All Saints' Day Survivor

In the Christian calendar, November 1st is a celebration of the dead, All Saints' Day, a bank holiday in France. Traditionally families purchase chrysanthemums, heather or cyclamens (usually impressive potted displays) and take them down to cemeteries in order to fleurir les tombes, flower their (loved ones) graves. Needless to say, florists and garden centres make a tidy profit that gears them up into the festive season, by then less than 8 weeks away!

Mum's the word! (June 2017)

You guessed it, All Saints' Day has been co-opted into a consumerist feat, with a sea of floral displays that pours out of the flower shops onto the pavements and inflates in volume by the day, in the run-up to November 1st. Then plants migrate from flower shops to car boots and from car boots to the tombs, and before Christmas most will have migrated from the tombs to the cemetery bins - in heaps! Incredibly wasteful and downright ridiculous but this is the way it has been programmed into the French.

Because sadly family values in France are not as sacred as they once were and catholic religion has taken a nosedive, graves are rarely visited, although All Saints' Day remains the one and only yearly reminder still anchored in the collective psyche that encourages the modern busy Christian to pay graves a visit - and leave a proof of their visit behind, in the shape of a big fat chrysanthemum that battles it out for space with other relatives' mums! Don't you bother watering your offering because par une opération du Saint-Esprit, by the Holy Spirit intervention, pots will somewhat self-water or at least absorb little morning dew they can in order to survive the run-up to Winter if they don't get knocked off the tomb by the competition and the elements and roll down the alleyway like a poor cosplay version of Jackie Chan to end up wedged between the tool shed and a bench.

Chrysanthemum to the left, nasturtium to the right, under the watchful eye of Némo! (Sept. 2017)

Life as an All Saints' Day chrysanthemum is all about survival: it's mean out there. Tampered with genetically in order to yield all sorts of crazy colours and patterns, chemically fattened up in order to grow fat and fast like a Christmas turkey of the floral kind, produce blooms ten a zillion that will magically burst open in time for the Day of the Dead. Showtime in the graveyard but by November 2nd there is no-one left around to admire the flowers! Then the draughty unforgiving graveyards take a toll on their petals into a crumpled-up, dried-out worn-out affair. Lack of care its toll, and the trip to the bin is a short, disdainful and unceremonious whack and go.

Through this tale of doom and gloom interspersed by a brief showtime stint and casting couch moment on the florist's shelf, one of those mums I saved from the basket of deplorables. Now it takes pride of place on my south-facing terrace, pampered and watered and whispered to! I saved it from my village's overflowing cemetery bin last December as I was gingerly walking past with Tickle, casting a sideways glance in search of a discarded, unloved, unrequited empty flower pot container (or filled with a dead plant) which I could save from trash and call my own and take home to repurpose into a pot for my Winter seedlings.

Pride of place! (Nov. 2017)

The mum was totally dried out, a browned-out crispy sorry sight! I took it home, disposed of the dead twigs and stored the pot with the soil in it in the cellar for a good month, almost forgetting about it. Then one day I noticed a shoot on the surface of the soil and then another one! I took the pot out onto the terrace, took a long hard look at those incredible green shoots battling for survival. I watered them and witnessed the gradual resurrection of the mum! It has since rewarded me with several flowerings. It is currently a feast of multicoloured blooms of white, canary yellow, orange and magenta red, a rainbow of delight! Let me tell you: I am the proud mum of one proud mum!

The moral of the story: when everything looks dead and done, give it another go, it might surprise you!

Stylelessness is Lawlessness

Take the properties that make it to The Style Files: they have oodles of charm and character and are tastefully appointed. In fact, in my latest comment on their website in relation to the lovely guest house on the Greek island of Lesvos (pictured below), I simply summed it up as: "The period features have been retained and there is just the right amount of modernity added to the interior to create that fine balance between ancient and contemporary." Balance is key - and so is respect to the fabric and soul of the property.

As featured on The Style Files

The kerb appeal is a preview, an anticipation, an invitation of what awaits inside, in a kind of "as above so below" formula (the interior being a transposition of the exterior), and in the case of our Greek abode, there was no disappointment to be had. The quirkiness is there in terms of what gives the house its unpolished charm. The period feature details that confer the property both its ethnic (i.e. mediterranean at large, and more specifically 'Greekness') and rural origins: whitewashed walls, blue shutters, paved terrace, working fireplace, wooden floors and ceilings, etc. We imagine nooks and crannies, niches and other little tidbits of charm to discover for ourselves.

As featured on The Style Files

These old places are little gems of style and inspiration. That is because they have been compassionately and painstakingly restored, and carefully brought to the 21st century while retaining their old charm and character - thanks to their owner's common sense, good taste and vision, facilitated by a competent architect and/ or interior designer, and materialised by builders in the know and skilled craftsmen. This might end up being a costly endeavour, yet not necessarily so. I have seen some stunning restoration projects conducted on a tight budget, but on a limitless amount of passion, belief, research, patience, personal investment of time and effort, and caring.

Sadly I have also witnessed the exact opposite: the utter wrecking of style and character of an older property, either on a tight budget or on a generous amount of cash! I could not resist posting some photos that speak the horrid results better than words could. Here we go: -

Case Study - Apartment for sale in Bastia (Corsica): Judging from the kerb appeal, we anticipate the interior to be just as quaint and provincial and Italianate as the outside... Well, better prepare you for the shock!

Montmartre in the sun, looks poetic and promising! (pict source)

Oh joy, it's a nightmare! (pict source)

Ermm... A 2015 revisit of a 70s canary birdcage (pict source)

Bland and cheap and non-descript pop to mind like a squirt of mustard to a hotdog. I can only commiserate the tomettes that would have clad that floor, or the ornate walls, and maybe cornices and millwork that would have asserted the interior its bourgeois status. The current interior is as exciting as a cheap roadside motel. I just want to rip this canvas up and start again! Don't you?

I blame those fly-on-the-wall TV property programmes that strongly encourage homeowners to 'depersonalise' their interiors as a lifestyle must, or in a view to selling their property fast. By depersonalising, they mean remove (or at the very least reconfigure and blend in) any striking structural or period features from their abode, dumb down style so that it appeals to the widest array of people.

House in Doli (Mani, Greece), via My Paradissi

Secondly I blame those home improvement retail stores, as they channel mainstream products, associated to mainstream ideas and results, to a mainstream customer-base that along the years have levelled down their personal tastes to align with and match what the market offers. The convenience of those stores has taken natural curiosity away and made practicality the end-all and be-all. You end up with those mass-produced standardised fixtures repeated across towns... and countries, like a bad case of fleas. Convenience also means that there is a tendency for buying ready-made rather than make it yourself or have it made to spec and customised.

Finally I blame those cowboy builders, who take on property renovation work that goes way beyond their scope and skillset, just for the paycheck. They deliver a botched job that includes the intentional wreckage of period features - because they were incapable or unwilling to salvage them - and replacement with poor substitutes from the above-mentioned retail outlets. It's all about shoddiness and expediency and maxed out profit. Sadly I've had to deal with this sort of situation.

Exquisite! The Royal Makkum Collection from Country Floors

As a consequence of the above three factors, we get impoverishment in taste, and that leads to stylelessness. And stylenessness is the ripping up of style and the ripping off of our cultural and architectural legacy. Where we should be able to be the depositary of heritage and carry it into the future, preserved and enhanced, we witness swathes of heritage being disfigured and wrecked, and replaced by a mock-modernism of 'style' that is nothing less than styleless.

Further (visual) food for thought: How to Make an Attractive City by Swiss writer and philosopher Alain de Botton.

08-Sept-2016 Update: Since 2006 the Carbuncle Cup has been awarding prizes to the UK's latest architectural horrors to date. For a crunchy taster, check out Carbuncle Cup 2015 and 2016 !

Getting Used to Less on Agenda 21 - Call to Action

I do realise that it would take a heavy word count to truly get into the nitty-gritty of U.N. Agenda 21. My aim has been to raise awareness via my blog, and to provide the facts within a three-part presentation (1) Preamble, (2) Setting the Scene, and (3) Counter-Growth, that would cover most of the basics. As with every bit of research that I conduct, I have dedicated a fair amount of time to this particular subject, yet no doubt will I have the opportunity to debate it further in future articles, as my knowledge base expands.

Solar Impulse, prior to take-off from Chongqing, China, 21-Apr-2015

Now the last thing I want is to sound like some Doom Master. On the other hand, I could NOT not share my views and findings and those of other individuals in the know, because sustainable development as purported by Agenda 21 is no planet-friendly ecology manifesto.

My definition of U.N. Agenda 21 Sustainable Development: It is about the global acquisition of land and resources, and the redistribution of wealth, alongside the re-alignment of westernised societies to a post-industrial counter-rural model, with accrued monitoring and surveillance of our customer habits and lifestyles.

If you believed that films like Minority Report or books like George Orwell's 1984 were crazy fiction, I would expressly request that you rethink.

Occupy Wall Street (pict source)

In this last part to Getting Used to Less on Agenda 21, I propose a CTA (Call To Action) in a few pointers that will keep you alert and smart as a consumer and citizen. Prepare for take-off:

• Share my article, and do find out more about Agenda 21 for yourself and at your leisure.
• Watch alternative news to the mainstream elite-owned news channels.
• Cultivate or take a keener interest in the world. Have opinions, be involved, sign petitions, join peaceful protests to defend our civil rights and liberties, volunteer to help (save your local church, clean up your local beach, walk the dogs from the local shelter, become a hospital visitor). Protect the causes that are close to your heart. Make it loud and clear that you oppose GMOs and other poisons that are being manufactured to create disease and decay.
• See life as on-going education. Expand your knowledge. Read, learn, write a blog, be curious about the world, your history and heritage. Stay smart, do mental exercises (brain gym to keep your brain alert!). There are plenty of free educational tools online as a starter-point, as a teaser to awaken your curiosity. If used smartly, Wikipedia or Pinterest will introduce you to topics as varied as antiquities, travel, inventions, history, astronomy, physics, theatre, etc. Check my mood boards for ideas.
• All in all, cultivate your critique and do not take things at face value or what the media or politicians tell you as truth. Attune to reinterpret what they actually mean. Wonder, ponder, question, doubt, find out for yourself. Be or remain a free spirit. Stay inspired and fired up for life.
• Keep social media on a leash. Do not get sucked into it and be cautious as to what you do share online. Just remember that you have a life to live out there in the real world and life goes by fast enough as it is!
• Reduce your intake of junk food. Aim for organic produce whenever possible. Cook your own meals. Become a vegetarian. Steer clear of those zero calorie (i.e. aspartame) drinks. Boycott unethical brands. Ditch ibuprofen painkillers, fluoride toothpaste and aluminum-based deodorants!

Do not lose sight of the fact that world governance does NOT like NOR does it want a smart, educated, intelligent, dynamic, involved and spirited citizen and consumer. They want them dumbed-down and therefore easily-manipulatable.

Thanks for taking part in the journey. Meanwhile on a personal note, I would like to thank Roby, my better half, for being an inspiration powerhouse and a keen supporter of my work.

Surfing for Change

_________

Getting Used to Less on Agenda 21 is a 4-part series:  Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4

Inspire Aspire - Nicky Clarke

Never underestimate the power of a hairdresser beyond hairstyling, for in celebrated UK coiffeur Nicky Clarke I found some lifestyle inspiration that still drives me to this day!

(Pict source)

A good trusty friendly hairdresser will soon step into your comfort zone as he attends to your tresses, becomes your confidante, favourite counsellor and best mate for the length of time you're in their salon. They will give you attention and importance, flatter you, lend an ear, reassure you, comfort you, and most of all - be on your side. I went through the ups and downs of my marriage and divorce, with Liam at Toni & Guy, then I went through the ups and downs of my new relationship, with Amy at Saks. And in between the two stages in my personal life, I found some further solace in a UK magazine interview featuring Nicky Clarke.

Besides at a time when I was at risk of spending cash like there was no tomorrow, Nicky was explaining matter-of-factly in his press interview what his female customers were looking for when they stepped into his exclusive salon and requested to be attended to by the man himself for that pricey cut and blow dry.

If you have it (the Swarovski sunnies!), you might as well flaunt it!

He described his clientèle as not necessarily wealthy. What those style epicureans were in search of was a good haircut. Within the logic of "you get what you pay for", and quality equals expensive, "good hair, good watch, good bag" fitted the requirement list, according to Nicky. Let's say, a Nicky Clarke hairstyle, a Gucci watch and a Prada handbag, in other words would-be heirloom pieces that will stand the test of time and the fickleness of fashion while giving out a statement of taste, elegance and social status. And a hairstyle that will compliment their style and make them feel a million dollars about themselves. Uncompromisingly good quality accessory basics that will carry off style essentials (outfits and shoes) with a less exclusive price tag.

Never one to fall for the cheap in the first instance, i.e. the throwaway pieces from the fast fashion circuit - bar the odd couple of items a season, I had found in Nicky Clarke the justification that you needn't be rich or harbour guilt in order to claim the ownership of an expensive designer accessory or even the odd designer item of clothing. And I did exactly that when I purchased my €300+ Swarovski sunglasses. And come to think of it, I was already doing it back in the day, with my expensive hairdos. How cheap can you go? Own 30 cheap trashy items that are not gonna last beyond a season or save up and buy one thing that will last the distance and make you feel special and exclusive? Kinda makes sense, doesn't it?

I Want to Believe

I work in a customer-facing environment and I get to meet individuals from all walks of life on a daily basis, and especially more so right now, during the tourist season. The other day a lady tourist came down to the boutique. She was charming and she was charmed. In fact, she was entranced by Corsica, the beauty and variety of the scenery, the idyllic landscapes, the choice in places to visit and explore, the wilderness always - it seems - a stone's throw away. "It's lovely!", she kept on saying, carrying on with herself.

Aliens reached cult status thanks to The X-Files (image source)

I'd been pretty silent all the way through, occasionally nodding in approval. And then I don't know what got me but I broke her dream. Maybe I was only trying to be honest but it came out wrong, maybe it just wasn't my day, maybe it even had something to do with the time of the month, but I just spoilt if for her, and in retrospect I wish I hadn't.

In the conversation I casually mentioned the winters known to be deceptively long and drab. I went on a quick rant about the state of the roads, the slow post, the lack of retail choice, the scarcity of employment opportunities... As if this weren't enough, I went on complaining about the sudden power cuts and power surges that knacker many a domestic appliance (in my parents' case, a washing-machine and a flat TV set this year alone!). The outdated electricity network in this part of the island whose domestic output barely scrapes over 203 volts on a good day, and which paralyses an already slow broadband internet connection. I could have illustrated this with how an average blog update would have taken me half an hour back in the UK, while it routinely takes me up to 4 hours here. Four hours! Talk about devotion.

'Corsica Corte', by M.C. Escher (1929), via WikiPaintings

While I was at it, I was going to have a go at the water supply too. Instead I just suddenly fell silent. The look on the lady's face made me stop. She was looking at me like a rabbit caught in the headlights, gawping. "Yes but... Yes but..." She turned hesitantly towards her husband who'd remained silent throughout our consecutive monologues, and then she turned back towards me and ventured in a murmur, clutching at her straw hat: "Yes but... but it's lovely here! It's lovely though, isn't it?" I had to save the day, her day. So I just smiled, cracked a joke and nodded in approval when she forced a smile.

Yes but... dear readers! Faced with this textbook case of grass being greener, of this beautiful tourist candour, of tourist under the spell of the place they came to visit (and we all fall victim to this ourselves as tourists at least once in a lifetime), and in my humble defence, I must add that loveliness is sometimes not enough. I communicated this in my own way to the lady but this taught me one good lesson in return: to shatter a tourist's dream and their idea of perfection will in no way restore any sense of that already elusive loveliness!

Little House on the Prairie (Part 2)

My new work assignment allows me to feel blessed by the beauty of the surrounding countryside, the rambling valley encased in lush hillsides, age-old hamlets suspended in time, a nearby brook...

The preservation society's gardens deserve a mention too. Although still looking neglected in places, they are set to enjoy a revival thanks to our new chairman. I too am pushing in that direction: on my visit last year I hadn't been impressed by their state of semi-neglect ('semi' used as a polite word).

The gardens are organic and multi-purpose. Part of the site is dedicated to the preservation of ancient cultivated fruit and vegetables (old varieties of onion, leek, tomato, peach and apple trees), by the means of a seed bank (conservatoire de graines). Besides an on-site greenhouse offers garden members the possibility to purchase tomato, aubergine, courgette, onion, aromatic herbs and capsicum plants. Visitors - especially those unacquainted with country life - discover a working kitchen garden and the orchard. Fruit is collected and used into the popular compôtes, jams and preserves, syrups, sauces, chutneys and the likes that will eventually find their way to the boutique shelves.

Finally the semi-wild garden is also a representation of what the maquis stands for up close and personal, in its full spectrum and informality, from the low grasses to the medium-height cytisus, heather, genista, myrtle, up to the taller grades of the scrub: green oak, cork oak, pine, wild olive trees, etc. The gardens are a taster to botany without the stuffy science bits.

Promenade en Corse parmi ses Fleurs et ses Forêts, by Marcelle Conrad

By its nature, the garden is not supposed to be compared to those formal, regimented, weed-free, stately gardens like Chambord or Versailles, or even to the falsely wild yet incredibly romantic Monet's gardens at Giverny. Here in 'our' garden, wild flowers take pride of place and are encouraged. The difficulty lies in the fact that all too often our gardeners tip-toe on that very fine line that separates wild from neglect. 

While most of our visitors seem genuinely charmed by the rusticity of the gardens, some will understandably express their concern about a certain lack of care, while a small minority will virulently oppose anything that doesn't resemble geranium, begonia, dahlia or petunia... Although it is clear that those individuals got the wrong address in the first place, I am quick to add in their defence that part of the garden preservation society's mission is to endeavour to change perceptions and preconceptions towards plants, weeds, the cultivated vs. the spontaneous, and the concepts of balance, beauty and acceptance.

Organic produce is available to purchase from the boutique

Therefore garden guardians have a long task ahead, yet this is a challenge that I am relishing in. So who's next please?

Little House on the Prairie (Part 1)

I might make a few envious amongst my readership as soon as I reveal to all of you guys that I am currently working for a garden preservation society! This new chapter in my curriculum is practically a match made in Heaven as it combines personal passions and hobbies: botany + ethnography + ecology + interest for the island of Corsica + the more pragmatic commercial flair.

Commercial flair is a driving force to any business and in this case it is not so much in relation to the business itself whose status as a society makes it reliant upon various state subsidies and the generosity of private benefactors, than tapping (further) into the revenue potentiality offered by the on-site organic delicatessen and healthcare/ beauty boutique.

With a new chairman at the helm, an established down-to-earth entrepreneur with solid business acumen, the garden society is set to sail towards a more promising future. I have been tasked with shop management, stocks, pricing, supplier relations, advertising and the sales experience whereby the customer receives a personalised '+1' service that goes beyond the sell/ purchase transaction. Without meaning to sound pretentious, I would be enclined to say that this is something I am good at and I am loving the challenge!

My secret? Just plain common sense really. I personally believe in, understand and praise the benefits for each and every single product for sale in the boutique. I have used most of them and my advice is no push-to-sell pitch. I am not commissioned by either the brands I sell or the society itself, and I certainly don't have the mindset of the ordinary sales person who clocks in and clocks out and painfully chews their bubble gum looking glum for the time in-between, while wishing their life away day after day... Hey, what a waste for both employer and employee: there is some urgent need for a career change!

Each customer deserves my full attention, because this is the way I would like to be treated and acknowledged as a customer. A customer has every right to enjoy and remember their retail experience, and it is the shop floor sales' objective to make that experience pleasant, memorable and meaningful, whether the customer buys a jar of cherry preserve, a case of premium wine, or a basketful of groceries and essential oils.

A smile works wonders too. Maybe some shop workers out there need reminding about the power of a smile, acknowledging the customer and showing that you care, that you're there. Besides I always have advice to hand, ideas and suggestions on how to use those compôtes, chutneys, dried herbs or myrtle essence, even anecdotes about plants, land, weather, Corsica, the economy, you name it...

All in all, you can imagine that I am not stuck for words: just take a look at La Baguette and you get a pretty good idea! (to be continued)

More Stuff Than You Can Shake a Stick at!

In my Car Crash TV moments, I used to sometimes watch The Life Laundry - we're talking 5 to 8 years back. Not sure if all U.K folks remember that programme: not exactly a paragon of upbeat entertainment, culture or TV genius, more like a desperados get-together when nothing else across the 100+ digital TV channels spectrum was worth watching... And that says something.

Think outside the box? Hmm...

Aside that and if I dare be honest, it was certainly a programme I was slightly intrigued about, as a 'sufferer' from a mild form of the hoarding syndrome. I was hoping the series would, if not prompt me to get rid of stuff, at least be inspirational about how to approach it and deal with it.

And stuff is something I could talk about for hours (she whispers shamefully). Not sure about you guys, but I don't just keep useful stuff (that wouldn't be the point)! I also hoard stuff that I might need one day (read: that millennium soirée outfit I haven't worn since well... Y2K NYE, but that I might magically decide to wear in future - not sure how near or distant that future might be, considering one decade has already elapsed...).

I keep stuff others would discard first and foremost: wrapping paper, old Xmas cards, (pretty) packaging, old glossy magazines, newspaper cuttings... I also keep stuff I never needed in the first place, don't need now and will never need: unloved, unworn, unwanted, unused stuff that is usually relegated to the dusty corners of the loft.

Here's some examples: chipped terracota pots, spare clothes airer, those nasty wire coat-hangers from the dry-cleaners, old electronic components, hard hat and overalls (nuke protection equipment?), DIY tools with some mysterious function, redundant hamster cage, empty biscuit tins, mats and rugs, boring board games, cringeing easy-listening tapes from a bygone age (any sane person would cry out for Slipknot after hearing those!), and a general collection of hand-me-down bric-à-brac that got dumped on me because I was too polite to decline.

Clearing the cobwebs: Slipknot (picture source)

So there we are, I was hoping The Life Laundry would make me feel better about my condition by acquainting us viewers to a panel of 'crazy' hoarding extremists who surround themselves with pointless stuff (euphemism?), from endless rows of collector items to boxes crammed-full with junk, controlled by their compulsion to the point where they share their bed, their bath and even their bowl of porridge with it, and whose home has relented on room space, from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling.

A pivotal scene in The Life Laundry was the 'crusher scene', a sadistic moment when the protagonist was summoned to throw a few selected belongings that had symbolically taken over their life. More than a relief, it seemed a painful ordeal to watch as the stuff got crushed to smithereens under the beady eyes of the protagonist. As some sort of redemption, a selection of stuff items would be spared an early grave and end up transferred to new owners via a sale process (someone's junk is someone else's treasure!), while the rest would end up unceremoniously dumped down the skip.

At the end of the process, you got the big reveal: a pared-down de-junked tidied home and its forcibly-smiling owner who'd been through a life-changing 'transformation' episode, shaken to the core in their core values, and stretched and reasoned through a speedy psychotherapy session where they'd been told one thing or two about 'letting go' and 'regaining control'.

The presenter looked well proud of herself but I'm not sure whether the feeling was shared by the ex-hoarder and whether clearance was gonna bring proven benefits to their life. Discarding things in the heat of the moment, as an act of bravado (while cameras are rolling and the presenter's pressing you on) is one thing. How about though when they've all gone home to their stuff, and you are left in that home of yours that doesn't feel like home anymore, with stuff meaningful to you now gone for ever and stuff you were indifferent about now taking pride of place on the mantelpiece... This can only make you want to fill the void by... getting more stuff!

Stuff is a controller. Some of us get satisfaction in the act of purchase: that elusive instant that gives you - the buyer - status, power and a buzz. For some of us (or most of us at one particular point in our lives when we feel vulnerable), want may be completely detached from need, and any act of reason flies out of the window!

Take that retired lady (true story) who lived by herself in solitude and moral abandonment, and who would find fleeting solace in her daily shopping trip down The Trafford Centre (Manchester's main shopping destination), a habit that had been dominating her life for approximately 18 months. Back home, she wouldn't even care to wear her new outfits or get the trinkets out of their boxes. The purchases would remain untouched, bagged up, with the tags and packaging on, and would end up piled up all around the house, and when space became a premium, the garage got taken over, and when it became overrun, the car turned into a mobile chest.

Truth out of the bag?

The lady died afterwards, probably on her way back from yet another pointless shopping trip. The local authorities removed over one ton of untouched purchases still in bags and boxes, with price tags on. She probably was trying to fill the void, that lady, fill that isolation feeling, that hapless helpless retirement she didn't accept, the passing of time, the lack of purpose. That initial endorphin-released buzz associated with making a purchase soon enough dissipated and by then she was going through the motions of hardcore addiction and compulsion.

As tragic as this true story is, it speaks out one stark truth: stuff can't buy you happiness - The Beatles even dedicated a song to the cause - nor can it fill a void or lend a sense of purpose to your life. And material clutter, together with social isolation and family/ relationship breakdown are symptomatic of the trappings of our modern, individualistic, consumerist society.

For a fascinating insight into stuff that takes over our lives, visit Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff Project.

Pluses & Minuses (Part 2)

Minuses now, we'll try to make them sound as painless as possible!

The Heat is On: Corsican Summers are hot, really hot and may dampen many a spirit as a result, especially if you work in full sun in the great outdoors and/ or about to tackle a DIY/ building/ civil engineering task... Even a spot of gardening can turn into an uncomfortable chore. Yet not just workers, even holidaymakers, can find the whole experience a rather sweaty and energy-draining one!

Cut off from the World: A positive on the days you are feeling moody and Brontë-esque, a curse when you have your business hat on, and want to keep a finger on the pulse of the world. What would be a simple, no-second-thought task back in England can suddenly become more complicated here, like finding a British newspaper, sourcing a direct flight to a European destination, or even randomly going down the shops to buy a book of stamps...

Not in a New York State of Mind: It seems here that time is not constructively used, and in all due respect I don't think Corsicans invented timeliness. Respecting deadlines, being on time for meetings, or for a business to adhere to its own opening hours, are not perceived as priorities, in my experience. I have also noticed, especially in the Public sector, that decisions and responsibilities seem to be taken away from employees' hands, even the most basic ones, and you - the customer - end up being caught in an avoidable vortex of bureaucratic delays. But to be truthful this is more likely to be symptomatic of French civil service in general.



The Empire State Building by swamistream.com

Even when time is critical and/ or you are seeking a straightforward no-nonsense answer, Corsicans will play down any sense of urgency and still find the time to talk endlessly and aimlessly in an almost Comedia dell'Arte fashion (Well, Italy's just across the pond and on a clear day you can even wave at it!): raising the arms and the voice (even for confidences), grimacing, sighing, shrugging, grasping the air, winking, etc! The act of talking brings the whole body to life like an act of possession.

However, despite having all the time in the world, Corsicans are loyal to the bad driver reputation that plagues Southern Europe. They will tend to speed down roads, driving erratically and flirting with danger. As my partner sums it up, 'they are in a rush but not busy'.

If time is money, and western societies exort the importance of time management while complaining at the same time about being time-poor, then Corsica surely must be a prize contender for time-wasting contentment!


Royal Century typewriter, via Paris Hotel Boutique

Paperwork by the Spade: There is no beating about the bush with this one, and then again this is not an endemic issue, more a part of the French heritage. When I left France over 16 years ago, the country was already internationally famous for its red tape and convoluted bureaucracy. Since then, successive presidential cabinets have pledged to streamline procedures and simplify paperwork, by merging civil service departments, issuing new laws and cutting down on the number of civil servants. However it looks like we have now gone beyond inflexible regimented bureaucracy to reach the arcanes of absurdity.

Here in Bastia, despite sharing the same building and a common purpose, CAF (Caisse d'Assurances Familiales) and Assurance Maladie (two government bodies that make up the Department of Social Security) do not share or cross-reference information, and you - the customer - end up having to send to each duplicates of documents and letters, with more delays in the process.

Glamour magazine (UK), April 2010

You - the customer - are supposed to act as the liaising agent between the two government bodies, with no support, direction or follow-up from either of them. So far it has taken me more than four months to claim a Carte Vitale (Social Security card), despite erm being French in the first place (oh, but did I tell you that the central Social Security archives had already filed away my social security number like I was dead and buried?!).

Pôle Emploi is another aberration, still going through an identity crisis since ANPE (job centre) and ASSEDIC (unemployment benefits) merged their services nearly a year ago. Conflicts of interests and personal motives over the general good seem to have turned this 'supercentre' into some inadequate, out-of-step institution that drowns its customers into a sea of confusing procedures and time-wasting protocoles, rather than supporting them with a clear-headed no-nonsense back-to-work vision.

Somehow it seems to us that some posts in the above institutions and elsewhere can only justify their purpose and existence by requesting you to fill in yet another form, and provide yet another proof of identity, and submit yet another bit of paper that will, no doubt, lose its track some way down the system and for which you - the customer - will take the blame for! In these situations, it looks like the customer is never right! (to be continued)

Nifty Thrifty (Part 2)

While exploring ways to shop savvily, I realised that I was paying over the odds for pet food at the supermarket or pet chain stores, and soon enough found a local pet food supplier who sells a wide variety of produce in bulk, and with a smile!

As a student, I was a hairdressing model for a few months and would get a free haircut from top salons, cultivating that neat straightened bob I favoured at the time. Recently, I asked my usual salon if I could be their model (terms including a great haircut for a fraction of the price, i.e. 5 times cheaper than the normal rate!). I have to say I had to swallow my pride for a moment (being their client turned model, and not exactly an 18-year-old) but the financial gain is not to be frowned upon, and in return you are doing a trainee hairdresser a favour, so this is definitely a win-win situation!

Further in my quest to be economically smart, I also started to plan my car journeys more carefully, making sure they would involve more than one errand! For example, if I drive down to the bank, I will also get some petrol on the way and walk a few blocks from the bank to the charity shop with items to donate. Making the trip more economically viable, with a thought for the environment: priceless!

On the subject of charity shops, on a couple of occasions I surprised my good intentions by sparing a few items from donation (sorry charity!), having decided that although I hadn’t worn them for years, maybe now was the time to give them a second chance, as there was no way I could justify a fashion expense (no matter how necessary the expense was!). Well, do I regret rediscovering those once-beleaguered UK-made straight-cut indigo denim (in pristine condition)? Nope, they definitely are my favourite jeans right now! Ha, the fickleness of the fashion follower!

Finally, if you are watching your money and calling yourself eco-conscious, then leaving electrical appliances (computer, TV set, hi-fi, game consoles) on standby when not used will be wasteful. According to Act on CO2, ‘if everyone in the UK switched off unused appliances it would save £800 million a year’. So there's another smart move for you and you will be quids in!

Nifty Thrifty (Part 1)

The recession will have taught a number of us to exercise more caution towards our finances, prompting us to make clever savings, and for our money to work harder. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it (being no financial adviser!) but by simply using a healthy dose of common sense, I embarked on a journey to streamline my outgoings, made a few savings in the process, and I thought I would share those simple tips with you! Handy all-year round, not just in the run-up to Christmas…

It has to start somewhere so it might as well start with your monthly bank statement. Take a critical look and take action! It may sound obvious but, if you haven’t yet looked into your mortgage repayment terms, now would be a good time to start, by scheduling a meeting with your mortgage provider. It could also be worthwhile to consult an independent financial adviser who would be able to submit interesting mortgage plans to you, and then transfer over.

The same tactic applies to all your other outgoings, from home insurance to life assurance, through to telephone and utility bills. Tell yourself that you have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain! Here are 2 juicy examples:

• For the last 11 years, I was tied up to an expensive yet inflexible mobile phone contract that simply didn’t work for me. But out of habit, complacency, or fear of the unknown, I stuck to it. Then I took a leap of faith in March and decided to switch providers and move to the pay-as-you-go formula. Now I am just wondering why I didn’t switch earlier, as I am saving between £10 and £20 a month!
• I felt discontented with our telephone/ broadband/ digital TV package. We had been long-time customers and felt taken for granted, whereas new customers were being incentivised. We gave the company a ring (actually quite a few persistent calls!) and eventually they agreed to review our account and offer a discount (once we threatened to leave them!).

The fact that you are a long-term customer, a good payer and/ or in receipt of a bundle of services (ex: gas and electricity) from one provider, will go in your favour and add clout to your claim. As companies will not reward your loyalty outright, you will have to be the one making that call.

Bills aside, I started to look at my purchasing patterns and identify areas for improvement, for instance paying more attention to those shopping coupons and store loyalty cards that may be underused or overlooked. In-store, I started to pay more attention to offers, and limit impulse buys.

Although supermarkets deliver the convenience of shopping, you need to realise that they also have a negative impact on local communities, draining livelihood out of them, with local shops struggling for survival. Also bear in mind that although our 4 main supermarket chains may compete with one another on price, they may not be necessarily cheaper or offer higher quality of produce than the local competition. Think about the fishmonger or the butcher for instance. (to be continued)

A Textile Heritage (Part 2)

Maybe we took it for granted back then, but most of the clothing, upholstery, table, bed and bathroom linen which were available for purchase from the independent high street specialists down to the Parisian chain stores and the modern hypermarkets, were made in France.

I grew up in the firm patriotic belief that ‘homegrown’ was best, as it was all we knew and satisfied our requirements: cheap in price, abundant in quantity, reliable in quality and design, trusted in know-how and expertise. It also kept the economy going and fed mouths.

As we are only too aware, the demise of textile, not just across France but elsewhere in Europe and North America, has been – to say the least – spectacular, with established textile dynasties going bust and making way for the cheap imports and the tat! When once upon a time, my hometown boasted dozens of production mills providing employment to thousands of workers, today is a different story with only one textile mill, Bochard, still in activity, with less than a dozen employees…

If the industry is clutching at straws in Picardie and other declining northern French regions, it is still nonetheless trying to maintain a reputation for quality and tradition by producing table, bed and bath linen that may not necessarily compete in price with the cheap imports from the Middle & Far East, but which surpasses them on the overlooked parameter of quality. A parameter that the supply-chain guys employed by big retail organisations will sadly overlook as they nurture their bottom line and ROIs...

Below is the photographic testimony of this ruthless end of an era, with La Cotonnière de St-Quentin during demolition in 2008 (© Ministère de la Culture/ Région Picardie - Inventaire général/ Ville de St-Quentin).

I, the humble customer with a discerning taste that ‘traces its origins back to my own origins’, will carry on purchasing those items, out of love and principle, and because they represent a textile heritage that is linked to my own history.

An Unpalatable Truth (Part 2)

With the lawsuit frenzy sweeping the nation since the 1990s, customers have made sure they would become more vocal about their complaints, and some have pushed the envelope further by making sure they would complain about everything and anything crossing their minds in order to get that extra freebie, or a refund on a perfectly good meal or room! I wish I was exaggerating but personal experience as front-of-house taught me otherwise…

In parallel to this, consumers have been entrusted with more statutory rights over the last 15 years, and big branded chains have put in place refund policies as satisfaction guarantee back-ups, which have adversely undermined staff authority, blurred the barriers of acceptable customer behaviour, and in effect given more power to the public. It wasn’t long before the system was abused: customers would remove a light bulb or mess up the TV settings to claim their money back at the end of their hotel stay, in the same vein that a shopper would return an item of clothing to the store that they had worn but then decided they didn’t want anymore. A case of having your cake and eating it!

Blackpool's Coral Island

With customers of all ages, class and creeds ‘playing the game’ and ‘trying it on’, one has to bear in mind that the universal unspoken rule still prevails: you basically get what you give, and the staff give what they get (within their remit and within reason). To put it simply, the more pleasant a customer is, the better service they will get. If they are awkward and start pushing all your buttons, you will seethe inside, despite remaining professional, cool, calm and collected, but when they overstep the mark, you will have to use your judgement to either let your superior deal with the situation or get firm with them yourself and get the situation back under control. Customers are like kids, they test your limits, see how far they can push you and try to get more out of you.

This may not be the customers’ prerogative as they are out having a good time, but hospitality staff work tough hours and long shifts (12/ 14 hour-shifts are not uncommon for full timers) that completely wreak havoc with the normality of daily life and their own social lives. In addition, from entry-level jobs to middle management, the pay and incentives are dire – to say the least - and working conditions can be tough (constantly on your feet and hey presto dealing with the general public!).

Although there will be some exceptions, I have witnessed first hand that morale is low, and the industry (especially the bar and restaurant side of it) suffers from the old stigma that outsiders believe its work opportunities cater for the in-between-jobs stopgap market, students, second jobbers, and therefore not necessarily associated with a career in its own right.

I do not aim to discourage those of you who are thinking of joining hospitality or who have had a good experience of it as workforce. Some places will look after their staff better than others, much of the general ambience and working conditions being dictated by the quality of management and the company foundations. There will also be some invaluable perks that will make the job memorable: the friendly customers (they do exist!), the good tips, the staff camaraderie, a bit of glitz and glamour even.

At the end of the day, we all want to have a good time as customers and this should include the fact that we don’t abuse our statutory rights, or become arrogant and treat the bar, restaurant or hotel staff like servants from a bygone age. Respect might be an over-used word, but it has never been so relevant to the hospitality industry than now! Ladies and gentlemen, have a nice day.

An Unpalatable Truth (Part 1)

Throughout our social lives and personal encounters with the hospitality industry, we will have tales of bad service: unmet expectations, curt waitressing, disappointing meals and sub-standard hotel stays. Bad experiences are part of the fabric of life, are not confined to the hospitality industry, and will stretch from the dentist’s chair to the supermarket check-out, from the bank manager’s desk to the insurance hotline, from the tai chi class to the hairdresser’s salon, from the garage pit to the aircraft aisle…

Generally you will expect the problem(s) to be remedied there and then by the floor staff or their superiors, and the chance is a happy resolution will ensue, or at least a compromise will be reached. Throughout the journey of this blog, I will no doubt impart with a tale or two of my personal challenging experiences as a customer, however for now, what I would like to focus on is not so much the service pitfalls and challenges from a consumer view point, but from the staff’s perspective, and what they are pit against. My findings are based upon my personal observations, my brief experience working front-of-house in the hotel chain sector, and insider knowledge from contacts who used to or still work, full-time, in the UK chain hospitality industry at large.

Hospitality has enjoyed a boom in popularity over the last 15 years, boosted by the continental café culture model and compounded by binge drinking. Economic recession aside, people go out more often than they used to; when once upon a time they went to the restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, they now don’t need a justification to treat themselves. Besides high street eatery brands and pubs alike have attractive offers on to draw in the pundits, making the entertaining experience look more affordable and tempting!

Lincoln's Steep Hill area

In the process, hospitality has become a victim of its own success. Personal etiquette standards have slipped across the board, and this shift in attitude has been validated by the media and social observers.

Although complaining is the legitimate course of action when a service expectation has indeed failed to satisfy and/ or fallen below standard, customers and consumers are more confident and assertive than ever, and gone are the proverbial ‘British reserve’ and restraint. Some customers feel strongly that raising uncalled-for objections, playing out their discontent and generally acting in an obnoxious and foul-mouthed manner will somehow give them more clout and entitle them to that coveted freebie, a discount or a refund. (to be continued)