Brain Dead

There are 2 different Monoprix in my quartier, one for food and the other for clothes, toiletries, makeup etc. I go to the food one pretty much every day (because I like to eat) but almost never head over to the other.

For weeks I've been thinking I need to go to Monop, so I figure I'll take a break from writing about Christmas (don't ask) and head out. So I'm in the store and realise I don't have a clue what it is I'm supposed to be buying. I know it was important. I'm sure it was important.

After about 10 minutes of staring at cellulite cream and feet exfoliators, I decide I'd better leave because the security guys are looking at me funny.

I'll no doubt remember what it was I needed at 3am in the morning.

C'est Vrai

For some reason it's difficult to buy vitamins here in France. You can get them from parapharmacies or pharmacies (no I don't know what the difference is) but you don't get a whole lot of choice and they're super expensive. I used to buy my vitamins in bulk from the UK but the last couple of times I have bought them here.

I was looking for folic acid and the regular place I go to had sold out so the guy sent me next door to the pharmacy. This is how the conversation went (translated into English because I do speak French, ya know):

Me: Hello, I'm looking for some folic acid.
Stupid Pharmacist: Yes.
Me: Um, do you have any?
Stupid Pharmacist: Yes.
Me: Well... I'd like to buy some.
Stupid Pharmacist: Oh, ok. What do you want it for?
Me: Um, to take once a day???
Stupid Pharmacist: Have you taken it before?
Me: Yes, for years.
Stupid Pharmacist: We have 400mcg and 500mcg but I can't advise you on which is best because you haven't told me why you want it.
Me: Grrr....
Me: It significantly reduces the risk of having a child with birth defects.
Stupid Pharmacist: C'est vrai?
Me: Grrr...
Me: Also, some studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Stupid Pharmacist: ???

As I leave with my tiny box of tablets I hear her asking the other pharmacist:

Stupid Pharmacist: Why would someone take folic acid?
Pharmacist with a Brain: It reduces the risk of having a child with birth defects.
Stupid Pharmacist: C'est vrai?

Devastated

A tragic, tragic event has taken place in my neighbourhood. I headed out to get my daily baguette to find a crowd of people gathered around the front of the boulangerie. People were crying and had their heads in their hands in despair.

I didn't have to ask what was going on, I could see for myself. My local boulangerie, with the best baguette in all of Paris, has closed down for the month. Nooooooooooo!!!

Alone Again

F headed to Albania yesterday, leaving me alone for the rest of the summer. He has to take care of some family business, plus he wants to spend some time with his mother, so he'll be there for at least a month.

I could have gone with him but there's just no way I can take that much time off work. F was trying to convince me that I could work from there but without ADSL there's just no way. Can you imagine having to go back to dial-up?

So lets see what kind of mischief I can get up to while he's away...

Big Balls

F was trying to convince me this morning that the reason he weighs so much (80kgs) is because he has big balls!

'Really, big balls huh?'

'No, not big balls', he replied, 'big bones!'

Man his accent is weird...