Superman in Milton Keynes

 I know there is a new Superman movie in the theaters now, but I am not blogging about it. I haven't seen it and don't know know if and when I will. But something showed up on my newsfeed that made me want to blog about the superhero: this BBC article about Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. For two reason: first, it is the very first Superman movie I saw in cinema (and only one of two, I might add), on his release in 1987. Second, some of the film was filmed in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. And I lived there for a little bit. Not very long, but I do know the town. I only ever watched the fourth Superman movie once, maybe twice, but I have been wanting to re-watch it ever since I learned about this little bit of trivia. I watch the pictures of the shooting and I can easily recongise the Milton Keynes' train station (doubling at the UN building I believe). It feel a bit surreal, knowing I have been where Superman was. Oh, and for the record I know the film is terrible.

Le 14 juillet au travail

 Aujourd'hui c'est le 14 juillet, donc la Fête nationale française. Un jour intéressant quand comme moi on s'intéresse à l'histoire et au moins un peu à la Révolution française. Je le souligne à chaque année. Mais ça veut aussi dire autre chose pour quelqu'un qui, comme moi, travaille au moins en partie en contact avec le marché français, mais vivant hors de France, ça veut dire une journée tranquille au travaille. Pas ncéessairement plus plaisante, parce que se tourner les pouces, c'est épuisant aussi. Alors aujourd'hui, je risque de trouver le temps long. Et ça se pourrait que ce soit tranquille demain aussi, pour des raisons évidentes.

Mental State: Spooky

Is it too early to think of Halloween? Is it? Of course it isn't! And I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one to think like this. Anyway, I saw a meme yesterday on my feed and, well, it was this one. It's both very cute and very me. It may not be autumn yet, far from it, it certianly does not look like it, but I will very soon be reading horror stories and this will kickstart my countdown to Halloween. I need to think of something else than summertime, I am officially done with it.

Promesse de pluie

 J'ai pris cette photo il y a une semaine seulement, juste avant que la canicule nous tombe sur la frippe. Nous sortions d'une canicule et la température avait soudainement baissé de manière dramatique, à mon plus grand bonheur. Il a fini par pleuvoir, assez pour nous rafraîchir, mais pas assez pour faire verdir la nature: partout l'herbe est encore très jaune. Ils prévoient encore de la pluie dans quelques jours, mais je ne retiens pas mon souffle: je sais que je risque d'être déçu. C'est trop long l'été...

Spy Activities

I love Usborne books. And I always look for new and old books from them. A few weeks ago, in a local shop (though ironically not the local bookshop, I stumbled upon Lots of Spy Activities, a book of, well, activities and games for children. I didn't know they had such book. I did not buy it, I swear, I restrained myself. However, I took a picture of it, as a reminder, and to show it to Wolfie. I asked him if he wanted the book, and he said yes. So I think he might get it for his birthday.

Une voile

Photo prise par mon père à La baie en 2023, je faisais le ménage dans mes photos quand je l'ai trouvée. J'aimerais qu'il vente comme cette journée-là. Et être près de l'eau.

Sake

In recent years and for a number of trivial reasons I cannot be bothered to dwell on just now, I have started developing a certain interest about Japanese culture. This is kind of new, but you might have noticed it on this blog. So yes, a few days ago, looking at the stocks of alcohol we have, I was wondering if I should not try sake again, if I can find any good quality sake nearby. I say try again, because I did drink sake once, back in 1996(!), in a course about world's literature(!!). The teacher had given us samples to try at the end of a class. I had not been impressed then: I thought it had a papery taste. But my tastes in alcohol have evolved a lot since and I am wondering if I should give it another try. If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments. Also, tell me if you have any experience drinking sake.

Question existentielle (397)

 Question existentielle d'une importance vitale ces jours-ci:

-Comment survivre, mentalement et physiquement, à la canicule? 

Non mais c'est sérieux. 

Coolcation

Sometimes I discover new concepts, thanks to internet algorithms. A few days, I stumbled upon an article about the best coolcation destinationsin Europe. The term coolcation is self-explanatory, but I think it's the first time I ever came across it. According to AI, a coolcation is "vacation taken in a cooler climate to escape the summer heat". Which is exactly what I need right now. It is exactly what I need every summer, come to think of it. Anyway, be that as it may, it is a nice concept and the word of the day. I might come back to this article in the future. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions for coolcation destinations, please tell me in the comments. I need them.

Festival des vins de Saguenay

J'apprends au hasard qu'il y a un Festival des vins de Saguenay. Et que c'est commencé aujourd'hui. Alors, voilà, annonce d'intérêt public: c'est du 10 au 12 juillet.

Where is Café2U?

Some of my very long time readers might remember that a decade ago or so, I sometimes used to blog about Café2U. It was, it is, a franchise of coffee vans delivery coffee and other hot drinks at offices. We used to receive the visit of the van every few days, back in my old, old job. I mean the job I had between 2010 and 2017, so four employers' ago. I loved their very decadent hot chocolates and sometimes I treated myself with one cup of them (as I loathe coffee). Now that I work from home, I don't buy myself treats from coffee vans, but I see them sometimes around in the neighbourhood, going to the various business estates in our little town, while we are on the school run. But I haven't seen a Café2U van in a decade or so. I checked their website, and the company still exists. So where are the vans? If you know the business, if you once drank their coffee, or their chocolate, tell me in the comments.

Fraises en dessert

 Mon père a fait ce dessert il y a quelques temps. Enfin, je dis "faire"... Il a mélangé des fraises, de la crème, du sirop d'érable et du sucre d'érable. C'est simple, c'est bon.

New Scotland Yard, New Mr X

A few days ago, my wife said that we should play board games more often with Wolfie. We have a few, but we seldom take them out. And there are a lot which I would love to own. Among them, there is of course Scotland Yard, my all-time childhood favourite. I recently discovered that they have updated the look of the game, or at least the box, with a more modern take. It's a very contemporary London and Mr X looks far darker and more menacing, even though he sitll wears the rather anachronistic hat. He looks like he belongs to a spy thriller, which I guess Scotland Yard could be, as much as a crime adventure. Anyway, while I love the old fashioned look, I must say, I think the game's antagonist gives a proper sinister vibe.What do you think?

Du nouveau sur le Salon du livre

C'est encore tôt, peut-être, mais j'aime être prévoyant et faire de la publicité pour l'évènement d'avance. Alors donc, j'ai quelques nouvelles sur le Salon du Livre du Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean, parce que je regarde de temps en temps leur page Facebook. La 61e édition sera du 25 au 28 septembre (jusqu'ici, tout est normal), mais dans un nouvel emplacement: au Place Centre-Ville de Jonquière. Oulà, pas certain... Il me semble que l'ancien Roussillon, c'était mieux. ais je suis un incorrigible nostalgique. Enfin bref, j'aimerais y être cette année, comme à chaque année. C'est un pèlerinage qui me manque.

The Chess Player's Bible

When I go to the local bookshop, I often find treasures. Actually, that's not true: I always find treasures. In fact, I find so many treasures that I cannot buy them all. So yeah, I stumbled upon The Chess Player's Bible in the children section, of all places. I blogged about chess recently, it's one game I used to be quite into as a child, but I stopped a while ago. I suggested to buy it to Wolfie, but he was not interested. A shame: one of his best friends loves chess and I know they've played a few times together. But anyway, I just thought it was nice to have it in the children books section.

Orchidées

Autre photo des orchidées de mon père, une photo que je n'ai pas partagée jusqu'ici. Enfin je ne crois pas.

Camping Night (and an autumnal promise)

Last Saturday, we went to Wolfie's school special camping night. We did not spend the night there, we just went so he could play with his friends, to have a few drinks and enjoy a barbecue. It's always a pleasant event. But this year, I enjoyed it for another reason. As you know, I long for the autumn to come and I have been waiting for its signs. After the heatwave we've had recently (and thre is another one coming), it felt like my favourite season was so far away. But last Saturday evening, the atmosphere was autumnal: the air had cooled down and there was a pleasant breeze that cooled things down a bit more. As if suddenly, we were in early September. It felt like it anyway. Even Wolfie said it felt autumnal. Now it means nothing about what's it going to be in two month's time, but I had a foretaste of what this year's auutmn could be, and it should help me get through the hot days ahead.

Mafalda siempre

Photo prise sur la page Facebook officielle de Mafalda. Enfant, je lisais Mafalda quand je sentais les vacances se terminer, ça me guérissait de ma mélancolie. Un peu. Adulte, je lis Mafalda pour me guérir de ma mélancolie quotidienne. Les vacances ne sont pas là encore, ni pour moi, ni pour Wolfie, ni pour ma femme, les jours se ressemblent. Mais heureusement, il y a Mafalda.

River & Rowing Museum (RIP)

My wife and I learned some very sad news recently: the River & Rowing Museum in Henley is closing down. We used to go there occasionally, before and after we became parents. The last time was in... January 2020. I had bought a yearly pass, having calculated that with only three visits, not only I would make up my investment, but save money on top of that. And as we don't live very far, it would be an excuse to visit the lovely town of Henley more often. Obviously, it was a gross miscalculation. The sad thing is, we never went back to the museum, even after the pandemic, even though we visited Henley a few times. And now, well, it is too late, or almost. The las day to visit it is the 21st of September, but visiting it might feel a tad too depressing.I guess I didn't like the place enough to go there again, but it is always heartbreaking when a museum closes down.

Les promenades au Parc Urbain

Photo prise par mon père au Parc de la Rivière-du-Moulin,communément appelé le Parc Urbain. À regarder les photos qu'il m'a envoyées, je me suis rappelé les nombreuses fois où j'y allais en famille. C'était vraiment comme avoir une forêt en ville et ça nourissait mon imagination fertile. Mais j'écrirai plus en détials sur le sujet un jour sans doute.