DESPERATE TARGET
Last week I asked one of my marketing students which population target group I belong in. Having expected " Baby Boomer" or "Generation X," imagine this Desperate Housewife's inner goddess when he simply said, " Old. "
Trying to help him out of the hole he'd just power-dug himself I foolishly asked him to elaborate. The hole became an abyss. "You are a Senior Madam," at which stage he started giving me retirement advice. Briefly touching my head, just making sure my hair hadn't morphed into a tight blue perm, I asked him to define " Senior." He raised his eyes to heaven and replied, "4O plus! "
Putting this into perspective, France is considered one of the better places to grow old. Pensions are high but the honey-jar risks being empty when my time comes around. The legal retirement age in France now stands at 62 for people born between 1955 and 1973. However a full state pension is only awarded for those who have worked 40-43 years. With that info, my guess is that I could be going on for at least another 20 years!
Many sectors benefit from " Special Retirement Plans" which are partially financed by the concerned business sectors and of course the rest is paid by the government AKA the tax -payer. In terms of some of these I truly understand why my student was calling me a "senior." Check out the retirement ages and please avoid chin dropping to floorboards:
- French Millitary: average retirement age is 45.7
- EDF & GDF ( French Electricity and Gas Companies): average retirement age: 55.4 - now I know why my gas bills have shot up!!
- RATP ( Paris Public Transport): average retirement age: 54.8
- SNCF( French Railway): average retirement age: 52.5
- Banque de France: has retirement plan based on the civil servant one, but keeps a separate fund - well, obviously!
- Sailors: average retirement age: 57.6 - Hello Sailor!!
- Others include: French National Theatre, Paris Opera, Miners, Members of the Assemblée Nationale and of the Senate,National Police, et al...
Enough ranting for one week.
Next week's post - Menopause, IF I remember!
Don't know about you, but I could use a drink. Just discovered a vintage martini cocktail called " Death and Co," - seems appropriate.
Next week's post - Menopause, IF I remember!
Don't know about you, but I could use a drink. Just discovered a vintage martini cocktail called " Death and Co," - seems appropriate.
D E A T H & Co
This is a 3 to 1 ratio cocktail. Please make sure you are over 18...way over!
- 2.50 ounces Tanquery London Dry Gin
- 0.75 ounce Dry Vermouth
- 1 dash orange bitters
Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
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I always used to wonder why SNCF drivers still had a coal allowance in the days of the TGV - visions of stokers in overdrive flitted through my mind - and just what services did the employees of EDF and GDF provide in return for only paying ten per cent of their power bills - not to speak of the whopping sums allocated to the Comites d'Entreprise which seemed to go straight into the pockets of whichever union ran the place...
ReplyDeleteSo the early retirement plans used to stick in my craw too.
Age group? Here in Costa Rica I have become accustomed to being addressed as 'Mamie' by street sellers and 'Dona' by officials - try that distinction on your students...
Helen, thanks for your comments and honestly couldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteDona as a title definitely appeals but given my "senior" status maybe HRH could be even better??
Really enjoyed this. Is your student still alive? Hillarious!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you back on line. As funny as ever.
ReplyDeleteJohn
Thanks for your comments. It's great encouragement to continue.
ReplyDeleteSusie
xxx
So very happy to see you blogging again. Still laughing.
ReplyDeleteA fun read! As a tax payer in France this really grates.Appreciated the added humour.
ReplyDeleteAgain I'll say this, MORE PLEASE. So happy to see you up again. Could use some of your recipes too.
ReplyDeleteFirst time I've seen this blog, think I'm going to like it ! Fellow kiwi living near Bordeaux. Do you have Facebook page (easier to keep up with)
ReplyDeleteCheers Kiwi Girl!! ...just deleted FB blog account, eeek! Still have my own. Better get it back up....thanks for the tip.
DeleteFunny funny lady !
ReplyDelete