at “la rentrée” (when people in France–including government- are returning home after a long summer vacation) this website will have a new look. It will be more functional, easier to navigate, and have among many new features an “archival” capability. It means that you will be able you to look at articles, editorials, etc. that were published in the past and are not accessible on this site anymore.

Mastering a new program can be an arduous task and I am still struggling with a few features. But I am an obstinate bastard and the recalcitrant components are falling in line one by one.

I hope that very shortly now you will be able to feast your eyes on my new blog.

In the meantime, share this site with your friends and keep comments and suggestions coming. It is always greatly appreciated.

Hasta la vista!

Alain

 

 

Glücklich, chanceux, lucky, afortunado, udashni…

The word “lucky” exists in most languages and has many disciples. People who believe and pray for happy accidents.

Luck is this indefinable quality that brings good fortune upon somebody by chance, rather than through one’s own deliberate actions.

Be it in sports, finance, love, war, being lucky is a blessing that few can do without. Being accomplished at something is good, but being lucky is definitely better. All successful people have one day been enormously lucky.

But luck is a fickle lady. She has to be wooed properly. One date is not sufficient to win her heart. If you want more luck, you have to be more proactive and be more willing to take chances. “Luck, like the old Trabant car, generally only works if you push it. “

In pétanque for instance, in order to win, it is better to take a chance on a risky shot rather than to concede a point, for Lady Luck smiles upon the audacious. If you miss your target the Lady might be willing to grant you a few bonus points just for trying.

And you cannot win at the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.

Luck has also something to do with being in the right place at the right time.

Seneca (Roman philosopher), wrote, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

As an amateur photographer I try to always carry a camera with me, for you never know when the “one-in-a-thousand” shot is going to pop up. If a magnificent rainbow suddenly appears, you better be ready to bag it.

Like a flighty woman, Lady Luck will give you only a small window of opportunity to take advantage of her benevolent mood.

If you are not ready, you won’t be lucky.

To conclude:

“I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you dislike?” Jean Cocteau

Alain

 

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A few days ago, somebody I knew fairly well passed away.
I learned about it through an e-mail from my ex-wife.
Oddly enough it left me cold. It left me unmoved because our old bond withered and broke a long time ago.

But such is the way of relationships. Just like living things they live and die. When properly nurtured, they thrive. When neglected, they shrivel and disintegrate.

Relationships are born out of a common desire to share and enjoy similar interests. It could be food, art, sport, sex, anything that two people take pleasure in doing together.

But relationships are eminently fragile and fraught with perils.

As the French say:
« En amour Il y a toujours celui qui embrasse et celui qui tend la joue » (in love there is always one who kisses and one who offers the cheek).

After many kisses, one gets tired of getting the cheek.

Because relationships, regardless how neatly packaged, are always a trade. And to be durable, the balance of payments should be even.

Subconsciously or not, one keeps track of shared experiences.
If it is perceived that the relationship is lopsided, ties will fray and break.
If when going go to a restaurant with a friend, you always end up with the tab, a few strands of the rope will break.

Relationships are like tango: it takes two to do it properly.

The minute one seems to lose interest, it is up to the other person to sense it and to rekindle the romance. If it is not mended on a timely basis, the relationship, like an old hemp rope, will unravel and break.

And that’s what happened to my old connection. It seems that neither of us were keen to pursue a limping partnership, so we parted ways.

It happened a long time ago.

Now, no crocodile tears shed, just the fading memory of things past.

Alain

 

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