Category Archives: Food and Drink

The night Burger King ruined my cheese documentary

Posted on November 20, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 I was having a perfectly civilised evening.Picture this: me, tucked comfortably under my warm wobble blanket, watching a delightful documentary about French cheeses—the kind of programme that restores your faith in humanity. Soft cheeses, hard cheeses, smelly cheeses… bliss. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Television & Media | Tagged Advertising fail, Burger King, Disgusting ads, Evening ruined, Fast food, French cheese documentary, Personal opinion, Rant, Shock moment, TV adverts | 1 Comment

A toast to frustration

Posted on September 18, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 When wine, squatters and silence sour the spirit 🫟 Introduction: The Art of Being Ignored There’s a particular kind of frustration that comes from being ignored—whether by bureaucrats, neighbors, or the universe itself. It’s the kind that simmers quietly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Opinion | Tagged Bureaucracy, Carbon Footprint, consumer rights, EU policy, European solidarity, France, Frustration, Ireland, letter writing, local government, public service, squatters, Sustainability, trade policy, wine industry | 1 Comment

The month that was – August 2025

Posted on August 29, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Ah, August. The month when most of the world seems to go on holiday… except at my place. No visitors this time, which made for a rather quieter stretch. The fridge was grateful, the wine rack untouched, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beach Destinations, Food and Drink, Lifestyle | Tagged * Beach Days, BBQ & Friends, Food & Dining, Hospitalet Beach, Le Chat qui Pêche, Le Mans 24h, Narbonne Plage, Pool Party, Provence, Sobriety Journey, Summer 2025, Travel Tips, Weekend getaways | Leave a comment

Chronicles of a (nearly) ascetic monk

Posted on July 9, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Episode 1 The scale strikes back It’s been exactly ten days since I ended a long and passionate relationship… with alcohol. Not a drop, not even a cheeky glass of rosé on the terrace (I know, living dangerously). The … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Health and fitness | Tagged alimentation consciente, alimentation contrôlée, blog santé, défis personnels, diabète de type 2, glycémie, insuline, jeûne intermittent, lifestyle sain, perte de poids, poids et motivation, régime équilibré, sans alcool, santé métabolique, Vie quotidienne | 1 Comment

0% alcohol, 100% questionable timing

Posted on July 5, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 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 →

Posted in Food and Drink, Health and fitness | Tagged * sobriété, été 2025, bonnes résolutions, chaleur estivale, défi personnel, Guinness, Humour, Irlande, journal de bord, Lifestyle, modération, perte de poids, sans alcool, tentations, verre d’eau | 1 Comment

Devon – Day V

Posted on March 25, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 A day of mystery, mead and mighty Gin & Tonics in Devon Some nights are best left unspoken, and this was certainly one of them. But as the morning light crept in, so did the reassuring scent of sizzling … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Travel, Travel and adventure | Tagged Cockington, Countryside Walks, Devon, Double-Decker Bus, English Breakfast, Gin &n Tonic, The Drumm Inn, The Grand Hôtel, Torquay, Torre Abbey | 2 Comments

Back to the emerald isle

Posted on February 12, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Guinness, Gaelic and grand adventures Ireland is calling again, and who are we to ignore the siren song of the Emerald Isle? Especially when there are direct (and dirt-cheap) flights from our town to Dublin. Now, I may have … Continue reading →