Bloody Mary? Bloody shame

Once again, I sat last evening with a non alcoholic Virgin Mary, otherwise know as a Bloody Shame, according to old friend Mike Findlay, guitarist with The Secret Police, a Police tribute band, as part of my long-term plan to avoid alcohol. It began yesterday and I intend it to extend all the way into tomorrow afternoon. Yes, it is a tall order, but having now successfully negotiated two nights without a drop, at complete variance to the weak-willed nice lady decorator, I am feeling extremely self righteous and feel almost certain I can manage avoidance once again at lunch time, and then coast over the metaphorical line of abstinence that will rush up at me at 8pm this evening after tennis.

Yes, this evening I shall be attempting to loosen up the cricket ravaged joints sufficiently to play tennis, if we can find a fourth, the wingco being unavailable due to a work commitment. Does he not understand that work must never get in the way of a sporting or social occasion; bad show I say, see me afterwards and write out a hundred times” I must be available for tennis when asked”. One more transgression and he will need to pad his backside for the inevitable punishment that will follow.

Whilst sitting at our new outside bar,  enjoying said non alcoholic beverage, the subject of Iron Man competition which is held each year in Nice came up. It is a competition in which a load of very fit and highly testosterone charged and huge men attempt a 5 mile swim, followed by a 10 mile run followed by a 50km bike ride, or something of the like, and that nice lady decorator began drooling about the prospect of large muscles. Personally I also like large mussels as well, albeit with a  different spelling, and I prefer a cream sauce or perhaps a dash of curry sauce and maybe a side order of chips. She was however, not amused, when I suggested that Iron Man was all about being a male super hero, whereas Iron Woman was more of a command. My picture today shows the bar just before drink up, or rather for me, don’t drink up time.

The new bar, with the rare distinction of not having a drink open on it

So packing for Venice has commenced, with a possible stop over at Portofino on the way. I will include a liberal dose of seasickness tablets for the gondolas, in case there is a breath of wind. There is no point in depositing a good lunch over the side of a river taxi so precautions are obligatory. Actually, it will not be the gondolas that require the tablets, I hope that is clear.

Having never been to Venice before, and not being a good sailor, I am not confident of anything more than about 90 seconds on a boat without consequences that are a little too graphic to go into here.

Today I shall continue with the promotion of Le Tour De Financeon 19th May at Mougins. I think the offer a free aperos is likely to be the tipping factor for most ex pats, at which this event is carefully aimed. Offer the thirsty ex pats a free drink and they will go to the opening of an envelope. That’s the theory that we (by which I mean Currencies Direct) are working on. For those based more over towards Nice there is another event at the Boscolo Hotel on 24th May. It’s as if they (the expats) have to be persuaded to help themselves avoid disgraceful rates when using banks.

Chris France