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Sunday, 22 March 2026

SOUS LE CIEL DE PARIS JUSQU'AU SOIR VONT CHANTER...

After an intense week between Lyon, Paris and Fleury-Mérogis, where winter has gone and spring has arrived, today, The Grandma says goodbye to her friends and takes a flight to Barcelona where tomorrow a new training begins that will keep her busy for almost three months.

One of the advantages of online training is that it allows you to do your work from anywhere and gives you great freedom of movement, but this new training is face-to-face, so, during the working days, The Grandma will have to be present in Sant Boi de Llobregat, where from Monday she will share her ideas with some new colleagues with the ultimate goal of improving their knowledge and skills to be able to find a job.

It is for this reason that this blog will now become the communication tool for the Morgans, this new family with whom The Grandma will share fictional stories with the aim not only of them learning but also of them disconnecting from reality to be able to first recover as a person, before preparing themselves formatively to return to the world of work as soon as possible with confidence and real possibilities of stabilization.

Occupational training has as its first objective to recover the person and then to offer them a personal training itinerary that helps them in the search for a new job, which is why it is so linked to mental health, because in many cases the loss of a job is such a great emotional shock that it affects the deepest part of the person.

So, starting next Monday, The Grandma's blog will go from being personal and telling her adventures to being professional and telling the fictional adventures with the Morgans, and for this, it will be necessary to use a lot of digital tools, to create a parallel and imaginary world that helps the Morgans escape their real problems and let themselves be carried away by the world of training from imagination, creativity, solidarity, empathy and daily work.

So, this early morning, The Grandma will fly back to Barcelona while Joseph de Ca'th Lon and Claire Fontaine will fly to Hannover from where they will drive to Wolfsburg where on Tuesday the Northern Star has a very special match that the two friends do not want to miss.

They have had an intense few days where they have been able to attend in Lyon and Paris one of the best musical shows of the moment (Lux); they have visited Paris, a beautiful city that they know well, but where they always do the same rituals (visiting the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, sailing the Seine and getting lost in the city while savouring the local cuisine); they have seen the Northern Star shine again in Fleury-Mérogis, and they have met up with friends they haven't seen in a while, because this is always the most fascinating thing about travelling: meeting up with the people you love.

Before taking the plane, The Grandma has made an interesting cheese supply, because being in Gaul means being able to enjoy the pleasure of eating great cheeses (with permission from the Swiss and Norwegians). If there are no delays, she will arrive in enough time to go to the Camp Nou, where there is an interesting match against Rayo Vallecano.

No one sings Paris better than Edith Piaf, and although times change and we have new sounds and rhythms, the essence, the word, the message, the spirit, the soul... remains the same.

Sous le ciel de Paris
S'envole une chanson
Elle est née d'aujourd'hui
Dans le coeur d'un garçon
Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent des amoureux
Leur bonheur se construit
Sur une air fait pour eux

Sous le pont de Bercy
Un philosophe assis
Deux musiciens, quelques badauds
Puis des gens par milliers

Sous le ciel de Paris
Jusqu'au soir vont chanter
L'hymne d'un peuple épris
De sa vieille cité
Prés de Notre-Dame
Parfois couve un drame
Oui, mais à Paname
Tout peut s'arranger
Quelques rayons du ciel d'été
L'accordéon d'un marinier
L'espoir fleurit
Au ciel de Paris

Sous le ciel de Paris
Coule un fleuve joyeux
Il endort dans la nuit
Les clochards et les gueux
Sous le ciel de Paris
Les oiseaux du bon Dieu
Viennent du monde entier
Pour bavarder entre eux
Et le ciel de Paris
A son secret pour lui
Depuis vingt siècles il est épris
De notre île Saint Louis

Quand elle lui sourit
Il met son habit bleu
Quand il pleut sur Paris
C'est qu'il est malheureux
Quand il est trop jaloux
De ses millions d'amants
Il fait gronder sur eux
Son tonnerre éclatant
Mais le ciel de Paris n'est pas longtemps cruel
Pour se faire pardonner, il offre un arc-en-ciel

Under the Paris sky
A song takes flight
It was born today
In the heart of a boy

Under the Paris sky
Lovers walk
Their happiness is built
On a tune made for them

Under Bercy bridge
A philosopher sits
Two musicians, some onlookers
Then thousands of people

Under the Paris sky
They'll sing until dusk
The hymn of people in love
With this old city

Near Notre Dame
Sometimes drama broods
But at Paname
Everything comes together

Rays from the summer sky
A sailor's accordion
Hope blooms
In Paris' sky

And the Paris sky
Has a secret of its own
For twenty year's he's been in love
With our Saint Louis island
When she smiles at him
He dresses in blue

When it rains on Paris
It's because he's unhappy
When he grows jealous
Of her millions of lovers

He comes down on us
With his flashing thunder
But the Paris sky
Isn't cruel for long

To ask our forgiveness
He offers up a rainbow

More information: French Moments

Singing is a way of escaping.
It's another world.
I'm no longer on earth.

Edith Piaf

Saturday, 21 March 2026

READING 'ASTÉRIX IN SWITZERLAND' IN FLEURY-MÉROGIS

The Grandma is enjoying her last days off before starting a new formation of almost three months in Sant Boi de Llobregat.

Last Monday, she enjoyed with Claire Fontaine and Joseph de Ca'th Lon the start of the Lux tour at the LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, a place they know well and visit often because it is a few metres from the Groupama Stadium.

On Wednesday, all three friends flew to Paris where they saw the Catalan artist again, this time at the Accor Arena, in a first concert and yesterday, Friday, in a second one. They have been three wonderful concerts, although the three friends are still waiting to hear Memória live, because they are lovers of fado and it reminds them a lot of the much-loved Mísia, the Catalan-Portuguese artist, whom they followed throughout her career.

And because they are still in Paris today, they have bought some Fleury 91-OL tickets this morning and they will drive to Fleury-Mérogis, a city located 30 km south of the French capital to attend an interesting match of the Northern Star's team. They are not very sure that she will play the match because next week she has a very important European commitment, but it is 30 km and it is worth going there.

They have brought their faithful travel companion when they are in Gaul, Astérix, this time with his adventure in Switzerland, to read it during the short trip.

Astérix chez les Helvètes, in English Astérix in Switzerland, is the sixteenth volume of the Astérix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was originally serialized in Pilote magazine issues 557-578 in 1970 and translated into English in 1973.

Following the protests of May 1968, Goscinny started introducing more adult themes such as the opening orgy scene which parodies Federico Fellini's debauched Roman film, Fellini Satyricon. The painted faces, feeling of ennui, mechanical gorging of elaborate food, and sado-masochistic punishments are balanced (in Helvetia) by the fastidiousness of the Swiss servants who keep cleaning up messes and washing whips.

The idea to send Astérix and Obélix to Switzerland was proposed by future French president Georges Pompidou. A handwritten note from Pompidou, when he was prime minister, urging the authors to write about Astérix among the Helvetians, was displayed in an Asterix exhibition at the National Library of France in 2013.

This album features a rare dark overtone in that the plot involves a victim of attempted murder. The added element of potential death offers a startling but refreshing moment of drama in the otherwise whimsical series. Other stories that share a dramatic turn include Astérix and Son (where the village is destroyed) and Astérix and the Magic Carpet.

The comic contains several puns on typical Swiss features, such as the confidentiality and high level of security of Swiss banks, fondue, Swiss clocks (especially cuckoo clocks), the Helvetians' insistence on neutrality, yodeling, punctuality, alphorns (as an alternative form of carnyx), and -in one notable scene- the Swiss Federal Assembly.

The comic suggests that modern mountain climbing was introduced when Astérix has the idea of him, Obélix and their Helvetian aides securing themselves with ropes, and sledding when Astérix accidentally rides Obélix down the mountainside.

One scene with Astérix shooting a bow while a boy with an apple on his head fixes a target is a nod to the Swiss folk hero William Tell.

In one panel, avalanches in the Alps are satirized when the Roman legionaire hanging on to Obélix cautions, Stop shouting, you could easily start something off.

Like always, this issue concludes with the celebrational village feast with Cacophonix being tied to the tree. However in this case he's not gagged. Nothing prevents his awful singing during the affair.

Bibendum (the Michelin logo) makes a brief guest appearance as the chariot wheel dealer in the original English translation; whereas the original French version used the Gaulish-warrior-like mascot of the French service station company Antar. The 2004 English re-print from Orion Books uses the French illustrations, thus rendering Obélix's joke about Bibendum's weight in the next panel nonsensical. Call me fat! Did you see his spare tire?

The book's storyline is rife with clever wordplay, delightful caricatures, and hilarious situations as Astérix and Obélix find themselves embroiled in comical confrontations with the Romans while showcasing the determination and perseverance of the Swiss people. The authors skillfully blend history, satire, and humor throughout the narrative, making Astérix in Switzerland an entertaining and educational read for all ages.

As with all Astérix books, the illustrations by Albert Uderzo are a visual feast, capturing the charm and whimsy of the Gaulish village, the grandeur of the Swiss landscape, and the amusing antics of the characters. Uderzo's dynamic artwork, vibrant colors, and attention to detail bring the story to life, making it a visual treat for readers.

Astérix in Switzerland not only entertains readers with its engaging story and delightful illustrations but also serves as a commentary on the themes of resistance, cultural identity, and the strength of community. The book showcases the power of unity, determination, and the ability to overcome adversity, echoing timeless values that continue to resonate with readers today.

In conclusion, Astérix in Switzerland is a captivating addition to the Astérix series, offering a delightful blend of history, satire, adventure, and humor. With its lovable characters, clever wordplay, and beautiful artwork, this book is sure to charm readers of all ages, transporting them on a grand escapade through the enchanting world of Astérix and Obélix.

Key Lessons From Astérix In Switzerland

-Unity is strength. One of the central themes of the book is the power of unity. The Gauls, led by Astérix and Obélix, join forces with the Swiss to not only protect their village from the Roman invaders but also to help the Swiss regain their independence. The book demonstrates that when people come together and work towards a common goal, they can achieve great things.

-The importance of cultural identity. Astérix in Switzerland celebrates the unique cultural identity of the Swiss. The Swiss characters are portrayed as having their own distinct language, traditions, and values. The book emphasizes the importance of preserving one's cultural heritage and not succumbing to external influences. It teaches the readers to appreciate and embrace their own cultural identity.

-Cultural stereotypes. The book playfully highlights various cultural stereotypes associated with both the Swiss and the Gauls. It shows the Swiss as being disciplined, precise, and punctual, while the Gauls are depicted as unconventionally brave and fiercely loyal. However, the book also challenges these stereotypes by showing that individuals from both cultures can defy expectations and exhibit traits not typically associated with them.

-Satire and humor. Astérix in Switzerland uses satire and humor to comment on various aspects of society. It humorously pokes fun at bureaucracy and politics, specifically in the scene where the Swiss decide on their new leader through a contest of yodeling. The puns and wordplay throughout the book add to the light-hearted and comedic tone.

-Loyalty and friendship. The book emphasizes the importance of loyalty and friendship through the relationship between Astérix and Obélix. Despite their differences, the two characters demonstrate unwavering loyalty and support for each other. The book also highlights the theme of loyalty to one's homeland, as both the Gauls and the Swiss are willing to fight for their respective countries and protect their way of life.

Download Astérix in Switzerland by René Goscinny & Albert Uderzo