Cyber Cruise Ball Preparation

What a Ball(ade)- when Life cruising Hakon and I were both very anxious to join the cyber-cruise ball this Weekend. So we went to Carrefour. To shop and to fix some other necessary errands.

As you may recall, all luggage of mine are left at Oslo Airport. So I came down to Nice with nothing but my PC and Camera, cables and rechargers, plus a book called “A flat World”. After all, the most important to bring along these days.

It’s a huge shopping mall, Carrefour. The main supermarket do have 70 Point of Sales - or cashiers, including self scan check out points. Plus Special Stores and restaurants. The pictures are from our preparation for the Ball. All taken at Carrefour just North of Antibes at the French Riviera, if not mentioned otherwise.

First thing I needed was some cloths and a bag with flight cabin seize. That was easy to find.

Hakon went for having his PIN-code for his Carrefour loyalty customer card. And he got it. Then we went to the enterprise’s insurance company. Hakon wanted to have a price-bid for his Car and Villa. A young and helpful lady noted and typed every detailed information into her computer. When finished, she said, Hakon had to go to her “collegue”, as she was not permitted to do the final calculations and give an offer. 45 minutes it took.
Then the next one, 2 paths away. Same procedure. Same information. New questions. Explications. Sales talk. Then enter to have a premium calculation.

Sorry. You have more than 5 rooms. And Carrefour Assurance do not offer insurance for estates with more than 5 rooms. 1 hour 30 minutes so far…

Then the Car. Same procedure. Papers, phone calls, more sales pitches. Printed out the contract. New phone call. Sorry. 3 weeks too late to change insurance company due to blah – blah – blah.

Two hours. No result. They should learn to ask the key questions up-front. Two hours waste of time for a potential, new customer. And two hours waste of time for Carrefour Insurance.
Carrefour is world class in logistics when talking about goods. But Insurance? Nope.

Did the food shopping. What happened at the check-out when Hakon used his loyalty card and his new pin code. Yeah, you guessed it. It was rejected.Tried several times. Suddenly we were not alone at this cashier. She called a supervisor. She too tried. Phoned her boss. Hakon had to follow her. 55 point of sales, then another 50 meter. I was sent back inside with all our groceries. Lots of people to watch. Interesting in itself.

Another 30 minutes. Then he came back with the supervisor. Same card. It was authorized for this one transaction only then maculated.
Explication: His old card had been cancelled. A new one was sent, they said.. But how could they 2 hours and 30 minutes earlier the same day give him a PIN – code for his “old” card – if it was cancelled? Dear Carrefour – you have to be better on more than logistics these days!

Went back. Traffic Jam. No lunch. Hungry both of us. Made a 3 course dinner with wine. Chicken fillets, roasted liver, salad, Fried whole Dorado Royale (fish), cooked Potatoes with real Normandy butter (last picture to the right). OMG – what a heavenly dinner. And so well deserved, we agreed upon. Suddenly life was a gift.

Tele2 Internet connection dead. But Tele2 had left a phone message to Hakon: Sorry, we have had line problems in your area, but everything is no fixed. Hurray. Fixed – hahaha.
Then we had double Crème Caramel and a glass of Port. Yummi – Yummi.

Suddenly – internet connection. Hakon read his e-mails. I started reading mine. And showing Hakon the use of web-stats etc on my blog.. And then once again – no connection. Grrrrr.

I’m writing this text off-line on the glass veranda (raining outside), while Hakon is having a nap. And I cross my fingers to join the Ball after all the “Ball” we have had so far. A French “Ball”. Nothing new under the French Sun. I have been here before – Work and Vacation – since 1964.

On Saturday we plan to visit another friend and fellow blogger, Gunnar, for Lunch in Menton.
We might take the Train.

You can read about my visit to Nice in borrowed feather and see pictures from the Capital of the French Riviera here.

PS. My dear readers, please understand how well I would spend my time to join the ball, read all your fantastic posts and really join the cruise again. Love you all;))

View from Vence, North East Direction