Sunday, March 7, 2010

5 convertible to buy now

Spring it's coming and many people wonder what cars will be "on" in the next season. The crisis it's almost over so you need to show some optimism or hide the blue eyes. Let's give it a try:
1. Price range 200.000E and over
Mercedes 300SL, 1960, (300.000E)

If you can afford this you don't need to show of anymore so you can go in style with a classic. It's timeless elegance will put you in a different league that all the "nouveau riches" around

2. Price range 100.000- 200.000E
Spyker C8, Spyder, (190000E)

Flamboyant and extroverted, will tell all the world your stocks went back up. And since the niche builders are not doing so great these days you might get a decent price for it a few years from now when the demand for exotic brands will go up again.

3. Price range 50.000- 100.000E
a. Morgan Aero, 75000E

Guaranteed classic! And also a joy to drive even on daily basis (take my word for it - I have tried). Cost of ownership is quite high but the status bust will be immediate.

b. Audi A5, 55.000E

If you feel you'r not over the hill yet go with the safe bet. Something like "Hope for the best, expect the worst". It's a convertible and also a diesel. Audi quality.

c. Jaguar XK 2006, 55000E

If you're preparing to sell some business you have to arrive in style at the negotiation table. This will say about you that you are a serious businessman that just decided to enjoy the simpler things in life

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Found it!

Lady Sonia, my new best friend! She's a darling and she will make me a weekly horoscope for some of my clients. It's a welcome addition to the newsletter I send some of them. I met Sonia last weekend (still) in route to Paris. I leave London last week to go to Paris and meet and aunt I didn't see for some 10 years. Sonia is such a darling that will let me post her horoscope here so be prepared, from next week we have the stars to guide us not only the satelites from GPS

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Stars smile on me


As I travel alone most of the time I learned a few tricks along the way. One of them is that staying in a chateau it's a bit of a gambling. It's great, quiet and relaxing only if your castle doesn't host some over talkative newly weds or, even worse, the teambuilding for the sales department of some bank in Bulgaria.
The family and staff at Château des Monthairons is quite intent on treating each guest as someone special. (Look for Château des Monthairons in the Michelin Hotel and Restaurant Red Guide for France.) A beautiful 19th century château with fairytale turrets, Monthairons has much to offer visitors -- from a private beach on the River Meuse to an elegant restaurant serving such delights as Homard rôti et servi dans un coeur d'artichauts breton et pointes d'asperges vertes (roasted lobster served with hearts of Breton artichokes and green asparagus tips). And there are no less than 11 choices on the dessert menu! I pay €180 for my room wich was more an apartment. For €90 you could have a smaler but equally charming room.
This time I get lucky. There were only 6 other guests. 2 couples from Paris and my new best frient lady Sonia and her traveling companion miss Claire. At 65 lday Sonia is younger at heart than most of my 30ish friends. Like any old lady she is quite a bridge player. I didn't play bridge since colege but with these 2 ladies, Catherine (the owner) and a few glases of Maison Laroppe I had quite a wonderfull evening. Lady Sonia is a astrologist. I have to admit I gasp a little when I found out fearing she will try to read my future and nag me "Piscies this, and Virgo that..". I was thinking this serves me right allready for diching my aunt. But lady Sonia didn't even ask my sign.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Psichology... (2)

Actually I don't really know if I am where I am now (Clastres, France) due to psychology, social sciences or engineering. I almost made peace with myself yesterday and hit the highway to Paris to see my dear old Miss Cecilia (this is no joke, it's my aunt name so imagine the state of blessing I felt contemplating 3 hours of "My dear nephew I missed you so much. Are you sure your not hungry?"). Luckily, using the nav in the Merc CL500 I'm driving it's a real challenge so, I fiddled with it trying set the (otherwise obvious) course to Paris. I was 100Km from Calais when I catch on the nav screen a glimpse of some place named "Clastres". The name ringed a bell but wasn't sure why. I remembered just in time to "miss" the exit for Paris:
Pierre Clastres was a French anthropologist and ethnographer. He is known for his theory on stateless societies. Some people regard him as giving scientific validity to certain anarchist perspectives. I know this from college or my days as socialist revolutionary not sure which.
Also Clastres it a village where, a year ago, I went to the opening of "Le circuit de Clastres" the newest (I think) in France.And here I am, last year at the opening in the little Lotus of Mike L, my musical friend (he is a drummer :) )

Psichology is your friend


Last week, I left London for Paris to meet an aunt I manage to avoid for the last 10 years. You know, the type that ask you "when are you going to settle down". This time it seemed I would have no escape so I borrow a CL500 from D (tnx mate) and head for the e-Tunnel. As I was aproaching the end of M20, my dear friend Sigmund Freud whispered in my ear "Don't take tunnel, try ferry and hopefully you'll board the wrong one or the ship will sink or the martians will kidnap you". So, as I push on to Dover (wich is still ungly and full of lories as the last time) a new found fear of tunnels taked hold of me. I set the navigation for the port, get lost as usual, bougth a tiket for next morning and find a place to stay. The part with the place to stay was easy because I staid before at the Lighthouse witch is half way between Dover and Folkestone. I love this little inn. It's for some, the perfect place for souls searching with it's stunning views of the channel, for other the start of constant pickering about the trip they are about to embark (I heard people complaining the railway it's to close - never a problem for me). I staied there 3 different times allready and the only introspective attempt I had was the promise some day I'll take the path from the clifs and walk down to the sea. It never happened, it never will. The thought of climbing back or the shame of calling a cab to take me back it's to much for me :)
The next morning I boarded the ferry. It's a 2 hours trip filed with smels and sights of the transport factory that this kind of ship is.