The End of June

Today we are the last day of June. One month of summertime done and dusted, and it has been a trying month from yours truly. Because we had one of the worst heatwaves in history, for one, which really made me struggle. I used to like the month of June, a long, long time ago. Not so much now. Especially since as I got older, I started to seriously struggling with heat. And since June is now generally way hotter than it used to be... Well, it's going to be over soon. Thankfully, the heatwave is gone, for now. I'm bracing myself for the next one, whenever it may be. Until then, I can find some solace knowing that I survived the first month of summer. And you, how was your June? Did you enjoy it?

Heat in Isola

I know I'm blogging a lot about Ed McBain's 87th Precinct crime novel series these days, as I am reading the books in order of publication (as much as possible). But it struck me that one novel would be very fitting for this summer, either this heatwave or the next. I blogged about Heat back in July 2024, more specifically about a grossly lying cover on its French translation. I hate heatwaves, but they are more bearable when I read seasonal crime fiction. It makes me hate the heat more, ironically enough. But hey, it's not the only novel of McBain set in summertime. He seemed to consider sunshine as evil as I do (see this post). But hey, if you are looking for summertime crime fiction, you can't go wrong with Ed McBain.

Summerween is a thing

A few days ago, while she was doing a grocery shop online, my wife saw some Halloween articles on sale: Jack O'Lantern cushions or something. It must be a manifestation of Summerween. Yes I know the term, which is our word of the day. Do I think it's too early to think about Halloween? No. Do I do Summerween? Well, yes and no. I don't really put any Halloween decorations out, but some of my autumnal ornaments remain on display all year round. And I do long for Halloween all year, so I make a countdown to the countdown. I start reading horror stories in summertime (albeit maybe not that early) and watch horror related stuff. It helps me cope with the heat and the long days. Be that as it may, I'm glad I'm not the only one to be in a spooky mood already.

Amber/Red Warning

We are going through a week in Hell: it is a heatwave. Not the first this summer, but by far the worst yet: the Met Office gave an amber warning of extreme heat from Monday until Tuesday, and a red warning from Wednesday until Thursday inclusively. It should go as high as 37 degrees. This is pure madness. I don't understand how people can be happy about this and thinking it's all just fine and they say it's lovely sunshine and so on. I think it's sheer masochism. So yeah, I keep hydrated, I stay in until evening comes, I just brace myself and cannot wait for summer to be over.

Summer Solstice

 Today is the summer solstice. So the official or astronomical first day of summer, although in my book the season truly starts with the month of June. Be that as it may, we're in a heatwave, with temperatures going up to 30 degrees today. And it is the longest day of the year. The horror, the horror. I don't like summertime, I don't like long days and I don't like heat. I know, I'm a strange beast, I'm weird, but I know I'm not alone. So yes, I am not really in a great mood today. If only it was a cool and rainy day, it would be bearable, but no. There is one thing, and truly one thing I like about the solstice: once it is over, it means that the days are going to get shorter and shorter. It's going to be long until we feel it, but it gives me some level of solace.

The chill in the air

Sometimes, one counts his blessings, knowing it will not last. We had one dreadful heatwave and another one is forecast, starting this weekend. But since the end of the last one, we had surprisingly cool weather. With lots of rain, but not only rain: I actually had to wear long sleeve shirts and light jumpers to stay warm. It struck me a few days ago: my wife had opened the bedroom windows, it made the whole place feeling chilly and cool, and oh so fresh, it truly felt wonderful. Almost autumnal, although not quite (my favourite season has a different smell). Still, it made me forget that summer has only started. I'm really enjoying this.

Les longues journées d'école

Je n'envie pas Wolfie ces jours-ci. Dans les semaines d'été (parce que bon, juin c'est l'été) qui mènent aux vacances, c'est de plus en plus pénible d'aller à l'école et de devoir y passer ses journées, beau temps mauvais temps. Je me rappelle de moi à son âge, comme les vacances semblaient s'éloigner à mesure qu'on s'en rapprochait. Au moins, lorsque j'étais enfant, on terminait l'année scolaire beaucoup plus tôt, à environ un mois d'avance. Donc, je ne l'envie pas, parce que je vois comme il trouve le temps long.

Un vrai orage

 Bon, il ne se sera pas trop fait attendre: nous avons eu droit à un orage électrique en bonne et due forme la semaine dernière. J'ai pu prendre une photo, mais elle lui rend pas justice. Bon, je dis ça à chaque fois que je partage une photo d'un orage, mais c'est difficile de montrer quand il tombe des cordes, encore plus de saisir les éclairs. Ce que je n'ai jamais réussi jusqu'ici. Mais bon, c'est le plus orageux des orages que l'on a eus depuis le début de l'été.

La collection de cocottes

 Vous ne le savez peut-être pas, mais petit loup aime les cocottes, pour une raison quelconque. Les cocottes, les bouts de bois, sinon les branches tombées des arbres, les cailloux, les roches, les fleurs sauvages et les cocottes. Il les collectionne: j'en retrouve dans son sac d'école et dans ses poches de manteau. Celle-ci, trouvée un matin d'avril alors qu'on allait à la gare, il ne l'a pas prise, parce qu'elle était trop grosse pour ses poches, mais j'ai pris une photo. Les cocottes me font toujours un peu penser à l'automne, je ne sais pas trop pourquoi.

Le dernier jour de mai

Nous sommes le dernier jour de mai. Officiellement ou officieusement le dernier jour du printemps. Dans les faits, ice, nous sommes en été: il fait (trop) chaud et tout le monde est en mode estival. Je ne suis pas fan de ce genre de mois de mai. En même temps, je crains les mois qui s'en viennent. Ils risquent d'être pire. Et vous, votre mois de mai? Comment est-il/était-il?

Accursed Heatwave

 If you are living in the UK, even in Europe, you are experiencing it now (at least when I'm typing this): there is a heatwave. I have been expecting it, but not looking forward to it. In fact, I have been dreading it since the last heatwave we have experienced, back in August 2025, when we had two weeks of this horror. I don't like the heat, because of this I stopped liking summertime. I'm not sure exactly when, but I reallt dislike summertime now, at least and especially when it's hot outside. I hate the heat, it makes me numb, tired, restless, uncomfortable, irritable, it drains me of my energy. So yes, I'm looking forward for it to end.

Les sandales

 Petit billet estival, rien que parce que faut s'y faire. Je m'y fais très mal, mais enfin bref, c'est vraiment l'été. Et que porter en été? Des vêtements légers. Sur les pieds, des sandales. Mon frère Andrew en porte jusqu'en novembre, je crois. Bon, j'exagère, mais je regardais les photos datant de notre dernière visite à Montréal, en août 2024, et il portait toujours des sandales. Ce qui m'a frappé, c'est que 1)mon frère est la seule personne dans la famille qui porte des sandales durant l'été, 2)il porte les sandales depuis des années et 3)ça doit bien faire au moins quarante ans que je n'en porte plus.

Première canicule

Bon, je sais que nous ne sommes pas encore officiellement l'été, mais on ne va pas se mentir: l'été est ici officieusement arrivé et il est arrivé en grande fanfare, sans crier gare, une vraie peste mêlée à du choléra dans une éruption volcanique. Parce que nous avons droit à notre première canicule et ce, depuis vendredi dernier. L'enfer ensoleillé. Il va sans dire que je déteste cordialement. Et vous, comment c'est chez vous?

Autumnal Figure

 These days, it's been way cooler than one would expect this time of year. I don't mind: it feels autumnal and I love autumn. Okay, I sound like a broken record: autumn is my favourite season. So I always keep on display decorations and things that remind me of it. Last year, in late September, I was down and out after getting suddenly unemployed. I rarely if ever do retail therapy, but I did it on that day. I bought this little figure in a local shop. I was actually looking for a present for my wife, saw this, and thought I would buy it for myself, because I was not sure she would enjoy it as much (don't worry, I bought her something else). With its orange cloak and gnomic look, it looks very much autumnal.

It feels like autumn

We are having a very strange month of May these days: while it started hot, borderline summery, temperatures have suddenly dropped dramatically. So today and from what I can understand the rest of the week, it will be around 15 degrees Celsius, sometimes even lower. I had to put on my warm jumpers today and will do the same tomorrow. If it wasn't for the trees being green and the flowers in bloom, one would believe that we are in autumn. It feels like autumn anyway. I'm glad, as I don't like the heat and I love autumn (as you probably know if you have been following this blog for a while). I am worried things might change soon enough, so I make the best of the here and now.

Le CH

 Je n'osais pas bloguer sur le sujet avant d'avoir la bonne nouvelle, mais les Canadiens de Montréal se rendent en semi-finale de conférence, ce qui me remplit de joie. J'ai suivi ce qui se passait de l'autre côté de l'Atlantique, de loin en loin. Je ne suis plus le hockey comme je le faisais enfant, je ne connais même pas le noms des joueurs. Cela dit, je demeure un fan du CH quand même, alors les succès récents de l'équipe me mettent de bonne humeur. En espérant qu'ils surpassent leur exploit de 2021.

"Magic Mushroom"(?)

 I found this trinket in the local toy shop, of all places. It's a pencil sharpener and rubber in the shape of a mushroom, so it is named "magic mushroom". I said to my wife: "Some people might be disappointed when they see what kind of magic mushroom it is and get buyer's remorse." Which I think deserves to be a great unknown line. Anyway, while I don't like the taste of mushrooms and I am always wary of wild mushrooms, I love the look of mushrooms, because I associate them with autumn. And, since a pencil sharpener can always come in handy, I bought it for my desk. It adds to the autumn decor.

May Day (and a book)

We are May Day today, which as a date is pretty self-explanatory. To mark the first day of the month, I am sharing a picture I already shared in 2024, taken from What to Look For in Spring, one of Wolfie's books. As my son grows up (way too fast for my taste), he is less interested about these books aimed at younger kids than I am. So I reread them regularly. In this instance, every spring. You could say that I don't use a calendar to mark the passage of time, but books, since I read seasonally. Anyway, notice in the text the mention of maypoles. I have been looking for them for at least a decade. No luck so far.

"Bounty", version Pères trappistes

J'apprends via la page Facebook des Pères trappistes qu'ils ont maintenant (en avaient-ils avant?) de la noix de coco enrobée de chocolat. Bref, ils ont leur propre version de la Bounty. J'ai toujours aimé la Bounty, j'espère pouvoir essayer cette version gentrifiée et régionale (rérionale?) un jour.

Le temps du Kanuk léger

Il fait plus doux ces temps-ci, il devrait même faire dans les 20 degrés, quoique pas très haut. J'ai regardé, et la tmepérature ne devrait pas changer, alors il est temps de troquer mon manteau d'hiver pour mon manteau d'été. Je dis manteau d'hiver, mais c'est un manteau de printemps Kanuk. Ici c'est assez chaud pour durer l'automne, l'hiver et le printemps. J'ai un manteau d'été Kanuk, acheté il y a plus de dix ans, que je mets de mai à octobre environ. Avec le harfang des neiges inimitable.