The primary tour in recent times has been that of the Airbus A380 plant.  In fact, one does not see the assembly side but one looks over three Airbus A380 aircraft inside the building at their testing stations.  The four components of the tour are well explained on TripAdvisor.  One starts off at Airbus Visit, Village Aéroconstellation, Rue Franz Joseph Strauss, Blagnac, 31700.  It is operated by an entity called Taxiway, which is part of Groupe Manatour, a tourism company operating in the Toulouse area.  The also operate an Airbus Boutique at the same site offering various Airbus things for sale such as books, DVDs, t-shirts, stickers, coffee mugs, etc.

Let me tell you about the A380 Tour and then about the Boutique.

The A380 Tour

I have made a point of taking many foreign visitors on the A380 tour since the mid 1990′s.  The tour comprises four components.  At the premises of Airbus Visit one is ushered by the tour guide into a mock telemetry room where one observes a telemetry desk of about eight metres long where the Airbus A380′s maiden flight is replayed.  This takes about twenty minutes.

One then boards an air conditioned luxury bus for a five minute drive into the secure area of the J.L. Lagardère site which houses the A380 plant.  One then leaves the bus and enters the ground floor of the building where one endures a waffling fifteen minute presentation whilst looking at large wall charts which are rough maps of Europe showing where the various parts of the A380 are constructed and also the air/sea/rivers/roads transport network to get them from there to Toulouse.

Thereafter one takes the lift about four floors up and one is able to see three A380s at their test station.  As a regular visitor I have found it to be exceptionally boring but the plus factor is that one get to see different aircraft at every visit.  (The tails are painted in the airline’s colours prior to delivery at the assembly plant.)  At this stage, whilst overlooking the testing hall, one is shown a video of the air/sea/rivers/roads delivery system.  I recommend that you buy the A380 DVD (or DVDs – as there are now two different ones) at the Airbus Boutique.  The last ten minutes of the thirty minutes spent on the fourth floor is spent outside on a large balcony looking south over the airport at other A380s parked at the external testing stations.  (More often than not one has the irritation of young, bored and restless children who are now begging their parents to get going.  I have often felt the same at that stage but I don’t have anyone to complain to.)

Back on the bus again one has the three minute return trip to Airbus Visit where one is taken into a mock A380 cabin.  Again, this is a yawn – and a looong stretch of the imagination is required.  They show one, and in some instances allow one to sit in, the seats that Airbus had on offer when the A380 started selling – around 2005 if I am correct.

The whole tour is over in about 90 minutes.

The guides are all knowledgeable and their spoken English is pretty good.  If one is lucky one might have Matthew Lord as a guide, in which case, metaphorically speaking, you will have hit the tour ‘jackpot’.  He is interested in the goings on at Airbus and his talk is interesting and he is an engaging character to chat to as well.

Airbus Boutique

One of the advantages of owing a ‘tourist trap’ shop such as Manatour Taxiway do with their Airbus Boutique at Visit Airbus / Airbus Visit is that you – as the shop – are able to sell cheap Chinese stuff at exorbitant prices, secure in the knowledge that a customer will never come back and complain.  That is, of course, if the client is not a local like me.

Some time in the last decade I bought a cap from the Airbus Boutique and it faded with three weeks.  I took it back immediately, together with the proof of purchase, and I was rudely told that it was my fault, I could have boiled it for all they knew, and I was rudely shooed away.

I subsequently bought Airbus A380 coffee mugs which have been a delight to use.

A380 Coffee Mugs

In 2011 the Airbus Boutique brought out A350 XWB coffee mugs.  I had had good service out of the A380 coffee mugs and so I purchased two of the A350 XWB coffee mugs in October 2011.  They, and the A380 mugs, were used extensively with my Bosch Tassimo coffee maker.  I had also bought a quite a few of both the A380 and A350 XWB coffee mugs as gifts for friends and encouraged my visitors to buy them too.  They were pricey at €14-00 each but at that price I considered to be of good quality.  I was soon to be proven wrong.

(They also sell A350 XWB shirts but I figured that my Most Significant Other would not appreciate wearing one.  XWB = Xtra Wide Body.)

In early March of 2012 I put an A350 coffee mug in the Bosch Tassimo for my morning coffee and walked away whilst it did its thing.  When I came back there was coffee all over the counter.  I once had a box of defective Tassimo cartridges and so I assumed that this problem had reared its ugly head once more.  I lifted the coffee mug up and part of it stayed in the machine.

A350 Coffee Mug

A350 Coffee Mug

I said to myself that the break may have been because of a manufacturing defect or perhaps I treated it roughly but I had no thought of returning it.  In the back of my mind I had recalled the brush off I had some years ago with the Airbus cap that I had bought and attempted to return.  (I must point out that I still have the caps that I bought previous to and subsequent to the defective cap, and they are fine and showing no unusual signs of wear even though I wear them frequently to protect my ‘solar panel’.

In the third week of March 2012 I was using the second A350 coffee mug when I noticed some spilled coffee.  Silly me, I had obviously been clumsy but one doesn’t usually cry over spilled coffee.  A day later I made my customary morning cup of coffee.  This time I took the cup outside and put it on a stone wall as I worked.  Very soon I noticed that it was sitting in a pool of coffee – and the level had dropped.  And so I watched it.  Guess what?  This cup had cracks that I had not observed before.

A350 Coffee Mug showing cracks

A350 Coffee Mug showing cracks

On Wednesday 28 March 2012 I had to collect friends from Toulouse Blagnac Airport and so I searched for my proof of purchase as I had resolved to return the A350 coffee mugs to the Airbus Boutique.

On arrival I awaited my turn in the cashier’s queue and presented my two mugs and proof of purchase.  I was told that it was clear to them that I had abused the product, such as put it in a microwave oven or even breached the warranty by using it for hot liquids – yes, a coffee mug that is not designed to withstand heat.  The shop assistant, who has been there for years – the same one who shooed me and my cap away some years before – was combatant and told me that she was going to ‘prove’ that I had breached the warranty.  The lady manager was also called.  They took an A350 coffee mug off the shelf, opened the box, and made me read the instructions/slash warranty paper inside which was in French, English and German.  It does say clearly and unambiguously that no substance of more than 40C should be placed in these mugs – which quite clearly I had done.  Now I cannot remember whether my mugs had an “instructions/warranty” slip in their boxes.  But I challenge anyone to tell me that they (i) read any “instructions” that come with a very ordinary, albeit expensive, coffee mug, and (ii) that they would buy such a coffee mug in the knowledge that it was not fit for purpose.

The manager told me too that I was the first person to complain about the coffee mugs.  Not surprising given the transient nature of their clientele.    I did point out that the ambient temperature in Toulouse every August is 40C!

What will I do now?

Given that the A380 Tour is really a waste of time – except when Matthew Lord is your guide – and that one cannot trust the Airbus Boutique I have resolved not to take any more visitors there for the tourism aspects.  I will also encourage others not to support Manatour and their tourist trap enterprise.

The products that I have bought from Airbus Boutique that are safe, and which I can recommend, are the fridge magnets, stickers, keyrings, books and A380 DVDs.  Instead of a tour, why not go to the Airbus Boutique and buy one of several A380 books (presently priced up to €37-00) and one or both A380 DVDs (around €18-00 each) and save the money and hassle of a tour.  Since you are at Airbus Visit, the likelihood is that you got there using your own transport or a taxi.  Drive yourself or get the taxi driver to take you around the perimeter of the A380 plant and, if time permits, follow the fence anti-clockwise around the airport perimeter and end up at the historical section where an Air France Concorde’s wing hangs over the fence.  As easy as that.  But do contact me for advice through the Contact section of this blog.

Who is Manatour?

This enterprise appears to be contracted to Airbus and other large local companies to provide tourism services.

The name, Manatour, is somewhat unimaginatively formed from the first two letters of the surnames of its founders:  Mas and Nau, to which the word Tourisme has been added.

According to their website, Manatour was, “Founded in 1990 by Jean-Pierre Mas and Philippe Nau, Groupe Manatour is one of France’s leading companies in the field of industrial and technical tourism.”

Here is some detailed information about their enterprise from the French companies registry:

Président:  Philippe Nau

51 Boulevard Pierre Curie, Toulouse, 31000

SIRET:  49335967300016

RCS:   Toulouse B 493 359 673

Capital:  €464,000-00

Date of registration:  18-12-2006

Le Tribunal de Montauban a passé le jugement en ma faveur le 14 mars 2012 contre le charpentier arrogant de Parisot, Patrice Breil.

Judge: “Tenu a une obligation de conseil et de resultat, il sera juge que L’EURL BREIL n’a pas respect son obligation contractuelle.”

I have got in six rides in six days.  Five rides were the same 8.61 km route and the time improved by a few seconds on each ride. I have been towing my new 8 kg Bob Ibex monowheel trailer in preparation for several trans-France cycle tours this summer:

Friday 24 February:

Saturday 25 February:

Monday 27 February:

Tuesday 28 February:

Tuesday 29 February:

I have, without really trying, reduced my time/speed each day:

24: 36:30 / 14.2 kph
25: 35:24 / 14.6 kph
27: 34:57 / 14.8 kph
28: 34:01 / 15.2 kph
29: 33:32 / 15.4 kph

Much has been written about this subject in SA and the UK which you can Google and find out.  The fact that someone has attained Silk doesn’t mean that they are any good at what they do, other than, perhaps, having perfected the art of obsequiousness towards their more senior colleagues.  Unlike with aircraft pilots, with advocates there is no post journey (or perhaps even post-matter) analysis.   And if there is no analysis then there is no understanding if a ‘legal’ crash has occurred with their client’s matter.  And without analysis these Advocates will arrogantly bumble from one matter to the next, charging their hefty fees to a client who knows that they are next to useless.  I don’t know the reason for the lack of introspection but it certainly is a bad thing.

Advocate Roshnee Mansingh desperately wanted Senior Counsel status, in other words, to take Silk.  And so she decided – correctly in my view – that if she could not have it then no one else should.  So she brought legal proceedings against the President of the Republic of South Africa and the various South African societies of advocates.  Judgment was handed down in her favour on Thursday 8 February 2012 in the North Gauteng High Court, which sits in Pretoria.  She was represented by preeminent Cape Town Bar Council member, Owen Rogers, S.C.

I wanted to write a story about it, kind of in her favour, for a large national publication but I needed the judgment.  I managed to find her mobile phone number and this was the brief exchange of messages:

Eventually I sourced the judgment elsewhere.  But I though to myself, “What a dumb cow.  You are so lacking in even the most elementary skills – such as reading an email address – that there is no hope for you in your chosen field.”  Now, dear reader, ask yourself truthfully, if you were a litigant, whether you would like to be represented by a lawyer who responds as she did?  I think not.  If you did so it would most certainly be at huge risk to yourself.

Where arrogance is bliss ’tis ignorance to be wise.

Say “NO” to bubble gum lawyers.

To find our more about this summer let, click here.

“When you drink hot chocolate, it automatically conjures up feelings of nostalgia, warmth, family and sometimes even romance,” said Maury Rubin, owner of the renowned City Bakery in New York City.

Rubin has been serving his original recipe for more than 20 years. Little did he know that the simple drink would become the calling card of City Bakery today. Rubin’s secret is that he uses real, melted chocolate combined with fresh milk, as opposed to the watery kind you may know, likely the result of ground cocoa beans pressed to remove their butter.

His blend of real chocolate, made correctly, should “get into your emotions,“ he said. “It’s a crime that it’s so hard to find hot chocolate that bespeaks hot chocolate.”

Each February, City Bakery plays host to its annual Hot Chocolate Festival, which introduces new flavors for the entire month — everything from vanilla bean to ginger hot chocolate.

While Rubin’s recipe is a secret, making your own hot cup isn’t as difficult or time-consuming as it appears. It’s actually as easy as heating milk and adding melted chocolate. But to guide you along to chocolate nirvana, Maury offers some tips.

Maury’s tips for the perfect cup:

Chocolate:
Use real, high-quality imported chocolate. “The better the chocolate, the better the cup.”

Milk, preferred:
“This is the subjective part, but dairy, not water, gives the drink a rich foundation,” and it’s what Rubin prefers. Using half and half or heavy cream ultimately will deliver the thickest, creamiest hot chocolate.

Chocolate-to-milk ratio:
For a deep, full-bodied flavor, use 2 ounces of chocolate for every cup of milk. Add another ounce for more intensity.

Temperature matters:
Don’t serve it too hot. “With higher-quality chocolate, you’ll mask its subtle accents and quality by overheating it.”

Finishing touch:
Froth the hot chocolate with a handheld milk frother before serving. “This helps aerate the chocolate, giving it texture and an even nicer mouth feel.”

Marshmallow? Yes, please.

Purists say hot chocolate is best served alone, but topping it off with marshmallows is the perfect complement, according to Rubin. “It’s a Fred-Astaire-and-Ginger-Rogers thing,” he said, speaking of the sugary confections that add just the right amount of sweet and balance out the complexity of the flavors. As for whipped cream? “Anything other than [a marshmallow] is hot-chocolate blasphemy.”

TASTER’S CHOICE
If you can’t make it to City Bakery anytime soon, try one of these:

Jacques Torres Classic Hot Chocolate, $18

Chocoholics, get ready to melt. Acclaimed chocolatier Jacques Torres created a supremely blended sipping chocolate that’s rich and complex, and thick enough to coat the inside of a cup.

Vosges La Parisienne Couture Cocoa, $15

Made with dark chocolate for a smooth base, and flavored with Madagascar vanilla bean bits that add subtle texture, Vosges’ “La Parisienne” is gourmet “haute” chocolate.

Sarabeth’s Kitchen Hot Chocolate, $20

The closest thing to the famed chocolat chaud served at Angelina patisserie in Paris, Sarabeth’s European-style blend combines semi-sweet Belgian chocolate, Dutch cocoa and pure cane sugar.

MarieBelle Aztec Hot Chocolate, $26

There’s nothing spicy in MarieBelle’s Aztec Hot Chocolate — the smoky notes come from single-origin Colombian cocoa, and it comes in a charming tin.

La Maison du Chocolat Tasse de Chocolat, $18

La Maison du Chocolat’s luxurious rendition is made with dark chocolate “pearl” nibs, so when it’s melted and whisked together with milk, it takes on an almost pudding-like consistency.

Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa, $5

More sophisticated than original Hershey’s Cocoa, this blend of Dutch-process and natural cocoas is dark, deep in flavor and bursting with good-for-you flavonoids.

Source:  The Daily

Le premier magistrat de la commune de Parisot (559 habitants) ne cache pas sa satisfaction. Bien légitime au demeurant !

Pour Frédéric Kérestedjian et les Parisotains, le Père Noël s’est monté très généreux cette année avec l’arrivée dans les caisses de la commune d’un chèque d’un (joli) montant de €100,000. Chèque qui a été offert par Renée Willaume, la veuve de l’ancien premier magistrat de la commune, Jean Willaume, décédé le 12 janvier 2007. « Ce chèque représente près d’un quart du budget de fonctionnement annuel de la commune, relève au passage Frédéric Kérestedjian, nous avons passé un contrat d’équipement avec le conseil général pour la période 2011-2014 qui nous aide bien mais cette somme de €100,000 va nous permettre d’avoir un peu plus de marge par rapport aux différents chantiers que nous avons programmés comme, par exemple, la mise en place de l’accueil de jour pour les personnes frappées par la maladie d’Alzheimer, le curage et la remise en état du lac et de ses abords, l’amélioration de la place du foirail, etc. Nous avons également des travaux d’entretien courant de voirie à effectuer. L’utilisation de cette somme supplémentaire, je peux vous le garantir ne pose pas le moindre problème. Cela va nous permettre d’assainir les finances de la commune. Les petites communes, en général, ont des dotations budgétaires assez faibles et elles sont très souvent obligées de s’endetter. Ce chèque constitue un coup de pouce à ne pas négliger. » En 1966, la famille Willaume achète une maison de vacances dans la commune de Parisot. En 1991, lorsque l’heure de la retraite sonne, les Willaume se retirent en Quercy.

“Un maire plein d’énergie”
Aujourd’hui Renée Willaume qui est entrée dans sa 86 e année et qui réside à Strasbourg se rappelle parfaitement de ces années-là. « Quand mon époux a remplacé le maire de l’époque M. Galan qui venait de décéder, Parisot était un peu une belle endormie, il y avait de l’ouvrage pour la réveiller. On avait décidé de faire un maximum de choses pour notre commune d’accueil ». Jean Willaume, ancien dirigeant du Racing Club de Strasbourg, Maire de Parisot de 1993 à 2005, président de la communauté de communes Quercy-Rouergue et Gorges de l’Aveyron de 1997 à sa démission en 2001 pour raisons de santé a marqué à tout jamais l’histoire de la petite cité quercynoise au-delà de sa disparition. Frédéric Kérestedjian ne prétendra pas le contraire en relevant notamment : « C’était un homme d’une très grande rigueur morale qui avait en permanence une énergie débordante. C’était un grand visionnaire. Il a marqué l’histoire de la commune ». Pour toujours.

Source:  La Depeche du Midi

From an extremely envious John Riley

A friend and I were tired of home cooking and so we phoned to check that they were open.

We were warmed greeted by Charlie the owner. The bill came to €44-00 largely taken up by my steak (€15-00) which came with potato gratinée, a bottle of Côté du Rhône and my bread and butter dessert. My friend had something more modest: a fish dish and partook of the wine.

The bar resto is nicely decorated, immaculately clean and has a congenial feeling to it. The service was timeously and the food was really tasty.

I am delighted to have found a new ‘local‘.

The lunchtime menu is €12-00.

Tel. 05 63 65 22 18. (English spoken slowly!)