FUN-travel: Belgium – Namur & Brussels
October 31, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Belgium – Namur & Brussels
Day 31 – Friday, October 14 – Drive to Namur, Belgium – dawn is crisp 40’s – ground fog with same full bright moon shining in the sky – crisp, cool, full on SUN – high 50 +- YEAH!
Citadel
- depart 12:30 – arrive 1:30 (30 miles)
- 1st stop – TI for map & ask for best pizza restaurant
- FUN-food Lunch – La Piadineria Guisseppe – style from Northern Italy – Piadina Campagnola – spicy salami, mozzarella, olives & lettuce (thought I ordered pizza, turns out to be tortilla like bread folded in half) – Assiette Ete – salad w/anchovies, capers/mozzarella, prosciutto, balsamic dressing – Stella Artois – 16 euro & just OK
- 2nd stop – walk to Citadel – must more impressive than Dinant – closed today but huge area to walk – go to top of hill for majestic views of city
Namur from Citadel
- FUN-food Dinner – w/brother Wayne & sister-in-law Lurene – Bliss was our pick but all booked up – go to Le Messages – cheese burger/fries & goat cheese salad – 2 bottles of wine – 114 euro – don’t have credit card swipe capability (they use chip cards) we say “it’s not our problem. Your sign says you take Visa.” they say, “it’s not our problem.” – owner gives us his bank account # for us to deposit
Day 32 – Saturday, October 15 – Train to Brussels – dawn crisp 30’s – same full bright moon shining in the sky – high 50’s & SUNNY – YEAH!
Brussels
- Depart 9:15 – ice on windshield & no scraper
- Get to Mary’s 9:30 – get to train station 10:15 for 10:23 train
- Arrive 11:00
- 1st stop – TI for map
- 2nd stop – central plaza – square of beautiful buildings, all different architectural styles including city hall – 16 weddings today
- FUN-food Lunch – Luna di Venezia – real Italian restaurant (Ernesto is from Sicily) only one on street w/wood burning oven – order marguerita & pepperoni (spicy salami) YUMMY! the best pizza of the whole trip! – Duval beers & 3 pizzas – 74 euro
- 3rd stop – Cathedral – see high mass wedding taking place
- 4th stop – Catherine Church – under renovation
- 5th stop – famous statue “Boy Peeing”
- 6th stop – Delirium Monasteriummona (I’m not making this up) Bar – beer tasting – 9 different ones
Famous Boy Peeing Statue
- Return 5:06 – babysit for Mary so she can go out w/girl friends (Laurent is working on oil rig in the North Sea)
FUN-food Dinner – Mary’s fridge & cheese/crackers
Day 33 – Sunday, October 16 – Brussels to London
Chocopolis
- Depart 11:15 – stop @ Mary’s to say good-bye
- Arrive airport 1:00 (only takes 30 minutes)
- Another Hertz hassle – takes 20 minutes for them to fix computer glitch
- FUN-food Lunch – Starbucks cap/latte – chicken salad & leftovers from week – chips, peanuts, grapes, smoked gouda & salami
- 3:25 flight – delayed to 4:20
WRTC2BSL – 4 consecutive days of full sun!
FUN-travel: Belgium – Gent & Bruges
October 27, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Belgium – Gent & Bruges
Day 29 – Wednesday, October 12 – Drive to Gent, Belgium – weather same as yesterday, overcast w/afternoon rain – high 60’s
Gent
- Depart 11:00 for Gent – arrive 1:00 – have no good map & no clear street signs (imagine that)
- cap/latte break for directions to TI
- get map of walking tour – pretty impressive cathedral, belfry & castle
- need to get back to car – only paid for two hrs pkg – get totally turned around (lost) because there’s two rivers – go back to TI & retrace steps
FUN-food Dinner – Auberge de la Roseraie – (Belgium food) – cream soup in shot glass & toasted baguette w/2 different olive tapenades for starters included in meal – salmon tartar – mushroom casserole appetizers – gambas (scampi on steroids) w/creamy risotto (since it’s all French to me this is best guess what we ate) – food just so-so & expensive again – no more Belgium food!
FF (FUN-facts) – having an IPod for music in the car is the best!
Day 30 – Thursday, October 13 – Drive to Bruges, Belgium – clouds turn to full sun – YEAH! – low 40’s – high 50’s
- depart 9:30 to meet @ Mary’s (10 minute drive)
- depart Mary’s 10:45 – arrive Bruges 12:15
- drive around for 45 minutes attempting to find free parking
- park on street for 30 minutes to feed baby Elizabeth
- meeting Laurent & having trouble getting out of city center (too many one ways) give up and park in garage
- 2:00 – meet up w/everyone in the main square
Bruges Boat Ride
FUN-food Lunch – Central – we order fish & chips, tomato soup, Duval beer – food mediocre and over priced at best – Laurent ordered pizza & it was good – 200 euro
- Celebrate Alexander’s 6th birthday! – Belgium waffle w/ice cream, chocolate sauce, strawberries & whipped cream
- stroll through city & shops
Celebrating Alexander's Birthday
- take 30 minute canal boat ride
- find ‘t Brugs Beertje – over 300 beers
- 7:00 Chocolate store stop
- depart 7:45 – dusk arrives with a full bright moon!
- arrive Lasne 9:15
FUN-food Dinner – Mary has left over tofu chili – yummy!
FF – parking in garage = more freedom! (eliminates worry of feeding meter )
FUN-travel: Belgium – Lasne & Dinant
October 26, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Belgium – Lasne & Dinant
Day 26 – Sunday, October 9 – Brussels Airport to Lasne – cloudy, low 60’s
- arrive 8:30 pm (1 hr time change) only 1 hr flight
Lasne Cottage
- takes 45 minutes @ Hertz to correct charges that don’t match reservation – get to lot & car has dings & dents – no one there to verify – have to go back in terminal – total waste of time!
- take off w/Google directions (after other car renter shows us how to get in reverse)
- like Scotland, roads don’t have clear signs, make wrong turn, go back & figure out they paint the lanes to follow
- get off freeway & feel lost – McDonald’s on corner – OMG! they speak French! – one person speaks a little English & point us in same direction we were going
- finally arrive @11 pm after driving on narrow, rural roads
FF (FUN-facts) – new car challenge – now driving on same side as US, but got 6 speed manual shift to save money
Day 27 – Monday, October 10 – Lasne, Belgium – cloudy, cool, sprinkles – high 50’s
Dinant Bridge
We’re here because my niece Mary’s husband has taken a 3 yr job transfer from San Diego – have cute cottage w/kitchen (500 sq ft) in country – 400 euros for week – B&B is $20 more per day & for that I can make breakfast!
Dinant Church
- Take morning walk along path w/stream & cows grazing
- Rest
- Relax
- Recharge
- FUN-food Lunch – Lasne Deli – Caprese Salad – roasted & fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, shaved parmesan & prosciutto – Italian Sandwich – really good bread w/prosciutto, tomatoes, olive paste, greens 18 euro
- drive to Carrefour – huge grocery store & stock up
- FUN-food Dinner – Le Barbavin (Belgium food) – menu in French (imagine that) Lotte (fish) sauteed on mashed potatoes – salad of haricot verte (green beans) w/shrimp in balsamic dressing – fabulous French wine Marasal? (should have written that down) – Gran Marnier & cap for dessert – food just so-so
FF (FUN-facts) – local beer is cheaper than water or coke @ grocery store (& it’s good!)
Day 28 – Tuesday, October 11 – Drive to Dinant, Belgium – weather same as yesterday
- Depart 10:30 – drive to Dinant – try back roads but too much construction – get on freeway –
- massive backup there too due to roadside maintenance – have never seen so many semi trucks ever!
- Arrive 1:00 (60 miles)
- FUN-food Lunch – Le Cafe des Arts – cap/latte & Mediterranean Salad – tuna, anchovies, tomatoes, eggs, cucumber, red onion, green beans on mixed greens – huge! as usual we share – 18 euro
Dinant River
- short walk through lovely old town – take tram to Citadel 15 euro- feels like a rip off as you can’t take the walk that shows on the TI map
FF – Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone was born in Dinant in 1814.
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #377: Scarcity
October 26, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #377: Scarcity
Scarcity – of limited availability; rare.
Do you value things that are difficult to obtain? Have you made purchasing decisions based on how much you could lose by not buying? Do you sometimes feel pressured to buy something because it is a limited time offer?
This is the final WOW from the book “INFLUENCE: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdina, Ph.D. These WOW’s will hopefully help you influence your customers, guests, clients or members to increase sales and repeat business, as well as, how to not be swayed by someone trying to sell you something you may not want.
“The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.”– G.K. Chesterton
Rare Grey Island Fox
“The idea of potential loss plays a large role in human decision making. In fact, people seem to be more motivated by the thought of losing something than by the thought of gaining something of equal value. For instance, homeowners told how much money they could lose from inadequate insulation are more likely to insulate their homes than those told how much money they could save. Similar results have been obtained by health researchers: Pamphlets urging young women to check for breast cancer through self-examination are significantly more successful if they state their case in terms of what stands to be lost.”
“Collectors of everything from baseball cards to antiques are keenly aware of the influence of the scarcity principle in determining the worth of an item As a rule, if it is rare or becoming rare, it is more valuable.” Auctions of celebrity items are a perfect example of this.
“Probably the most straightforward use of the scarcity principle occurs in the ‘limited number’ tactic, when the customer is informed that a certain product is in short supply that cannot be guaranteed to last long. Another very successful way to sell something is to keep the prospects from taking the time to think the deal over by scaring them into believing they can’t have it later, which makes them want it now.”
This week’s focus is on scarcity. Have you ever bought something because there was only one left? Are you familiar with Groupon and other “daily deals?” Have you ever been to a time-share presentation? Did you buy it and do you use it? Do you ever run specials that are a “limited time offer?”
Reader Responses
“As I have mentioned a few times in previous posts, many salesmen will use the fear of scarcity, of the possibility of it not being around tomorrow, as the basis for getting someone to buy something. I get immediately turned off by that prospect. Especially when it comes to items like cars. There will always be good deals on cars; that will never change. So, when a salesman attempts the hard sell, I just politely walk away. As I have grown older, though, I have come to appreciate mortality and opportunity. If there is a chance for me to see a performer, who could very well never return, I will pay the extra dollars and make the time to see that performer. A number of years ago, jazz and R&B singer Phyllis Hyman was booked to play at a club in Chicago called George’s. I had always enjoyed her singing and decided to go. Afterward, she sat at a table in the club and answered questions from fans like me. It was a lot of fun. She happened to be leaving the club just after I was. As I crossed the street she called out to me: “Goodnight, Joe.” I waved goodbye, and that was the last time I saw Phyllis. Fortunately, she had signed a few copies of her albums I brought with me. A few years later, I learned that Phyllis had committed suicide. While I was heartbroken, I was so glad that I did not have a regret. I took advantage of a chance, and I am so glad that I did. I have done the same with athletes. During his heyday with the Chicago Bears, I knew that Walter Payton was going to be at a club in suburban Chicago. I brought a football with me, in the hope that he would sign it. He came out to the parking lot that evening, and he quickly signed the ball. He is gone now, but I have the ball and the moment. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have met Mike Ditka, Michael Jordan, Stan Musial, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Lou Boudreau, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks and many other Hall of Famers. I made sure to have them sign balls or memorabilia. As time goes on and these people pass from this world, obviously the value of what they signed will be valuable. But for me, these items will be passed down to family and friends. While I understand the value that scarcity brings to these type of items, just to sell them for money reduces the sentimental value of them. I have to laugh sometimes when my wife has coupons or discounts for sales and she bemoans the fact that she missed the sale. I told her, there will always be another sale. That is never going to change. But taking advantage of the fleeting opportunities in life helps us not have regrets later in our lives. If we can live without regrets, we can live peacefully. Great word, Susan.” – “Warrior” Joe
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #376: Authority
October 19, 2011 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #376: Authority
Authority – an accepted source of expert information or advice.
Are you easily impressed by someone’s title? Do you believe everything a doctor tells you? Do you know anyone who has been given an incorrect diagnosis? Have you ever trusted someone based solely on how well they were dressed?
This is the fifth of six WOW’s from the book “INFLUENCE: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdina, Ph.D. These WOW’s will hopefully help you influence your customers, guests, clients or members to increase sales and repeat business, as well as, how to not be swayed by someone trying to sell you something you may not want.
“Follow an expert.” – Virgil
“We are trained from birth that obedience to proper authority is right and disobedience is wrong. The essential message fills the parental lessons, the schoolhouse rhymes, stories, and songs of our childhood and is carried forward in the legal, military, and political systems we encounter as adults.”
“We learned early on that our parents and teachers knew more than we did, and we found that taking their advice proved beneficial – partly because of their greater wisdom and partly because they controlled our rewards and punishments. As adults, the same benefits persist for the same reasons, though the authority figures now appear as employers, judges, and government leaders.”
“One facet of our lives where authority pressures are visible and strong is in health care. Physicians hold the position as respected authorities. A long-established tradition of automatic obedience to a doctor’s orders has developed among health-care staff.” And I believe the same holds true for patients. You have to be your own advocate!
“Titles are simultaneously the most difficult and the easiest symbols of authority to acquire. Actions are frequently more influenced by a title than by the nature of the person claiming it. We also see size and status as related. One reason that con men where lifts in their shoes.”
“Clothing is another kind of authority symbol. Finely styled and expensive clothes carry an aura of status and position, as do trappings such as jewelry and cars.”
This week’s focus is on authority. Did you see the movie “Catch Me if You Can?” Would you agree that you are influenced by someone’s title? Have you ever incorrectly judged someone based on their clothing, jewelry, or car they were driving? Do your customers, guests, clients or members see you as a source of expert information or advice?
Reader Responses
“Great column, Susan – I haven’t seen the movie, but saw the Broadway play “Catch Me If You Can.” Amazing how people can actually skate by on appearances for so long!” – Dave
“We have all heard the old adage that we should “dress the part,” whether that be as a teacher, lawyer, doctor or whatever kind of authority figure. It not only gets people’s attention, but it shows that we care enough to look like we are important. I attended a Catholic grade school in Chicago. As far as my parents were concerned, the word of the teachers, nuns and priests was final. If they said we were misbehaving, then that was all my parents needed to hear. We were punished at home and usually learned our lesson. That was a time when parents and teachers had more of a bond and worked together. My wife and I have followed the same model with our two girls. There is a great deal of communication between our daughters’ teachers who are straight with us about their behavior. As a result, we give them the benefit of the doubt. As I have been in the work world, I have certainly noticed a lot of well-dressed “authority” figures, from preachers to doctors to teachers and lawyers. What always sends up a red flag in my mind is excess jewelry or over-the-top fashion. The signal I get is that they are either pretending to be something they are not or attempting to hide or distract with the way they dress. Now, I will listen to what they say, but then I will be very careful to watch their actions, especially when they are dealing with others. Another red flag is the hard sell. When car salesmen push too hard and tell me that the car will be gone on Monday morning, I politely beg off and don’t return. If they call me, I will say that we are going in a different direction. So, I am very careful to listen and watch how a person acts before I commit to buying or agreeing to anything. When my wife and I refinanced our mortgage last week (3.5% for 15 years!), the loan officer who came to our house was patient enough with me to let me read through all of the pages of the agreement. She did not rush me or say that I did not need to read through everything. It is our money we are dealing with here, and I did not want the bank to come back to us later. There are con men everywhere in life, even in positions of authority. We certainly have to respect authority, especially with those people who can help us in our lives, like doctors and lawyers. But we always have to watch out for the warning signs of the con. Take care.” – “Warrior” Joe