tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78950391834887474252024-02-07T07:19:24.890+01:00The TastevinXavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-31282268703165205092009-03-12T09:24:00.000+01:002009-03-12T09:25:58.942+01:00Oh my god.... Barca is so strong !<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, yesterday was the long awaited game between Barca and Lyon... My 2 teams if I may say so. Lyon obviously is my favorite team in France and Barca in Spain ! Well......... there is no comparison between them. Lyon does not play at all at the same level. Sad evening.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-49304356640388612782009-03-10T23:32:00.002+01:002009-03-10T23:36:44.200+01:0010 resolutions for the new year<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">After a long time without writing any posts... here is my new one for the new year. Well, we are only in March right !<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">So last year I made for the first time a list of 10 resolutions... did that with my friend Rafa. I will make another post to see how I did.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Well, here is the list for this year:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">1- run a marathon</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">2- take wine tasting classes</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">3- eat healthier food (should be 61kg)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">4- learn how to play drums</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">5- read at least 6 strategic books</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">6- bring down my golf index to 25</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">7- pass my motorcycle driving license</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">8- really start picking up some Mandarin</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">9- update my blog more regularly</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">10- practice my spanish in order not to lose it</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">well, that is definitely another challenging list...</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-26436027254230855022008-11-19T09:39:00.004+01:002008-11-19T09:58:25.682+01:00Days like these...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">When I woke up this morning I had this strange feeling that something crucial was missing in my life.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am currently reading a French novel by Guillaume Musso and there is this discussion between a psy and a girl (who happens to be his own daughter, but he is unaware) and they both say that they are not completely happy because something essential is missing... I had that same feeling prior to reading these few sentences while taking my breakfast.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am now 31 and lots of uncertainty is still awaiting me. But today I really realized that I am not fully satisfied yet. My career is still not at the level I want it to be but most importantly my private life is far from it. I have now reached a point where I am fully ready to settle down with someone and build a family. I believe that this is what is really missing in my life right now.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lately I have had an active social life, renewing contacts with some friends in Nyon/Geneva that I now see regularly, but I still have not met that person I am looking for. In the last month I met with 3 girls, we had a drink and then I realized that I did not want to go further with them. None of them met my very severe criteria list which is becoming less severe every other day. But still, what is the point of being with someone if you cannot have serious discussions about what is going on in the world, any politics or economics events or about a nice bottle of wine, or about a book etc.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So the question is where can I meet this kind of person who will have a certain level of education, a certain mutual vision and understanding ?? What can I do to get this chance ?<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">One says that you generally meet someone through your network, shall it be work colleagues or friends, and I have kind of spreaded the word around me that for me to stay in Switzerland I would need to find that match... How long am I ready to wait ?<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I feel everyday an increasing need and some days I feel kind of scared that maybe there is no one for me. Some other days I feel that in this world there must thousands of girls with whom I would feel well. Which is surely the case. But where are they ? Do I know this person already ?<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, there are days like these where I have thousand of questions going on in my mind...<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Tomorrow will probably be a better day...</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-6920924114067451332008-10-30T19:47:00.002+01:002008-10-30T19:50:56.916+01:00I love my new sofa !<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">So I finally received my sofa... it only took 3 months instead of the original 2.5 weeks ! But anyway, now the sofa is there and I love it ! It just looks great in my flat.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">And guess what... I did my real French last week as I went negotiating with the shop and told them that it was unacceptable that it took so long. The great thing is that they refunded 10% of the sofa. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">So yesterday, it was a great experience when I was in the shop. I bought some funky stickers to put on my wall and, because they owed me more money than I had to pay, when I was at the cashier they actually gave me money back ! It is just great to do shopping and receive money instead of paying myself !</span></div><div><br /></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-91783121066221463552008-10-22T20:38:00.002+02:002008-10-24T09:09:09.760+02:002007-2008 meme combat...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span>In January 2007, l'Abbe Pierre died... In October 2008 it is the turn of Soeur Emmanuelle... Meme combat et deux annees qui marqueront a jamais ! 2 angels left...</span>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-44522765173170533192008-10-20T13:00:00.004+02:002008-10-20T13:09:22.189+02:00Wow....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNLLf_emTVvIlbruHlmrom6yKnbwvAZ9G5_pXjAyxBFcNarm_giwMiCo6QAYMol0V8jmjZehLbjgBYXO90d5hM15BUCMrKeSyfkuZzyrarxBRUdjsCJDoRkjwtelbVGaif-weVQABYmEn/s1600-h/DSC_0103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259190615609634242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNLLf_emTVvIlbruHlmrom6yKnbwvAZ9G5_pXjAyxBFcNarm_giwMiCo6QAYMol0V8jmjZehLbjgBYXO90d5hM15BUCMrKeSyfkuZzyrarxBRUdjsCJDoRkjwtelbVGaif-weVQABYmEn/s400/DSC_0103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yesterday I went next to Dijon where Alex, one of my colleagues at Medtronic, was doing some testings for his racing GT3. We spent an amazing day there and I had the chance to drive with him on the track ! And for those who know me quite well, they know that I love speed and nice cars... So it was just great. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><br />Pics of the day: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/xaviercle">http://picasaweb.google.com/xaviercle</a></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rock and Roll !!!</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259189864275713330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SnSeICP7RMs7fKQwPNQrluLDYMOIjJn73qq-SfR3JLfhU9Ux-CLbQx3vl2qk6ko8dkg5zJztVKx0YpS-hJtMx2xOOT9YbhRv0qLC_wxLv06aMkgjfvURYsUWv1vCYOBsWtufppVS4_Il/s400/DSC_0195.JPG" border="0" /></div></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-27749804451952960332008-10-16T09:07:00.002+02:002008-10-16T09:10:50.716+02:00The magic of Skype...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yesterday evening, Sam called me on skype... we started to discuss and then spoke about Luca, my former american flatmate from Barcelona, who was also on Skype. At that point we just wondered whether it would be possible to organize a conference and let him join. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">And guess what, Skype is just magic, we were able to have a conference the 3 of us, while being in different parts of Europe ! I was in Nyon, Sam in Zurich and Luca in Aberdeen. Surprisingly as well, the quality of the sound was amazing ! I love Skype conferences !! Great way to speak with my IESE friends around the world.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-827613683433884132008-10-14T15:45:00.002+02:002008-10-14T15:47:27.338+02:00Sh.... I missed it....<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Damn it... I wanted to buy some shares on Monday because I thought it would have been a great deal after the tanking of last week. Guess what, since I do not have my new account yet for trading myself, I could not do so, and now the market is already going up at a rapid pace. So all in all, I missed it... I missed an opportunity to make 10% in 1 day. Well, if I get my account early next week, I might still be able to find a few good shares. Hopefully there would be a significant return within 2 years.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-15484578683492243212008-10-12T18:34:00.001+02:002008-10-12T18:35:38.682+02:00116 km in the last 3 months<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">wow.... I just saw that I ran 116km in the last 4 months... and still I feel that I will not be ready to run my marathon !</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-80114576623084919542008-10-12T16:58:00.004+02:002008-10-12T17:05:11.652+02:00Starting to feel at home and getting involved in Bus Dev...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">So the latest news of my life...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">After weeks of wondering what curtains to buy, I finally made my choice this saturday. I went to Ikea with Alex and bought them. Then we installed them in my kitchen. I also bought a picture of the eiffel tower, black and white, of 2 meters by 1.4 meters. So the flat is taking shape now. And seeing that on top of this I finally received my tv, I start to now feel at home. However, I am still waiting for my sofa ! Then it will really start to feel like my own flat !</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Also, job wise, there have been a few developments. I am now officially project lead on one of the activities that the Bus Dev team is working on. This is good news to me as this will bring diversity into my work life ! And also allow me to learn a lot about the industry.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-72271310124739687812008-10-10T18:13:00.004+02:002008-10-10T18:17:51.680+02:00Just a small pic...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T7In0pTjfBmtQb89wpePFjjuK8Z2_Mp2ZCPMMZth2_6q-S5vah9EM4S_QKUI19NYS0Fwr5DFsMoTn3U-Egno1fhEvU9yXk8YKXV_e2ifKCuOflXMYUt2OQpHiTyyoiG68Q2mJ_R2Nxvu/s1600-h/Imagen+153.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0T7In0pTjfBmtQb89wpePFjjuK8Z2_Mp2ZCPMMZth2_6q-S5vah9EM4S_QKUI19NYS0Fwr5DFsMoTn3U-Egno1fhEvU9yXk8YKXV_e2ifKCuOflXMYUt2OQpHiTyyoiG68Q2mJ_R2Nxvu/s400/Imagen+153.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255559975737949938" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Just because it is rare to find a cellar like nowadays...</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-40641301408350284192008-10-06T13:39:00.006+02:002008-10-06T14:12:30.433+02:00Simple macro-economics... or even micro.<div align="justify">I hear here and there many people who do not understand why the rent prices are not going down right now while the prices of houses on sale are going down... Couple of points can explain this very easily.</div><div align="justify"><br />First, there are less people buying houses. On top of a bad economic situation, banks are less likely to lend money now to people who want to buy (I am talking about the banks who are still existing!). So more houses on sale (but not necessarily more supply because some people will have the house on sale sign but will prefer to wait until prices are back up before actually selling the house), so let us consider that the supply is actually almost stable.<br /><br />Meaning that the prices are actually artificially going down, it is only the price that is written on the house (not the one realized = we are talking about intention of selling). There is actually less demand (because people cannot buy if they cannot borrow) for stable supply (remember the X graph studied in macro), so all in all price are slightly going down for people who can afford buying (not all who want to buy can actually do so). Not sure if that is clear for everyone...<br /><br />Anyway, second big point... because people cannot buy, they actually tend to rent houses. This means that there are more people willing to rent now than a year ago. Increase in demand and supply more or less stable (some houses for sale might be converted into houses for rent in some area) lead to prices of rent actually being stable or going up (depending on local market pool).</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />Well that's it for simple micro-macro...</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><u><br />Epilogue:</u> </div><div align="justify">Anne Roumanoff, a French comic, said on TV this weekend (comments in brackets are mine):<br /><em>Prices of houses are going down, more people want to buy but they cannot buy because banks are not lending money</em> (ie less demand). <em>They are not lending money because the houses they have as bank guarantee </em>(because they had lent too much money in the past (=sub-prime)) <em>cannot be sold because prices are too low and they prefer to wait...<br /></em><br />This also explains why some banks and financial institutions are going bankrupt... they cannot sell the houses they had on guarantee. While the person who borrowed cannot pay back... meaning that the financial institution does not get its money back, neither from the former owner of the house nor from the proceeds of the house. That means that we are screwed! All this because of these institutions who lent money to people who could not afford it... followed by the collapse of the house market bubble in the US...</div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-86273889943326088002008-10-06T11:51:00.005+02:002008-10-06T11:53:32.573+02:00Finally made my choice on the TV...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPZW1QxBbklyQJqVTIeTHSIsjEJA0hbPPWNQGvhYLHZKD5Cd4lscqz32k5LOaMqyVegLwJBA85UGhhzwTJe6np47pGx941zV9rFAYTOtf7RrtiEY7gDs7bG3r5Rn26L4mZ8FURsUtW4J4/s1600-h/40A676_L.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253976507046718866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPZW1QxBbklyQJqVTIeTHSIsjEJA0hbPPWNQGvhYLHZKD5Cd4lscqz32k5LOaMqyVegLwJBA85UGhhzwTJe6np47pGx941zV9rFAYTOtf7RrtiEY7gDs7bG3r5Rn26L4mZ8FURsUtW4J4/s400/40A676_L.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">It will be a Samsung ! 40A656... with some nice crystal gloss effect on the side of the screen. It </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">will look good in my empty flat. Now need to order my TV rack !</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-53371601035746408322008-10-02T21:53:00.001+02:002008-10-02T21:55:32.749+02:00La Madone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bs2-_q9CXusuu3pGi9p8MzdlHmZDcFAC3wHS3gsXZCdpi8mPOGD-KJpy5OJNAHgE7gEXbxyYkooaKOGzBxywRRHZzFXtxZ6TW9xrAXVnGdsONt4pTI9n4aVg3RKV67yrQPmndO4HTk7/s1600-h/Imagen+046.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_bs2-_q9CXusuu3pGi9p8MzdlHmZDcFAC3wHS3gsXZCdpi8mPOGD-KJpy5OJNAHgE7gEXbxyYkooaKOGzBxywRRHZzFXtxZ6TW9xrAXVnGdsONt4pTI9n4aVg3RKV67yrQPmndO4HTk7/s400/Imagen+046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252647359502683970" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">La Madone... </span>She is protecting the winegrowers in our village.Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-52974761609982650602008-10-02T21:50:00.000+02:002008-10-02T21:52:57.878+02:00Almost perfect...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmPE4crLy6tk3jUnvuVOj16SFM-5Lj7OitzfjJmxYL37eBCn-2YVVOjomCyb9r_nTYcuui2m9wrcPERbsmMS0lYnrtb6tMcXB5rE9AYomj3LTVG4R3TnF5vysTE8MFZywTA4vtijB5y9c/s1600-h/Imagen+042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmPE4crLy6tk3jUnvuVOj16SFM-5Lj7OitzfjJmxYL37eBCn-2YVVOjomCyb9r_nTYcuui2m9wrcPERbsmMS0lYnrtb6tMcXB5rE9AYomj3LTVG4R3TnF5vysTE8MFZywTA4vtijB5y9c/s400/Imagen+042.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252646784286243122" /></a><br /><div>Almost perfect work...</div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-6871945249584831362008-09-30T15:09:00.002+02:002008-09-30T15:15:33.733+02:00This is called swiss service...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">One month ago I ordered a sofa at Interio... I picked the brown one because it was supposed to arrive within 2.5 weeks, whereas the special order would have taken 3 months. Guess what... I called this morning and they are now telling me that it will arrive either at the end of October or at the end of November ! </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">If I had known I would have picked the dark brown color, since the special order was supposed to take 3 months. Which seems to be the length it will take for my normal order. This is maybe what is meant by Service in Switzerland ?!?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">All in all, I cannot buy my other furniture until I get my sofa, since I cannot evaluate the space in my living room without it. Meaning that I will still not feel at home until I can finalize all my interior design which might be for another 2 months... I hate this situation !! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">I tend to believe that this might be a sign, just like the fact that the first day I came back to Switzerland in July I was stopped by the customs who said I was carrying drogue in my bag... (which obviously I was not doing but the guy tried to force me to say so).</span><br /></div></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-31245718006114467272008-09-29T23:50:00.002+02:002008-09-30T00:00:11.256+02:00When motivation is low...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEkKEnfoVYlbaPjQaNWHvmssjcaW9BiVK0eg8Fls5jqCEEiCotbNm53Z5x4Son3_EiBBPPL2mXyLBQVz-p9zqeDXqZhPToGT0dFwLa8NElgdcpjT95nqmnLg2EPojqNbNKNC71Ld_wJts/s1600-h/Imagen+152.jpg"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEkKEnfoVYlbaPjQaNWHvmssjcaW9BiVK0eg8Fls5jqCEEiCotbNm53Z5x4Son3_EiBBPPL2mXyLBQVz-p9zqeDXqZhPToGT0dFwLa8NElgdcpjT95nqmnLg2EPojqNbNKNC71Ld_wJts/s320/Imagen+152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251565563677823762" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just one day away from starting work again... and I just realized that it is always hard for me to find motivation again after taking some time off in my native region... just wondering why it is like this !?! Is it that I miss my region too much or that my new life is not exactly what I would like it to be... not that I really know, but I have that weird feeling that something is still wrong/missing. Will have to sort out that motivation issue if I want to be performing in my new job !</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-26196190648689288212008-09-19T20:41:00.005+02:002008-09-19T20:45:20.225+02:00Off for grape picking...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">That's it... 2.5 months after starting work I am taking a holiday... to work !! But this time I will be working in our small vineyard. See a picture from last year below...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLHKBe06ABcWXRK9gTy1jy510uMJoBM53nnDM_t6YEkxZDJCxcF3_xeo6VGhlcLujeHhBZ_0HgfnU0sii2jdq_Cn6AnaBsBeDeIwpsJAxnDV4Mju9s8ucLsJJ6XTG-SgD_E_muiPpCDzW/s400/Fleurie%2520coop%252001w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247804934784053058" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-18047579400595004862008-09-16T21:22:00.004+02:002008-09-16T21:28:41.681+02:00Merde Actually...<div style="text-align: justify;">I could not resist but publish this quote as well from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Merde Actually</span>...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is Paul West going on holiday with his girlfriend to her family's house on Ile de Re.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Florence and I were heading almost to the far end of the island, to the wonderfully named little port of Ars, which was pronounced just as rudely as I hoped. I'd insisted on buying the bus ticket myself, purely for the thrill of getting on and asking the driver, 'Do you go as far as arse?' There are English cities where that would get you killed. And I was looking forward to my next Paris dinner party, when the conversation would turn to holidays and I'd be able to tell a girl, 'I love arse.' All in all, a great place to buy a holiday home, if only for the postcards you could send to all your friends.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-52897232916505561712008-09-16T10:31:00.003+02:002008-09-16T21:29:08.088+02:00And now HP...<div align="justify">And now is the turn of HP to announce that they will lay off 24,600 employees worldwide following its merger with EDS...</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7618068.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7618068.stm</a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">As some of you know, I worked for HP for 3 years and really liked that company, eventhough there was no career development for me there ! Today, I just hope that none of my friends working there will be impacted by this plan...</div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-64790216718669467392008-09-15T09:56:00.004+02:002008-09-15T10:02:07.361+02:00Lehman Brothers<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, I know that Rafa already posted on this but I wanted to quickly write something as well.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">About 2-3 weeks ago when I was in London, we even had that discussion with Vivek and Brian. How come that a bank like Lehman had so much success with all the MBA students trying to get job there ? I remember that during our London Banking tour and during the different career event at IESE, many students, including myself, were really attracted by Lehman.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you think about it, this bank went bankrupt already twice ! Still, it enjoys a really nice name career wise, or at least did until today.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I just want to think about my friends who recently joined the bank and hope that their career will not be too much impacted by this... Hopefully they will keep their jobs... If not, I hope they will find something fast. They are brillant so let's cross fingers for them.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-28868282798401762102008-09-14T17:24:00.005+02:002008-09-14T17:54:49.336+02:00A year in the merde: quotes<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">As promised a few quotes from this book... amazingly funny !</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Asking to his boss on the first day</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Do I call everyone tu or vous?" Not that I was capable of calling them either.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Ah, it is quite simple. You, in your position, call everyone with whom you work tu. Except maybe anyone who looks old. And except if you have not been presented to them yet. Most people here will call you tu also. Some will call you vous if they are very less senior or if they think they don't know you. OK?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Er, yes". Clear as onion soup.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Comment from one of his co-workers:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"You rilly yong," said the skinny bloke. Not accusingly, but annoyingly.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Not really, I'm 27. If I was a rock star I'd be dead."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Getting introduced to his new-coworkers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bernard smile nervously and began.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Yam Bare narr, yam responsa bull ov communikasyon, er..."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Shit, I thought, didn't Jean-Marie say the meeting was going to be in English? How come some people were allowed to speak Hungarian?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Bernard of Budapest carried on in the same incomprehensible vein for a couple of minutes and then started to enunciate something which, to judge bu the look of acute constipation on his face, was of great importance. "Alok for wah toowa king wizioo".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Hang on, I thought. I don't speak any Central European languages, but I got that. He's looking forward to working with me. Holy Babel fish. It's English, Jim, but not as we know it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Getting introduced to Marc.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Ah'm ed of hah tee", he said.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Ed of hah tee," I repeated approvingly, wondering what the hell this was. Something to do with tea, anyway. Relevant.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Yah. Compoodah sis-temm," Marc confirmed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Oh, I.T. I said. He glowered at me. "Your English is excellent," I added quickly. "How long did you spend in the USA?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Ah've done a yee-uf uv post-grad at Jo-ja State, then Ah've worked fahv yee-uhs inna inshance firm in Atlanna. In da hah tee departmon, a coss."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"A coss," I agreed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Later on in the book...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Paris is, I was beginning to realize, a bit like an ocean. An ocean is a great place to live if you're a shark. There's loads of fresh seafood, and if anyone gives you shit you just bite them in half. You might not be loved by everyone, but you'll be left in peace to enjoy yourself.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Giving English lessons later on in the book...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"What did you have for dinner last night, Sylvie?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"I made some crap."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"you mean crepes? Pancakes."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Yes, pan-cak."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">The hardest thing was to keep a straight face.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"OK, Philippe, what would you say to the waiter if you had no cutlery?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Er, excuse me, I want a knife and a fuck."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"At five PM, I was working."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Good".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"At seven PM, I was sitting on ze train."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"OK"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"At nine, I was listening ze radio."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Was that AM or PM?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"No, FM".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Talking with a former colleague about his old boss.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Jean-Marie. E does not want to be the major of a little town only."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Mayor."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Yes. Mayor. Thank you. This nuclear central..."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"Power station."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"This nuclear central power station, it is han important regional question. If e can av henough political power in this region, the power station will surely be constructed. Ee will be respected as a, ow you say? Un home d'influence."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">"A man of influence".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Talking about one of his new flatmate.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Vasco could have farted at international competition level, and I did not want to give him any complexes, so I always did my best to force out a sympathetic goodnight fart before dropping (or drooping) off to sleep.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">Talking about his old boss Jean-Marie.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There was no point telling anyone about his desktop affair with Stephanie, because accusations of adultery would only increase his score at the polls. President Mitterand, for example, gained maximum posthumous respect after his illegitimate daughter attended his funeral. A French politician without a mistress is like a sheriff without a gun - people thin he has no firepower.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; ">So there are lot of nice quotes from this book. I really advise you to check for yourself. I only selected a few but the whole book is about british and french humour.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-75774836316406052212008-09-10T10:14:00.012+02:002008-09-10T10:44:35.028+02:002 years later...<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last weekend I went to Fleurie to get my stuff moved to Nyon... But this is not the reason why I spent a really good weekend. Actually, what I did not know was that there was a party organized in the village, a <em>"bal"</em>, where my brother was DJ. Yes, he actually is a DJ in the weekends... And during this <em>bal</em> I saw a few friends that I had not seen for a while. But most importantly I saw a very good friend of mine whom I had not seen for roughly 2 years. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />So the next day I went to have a coffee at her place and it was really good seeing her again and catching up after all this time. <em>Nous nous sommes retrouves </em>was the general mutual feeling after Sunday. So yes life is sometimes full of surprises and complex. I was busy with my MBA and Virginie was busy with her work/studies. I did not spend much time in my native region so in the end we did not speak to each other for a long time. I hope that this period is now over and that we will really keep in touch and share some nice moments.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Yesterday evening... I went to Geneva for a Salsa class that was organized by one of my friends whom I had not seen for 2.5 years !<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Last week I actually registered on a website for international people living in Switz <a href="http://www.glocals.com/">http://www.glocals.com/</a> and I now receive alerts for activities that are happening between Geneva and Lausanne. So to my surprise, l got a mail on Friday entitled <em>Georgy's Latin Dance Lessons</em>.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">When I saw this I was 100% sure that this was the Georgy I knew ! And yes it was, so I decided to register for the event and went there with Jen yesterday evening ! It was so incredibly cool to see him after all this time... And now I can finally learn how to dance salsa, or at least try to learn.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">So this past 4 days I have seen 2 persons whom I had not seen for such a long time. I guess that one of my ten resolutions for the year is happening. In January, with Rafa we did that list of 10 things to do this year and one of them was that I wanted to spend more time with my friends... This is what is happening now ! Even better, I see real true friends after 2 years and what a great feeling !<br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I also realized when driving back from Geneva to Nyon that I did a great choice to live there. It is ideally located between Geneva and Lausanne. So it will allow me to spend time with friends in Geneva and make new ones in Lausanne... Really looking forward to the coming couple of months. In the end I might really get a good social life here ! At least it is promising right now.</span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-15181082827003637782008-09-08T11:02:00.010+02:002008-09-09T11:49:50.911+02:00A year in the merde.<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">About a month ago I read a book from Stephen Clarke called <em>"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Merde</span> Happens". </em>This is the story of Paul West, who goes to the US do defend the UK in a tourism contest. That book was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">soooo</span> funny !! It is actually the 3rd book from a sequel. </span><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was so "amused" by it that I decided to buy the other books last weekend when I was in London. Reason is that it is much funnier to read this book in English than in French... why, because the story is all about the French. Meaning their attitudes, customs and the way they speak in English. This is the first time that I laugh out loud while reading a book, and I can tell you that some of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">English</span> who were sitting next to me in the plane last Sunday were looking at me as if I was crazy... (especially after the episode of the engines which could not start!!)</span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">The first book of the sequel is called <em>"A year in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Merde</span>". </em>It is the story of Paul West who goes to Paris for a year. There he discovers a lot of things about the Parisian lifestyle (Noelle, you have to read this !!). For example, every body knows that in France the year starts on the 1st of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">September</span>. Or the only place where French will queue in order is at a bakery, anywhere else it is just a battle ! So anyway, I do not want to say to much about it because you have to discover this on your own...</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">These book are now really famous. Originally the author only published about 500 of them to give to his friends. But it was such a success that he sold thousands of books and had to write some more ! Even French really like this book... Who says that we do not like to take the piss out of ourselves ?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anyway, I really advise you to read them... In the order:</div><br /><br /><div align="justify">1- <em>A year in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Merde</span></em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243578407845267282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYplnafF4oq_psHc83fTlK4GlPAKcPW2RNPNzsUeKKxt3iMQcmuhpu2T2EUPxIXIqi5hggXrRgAKMI-i9nuVbKv0IsGuF1RYMcR2VEUkRuIMrq-RhfMhxOvZb6LRsYfHt6OuyHHfdvMrpQ/s400/a+year+in+the+merde.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">2- <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Merde</span> Actually</em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243578412977587442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwmkL8MoBPnosVIXLbi1cJWjH-fgb4YRcQ1h731WnSood08JfMy8PHACb7xSoXm4_lAeJm9XZmnYflC-rTZNPn2VlvUIIRnHIBaICOrAv90XZcEeNVhxTn2WE1ihM7mmGVhDJz0EK-M_s/s400/Merde+Actually.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">3- <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Merde</span> Happens</em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243578416995604930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84IrnvXh_DP4lnqtB2U2OsYV31wi0yy5gFghNSB2CCPiBf1nC6UTFHWDUyRlDE56au6g7fRewoyr_b00k4kPR1zqtA1Y81_eefJWF64PGI6c-9vKIRtzDjsgwkUR32-tOLDmU36RiYwAn/s400/Merde+Happens.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">4- He also published a kind of dictionary on how to speak to French people and how to understand them. <em>Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French </em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243578423383524370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YZy27amuNZwb-rheTG396vCIXkMzIkZtZIWTTK2h4_kiVmhXPq8ct482Ku96DVarJ4oF2btOMRPAVe6mKtTwoFD3whWxAb9T_NqrbuQaFz__vKPxKfodsDpxqU5h9cnKarMtf_7aSJ0o/s400/Talk+to+the+snail.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"><em></em></div><br /><div align="justify"><em></em></div>And for the fun I am going to put a few dialogues from these books in another posts. It is even funnier if you can speak a bit of French...<br /><div align="justify"></span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895039183488747425.post-48343906589725569842008-09-06T18:06:00.007+02:002008-09-06T18:16:54.184+02:00Probleme de riche ?<blockquote></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">So now that I am moving into my new flat, I have to buy a lot of stuff ! Today I went to a shop in France, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Boulanger</span>, and no it is not a bakery ! It is a shop for electronic appliances.<br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So my dilemma is that I want to buy a nice LCD... Therefore I went to the shop today to decide whether I should buy a 40, 42 or a 46 inches. Samsung 6 series is done in 40 & 46 inches. Otherwise, the LG scarlet serie exists in 42 inches. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Basically, in my living room the sofa will be at around 3.5 meters from the TV. So I do not want to take a screen that will be too small ! A 40 inches means a diagonal of 102 cm, a 42 means 106 cm and finally a 46 inches means 117 cm. So yes, that might be a problem of rich but I need to ensure that my screen is big enough ! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Or as said my cousin, I am getting old so maybe I should go for a bigger screen because I will lose my eyesight slowly. Salaud ! On the other end, a screen too big would make the living room look akward. </span></div>Xavihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13695180665359664834noreply@blogger.com2