There was a school fayre this afternoon at Wolfie's school, I went there right after work, for the last thirty minutes or so. I had time to enter a tombola: you buy tickets and you could buy a bottle of wine, of beer or of whatever drink, alcoholic or not. It was £2.00 for five tickets. At first, I only found a pound, so I asked: "Can I have two tickets and a half?" I think it deserves to be a great unknown line. Not my best, but it's been a while since I shared one funny line. Anyway, I found another pound in my pocket, so I got my five tickets, then I bought some more. In the end, we got a bottle of red wine, a soft drink and a bottle of non alcoholic coktail. Not bad.
Friday, 18 July 2025
The Violin Theft
Here's a bit of crime news I found out recently, which both shocked and fascinated me: a man was arrested for the theft of a £150,000 violin. First thing to say: wow! That is one expensive violin. To be honest, its value is not exactly surprising. There are expensive musical instruments out there, artifacts from another time still in working condition.This one is from the 18th century. It's just the sheer audacity of stealing a musical instrument that I find morally repellent to the extreme. It's one of the worst kind of thefts I can think of. Unfortunately, the violin has not been recovered as I am typing this. On another note, this could make for a great starting point for a crime novel. It already did, sort of, I mean I read one crime novel featuring a stolen violin. If you want to know which one check this link (otherwise: spoiler alert). And the theft happened in a London pub, because of course it did. So please keep your eyes open. Probably your ears too. I hope they find the violin.
Le chocolat aux bleuets arrive...
Thursday, 17 July 2025
Jack (O'Lantern) in the box
Chaudronnée de pleurotes
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Reading Mugs at The Little Bookshop
Val-Jalbert
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Sunflowers
I saw a lovely sight yesterday, while we were getting Wolfie from school: in the front garden of one of the houses there, two sunflowers growing. When I was a very young child, I mean very young, before my youngest brother was even born, my father had two sunflowers like these growing in our then very bare garden. I loved them. For me, sunflowers is a sign of autumn, either autumn that has arrived, when they are fully grown, or autumn coming, when they are growing. So it is another sign that reminds me of my favourite season. It helps me to stay patient.
"La pièce qui tourne mal"
Des fois, on donne à des choses des titres prédestinés. Enfin bref, j'ai appris dans la grosse Presse, grâce à mon frère PJ, qui m'a refilé la nouvelle, que le comédien Guillaume Lambert s'était blessé à Drummondville lors d'une représentation de... La pièce qui tourne mal. Ça ne s'invente pas. C'est pour ainsi dire tenter le sort. Blagues à part, je lui souhaite un prompt rétablissement. Autre détail anecdotique: j'ai déjà connu un Guillaume Lambert. Mais non, ce n'était pas le comédien.
Monday, 14 July 2025
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.
Sunday, 13 July 2025
Mental State: Spooky
Promesse de pluie
Saturday, 12 July 2025
Spy Activities
Une voile
Friday, 11 July 2025
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.
Thursday, 10 July 2025
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
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
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
New Scotland Yard, New Mr X
Du nouveau sur le Salon du livre
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
The Chess Player's Bible
Monday, 7 July 2025
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
Sunday, 6 July 2025
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
Saturday, 5 July 2025
Lincoln Green
I recently learned something new recently, reading about Robin Hood. I think it does not come as something to your average Englishman, but hey, as anglophile as I have always been, I was not aware of this, or if I have been in the past, I had forgotten it. So yeah, anyway, the sort of green that wears Robin Hood and his Merry men is called Lincoln green. Please tell me you didn't know that, so I won't be too embarrassed. It is actually an authentic medieval colour, created in the Middle Ages, originating from Lincoln. Because yes, they had discovered colours back then and and they dyed their clothes when they could. It has always irritated me when Robin Hood doesn't wear green in some adaptations. You probably now the ones I'm referring to. Anyway, so Lincoln green is the word of the day.
Le phoque (près) de Montréal
Voici une nouvelle animalière et cute récente, que je n'ai pas eu le temps de mentionner jusqu'ici. Mais je voulais depuis un bout. Enfin bref, un jeune phoque a été aperçu près de Montréal, sur la plage d'Oka. Le Journal de Montréal a une vidéo et des photos ici, si vous voulez en voir plus. Bon, je n'ai pas grand chose à dire, à part que c'est inusité et mignon. J'espère que ça vous fera sourire. Et j'espère que le petit phoque va bien.
Friday, 4 July 2025
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
Plus sur la Divine à la cerise
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Giant Chessboard
Cadran solaire
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
The box of obsolete cables
Divine à la cerise (substitut du Cherry Blossom)
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Holy Cow Tea
Jour du Déménagement (le mien, le vôtre)
Nous sommes le 1er juillet aujourd'hui, ce qui, bien entendu, veut dire... le Jour du Déménagement. C'est le cas au Québec en tout cas. Incidemment, c'est le 1er juillet 2016, il y a quasiment dix ans, que nous sommes devenus propriétaires, quelques mois avant la naissance de petit loup. Nous avons emménagé dans la maison le lendemain, mais on a livré quelques boîtes la journée même. Je ne fais pas de grandes célébrations comme je le faisais lorsque l'on fêtait l'anniversaire de notre arrivée dans notre ancien appart. Surtout qu'aujourd'hui, l'anniversaire tombe en pleine semaine. Mais je trouve ça assez amusant que, même en Angleterre, j'ai "déménagé" à la même date qu'au Québec on déménage.
Monday, 30 June 2025
June Heatwave
Sorry for the commonplace, but I wanted to mention something: this the last day of June. One month of the summer season to be done and dusted. I'm glad, because frankly, it's been godawful: we've been going from one heatwave to another. The last few days have been really difficult: I just cannot stand the heat. Apparently, we only have to go through tomorrow, then it will cool down a bit, in the lower 20s. Nevertheless, I am seriously done with summertime. And there's two third of it left! If you know of a survival guide, please tell me in the comments. In fact, any advices are welcome.
"Invasion de toutous"
The TBR Pile
La rivière au Parc Urbain
Sunday, 29 June 2025
A Springboks supporter
We went downtown yesterday, to run some errands (among them getting Wolfie a haircut, he looked like a darn hippy) and just as we were getting in the high street I saw a man crossing our path, wearing the a Springbok jersey. I didn't say a word, but I regret it. I wish I had said hello. I know very little, if anything about rugby. But my father-in-law is South African, a rugby fan, and more importantly a die hard Bokke supporter. Therefore I have decided a few years ago that the Sprinboks were my rugby team too. I didn't stop the guy to strike up a conversation and tell him that, but I wish I had. Although if I had done he might have thought I'm such a weirdo, especially since I know diddly squat about rugby. But hey, I understand South Africans are friendly and chatty people, so maybe I missed an opportunity to make an acquaintance.
Galettes à la mélasse
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Helicopters and summertime
I don't know if it's because it is summertime, but recently I have become more aware of helicopters flying around, like big mosquitos in the sky. I mean we have them all year round, but they seem to fly more often during summer, or at least they are more visible in a clear blue sky. I blogged about it back in 2016, and probably before that as well. Be that as it may, I see them more. I like helicopters, they are the sort of flying engines I find the most exotic (for lack of a better word). I also have fond memories of helicopters flying above during summertime when I was a child. Anyway, next time I see one, I will try to take a few pictures, if it flies low enough.
Un paon dans un parc
Friday, 27 June 2025
Signal Box (musing)
Le Parc Urbain après la pluie
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Denis Villeneuve for Bond 26!
Oh what great news for the proud Québec nationalist and the die hard James Bond fan that I am: Québec director Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. At last, some genuine good (not to mention reassuring) news about the production of Bond 26. Apparently he is also a die hard fan. In any case, Villeneuve is a serious, competent director with enough authority and discipline to keep control of such a massive production, and hopefully resisting the pressure from Amazon. Also, it means that now the script can be developed and in due time the casting can get started. So things will finally get in motion for my favourite movie franchise. And hey, let's not forget: a Quebecker will be at the helm of a Bond movie.
Le fromage qui fait "Skouik!" de Boivin
"Summer Heat"
Un musicien parmi tant d'autres (RIP Serge Fiori)
Triste nouvelle lors de notre Fête nationale avant-hier: Serge Fiori est mort le matin de la Saint-Jean. Parfois le malheur frappe comme la foudre.Et parfois les pleurs doivent se mêler aux réjouissances. Enfin bref, le père fondateur d'Harmonium n'est plus. je lui rends hommage avec l'une de ses chansons cultes.
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Honey for the bears
I took the title of this post from one of Anthony Burgess' lesser known novels (but incidentally one of my favourite). That said, it is not a blog post about the book. But the title is so perfectly fitting for some news I read about recently: two bears escaped a wildlife park in Devon, near Exeter (which I have passed through, but never properly visited). And they ate week's worth of honey. That is both funny and cute. I know bears can be dangerous, even vicious animals, but that's still cute. Anyway, Mish and Lucy are both back in custody after their expedition in the outside world. I hope they had a nice escapade and they enjoyed the sweet treat.
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Comme un million de gens
J'apprends tristement que le spectacle de la Saint-Jean a été annulé hier à Québec, à cause du mauvais temps. Comme Claude Dubois devait y chanter, je partage une de ses chansons ici.
The Garden Bar, London
As you probably know if , today is Saint John the Baptist's Day, also known as the Nationale Day, or Fête nationale of Quebeckers. You will forgive me if I do not spend much time blogging in English today, but I wanted to plug one London pub, which has been very welcoming to Québec expats like me: the Garden Bar. Every year, the DGQL organises a celebration for Québécois living in the UK and their families and it is the Garden bar that has been hosting it. It has been the case these last two years in any case. They even serve poutine for the occasion and it is a pretty decent one. I blogged about it last year and again this year. Don't think you'll find this item on their menu on a normal day. Nevertheless, as they have been welcoming to us on an important day, I thought I would say a good word about the Garden Bar here.
50 ans de Gens du pays
Monday, 23 June 2025
About Midsummer's Day
Une réflexion sur la Saint-Jean en expatrié
Sunday, 22 June 2025
Daunt Books
Yesterday, duringour trip to London (more on that in another post), I saw many people with bags from Daunt Books. As if they were all the rage. I have heard about Daunt Books before, it's a small but apparently very successful chain of "independent" bookshops. Judging by the number of people holding these bags, it seems that the chain it indeed thriving. I think I entered one or two of them, although I am not sure if I bought anything from Daunt Books. Be that as it may there are two things I take back from seeing these bags: 1)It's good to know that reading is still popular, especially in a metropolis like London 2)I am going to start collecting fancy bookshop bags. This is my new personal quest and my new personal hobby.
La poutine à Londres
Saturday, 21 June 2025
Fizzy Fest
"Au moins il neige pas"
Friday, 20 June 2025
007 First Light
You know I'm a James Bond fan, from the movies as well as the original books by Ian Fleming. With (shudder) Amazon taking over the Bond franchise and taking creative control, I often despair, doubting I will ever see my favourite hero any time soon on film, and very skeptical they can do him justice. That said, I got cautiously optimistic when I saw the teaser for the videogame 007 First Light. I generally don't play videogames, but this one seems to be getting at least a few things right: Bond's past and the death of his parents, for instance, as well as his scar, a signature in the novels. Sure, they may seem superficial, but it seems that the creators have done their homework. Now I don't own a PlayStation and I may never play the game, but it's nice to know it is being made. You can see the teaser below, in any case. Tell me what you think.
Mafalda et le monde
Thursday, 19 June 2025
"Summer Books"
Moules et frites
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
The New C of SIS/MI6
There is a bit of news, not already getting old news, which I have been wanting to blog on. As you know, I like a good bit of spy fiction, albeit I don't read as much spy fiction as crime fiction. But yeah, I do enjoy it. Anyway, I learned recently that SIS, also known as MI6, has a new C. Which is the real life equivalent of M in James Bond movies (and books! Never forget that they were books before). And for the first time in its history, it is a woman, Blaise Metreweli. The Bond films had already started the trend in 1995. But what really struck me reading about her is her age: she is only a few months younger than me! Ouch! Moral of the story: some people just get cool careers, even if they are civil servants.
J't'aime comme un fou
La Saint-Jean approche,alors je mets plus de musique québécoise ici. Je n'ai pas partagé de chanson de Robert Charlebois depuis 2023, ce qui est quand même aberrant, alors voici J't'aime comme un fou. Ce n'est pas ma préférée, mais je me rappelle qu'il l'a interprétée lors du spectacle de 1994 avec énergie. Et l'année d'après, en août 1995, au Vieux-Port de Chicoutimi. J'y étais, ce fût une belle soirée.
The Summer of our Discontent
"Now is the summer of our discontent..." I am paraphrasing Shakespeare, but here it is: our first heatwave is on its way. It's pretty much here, as far as I am concerned: I get uncomfortable when it goes up to 25 degrees. And it will go above it. At least now, thanks to social media, I know that I am not the only one to suffer: there is a whole community of people who hate summertime. I'm glad, because I literally cannot stand the noise, the blissful sun worshipping of people who seem so eager to get burned. So I found a support group, I try to cope with the heat and well, if everything goes well, summer will be over soon enough.
York vu de haut
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Weaponry for the Arsenal
Canard blanc (une pensée et une question)
Monday, 16 June 2025
Cuba Libre VS Rum&Coke
I discovered something recently and I feel really silly. I used to think that the Cuba Libre cocktail was just a Rum and Coke with a fancier name. They even have the same Wikipedia entry. Well, not quite. There is a difference: the Cuba Libre has to have lime in it, from what I understand either a slice or a bit of its juice. So a Rum and Coke is not a full on Cuba Libre, in fact it is the Coba Libre's poorer brother. I feel like such a Philistine. I seldom order cocktails, last time I ordered a Rum and Coke was in 2018. Probably because there was no beer I liked at the pub. So anyway, next time I will make sure I order the right thing and say a Cuba Libre.
Le Gars d'la Compagnie
Parce que c'est la Saint-Jean bientôt, voici une des Cowboys Fringants. La première que j'ai entendue, il y a de cela des années, dans un bar de Chicoutimi. Une chanson engagée en plus, et une des meilleures du genre, à la fois amère et festive.