Author Archives: JJS

The month that was – September 2026

Posted on October 1, 2026 by JJS

🇬🇧 In which two people celebrate fifty years of marriage, and their bodies celebrate by filing complaints. I cannot believe another 30 days have slipped by. September, you were a mixed grill: holidays, friends, medical worries and a side order … Continue reading →

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Le blues

Posted on September 29, 2026 by JJS

🇫🇷 Je dois bien l’avouer, j’ai un petit coup de blues depuis quelques jours. Rien de dramatique — je n’ai pas encore commencĂ© Ă  parler au mobilier de jardin — mais il y a clairement un petit manque d’enthousiasme qui … Continue reading →

Posted in life in France, RĂ©flexions personelles, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I Had a Plan. Then My Kidney Got Involved

Posted on September 22, 2026 by JJS

And still no decision, also my kidney hates me It has now been just about two months since I wrote A Tale of Two Cities (And My Wobbly Knees), a post in which I confidently identified a problem — two … Continue reading →

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Visit to the nearest ER

Posted on September 17, 2026 by JJS

It sure is not a 5-star hotel reception but the ER is effective and efficient enough. Having been registered before, it only takes a few minutes to get the paperwork ready and being handed over to a very nice nurse … Continue reading →

Posted in Health and fitness, life in France | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

BMW

Posted on September 17, 2026 by JJS

ll faut bien le reconnaĂ®tre : chez BMW, quand on amène sa voiture pour une rĂ©vision, il y a quand mĂŞme un petit quelque chose en plus… Ă  part, bien sĂ»r, la facture ! Ce matin, changement des plaquettes de freins … Continue reading →

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The great French cheese road trip

Posted on September 12, 2026 by JJS

A love letter to mold, milk and regional pride Every cheese lover has the same recurring daydream: a slow drive across France, windows down, glovebox full of napkins, one region at a time, one wheel of something pungent at a … Continue reading →

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Balearic adventures – Day 11

Posted on September 11, 2026 by JJS

The long goodbye (to Sangria) Going home day. The kind of day where your body wakes up before your alarm, before the sun, and possibly before the hotel staff have finished dreaming about breakfast service. After a night of restless … Continue reading →

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Balearic adventures – Day 10

Posted on September 10, 2026 by JJS

The great AlcĂşdia-vs-Polleça beach-off (Pollença wins again) Last day. There’s a particular flavour of wind that only shows up on departure mornings, as if Mallorca itself is trying to hurry us toward the airport. It was blowing again today, and … Continue reading →

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Balearic adventures – Day 9

Posted on September 9, 2026 by JJS

Markets, misjudgments, and a race against the rain Cloudy start this morning — the sky doing its best impression of indecision, which, as it turns out, was foreshadowing. The usual breakfast was consumed with the usual efficiency, and with coffee … Continue reading →

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Balearic adventures – Day 8

Posted on September 9, 2026 by JJS

Port de SĂłller, Wagyu beef and the great towel land grab Another holiday, another early night that has somehow reprogrammed my body clock into that of a farmer. But there are worse fates than being awake at 7am when your … Continue reading →

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