Une Bonne Bouche

In my late teens, I lived in Paris above a patisserie in rue Vaneau in Montparnasse.

By far, the most mouthwateringly delicious item in this establishment was the 'bonne bouche' ('good-mouthful'). A deep 'boat' of very hard crunchy shortbread filled with fresh strawberries in brandy over a custard base.

Of course as its name indicates the idea was to get the whole thing in your mouth at once - bite into it and it would just break up, and the contents leak all over your shirt front.

Then as now, my interest in 'bonne bouches' also extended to ...

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7

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10

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15

... which again is best 'eaten' all in one go - though with this gateau there is no guarantee the 'contents' won't spill all over your shirt front.

So guys, which of these 15 delectable 'bonne bouches' most takes your fantasy?

More than one choice is always wise!

Pilgrimages to Paradise

Guess you must know most of my predilections by now - with one of the most delectable for me being the 'gateway to paradise'.

But any decent such pilgrimage should have other beginnings ...





Though there comes a point where you have to be clear about the final destination.

And a signal like this can help clarify things ...


... with a follow-up one like this ...


If your fellow travellers are a bit slow on the uptake, maybe this might be necessary ...


If you need this ...


... followed by ...


... then I recommend some other kinda journey, like the pilgrimage to 'the fountain of the youth', which has it's own starting point ...



... and its own specific set of signals ...






... and 'outcome' or destination ...



Though, curiously, the end point of both these journeys has a striking similarity!

The Hazards of Couples Therapy

I pulled out an old fav movie this morning - 'The Ref' [1994] - and by the end of the first scene I had that big grin all over my face that only happens a very once in a while. And usually inspires sharing impulses. So here we go.

The film's about a couple (played by Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey) with 'relationship issues' - I was about to use the word 'dysfunctional' but suddenly (or not so suddenly) it seems very dated.

The scene I want to share is at the beginning and involves the feuding couple ...


... in a therapy situation with a Dr Wong ...


The situation of battling couples (perhaps incongruously) can have the potential to inspire good script dialogue. Add great comic timing from the two central protagonists. And blocked camera angles that synergistically promote the comedy. And a dose of broadly brushed satire - here, on the shrinking profession. And you have a serious 'sit back, relax and enjoy the show' situation.

Happy I shared?

Voting Time Again!

As my folder of newbies overflowed this morning, it occurred to me that we had a voting situation.

Variety is the theme of this one.

And naming the 'un-named'.

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2 Jason Paradis

3 Francesco D'Macho

4 Thomas Laine

5 Tom Steele

6 Maicon Araujo

7 Michael Crowe

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9 Kale Max

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So what's the verdict guys?

Finding Places You Must Visit - St Louis, Senegal

The Four Communes or Oldest Colonies in French-Controlled West Africa -
Gorée, Dakar, Rufisque, and Saint-Louis

I've done a fair bit of travel (though not as much as I'd like) and for me often the most exciting part is identifying that next 'must must see' destination.

It happened unexpectedly today - Saint Louis, Senegal, West Africa.




Saint Louis was one of the Four Communes (or four oldest colonies) in French-controlled West Africa, the three others being Gorée, Dakar and Rufisque. Technically, the inhabitants of these comunes had the same rights as citizens in metropolitan France - though legal and social barriers often prevented the exercising of these rights.

Now, today it was photographs of old houses in the sun-baked dusty streets of colonial Saint Louis that created the 'must see' moment for me ...






And the memorial museum to the history Atlantic slave trade - the House of Slaves (LINK), on the Island of Goree, off Dakar ...



... through whose Portal of Sorrow ...


... passed millions of slaves ...

Museum Wall Mural - Slaves Herded in the African bush by Europeans

Lest we forget.