Author Archives: JJS
Fed up with the circus
🇬🇧 A citizen’s frustration with French politics I rarely voice political opinions—frankly, I usually prefer to keep those thoughts to myself. But enough is enough. Lately, I’ve found myself deeply frustrated—not just by the state of politics in France, but … Continue reading
Opération Toulouse
🇫🇷 Entre peloton, shopping et bouchons Aujourd’hui, mission spĂ©ciale : convoyage vers l’aĂ©roport de Toulouse. L’avion de notre amie Leslie ne dĂ©colle qu’en fin d’après-midi, mais elle a des projets. Et pas des moindres. D’abord, elle veut voir Toulouse (ce … Continue reading
The great French juggling act
🇬🇧 A summer of strategic scheduling 🍓Chapter 1: The Departure of the Famous “Bande Anglaise”Three-quarters of Carole’s legendary childhood crew – the infamous Bande Anglaise – have just boarded their respective flights back to England and Belgium this afternoon. The … Continue reading
The week that was 28-2025
🇬🇧 Wimbledon, wine and weather warnings A Totally Average Week, Apparently I suppose it’s been a fairly average week. You know, the usual: 40-degree heat, central heating on full blast, three airport runs, five women in tow at the market, … Continue reading
Operation: Literary letdown
🇬🇧 How Tom Clancy got himself court-martialed from my library Once upon a time—many moons ago, back when summer holidays came with sunburns and sand in inconvenient places—I was a devoted foot soldier in the Tom Clancy reading army. His … Continue reading
0% alcohol, 100% questionable timing
🇬🇧 Last Sunday — for reasons still unclear even to myself — I made a bold decision: I stopped drinking alcohol. Not forever. Not for a bet. Not even for a deeply philosophical reason. Just… because.(Cue dramatic music and the … Continue reading
The morning I time-traveled to the summer of 2000
🇬🇧 A few weeks ago, I treated myself to a warm bath of nostalgia by writing about the anniversary of Expo 2000 in Hannover — that quirky global village of ideas, pavilions, and passport stamps. Since then, one very specific … Continue reading
Heatwave hysteria
🇬🇧 Have we become a nation of weaklings? I’ve travelled extensively and lived in parts of Asia where the thermometer never dips below 30°C—day or night. Add to that a suffocating level of humidity, and you’ve got real, relentless heat. … Continue reading
I do it my way 