Often one sees the 'papis', wearing their berets, sitting in the car park while their wives do the shopping. Women of that generation often don’t drive, so they need a chauffeur. The men don’t often cook either, so they don’t get involved in the buying.
'Froid de canard' is a French description when it is bitterly cold. Clearly, this poor chap is going to have to do better than a few droopy flowers to warm this lady's heart.