Author Archives: JJS
London, Day 4
A tale of two Wests (and one sore foot) Slept until 5am, which at my age is basically a medical miracle. Apparently walking half the Thames Valley will do that to a man. Today’s plan: a cloth shop on King’s … Continue reading
London, Day 3
DRAFT 3:30 a.m. My body, apparently still on a schedule known only to itself, woke me for the third morning running. I then lay there for nearly two hours, staring at the ceiling and composing strongly worded letters to my … Continue reading
London, Day 2
DRAFT Breakfast: croissant đ„ and tea in bed, which is where the day’s first Big Decision was made. “Why don’t we walk to Marble Arch instead of taking the tube?” Reader, this was said by a person who had not … Continue reading
London, Day 1
A military operation immediately loses to curry Or: how my meticulously timed itinerary lasted roughly 2 hours I arrived in London with a plan. A proper plan. Timed, scheduled, practically laminated. Napoleon would have looked at it and said, “A … Continue reading
Needle week
Week 42, in which I become a human pincushion and then fly Ryanair If this past week had a theme song, it would be a very small, very sharp ping. Needles. So many needles. Let’s start with the baseline: four … Continue reading
Waiting room chronicles: A gastro adventure
đŹđ§ I am writing to you live from the hospital waiting room, that sacred place where time stands still, magazines date from the previous administration, and everyone studies their own shoes with intense interest. Today I am seeing a new … Continue reading
What to wear
The question of the week Autumn in our little corner of France has decided to perform a yo-yo ballet, and my wardrobe is the unwilling understudy. Last week, in a fit of optimism, I packed away all my shorts and … Continue reading
The month that was – September 2026
đŹđ§ 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
Le blues
đ«đ· Je dois bien lâavouer, jâai un petit coup de blues depuis quelques jours. Rien de dramatique â je nâai pas encore commencĂ© Ă parler au mobilier de jardin â mais il y a clairement un petit manque dâenthousiasme qui … Continue reading
