Guinness: Out of Stock

It is Saint Patrick's Day in less than a week and I haven't really prepared for it. But this post is sort of about Saint Paddy's. Last Sunday, we stopped briefly at the local Travelodge. The place was empty but for one staff member, we thought about staying for a quick drink and a snack, but we decided against it, because the one staff member there was pretty much ignoring us. But this sight caught my attention: they were out of Guinness. Even though the place was, like I said, empty. Just like the barrel, I guess. This is not good. The Travelodge is maybe the nearest drinking place. It's nothing fancy and I never actually drank there, but for a quick pint on St Paddy's, it would actually be perfect. I guess I will have to either go further, or buy myself a can. Still, this is a sorry sight.

La pie chagrine

 Lorsque nous sommes allés chercher Wolfie à l'école vendredi dernier, nous avons aperçu une pie. J'adore les pies, je n'en avais jamais vu avant d'arriver en Angleterre. Nous étions un peu inquiet, car la pie semblait incapable de s'envoler et je pensais qu'elle avait une aile blessée. Mais elle s'est ramassée sur le toit de la maison du meilleur ami de Wolfie. Alors tout va bien. Quand on voit une pie, c'est "one for sorrow," comme le dit l'expression. Comme j'ai appris que j'allais perdre mon emploi vendredi dernier, j'ai trouvé que sa présence était assez appropriée.

Antarctica Cold

I haven't published a Wolfism in a long while and there are so many to share here. One my son said last year, which I thought was very funny: "Daddy, I'm cold. Not cold sick but like, Antarctica cold." As you may or may not know, Wolfie sometimes gets obsessed by Antarctica. Earth poles in general, really. And it reflects on his psyche and the way he expresses himself.

Bloquer dans les années 80

Une amie a partagé ce meme sur les réseaux sociaux. J'ai bien ri. J'étais trop jeune dans les années 80 pour bloquer mes amis comme ça, mais quand même.

Fauda Season 5 Updates

You may remember that I love the Israeli thriller series Fauda, by far the very best series I saw on Netflix.What I love about it, apart from the display of Krav Maga, is how genuine it is, with characters who are almost carbon copies of real life ones and far from the Hollywood clichés and stereotypes of action thrillers. The lead and show co-creator, Lior Raz, doesn't really look like a leading man, as we have been used to see them: he is short, balding, he has a bit of a belly. But he plays his role with seamless authenticity, mostly because he has been himself in the same situations as his character. Anyway, I have been wanting a fifth season since I finished bingeing it, back in 2023. Well, it seems that my prayers have been answered: season 5 should start filming in late April, according to Variety. That's very good news. I don't know when it will end up on Netflix, but I'm looking forward to it.

Important VS Urgent (Mafalda siempre)

 Je partage ce gag pris de la page Facebook officielle de Mafalda. Je ne crois pas l'avoir partagé avant. Peut-être que si, mais je ne crois pas. Enfin bref...

Stopping at the Travelodge

 Yesterday, our family went to a walk. As we were on our way back home, we stopped at the local Travelodge. We had only seen it from the outside before. Wolfie wanted to stop to a hotel for a drink, for some reason he finds this very fancy and very exciting. Travelodge hotels are far from posh, in fact they are as functional and bland as hotels can get, devoid of any personality or atmosphere, but they still have a bar/bistro/restaurant. And sometimes, even a bland place can have its sort of charm, paradoxically because of its lack of it. Especially for a young child. I used to see it this way when I was a child, in any case, when the blandest café seemed so special just because it was a place to stop by. I suspect this is how Wolfie sees things. So we stopped there. There was nobody, except one staff member, a young person who might have been a dummy. She never once acknowledged us. In the end, we decided to walk back home and get a drink there. I felt guilty for Wolfie, as if I had let him down.

Chronique du lundi

Comme vous devez le savoir si vous avez lu mon billet précédent en anglais, je vais perdre mon emploi dans un mois. Je m'y attendais, ce qui ne rend pas l'expérience plus plaisante, mais j'étais préparé. Et je suis raisonnablement optimiste: je vais déjà passer une entrevue cette semaine et je sais que des recruteurs veulent me parler. Un autre avantage à ma situation, c'est que je n'ai pas à faire du zèle au travail, ayant à prioriser la recherche d'emploi. Et donc, ça rend les lundis moins difficiles. Aujourd'hui, sans dire que je n'avais plus la mélancolie du lundi, j'étais quand même de meilleure humeur que je l'avais été ces derniers mois.

Redundancy again

Well, I have been expecting it for a while now, but it has been made official last Friday: I am being made redundant again. And unlike two years ago, when it turned out to be a false alarm, this is going to be for good. I should be devastated, I am not: my wife has a permanent job, we are at a secure place financially, furthermore I have already started looking and some recruiters have contacted me for positions when I would potentially be a good fit. And, while it is not like five years ago when I hated everything about my job and my employer, I had been unhappy at work for a while, so it is time for a change. I still have a month to go through until I am officially unemployed, but until then I can focus on job hunting and not stress too much about meeting targets and doing reports and so on.

Un gâteau

Bon, ça faisait des semaines que je promettaisà petit loup que j'allais lui faire un gâteau, il fallait bien que je tienne ma promesse. Alors vendredi soir, je m'y suis mis, avec son aide. Un gâteau simple à la vanille, avec du caramel entre les deux étages, rien que parce que ça fait différent de la confiture. Nous l'avons partagé avec des amis où nous étions invités pour la journée de samedi: ils offraient le lunch, nous avons offert le dessert. Ce fut épique de le transporter, il n'est pas parfaitement présentable, maisil est très mangeable. Nous étions sept dessus, dont deux enfants et un adolescent affamé. Il ne reste que la moitié de ça, c'est donc un succès.

Wismar and Nosferatu

 Halloween is a long time away, yet I often get in a spooky mood these days. I am already anticipating and preparing myself mentally. So I stumbled upon a BBC article about the city of Wismar, which was used for the filming of the original Nosferatu (and its remakes). Being a big fan of Dracula, which is of course the source material of the horror classic, I think I should visit the city one day. From the pictures I saw, it looks like a warm and friendly place, very quaint, utterly unsinister, but I guess that's what can make it eerie. I have been wanting to make horror pilgrimages in various places associated with classic scary stories. I haven't really made much if any headways, but Wismar is definitely on my list.

Plus sur DG

Comme vous le savez, Opéra du Royaume va présenter Don Giovanni de Mozart en avril. C'est une première régionale (rérionale?) et j'aimerais pouvoir y être, mais hélas... Je suis loin. Cela dit, je me tiens au courant sur la production, en plus d'en faire la promotion sur ce blogue. Parce que j'ai aumoins quelques lecteurs au Saguenay. Bon, alors, j'en ai appris plus: ils ont traduit le libretto original. Alors ce sera chanté en français. Je suis, je l'avoue, un peu dubitatif. Je pense qu'on peu suivre même si l'on ne parle pas italien. Et j'ai peur qu'on y perde au change. Mais bon, c'est quand même Mozart et mon opéra préféré, alors je ne bouderai pas mon plaisir pour autant. Enfin, je ne bouderais pas si je pouvais y être. Et c'est du 9 au 13 avril, pour ceux qui peuvent.

Aquila on Books

 I said it before, I will say it again: Wolfie received the best post in the family. You might know what it means. Yes, he received the March edition of Aquila Magazine a week ago already. I have wanted to blog about it since. This month's topic is books. Maybe because of World Book Day, which happens in March? In any case, it not only encourages literacy, but creativity as well. We didn't read much of it yet, but this will change this weekend. Oh how I wish I had grown up reading Aquila!

"Parent épuisé"

 Une amie sur Facebook (la femme d'un ami d'enfance de ma femme) a partagé ce meme, qui m'a bien fait rire.

Swordsticks in Carmen Sandiego

 I blogged recently about the Netflix series Carmen Sandiego, which I have been watching eagerly with Wolfie. We absolutely love it. I also love how it mixes old and new tropes. One of them is the sword cane, or swordstick, as it is also called. It is used by one of the villains (well of course), an snobby upperclass Brit (well of course). I blogged in August last year about swordsticks, because I love them as signature weapons. As not so many people use canes anymore, unless they are elderly, it is not very much featured in modern fiction, so I was glad to see it make a come back in a animated series. Sword canes mix danger and elegance, often with a heavy dose of deceit. Sometimes, little details like this make you enjoy a work of fiction more.

Est-ce le printemps?

 À l'automne, je considère que la saison commence avec le mois de septembre, pas avec l'équinoxe. En général, c'est la même chose pour le printemps: il commence avec mars, pas avec l'équinoxe. Mais cela dépend du mois de mars que l'on a. S'il est très froid et s'il neige (en Angleterre c'est rare, mais ça arrive), alors je dis que le printemps n'est pas encore arrivé et que l'hiver fait du temps supplémentaire. S'il fait plus doux, alors c'est bien le printemps, même avant l'équinoxe. Ces le cas ces temps-ci, à une nuance près: les nuits sont froides. La température se réchauffe en matinée. Morale de l'histoire: mars est un mois traître.

World Book Day, 2025

Today is World Book Day, something I try to comment on every year on this blog. It's held the first Thursday of March. If you have a child of school age in England, you must know World Book Day is a big deal here, because it promotes literacy and education. Pupils go to school wearing disguises of characters, special activitiesare organised by libraries and bookshops, etc. I hope Wolfie comes back from school with a voucher, that would be a good excuse to visit the local bookshop at some point this weekend. Not that I need an excuse, mind you, but it's nice to have an extra motivation. In any case, happy World Book Day everyone and tell me how you celebrate it.

Brouillard

 Nous avons eu du brouillard hier matin. J'ai donc pris quelques photos. Au moins, ce pays fait du beau brouillard.

Ash Wednesday 2025

 For those who don't know, it is Ash Wednesday today, the beginning of Lent. Back when I was a good little Catholic boy, it was a big deal. Now, it just means that Easter is slowly getting closer, yet is so very far away. I like waiting for holidays and celebrations, waiting for them is part of the fun, sometimes more fun than the actual day. So I kind of like Ash Wednesday just for that. But this year, I feel like Ash Wednesday is kind of dreary and gloomy, even more than when I was a young Catholic boy and it was meant to be a dark day, feeling as grey as ashes. Because it's been difficult at my job and Wednesday is often the worst day in my week.

Question existentielle (393)

 Nous sommes le mercredi des Cendres aujourd'hui. Dans pas si longtemps, mais le temps pour s'y rendre sera long, ce sera Pâques. Mais bon, je vais poser une question existentielle:

-Que représente le mercredi des Cendres pour vous? 

J'ai souvent blogué sur le sujet, mais je suis curieux de vos réponses.

Starbucks' Matcha Green Tea Latte

This post is a warning for those who might have the bright idea to try something new at Starbucks. Because yes, against my better judgment, we went to the local Starbucks this weekend. My wife suggested that I go for something seasonal, instead of keeping it safe and just having tea. I don't like tea with milk, something they always add in their special menu teas. I don't like Starbucks much in general in fact, I find some items on their menu tolerable, that's it. But I followed my wife's advice, again, against my better judgment. And I ordered a Matcha Green Tea Latte. The horror, the horror. Never drank anything so vile. As I explained to her when she asked for a review: "I can brew the same thing at home. I just need to mow the lawn, then throw the grass in boiling water." Wolfie found it so funny that he could not dirnk his hot chocolate without spitting it. So I think it deserves to be a new great unknown line. And keep away from Starbucks and their Matcha Green Tea Latte.

Mardi gras

Nous sommes aujourd'hui le Mardi gras. Ce que j'associe à la légende de Rose Latulipe. Ou Rose Latulippe, j'ai vu les deux épellationsJe partage donc pour l'occasion et une fois de nouveau la couverture du Baiser maléfique. Dois-je préciser quel personnage arrive sur son cheval? Dans tous les cas, lisez mes Conseils du Mardi gras, juste au cas où. On n'est jamais trop prudent.

87th Precinct: a new generation?

No, no, I'm not saying there will be continuations novels of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series written by other writers. Although I'm sure there's fanfics somewhere. You may remember that back in 2020, I said that reading McBain was almost a sort of family tradition, as both my wife's parents liked to read him. Well, a few days ago, Wolfie, who likes to check my bookshelves from time to time, stumbled upon The Heckler. It's the novel that introduces the Deaf Man, mastermind criminal and the 87th Precinct nemesis. He got curious about it for some reason and asked me a few questions. So reading McBain might become an official family tradition after all, if one day we can have a new generation who enjoys it.

Le Mardi gras chez les Latulipe

Demain, c'est le Mardi gras, ce qui veut dire... ben, ce qui veut dire pour bien des Québécois comme moi que c'est le temps de se rappeler la légende de Rose Latulipe. Ma version préférée de l'histoire, vous la trouverez dans Le baiser maléfique. D'où j'ai pris cette image. Pour Rose Latulipe, aujourd'hui est sa dernière vraie journée heureuse, avant la tragédie. Alors si vous vous faites inviter par un monsieur Latulipe pour une soirée dansante du mardi gras afin de célébrer les fiançailles de sa fille, je vous conseille de ne pas y aller.

Face to face with Carmilla

Is it too early to think of Halloween and get in a spooky mood? Is it? Because if it is, I can't help it: fate makes me think of my favourite holiday. I was going to the local bookshop yesterday when I suddenly stumbled upon... Carmilla! Not the vampire, but the novel about the famous vampire. So yes, I was stopping by the bookshop,minding my own business, when I saw this. Okay, so I own already at least two versions of Carmilla, including the full anthology : In A Glass Darkly. So I behaved and did not buy this one. However tempted I was. And even though I am not so sure Le Fanu's most famous work can be classified as a "dark sapphic romance". Surely, it is first and foremost a solid, classic gothic horror story! I know it has a lesbian vampire in it, but that doesn't make it a romance. Be that as it may, I did not buy it, but what a cool cover! And suitably orange, which makes it perfect for Halloween. I almost regret not buying it. Almost.

Mélusine

J'ai une confession à faire: même si je suis médiéviste de formation, je connais très peu de choses sur la fée Mélusine, à part son nom et quelques grandes lignes de sa légende. Elle est une créature associée à l'eau et qu'elle a des pieds en queue de serpent quand elle prend son bain, grosso modo. Et j'y pensais récemment et je me suis dit qu'il fallait remédier à ça: je compte donc y remédier prochainement. Pas seulement en googlant son nom et en cherchant sur YouTube, ce serait trop facile. Je compte chercher des bouquins sur le sujet. Si vous en avez à me conseiller, faites-moi vos suggestions dans les commentaires.

Feeling (almost) Welsh

 Today is the first of March, which you are most likely aware of. It is the Feast of Saint David, which you may or may not know about. Saint David is, as you may or may not know, the patron saint of Wales. So this is Wales' national day. It's a special day for me, as I truly discovered Welsh culture during my first year in the UK and I have very fond memories of the first of March. See see this post for more details. So yeah, although I don't think I have an ounce of Welsh blood in my veins, on this day I often feel a tad Welsh, or at least (and most certainly) Celtic.

Un dodo

Mon fils est allé il y a une semaine au Musée de l'histoire naturelle de l'Université d'Oxford. J'étais au travail, alors il est allé avec sa mère et sa grand-mère, pour y rencontrer son cousin (le fils de ma belle-soeur). Je n'ai pas pu y être, donc, mais Wolfie a été généreux: il m'a acheté un petit dodo en toutou. Et il a même insisté pour que le dodo soit à moi et pas à lui ou à sa mère (au grand dam de celle-ci). Mais bon, il est pas mal mignon et il se porte bien, surtout pour un animal disparu depuis le XVIIe siècle.