Photos from la Bourboule

View from my window, a few days back

I have been taking a few pictures I hadn't posted yet, so this is your chance to see my hotel room including views!  I have three windows .....

My bench!

Acting Suspiciously in la Bourboule

This started the trouble!

Well, I have finally confirmed the worst suspicions of the honest citizens of la Bourboule! It was entirely unintended, but I suspect I will suffer for my foreign ways at long last. I suppose I could plead temporary insanity, based on a surfeit of cold medication, but my French isn't up to it. Luckily I am leaving in a few days, and I can only hope that it will all blow over by the time I return next year …. If they let me, that is.

So, this is what happened. Last Thursday, just before I was struck down by a singularly nasty cold, courtesy of my fellow curistes, I wafted about the local fleamarket. It was still raining heavily, and very few traders had decided to set up a stall – there were barely half a dozen, in stead of the usual two dozen. Feeling that these few hardy show-ups had to be supported, I had a quick wander after my all-clear visit to my doctor.

As luck would have it, there was one stall that enabled me to indulge in one of my many obsessions – linen bedsheets! I bought two, and had a free one thrown in, which suited me very well. My hotel, though excellent in every way, does not supply linen bedsheets, and I am used to my creature comforts. So I was naturally overjoyed to find these old, hand monogrammed sheets, and put them on immediately (they had just been freshly laundered!).

But it was not the sheets that caused scandal and alarm about my inappropriate behaviour in this quiet, upright, and very straight laced spa town.

Already burdened with my sheets – linen sheets weigh a ton, and I dread the journey back home – I came across an old, cast iron, device. I am unsure what its original use was, probably some sort of food warmer. Unlike the teapot warmers we use nowadays, this one looks as thought it was intended to be used with coals. Perhaps one used already glowing coals to put into the warmer, which could then be put on a table and keep food warm. I have never come across this sort of thing, but judged it suitable for use as a teapot warmer.

I keep a teapot in la Bourboule (obviously), together with a cup and plate. My hotel, though brilliant in every aspect imaginable, does not supply teapots, nor indeed proper cups. All they have is the fingerbowls used for cafe au lait in the south of France, and tiny cups for espresso, and neither are suitable for a proper cuppa.

Anyway, the teapot is large and I drink slowly, and I have been sorely missing the services of a teapot warmer. So you can imagine how pleased I was to spot this device. I hesitated buying it, on account of its heaviness (there is only so much I can store in my hotel in la Bourboule between visits, and a cast iron teapot warmer is low on the list), so I shall have to carry it home (another heavy item to weigh down my suitcase).

Anyway, I was six days younger then and more foolishly inclined than nowadays, so I bought the thing. And fell ill. And stayed at home, until lack of food and a slight improvement in my symptoms drove me from my lair.

Aside from several large boxes of tissues and food I also decided that I really wanted to use my teapot warmer, so shopped around for some tealights, which I found in a store specialising in various foreign fripperies. So far so good.

But yes, you guessed it – I needed matches as well! No one had matches. Perhaps the fact that I called them 'lunettes', rather than 'allumettes', caused confusion. Trying to convince any number of shopkeepers that I needed 'eyeglasses' for candles to heat my tea, while still heavily sedated by cold medicine, almost went beyond my talents, until I got hold of the lady at Remys, who supplies me with newspapers and is sublimely gifted in divining my needs, however outlandish. I also showed her my tealights, in a last ditch effort to make myself understood.

She burst into pearls of laughter, then eyed me suspiciously. 'Matches to light candles?' she asked in French. Exactly, I replied. She directed me to the tobacconist around the corner, in a hesitant, slightly disapproving, fashion.

The tobacconist was a young man, and a little standoffish, until I voiced my request. He looked around suspiciously, made sure there were no other customers, and smiled at me in a conspiratorial sort of way. Then he went to the back of the shop, searched around for a considerable amount of time, and returned with a little black match box. I did the unthinkable, and asked for two. At this he became even more affable, returned to the back of the shop, and came back with another little black match box. He handed them over, smiling again his knowing, conspiratorial smile, and whispered that 'there was no charge – a gift from someone who understands'.

I left the shop dazed and confused, looking around stealthily for potential witnesses who might tell on me as I emerged from the tobacconist shop. I have never felt so guilty in all my life. Heaven knows what rule I have broken. I am sure I have no idea. Maybe I am now suspected of being a secret smoker? In a town dedicated to the treatment of respiratory ailments I suppose smokers are viewed with suspicion. Or maybe they think I am an anarchist, planning to burn down city hall? I did check the match boxes, and they did not conceal any opium or whatnot.

My God, what have I done?

Creature comforts at la Bourboule

The device

Coals inside?

Or will a tea light do?

Suspicious or what?

Dash dash dash.......

I caught another nasty cold from my fellow curistes.  Other people go to a spa to restore their health, I go to have mine ruined!  If I wasn't a good catholic - which I am not - I would cuss & swear to high heaven.

- - - - - ....

Glider Groupies of the World Unite!

Hello my fellow glider watchers!

There is a nasty conspiracy afoot in France that would endanger scale model gliding if it were successful.  Since watching those little sailplanes circling the skies is one of my favourite hobbies, I do hope you will sign the petition below and help avert this dastardly plot.

Citizens and residents of all countries can sign, not just French ones.  So please don't let me down and click through now!  Just sign on the right hand side, under the signature counting number.

I have copied the following from the petition's website:

http://www.mesopinions.com/petition/politique/aeromodelisme-loisir-danger-mort/24777

L'aéromodélisme de loisir est en danger de mort !

Auteur : Guilhem B, Stéphane M, André R, Michel D, François C

Créé le 09/09/2016  

À l'attention : des Sénateurs et Députés de France

Devant les problèmes dus à la récente prolifération des "drones" (pilotes inconscients du danger, non formés, utilisation des "drones" à des fins malveillantes), le Législateur a tenu à réagir de la manière la plus ferme. C'est la future "Loi Drones" (Proposition de Loi n° 141 au Sénat). 

Si cette Loi sécuritaire est adaptée à ces nouveaux engins volants, par contre elle fait un amalgame catastrophique entre "drones" et modèles réduits, regroupant tout le monde sous le vocable d'"aéronefs télépilotés circulants sans personne à bord".
 Ainsi nos aéromodèles, que nous pilotons uniquement à vue et qui demandent un pilotage permanent pour se maintenir en l'air, deviennent des "drones" à cause d'un raccourci malheureux opéré par une Loi inadaptée à l'aéromodélisme!

 Qu'on en juge plutôt:
-  Obligation d'évoluer uniquement sur des lieux agréés par la Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile  (DGAC),On imagine la concentration de modèles différents qui rendrait vite la vie impossible sur ces terrains.
-  En dehors de ces lieux, les obligations sont draconiennes et irréalistes: plafond d'utilisation réduit à 50mètres, éloignement par rapport au pilote réduit à 200mètres, limitation de poids à 1kg, sinon emport de systèmes de signalisation, de positionnement et de limitation des performances, enregistrement des modèles.

C'est l'aéromodélisme de loisir en campagne et sur les reliefs (pratiqué par plus de 80% des 30 000 aéromodélistes français) qui disparaît.
 Pourtant, ce beau loisir technique et de plein air a prouvé sa faible accidentologie dans les 60 dernières années, il fait partie intégrante de la famille de l'aviation, il a été en son temps enseigné dans les écoles, il a initié et initie encore nombre de vocations de pilotes civils et militaires, et il représente une filière économique non négligeable (artisans, commerçants, revues spécialisées).

Notons en outre que bien entendu, cet arsenal législatif ne sera répressif que pour les aéromodélistes et n'empêchera pas des "dronistes" malveillants de s'en affranchir.

Aussi nous voulons dire de la manière la plus forte notre refus d'être en tant qu'aéromodélistes englobés dans cette future Loi.

 Nous proposons et demandons:

   - Que les modèles réduits soient clairement distingués des "drones" dans cette Loi.
   - Que soit instituée une formation donnant une qualification de Télépilote d'Aéromodélisme.
   - Que les Télépilotes qualifiés soient enregistrés auprès de l'Organisme compétents en tant que "Télépilotes d'Aéromodélisme".
   - Que les modèles réduits des Télépilotes d'Aéromodélisme soient exemptés des dispositifs électroniques visuels et de limitation des performances.
   - Que continue de s'appliquer aux Télépilotes d'Aéromodélisme le décret de Décembre 2015.


Nous signons ce texte qui est notre pétition.

In Praise of my Triplets – Joseph & Ruby

Today I read in the New York Times that 'reverse mentoring' is the next big thing in company networking. Basically, it means that younger employees mentor older ones, teaching them technical skills, that sort of thing.

Interesting development. I have no need for that, of course, because I already have two top notch mentors in the form of my splendid triplets, both in their mid-20s, and sharp as needles. We 'mentor' each other, and the exchange of knowledge and ideas goes both ways. This works best when everyone involved is equally knowledgeable and keen to pass that knowledge on, obviously. Too often mentoring is only one way, and that can result in a hierarchical relationship which can easily be resented.

I never quite understood the tendency of the older generation (including my own age group) to think in hierarchies, accompanied by the idea that younger folk know less than they did at their age and are generally degenerates, going down the drain fast. Rather a silly idea, I think. In my experience everyone knows an awful lot, and it seems futile to rank that knowledge in any ways whatsoever.

For example, I have beautiful – and readable! - handwriting, but can't touch-type. For most young people the opposite is the case. Similarly, I have a grasp of history that surprises younger folk. But they have an understanding of social network websites that astonishes me. Does that make me superior or inferior to them? In my view neither; we just have different skills, which are valuable in different contexts. It is just too easy for both younger and older generations to dismiss the skills, knowledge, and wisdom of the others, just because they are different from their own and thus not understood.

The reason for this is perhaps that there isn't enough meaningful contact on an equal footing between the generations, instead of the hierarchical contact that happens with family, teachers, and bosses. Older people wouldn't resent and dismiss today's youth so much if they dealt with them as equals, and didn't assume they always knew better just because they were older. And younger people need to remember that it is natural for older people to know more than they do – they simply have more years worth of experience to draw upon.

My triplets have been grown-ups for ten years; I have been a grown-up for forty years. During those forty years I have watched, listened, discussed, and thought about a huge amount of news, and accumulated and digested an enormous amount of information. What kind of idiot would I be if I didn't know more than people who only had one quarter of that time to learn? Putting it the other way round, what sort of a genius must the younger person be to accumulate the same amount of experience in one quarter of the time?

Every generation, nay every individual person, face their own unique circumstances, and will develop ways to deal with these circumstances, resulting in unique understanding and experience that will enrich and progress the store of human knowledge.

Obviously, all other things being equal, a fifteen year old will have contributed less than a twenty-five year old, who will have contributed less than a thirty-five year old. But that doesn't mean that fifteen year olds don't have anything valuable to contribute, and aren't worth listening to as equals – with regard to their unique experience, they are the experts!

Of course, it is a lot easier to achieve such mutual respect and appreciation among triplets! That's one of the reasons why I am a great supporter of the triplet concept, which might be summed up as follows.

Scare up a couple of hopefuls you think you can jell with. Persons who are intelligent, knowledgeable, sociable, genial, and generally worth spending time with. Ideally people who differ from you in areas of experience, age, and background – that will allow maximisation of mutual experience-exchange. And then spend as much time with them as possible. Simple, really.

Joseph and Ruby, I salute you! You are the best triplets ever!

Long may it last.

Parc Fenestre - Toddlers and Taddies

The Schrat, my favourite wood sprite

Today I had planned to go to Clermont Ferrand, but something came up and I missed the bus.  Oh well, never mind, I'll go some other day.  I don't know why I keep thinking I can only go on the weekend - I am on holiday, after all!  Every day is free, aside from the two painful hours in the morning.

Anyway, I couldn't go so went to the children's playground called Parc Fenestre instead.  It is right behind my hotel.  Sadly, most attractions are only open over the Summer, which is now officially over, but the flip side is that there aren't too many people in the park.  I did notice quite a few toddlers, though.  Since the school holidays are over, only the tiniest of tiny children are still out and about in la Bourboule.

Some of them have even infiltrated the Grands Therme!  Now children, in my opinion, are only acceptable in grown-up places (basically anywhere I hang out) if they are well-mannered - ill-mannered children are like flowers without scent, basically pointless, in my opinion.  Well-behaved children, on the other hand, are a delight and can always look to me for chocolate and Picsou magazines (when I have finished with them).

Aside from one little pest who screamed and fussed until I fled from the electro-aerosol room, the toddlers are very sweet.  Just imagine a truly tiny child, barely able to walk, sitting on a little stool with a watering hose attached to its nostril ...  Heartbreaking, actually!  I suppose I shouldn't blame the noisy little pest from earlier today.  It is hard enough for a grown-up to suffer through the sinus rinses etc, never mind a little toddler who has no understanding of what this is all about.

Anyway, once the internal irrigation practices are over, many of these little ones go to Parc Fenestre with their parents, or often grandparents, who take them for the cure, being able to do this since they are retired.  They have the playground pretty much to themselves now, and had a great old time, even with many of the major attractions closed.

As is often the case, light conditions for taking photos weren't great, everything looks so much better through my - tinted - sunglasses!

Parc Fenestre appears to have decided to set up a Japanese Garden!

A wisteria, grown like a tree

Just a nice view

dito

There are lots of little waterways in Parc Fenestre, and upon closer inspection they turned out to be populated by worms.  First I thought these were earthworms that had fallen into the water, but there were loads of them, and they seemed quite happy, wriggling around.  Also, there has been no rain recently, so they probably weren't swept into the water by a storm.  Yes, another pointless bit of information about la Bourboule you could have lived without!

Worm

Worm, too

The kiddie train is wrapped up for Winter

I do like the international flavour of la Bourboule!

Giant climbing frame

The mini-golf area has acquired a few new features - 1

and 2

The carousel is also wrapped up for Winter

The Frog Pond, which I am proud to say I was the first to have identified as such, has changed again. What started out a few years ago as basically a water-filled hole with plastic ducks floating on it, has morphed into an overground oasis for tadpoles.  By now they have all hatched, of course, and the pond is pretty much dried up.  This is a good thing, since several dragonflies were hovering about, looking for watery wastes to lay their eggs.  Dragonfly larvae, I have you know, love to eat tapoles. So by letting the pond dry up as soon as the taddies have hopped it, future generations of tadpoles are protected from these voracious eating machines.

I also noticed that the pond is now surrounded by a wickerwork fence, and that the bench that used to stand on one side has been removed.  Too many tourists bothering the taddies?

You can see what I write about the pond in 2011 here:

http://dblenck.blogspot.fr/2011/09/post-cards-from-la-bouboule-duck-pond.html

Spot the dragonfly ....

Pooper-scooping is big in la Bourboule!

Spot the toddlers

 The wood sprite population has grown again!  Every time a tree is felled some local artist turns it into a wood sprite - well, that's my assumption, of course it could be the spirit of the tree or something.  Over time the sprites grow features and become more life like!

Featureless sprite

dito

dito

Multi-story bird house, always fascinates me

The Schrat!  Oldest, and with the most pronounced features.

By the way, Parc Fenestre has a website!!!

http://www.parcfenestre.com/