In Paris itself, there was more good news of a kind. Burger King opened its first outlet in the French capital, in the newly renovated Gare St Lazare and immediately the queues began to form of eager Parisians keen to taste American style fast food. And just in case anyone at the station has more elevated tastes, the bistro at Gare St Lazare continues to offer its rather higher class food dishes. There was more welcome medical news, too, from Paris, as a patient at the Georges Pompidou hospital in the city continues to progress with his artificial heart, another medical “first” for France.
I liked a desription on a US website, NaturalNews.com. It described the mainstream media as the “lamestream media”, rather too close for comfort in its accuracy. I see too that a millionaire Chinese philanthropist, Chen Guangbiao, is planning to assemble a $1 billion bid for the New York Times later this month.
But to fast forward to the present, Albert is now 80, suffering from an advanced case of
Alzheimer’s. He can no longer recognise even his own family. He has still retained his legendary capacity to greet strangers and it’s very sad that when his own sons and daughters come to see him, he gives them this special treatment without realising who they are. The afflictions of old age catch up with us all and in the case of my good friend Albert Reynolds, it’s particularly sad.
On that slightly risqué note,I’ll wish you farewell for this and wish anyone who’s reading this,all the very best for the New Year.