Yukon Jen: A Series of Random Events

Today, I went to pick up some stuff at the Lidl (a local discounter here in Switzerland). I especially like their brand of sensitive wet wipes (which I have discovered are fairly useful when the J-man spits up everything he seems to have eaten). The sensitive kind are non-scented and are probably just sterilized water on disposable wipes. Regardless, I find them useful to clean up the regurgitated milk that ends up everywhere. ABSOLUTELY everywhere (on me, on him, on the couch, on the floor, and today, in the pocket of his small pair of jeans he was wearing).

I went today just to stock up on those. But, they also had a sale on Pampers (J-man’s size), so I bought some of them too. And some bottled carbonated water (from the Valais–of course). And some local Boxer beer for Ludo. And some non-alcoholic beer for me. And a few nectarines, because they are in season. And some bio bananas. And some yoghurt, because it was a good price. And some cheese. And a loaf a bread. And, some tuna, and some other canned fish. And well, I think that is about it, but I am probably forgetting something.

However, I had the J-man in a porte-bebe (a baby carrier), like a backpack, but on the front. I was loading things in the cart just fine. I was just going down the aisles looking to see if I really needed anything. If I spotted something, I put it in my cart.

By the time I got to the check-out, I had a trolley full of stuff. I sort of looked at it, and wondered if I needed everything, but sometimes, if I am out-and-about, I see staples (and I consider Pampers and sparkling water staples), I just get them. I manage. I just sling things in and out of the cart, in and out of the car, and up the elevator to the apartment. Sometimes, I have to make a few trips, but I manage. And Jonathan is with me all the way. Not a problem.

Today, however. Today, I sort of looked at my trolley and I looked at the conveyor belt to the cashier and I sighed. I started unloading the cart, doing a sort of twisty, dip, and dancey move to keep the J-man out of the way when I needed to.

All of a sudden, this gentleman appeared. He said: “Let me help you do that. It cannot be easy with a baby strapped to your front.” He was dressed in a shirt and jacket. I thought he was a manager of the store or something. I motioned that he didn’t have to. I would be OK. But he insisted, “It really cannot be easy with a baby strapped on your front. Let me help.” So I resigned and let him unload my cart onto the conveyor belt to the cashier.

At the cashier, he repacked my trolley. When everything was in the trolley, he laughed and said: “I’ll let you get the bill.” I was floored that he helped me load and unload the trolley. So I laughed and said: “Not a problem. Thank you so much for helping load and unload. It is OK with the baby, but it is much easier with the help.”

“Je vous en prie, madame.” “My pleasure, madame.”

Then, as I went to go out the door, he said again: “No, let me.” And he pushed my trolley out the door and to my car AND HE PROCEEDED TO UNLOAD THE TROLLEY–yet again– into the car.

I just stood back and let him. I was so amazed. AND since Ludo’s brother is some sort of head muckety-muck for the store in the region, I thought I would ask this gentleman’s name and make sure I told his brother of the suprisingly great customer service at one of his stores. I asked him his name.

“Je peux vous demander votre nom, monsieur?”

“Je suis Carlos. Carlos Kosta. Madame. Je suis portugais.”

And I laughed. And smiled. I was thinking of how pleased Ludo’s brother would be when I told him this story. I was also eager to tell my friend Karen as I had just been lamenting about customer service in Switzerland (or specific lack thereof).  I couldn’t believe it. This gentleman had gone out of his way to help me get my cartload of stuff  out of the store and into the car.

I thanked him again. And he said.

“Je vous en prie, madame. Je vous en prie. Bon journee.” AND THEN HE TURNED AND WALKED TO THE PARKED BMW BEHIND ME, got in, and drove away.

He was not a store employee at all. He was shopping with his wife–who was waiting patiently in the car.

I didn’t know what to say, not that I could say anything because he had already driven off. I ended up just tweeting a thank you into the tweet-o-shpere. Hopefully, his goodwill will be returned ten-fold someday.

Hello. Hello. Hello.

It seems to be too long since I made an update. So long–in fact–that my friend Rain has had her twins. Both babies and mother are great. I am looking forward to hearing more of her news. Like…did her two other children like the stay in the “hotel for kids”. She had written me earlier as her family was preparing for the birth of her twins that she had taken her first two for a trial stay at a 24-hour daycare nearby.

“They tried it out yesterday for the first time and were so excited by the experience that both of them started taking off all of their clothing (and I do mean ALL) outside the daycare. I insisted my daughter put her pants back on –as we were on the sidewalk on Carling Avenue. But, my son was completely naked so I just had him put his boots on and took him in the van like that.”

I think she was having one of those days becuase her email also mentioned that:

“On the drive home, naked son announced that he was going to have a poo, but fortunately held on until we got home.”

Well! That’s all over now. I hope the birth went well and the older two children enjoyed their stay. I don’t think she is out of the hospital yet, I will have to check in and see.

REGARDLESS, my baby is sleeping here next to me as I type this entry. He is wearing a Canadian maple leaf onesie that my friend sent me. Proud to be Canadian–he is– as Ludo tells me there is a Canadian vs. Russia hockey match tonight.

I did mention that I ran 10 kms of the 20 km Lausanne race. I did OK. I remember that my first five kilometers, I averaged somewhere in the 5 minute per kilometer mark.

I ended up averaging 7 minutes, 15 seconds per kilometer in the end. There were a few uphills. NEXT YEAR, I will be running with another group of people, people in the 40+ category. I hope I make a better time.

I don’t know if I have much more to say. I am getting ready for a trip home this summer and planning another website. I might pick strawberries tomorrow.

We are hosting a wine tasting at Caprice du Temps winery on Sunday. My mommies group (husbands included) signed up for a special tasting and I registered for a tour of Lausanne next week.

I guess I have to do something. Otherwise, I watch too much TV and eat chocolate. I will do a fitness update next.

Well. Some pictures anyway. I don’t know what the news is. He is almost four months old. We are still breastfeeding. He is sleeping through most nights if I rouse him to feed him before *I* go to bed. That is a relief. I think we will start on solids (or some solids) in June. We shall see how everything goes.

Voila. J’ai fini le 10K la samedi passe. My time was 1:11:39.

A total of seven minutes more than the last time I ran a 10K race. I won’t make excuses. I guess I will just try to do better next time. I have registered for three other races in the fall this year: two nordic walking events and a half marathon. Uummmm not sure I will make the half marathon–maybe I will make it another 10K with the goal of beating this time.

We shall see. We shall see.