Tag Archives: Carcassonne

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 commencé à parler au mobilier de jardin — mais il y a clairement un petit manque d’enthousiasme qui … Continue reading →

Posted in life in France, Réflexions personelles, Reflections | Tagged Autumn, Carcassonne, Daily Life, Friendship, life in France, Retirement, South of France, the blues, Travel Plans, uncertainty | 1 Comment

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 Carcassonne, Emergency Room, French Healthcare, Getting Older, Health, Hospital, Kidney stone, life in France | 1 Comment

Édition spéciale de l’Aude

Posted on July 31, 2026 by JJS

un Français interdit de séjour dans sa propre langue Je suis français jusqu’au bout des ongles — né dedans, pour ainsi dire, et élevé au bon vin de Bourgogne grâce à mon père, originaire d’Auxerre (donc rien à voir avec … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & Culture, life in France, Uncategorized | Tagged accent problems, Anglo-French, bilingual life, Carcassonne, Coco Bongo, everyday absurdity, French but not French enough, identity crisis, language barrier, lost in translation, southern French accent | Leave a comment

The week that was 20/2026

Posted on May 17, 2026 by JJS

Rain, Re-runs, and the Stubborn Pool A Week of Noble Endurance Or: how one man heroically resisted the weather and watched a lot of television about it. The week opened on a genuinely triumphant note — the kind of drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Weekly recap | Tagged * Puy de Dôme, auvergne, bad weather, Carcassonne, cold pool, French road trip, indoor activities, Pont de Millau, poolside, Rain, storms, streaming television, Summer in France, vintage comedy | Leave a comment

The great winter escape

Posted on January 5, 2026 by JJS

🇬🇧 (That we escaped from too soon) ☃️ You know that feeling when you check out of a hotel at 10am and then watch from the taxi as they start handing out free champagne in the lobby at 10:15? That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasonal musings, Travel | Tagged * Germany, Carcassonne, Christmas, cold weather, Cozy reading, France vs Germany, Hannover, Missing out, Pyrenees, Snow, winter, Winter 2025 | 1 Comment

Winter and retirees

Posted on November 19, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 The glorious futility of French digital IDs The weather has suddenly turned a little colder — the kind of cold that whispers, “It might be time to wear socks, old chap.”Naturally, I had been heroically hoping to postpone that … Continue reading →

Posted in Administration, Technology and Change | Tagged * digital ID, administrative comedy, bureaucratic chaos, Carcassonne, Carte Vitale, Christmas Market, Coffee, cold weather, France, La Poste, Mairie, modern technology, Place Carnot, QR code, retirees, theatre tickets | 1 Comment

A dream of holograms and a reality of airport queues

Posted on April 4, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 After a blissful night’s sleep filled with visions of holograms and swirling lights—thanks to the ABBA Voyage show—I woke up with the distinct impression that Bjorn and Benny had taken up residence in my subconscious. The concert had clearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Airlines, Airports, London, Personal experiences, Travel | Tagged ABBA Voyage, Airport experience, Carcassonne, Duty-free shopping, English Breakfast, London Trip, Ryanair, Short city break, Stansted Express, Travel anecdotes, Travel Frustrations | 1 Comment

The month that was – February 2025

Posted on March 1, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 A month of movement, mild weather and musical holograms Ah, February—the shortest month, yet somehow always managing to pack in just as much (if not more) than its lengthier counterparts. This one started in spectacular fashion, with the annual—or … Continue reading →