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!!

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.

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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Comments

  1. Helen Devries20 April 2016 at 17:04

    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...
    So 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...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susie @ DesperateAngloHousewives, Bordeaux20 April 2016 at 17:19

    Helen, thanks for your comments and honestly couldn't agree more!
    Dona as a title definitely appeals but given my "senior" status maybe HRH could be even better??

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jennifer D20 April 2016 at 21:04

    Really enjoyed this. Is your student still alive? Hillarious!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous21 April 2016 at 10:45

    Great to see you back on line. As funny as ever.
    John

    ReplyDelete
  5. Susie @ DesperateAngloHousewives, Bordeaux21 April 2016 at 11:44

    Thanks for your comments. It's great encouragement to continue.
    Susie
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Peter Lyon21 April 2016 at 15:19

    So very happy to see you blogging again. Still laughing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jill21 April 2016 at 17:10

    A fun read! As a tax payer in France this really grates.Appreciated the added humour.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alan from Paris21 April 2016 at 17:18

    Again I'll say this, MORE PLEASE. So happy to see you up again. Could use some of your recipes too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie C21 April 2016 at 20:12

    First 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)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susie @ DesperateAngloHousewives, Bordeaux22 April 2016 at 09:09

      Cheers Kiwi Girl!! ...just deleted FB blog account, eeek! Still have my own. Better get it back up....thanks for the tip.

      Delete
  10. Christine from Normandy22 April 2016 at 10:01

    Funny funny lady !

    ReplyDelete

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