Lonely Patrick

When I first saw Patrick, it was the day of his 60th birthday party and the day that I moved in to my flat. He's my next door neighbour.

I saw him at his door, when I came back from a local pub, feeling a bit tipsy and happy with my new flat. I asked the old man: "Are you the birthday king? Hello I've just moved in to your next door. Can I give you a kiss to wish you a happy birthday?" and he said hesitatenly "yes" so I gave him a kiss on his cheek congratulating his birthday. He went very blushed.

Since then, he's always been very kind and looked after my bushy garden, taking care with delivery while I was away, he's like a gardien but he also became a bit of a bother from time to time - like checking upon me...Usually he's always at his door steps, drinking beers and smoking. In the summer time, he gets tanned after the hours of gardening.

He had to stop working.... unfortunate injury on his knee, he tripped himself outside my flat (apparently), he'd been on clutches for many months. I was on clutches around the same time as him, and we used to chat over the tea. Obviously, he seems very sad when I recovered and back to work, while he's still had to stay on clutches. And it went on until the day I left the village.

It was sad for me to let go my flat as well as leaving the lovely village behind for a new place in France. The night before my departure, he helped me checking with my car, it was very cold November night, nearly mid night, as I had to put some special stickers to adjust the headlights to French ones. I still managed to keep those stickers on my car though.

Before dawn, I parted to Dover, he was there outside the doorsteps.... (don't know whether he ever sleeps?) Bless him, he greeted at my departure.

When my hubby told me that he saw a brief image of an old man on the google map street view, it brought a smile on my face - I can't have a chit chat with him any more but I know that he's well.

Daniella or Roomba

I am probably not so tidy person.. Yes, I do make a mess at home, particularly when my hubby's away. Perhaps he's more tidier and clean the mess as he makes whereas I'd be more tempted to leave it (or pile it) until I must.

Clearning is the last thing I want to do... and if someone can do it, I'd be quite happy to let them do it.

Daniella was my cleaner. When I was earning enough to afford a cleaner, she comes once a week clearning and ironing for two hours. When I had a broken anckle, that's when I started to call her and since then I got myself totally spoilt.

She's a foreigner,like me, came from Eastern Europe - in some ways, we shared common views of living in a foreing country. We used to talk about love life, she used to say, being in a relationship is more hustled than being single. When I told her about my new love and eventually getting married, she's so pleased with me but also make sure I am happy with my own decision.

The point is, when I think about cleaning, I think of her darely, as being professional, hats off, she's done perfectly. I can't clean the house in the way, she's done.

Then, my hubby mentioned about this clever tool a while ago: THE Roomba
It's an intelligent robot doing the hoovering detecting and avoiding obstacles. That's a great stuff. The another model's even doing the wet mopping.

As Daniella told me she didn't like France and French language, I can't remember why, so I don't think I can bring her over here but I can still carry on dreaming of owning this machine to do the job I am not good at.

Only if this stuff could do ironing and go grocery shopping..

Don't put your mobile in the back of your jeans....

About a month ago, I've broken my mobile phone by droping it in the toilett cubicle.

It's before I used.... just to assure you, BEFORE!

I was with a group of friends in a restaurant, drinking, yes, I was a bit tipsy but not overly drunk.

I picked it up from the water, as soon as it'd happened, and took out the batteries and all that, but didn't recover even after a week of the incident.

Shame.....the phone's only a few months old!!!!!

Luckly my hubby called the Orange and asked for a replacement, giving them some reasonable justifications - so I'd then got the replacement phone, hoorey! Merci my hubby.

So, I'd leant that not put your mobile phone in the back pocket of your jeans.

What was that for????

It's weekend! We went out for a walk, just down the road, to do a little Xmas shopping.
This year's Xmas decoration in Cannes, is just the same as last year and in our street, there's none.

We decided not to buy trees this year, since we will be away. it's really tempting to buy all those cute little decorations for trees. But not this year, am afraid. Zut.

The sun gets shorter each day but luckly, over here, it's not as cold as up north, although, I'd see some snowy mountains afar every morning when I go to work, which is really soothing.

I had this really wiered thing happened later yesterday, while we were walking on the street and were about to go in a shop to check things out. Out of nowhere, someone grabbed my butt.... and it wasn't the hands of my hubby.

What was that??? Then I saw a young woman running away.

What the fxxx are you doing to me??? Fxxx off!

Bloody hell, I don't know what to say it in French....really Zut!

Is it just a coincidence?

We've been living in Cannes for almost two years now.
Some people might have already noticed this unsophisticated naughty shops in front of the train station of this world famous city.

Well, you'd get used to it after a while - despite the horrible taste of their shop decorations.

But then I was gobsmacked, when I realised that there's this shop right next to kids shoe shop....
Wonder how a parent explain to his / her children, when or if they ask what they do as a business...?

Which shop started first? - suppose it's the naughty one. The shoe shop might have compromised themselves as it's a prime location.

Who's that guy who's about to go in? It won't be him, would it?

Already mid-October!!

Can't believe it it's already mid October! without having updated my pages.
It's been a manic last two months - working fairely long hours. I was covering a girl for a week who's sick so I had to do some extra work too and ended up being sick myself.
I had this annoying skin condition - I got this rush around my mouth and very sore.
Suppose I was a bit run down.
We have some visitors from London one September weekend. We love having some people around. It was unfortunate weather for the English friends(thunder and rain) but the sun came just before they depart.
Another friends came on the following week end. It was very hot and sunny that we went to St. Margaritte. We also went to a local Hammame followed by 30 mins massage. It was heaven. I needed that really, to distress.

The temprature seems a bit down these days, the autumn is here. The air gets very fresh in the morning, still very hot in the afternoon though. It's very difficult to find the right clothes -
not too look too summery but also not too wintery!

How to be motivated

There used to be times when I was very motivated and want to be on the job ladder... Not that I don't feel like that any more, but I don't want to be hussled by the over loaded works and affecting to your own well-being and your life.

On the other hand, it's nice to get noticed and being appreciated for what you've done. I am very careful not forgeting other's hard work and contribution. You can't expect others to do the same though.

I have helped one of my friends' CV and I have given her loads of business or job opportunities for her. Some people have come to me for advices - I enjoy doing that kind of consultations to make them motivated.

There was a world media congress in early October, since the last Film Festival in May, many people said that it'd be a quiet one, but there were still many people coming to Cannes. So even if the condition is not as good as you'd expected, you could still propose some solutions to get to win-win situation. Money is tight for everyone but need to spend and circulate it.

As for me, what I would do to motivate myself..... rather than moaning about the current situation? I eat well, sleep well, happy with my hubby and smile.
Yes, prepare things for the next step. That's for sure.