London, baby !

Hi all,

... from the British side of the Eurostar.
Life here is incredible.
Mine changed and drastically improved since I moved to that great cit.

Keep you posted,

Frenchy Baguette

Turning Tables - Adele

There is no need for marketing.

A voice, a melody, good lyrics and a pianist...

That's ALL you need :)

(c) "Turning Tables" by Adele at Royal Albert Hall

Start doing things you love ...

I have just found this inspirational photo. 

It provides us with strength, simplicity, tolerance, creativity, action and hope.

And believe me, hope is what we really need today.

It don't know the copyright. But found this pic on mymodernmet.com

 

Don't forget that you are the only one who live your life. 

So live it the way you want, decide what is best for you and try to do your best not to have regrets.

''If you don't like your job quit''

... 

I do not totally agree with the sentence

This is not that easy, specially in countries where the unemployment rate is extremely high.

Of course you can quit...
But...
How will you live ?

How can you be sure to find another job soon ?

Instead I would have written :

"If you don't like your job, send THOUSANDS of CVs to change." 

This the only way to find another one within the near future.

Here, the message is :

Act so that the wheel can turn the right way soon. 

Have a good week

Frenchy Baguette

I won't tell you...

Today it's Thursday and it's been so many days since I wrote here. 

And...

I won't tell you...

that I am not proud of me (for not writing).

that many things have changed over those last 5 months.

that the sun shines again.

that I just needed time.

I won't tell you...

that I don't want to comment the news.

that it is not a political blog.

that many things may change soon here.

that change is good, but knowing what to do / where to go is better.

that in this crazy world daily happiness makes me feel confident.

that turning off your tv may be the key...

I won't tell you...

that I have missed you.

that spring is back in Paris, and hope too.

that I have recently met many extraordinary people.

that I have so much positive energy.

I won't tell you...

that I have listened to Ellie Goulding's CD thousands of times.

that "Video Games" is worth being listened to.

that I started making new pics of Paris again.

that I started to walk for hours in the streets again.

that I almost finished a very important creative project.

that being a tourist for 3 days here confirmed me that this city was amazing.

I won't tell you...

to go to the cinema and theaters more often,

to watch classical, famous movies,

to read interesting or non-marketed books and journals,

to listen to classical music or songs with real lyrics,
to look for positive initiatives,

to think by yourself and to forget glitters.

I won't tell you...

that "after the rain, the sun shines" (French proverb)

that life is worth being lived

that difficult moment don't last forever

that good people, willing to help you, are just around the corner, waiting to meet you.

I won't tell you...
to have dreams and goals
to believe in them and in you
to try, again, again and again.
to go running, walking, dancing, football-ing, rugby-ing, tennis-ing or swimming
to say F**K to those who keep critizing you / your goals / your situation without suggesting solutions.

I won't tell you...

that everything is only a question of timing,

and that the wheel eventually turns the right way.

Take care of you,

CARPE DIEM,

Frenchy Baguette

"Nuovo" - Gianmaria Testa

I heard that song (plus a long interview) by chance on a French radio yesterday evening.

Nuovo is the new song by the Italian singer Gianmaria Testa, from his new album "VitàMia".

Listen to it, this song is so relaxing and melodious !

Plus, with the clip, you'd like to travel to beautiful Italian landscapes !

Enjoy...

(c) "Nuovo" da Gianmaria Testa

(c) Soggetto e Regia di Giuseppe BATTISTON e Matteo OLEOTTO

(c) Direttore della fotografia Ezio GAMBA

(c) Montaggio Edoardo BARTOCCETTI

(c) Service SALT & LEMON

(c) Prodotto da Paola Farinetti per Produzioni Fuorivia

Lyrics "Nuovo"

Nuovo come un giorno che non c'era
Come la sera quando arriva già

Nuovo com'è nuova la stagione
E nuovo il nome che la chiamerà

Nuovo di promessa mantenuta
Nuova la voce sconosciuta
Che la tiene e la terrà

Nuova questa mano che ti tocca
Nuova la bocca che ti parlerà

Nuovo da lasciare un gusto in gola
Nuovo come una parola che non so
Nuovo che se chiamo e non rispondi
Molto forte, molto più forte
Ti chiamerò

Nuovo come un'altra volta ancora
Per chi non c'era e non sapeva già

Nuovo com'è nuova la canzone
Per ogni voce che la canterà

Nuovo che ti lascia un gusto in gola
Nuovo come la parola che non so
Nuovo che se chiamo e non rispondi
Molto forte, sempre più forte
Ti chiamerò

All I want for Christmas is YOUUUUUUUUUU !!!

"All I want for Xmas is YOUUUUUUUU!"

Love Actually

***

Christmas is a time to be together.
Xmas is a time to go back home.
Xmas is a time to travel.
Xmas is THE time when airports and trains are crowded.

Xmas is a time to celebrate.
Xmas is a time to sing.
Xmas is a time to pray.
Xmas is a time to eat too much delicious food.
Xmas is a time to rest.
Xmas is a time to experience peace.

Xmas has always been a time to watch movies too.
French TV always broadcast many of them between Xmas and New Year's Eve.
We'll have "Gone with the wind" again.
We'll have many cartoon (Disney, Asterix...) too.
We'll have Xmas movies too.

Xmas holidays start today in France.
I wished my friends to enjoy this time with their family.
"Merry Xmas and see you in 2012"

I can't imagine that 2011 started almost a year ago.
Time goes by too fast.
Luckily even when life is hard, you have your relatives.
That's what really matters.

"Love Actually" always makes me feel happy & Xmas-y, laugh, sing and want to live in London.
I know the dialogues by heart.

It gathers most of the best British sexiest actors.

Enjoy !

***

(c) "Love Actually" - Studio Canal

Lo Que Más - Shakira

"Eres lo que mas he querido en la vida." *

Shakira

***

*English translation :

"You are what I wanted the most in my life."

(c) "Lo Que Más" by Shakira

(c) 2010 Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC

Lyrics :

Cuántas veces nos salvó el pudor

Y mis ganas de siempre buscarte

Pedacito de amor delirante

Colgada de tu cuello un sábado de lluvia a las 5 de la tarde

Sabe dios

Como me cuesta dejarte

Y te miro mientras duermes

Mas no voy a despertarte

Es que hoy se me agoto la esperanza

Porque con lo que nos queda de nosotros ya no alcanza

Eres lo que mas he querido en la vida

Lo que mas he querido

Eres lo que mas he querido

En la vida

Lo que mas he querido

Cuántas veces quise hacerlo bien

Y pequé por hablar demasiado

No saber donde como ni cuando

Todos estos años caminando juntos

Ahora no parecen tantos

Sabe dios

Todo el amor que juramos

Pero hoy ya no es lo mismo

Ya no vamos a engañarnos

Es que soy

Una mujer en el mundo

Que hizo todo lo que pudo

No te olvides ni un segundo

Que eres lo que mas he querido

En la vida

Lo que mas he querido

Eres lo que mas he querido

En la vida

Lo que mas he querido

Happy Holidays

Since it's December, 1rst today, there was no doubt that the Thursday quote would be about Christmas. I started listening to Xmas Carols and specially the ones sang by Frank Sinatra.

Here are two of them ("Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas") from the great movie "Happy Holidays" (1957), starring Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. 

I particularly like the "Jingle Bells" scene.

The comment on Youtube linked to the video of "White Christmas" is really interesting and is worth being read if you like cinematographic history (I hope that this expression is correct in English...). 

Anyway...

Enjoy !

***

 

"Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight


Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh


A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot"

(c) "Jingle Bells" performed by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby 

   

***

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white"

(c) "White Christmas" performed by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby

The 5-wish list

Days are getting sorther.

Today the sky is white in Paris.

It's cold outside.

Winter will be soon there.

On the other side of the Ocean, it's Thanksgiving.

Millions of American celebrate this special day.

Today I invite you to stop 5 minutes.

Take 5 minutes for yourself.

Take a sheet of paper and a pencil.

Write the main 5 things you wish to achieve within the 6 next months.

Realistic goals.

5 things you want to change.

5 wishes you've never dared to say

5 ideas you've always wanted to get real.

5 things you never have time to do.

Then

Write how you could achieve each goal.

Your strengths.

Your weaknesses.

What you could do to succeed.

Write how much time you need for each point.

Keep that paper.

Near you.

So that you can se it regularly.

So that when it's hard, you can focus on your goals.

Then...

ACT

Because with written, clear goals, you'll know "where you go".

I'd written mine almost a year ago.

It helped me even if my 5 wishes did not ALL become real.

I've just written a new list.

My 5 wishes.

My 5 goals.

My 5 forth-coming achievements.

International Skating competition in Paris

If you're in Paris this week-end and want to attend an international figure skating competition, do not hesitate, RUN buying tickets.
You won't regret it.

The Trophée Eric Bompard is one of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Competition. Thus (and since it is in Paris), it attracks every year most of the best skaters from all over the world. 


I told you, do not hesitate, run attentding it !

 (c) Trophée Eric Bompard 2011

Change

"If you don't like something change it;

If you can't change it,

Change the way you think about it."

Mary Engelbreit

***

"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."

Flora Whittemore

***

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions 
that can change your life forever."

Keri Russell

***

(c) Kimi Ga Kureta Natsu

Greek wisdom and proverbs

Greek wisdom...

"Since we cannot change reality,

let us change the eyes which see reality."

Nikos Kazantzakis

***

"It is during our darkest moments 

that we must focus to see the light."

Aristotle Onassis

***

"In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can."

Nikos Kazantzakis

***

"Everything in this world has a hidden meaning."

Nikos Kazantzakis

***

"The language of truth is unadorned and always simple."

Ammianus Marcellinus

***

"I am a citizen, 
not of Athens or Greece, 
but of the world"

Socrates

***

"In Greece wise men speak and fools decide."

George Santayana

***

Greek Proverbs...

"Danger can only be overcome by more danger"

***

"He who suffers much will know much"

***

"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom"

***

"One minute of patience, 

Ten years of peace"

***

"The beginning is half of every action"

***

"Before you can score, 

You must have a goal"

***

"After the war, aid."

***

"Act quickly, think slowly."

***

"Eat and drink with your relatives; 

Do business with strangers."

***

"Gray hair is a sign of age, not wisdom."

***

"Many men know how to flatter, 

Few men know how to praise."

***

"One witness one liar; 

More witnesses, all liars."

***

"Pleasure is the greatest incentive to vice."

***

"Success is doing what you like 
and making a living at it."

***

"Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth" Pablo Picasso

"Every child is an artist. 

The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

***

"I am always doing that which I can not do,

in order that I may learn how to do it."

***

"Inspiration does exist, 

but it must find you working."

***

"It is your work in life that is the ultimate seduction."

***

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."

***

"The artist is a receptacle for emotions 

that come from all over the place: 

from the sky, 

from the earth, 

from a scrap of paper, 

from a passing shape..."

***

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, 

but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, 

transform a yellow spot into the sun."

***

"There is no abstract art. 

You must always start with something. 

Afterward you can remove all traces of reality."

***

"We all know that art is not the truth, 

art is a lie that makes us realize the truth."

***

All those quotes are by Pablo Picasso

***

 Two women running on the beach - Pablo Picasso

 Le pigeon aux petits pois - Pablo Picasso (1911)

Grand nu au fauteuil rouge - Pablo Picasso (1925)

Colombe - Pablo Picasso 

 

Cavalier à la pipe - Pablo Picasso (1968)

Enfant à la colombe - Pablo Picasso 

Lithographie Estampe - Pablo Picasso

 Guernica - Pablo Picasso (1937)

  Le Rêve - Pablo Picasso (1932)

La Colombe de la Paix - Pablo Picasso (1949)

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish." ALWAYS

"Stay Hungry,

Stay Foolish"

Steve Jobs

***

Think different

Innovate
Create
Find what you love
Know what you truly want to become

Curiosity
Intuition
Love
Change
Faith
Death
Humility
Life

(c) Stanford University

(c) Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Here is a written transcription of Steve Jobs' speech.

ER reminiscence

Today's quote is a reminiscence.

No nostalgy.
Not even a word.
Just an old well-known music.
A former TV show opening.

40 seconds which sum up 15 years of French sunday nights, when I used to hurry up ending doing my homework to watch this.

Because there is NO doubt,
ER has been the best medical TV show ever.
A lot of blood
NFS-chimi-iono-blood gases-surgery calling
Very ill and dying people
Open-heart reanimation
Authoritative bosses
Real medical diagnosis
Great sexy actors.

I have been in the south of France for a few days.

By chance I found back an old DVD pack.

I watched 2 episodes last sunday night.

As I usually did.

I had told you : reminiscence.

It was a really good evening.
I felt peace and appeasement.
For the 1rst time after weeks of troubles.
Believe me, calm and peace were all I needed that day.

(c) TM & 2001Warner Bros

(c) France 2 - NBC

iSad

"Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?"

Steve Jobs

***

"Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It's not about money. It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it."

Steve Jobs, Fortune, Nov. 9, 1998

***

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Steve Jobs

***

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

Steve Jobs

***

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?"

Steve Jobs to John Sculley, former Apple CEO

***

"A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets."

Steve Jobs

***

"Quality is more important than quantity. 

One home run is much better than two doubles."

Steve Jobs in Businessweek

***

"That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."

Steve Jobs in The New York Times 2003

***

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me."

Steve Jobs - The Wall Street Journal 1983

***

And if it were happinness

"Et si c'était ça le bonheur, 

pas même un rêve, 

pas même une promesse, 

juste l'instant."

No et Moi

Delphine de Vigan 

***

(c) Frenchy Baguette

Carpe Diem...


* English translation
"And if this were happinness, not even a dream, not even a promise, just an instant."

Le Parc - Angelin Preljocaj

Today the Thursday quote is a part of Angelin Preljocaj's beautiful ballet "Le Parc", because sometimes there is no need using word to express things.

Dance and music are enough.

The end of the ballet is amazing.

When you see it in a theater, you feel that the girl is really flying and you start crying.

This last well-known part of the ballet was recently re-choregraphed by Angelin Preljocaj specially for Air France new ad.

(c) "Abandon" Pas de Deux - from the ballet "Le Parc" - Angelin Preljocaj

(c) Performance : Aurélie Dupont and Manuel Legris

Here is the Air France new ad, so that you can see the way a ballet can be well adapted to a TV format. Visually, aesthetically and objectively, to me, this ad is just perfect.

(c) "L'envol" by Air France - 2011

(c) Choregraphy from "Le Parc" - Angelin Preljocaj

Frenchy Baguette is back

Dear All,

I have been very busy these weeks.
I had a few very difficult problems to solve.
I feel better now.

Autumn is back.
It is my favourite season.
I like its light and quietness.
I can feel its energy.
I have very interesting new projects in mind. 

As I usually did, I'll go on with the "Thursday Quote".
Every Thursday.
A weekly meeting with you.

I'll write regularly about Paris.
Photos.
Non-usual places to discover.

Paris is a city to live in.
Paris is a city to experience.
Daily.

Thank you for being there.
Thank you for reading Frenchy Baguette.

DO NOT hesitate in writing to me if you want to suggest new ideas for this blog, to ask for explanations or just to say "hello".

I'll be there.

Enjoy your week-end and take care of you,

Frenchy Baguette

"Ashitaka and San" by Joe Hisaishi

What's good is that even if all what we have in our life fades away, there remains music.

Thanks God we have Joe Hisaishi's music !

(c) "Ashitaka and San" by Joe Hisaishi

(c) Soundtrack to "Princess Mononoke" by Hayao Miyazaki

(c) "Princess Mononoke" - produced by Studio Ghibli