Author Archives: JJS
The world of tyres
The world’s biggest tyre manufacturer might not be who you think and no, it’s not Michelin A lifetime at Continental, a lunch in enemy territory, and one very small rubber bombshell. 🛞 Last week I found myself in Clermont-Ferrand — … Continue reading
Chinese name
So I have a Chinese name, a must officially when applying for a work visa. Mine was suggested to me by the manageress of the induction course I attended prior to settling in Shanghai for my 3 years stint. č‹Źćť° … Continue reading
Excursion en Auvergne
There are birthday parties, and then there are birthday parties. Bob II’s 80th fell squarely into the second category — though why the “II”, I shall not explain here. Life is too short, and besides, some mysteries are best left … Continue reading
Grey monday meets British comedy gold
Monday morning has delivered its verdict, and it is not pretty. The skies over Carcassonne have gone full British — a thick, low ceiling of grey that seems less like weather and more like a personal affront. The thermometer has … Continue reading
The month that was – April 2026
🇬🇧 A Tale of Two Seas (and One Very Smug Tax Form) In which the month begins in salt water, ends in salt water, and temporarily drowns in bureaucracy. âš“ Bookended by the briny deep April had the good taste … Continue reading
The week that was 17/2026
The aperitif dispatch There will be no weekly recap this week. The blank page can wait; Brittany, as it turns out, cannot. When the weather in this most stoically damp of French regions decides to behave — genuinely behave, blue … Continue reading
Three days of sun in Brittany II
Or Everything they told you was a lie Golfe du Morbihan · A Monday morning, suspiciously luminous Chris and Jeffrey have departed for England. I have seen them to the door of the weekend, metaphorically speaking, and waved them off … Continue reading
Escapade en Bretagne I
The noble art of going nowhere fast There is something quietly absurd about traveling nine hours by train to cover a distance a crow would manage in two. But crows don’t have first-class seats, and they certainly don’t have a … Continue reading
Le grand gâchis viticole
🇫🇷 La note du contribuable Pendant des annĂ©es, les signaux Ă©taient lĂ , visibles pour quiconque voulait bien les regarder. La consommation de vin baisse rĂ©gulièrement en France et en Europe. Les chiffres ne sont pas un secret. Les tendances n’ont … Continue reading
L’Ă©tĂ©
🇫🇷 Deux mois trop tĂ´t, et alors ? Il arrive sans prĂ©venir, sans s’excuser, et avec un aplomb qui forcerait l’admiration mĂŞme du mistral. Il faut vous dire une chose : sur le calendrier — ce calendrier que l’on a … Continue reading
I do it my way 