December kicked off with a bruised rib, nightly pilgrimages to the Christmas market, enough mulled wine to forget the pain, and one unforgettable cassoulet eaten under the bittersweet news that my favourite restaurant is soon closing. If you enjoy laughter-through-the-winces, delicious detours, and slices of real life in Occitanie, dive in — this week’s tale is worth the click.
Every year in early December, our quiet corner of Occitanie suddenly fills with Spanish laughter, overflowing shopping carts, and enough Catalan energy to power Carcassonne’s Christmas lights — all thanks to a holiday most French people forget exists. Why exactly do our Iberian neighbours invade (lovingly) the region on December 6th?
Paris has just been crowned the world’s best city for the fifth year in a row — but of course! — while London politely shuffles backward in the rankings. With a dose of French pride, a few well-aimed jabs, and a quick world tour of rising destinations, I break it all down with humour (and a glass of rosé in hand).
Click in — it’s worth the trip!
How I Accidentally Became a 3 A.M. Addict to French Cinema — and Recovered Four Lost Decades in the Dark. Read more…
After 44 years abroad, I’m rediscovering a France I completely missed — especially its music. Iconic bands I never heard of, hits everyone knows except me, and weekly surprises as I catch up on four lost decades. It’s like being a tourist in my own country… and I’m loving every minute. Click in and join the ride.
November was meant to be quiet… instead it turned into a marathon of musicals, mulled wine, and mysterious back pain. Read more…
Christmas seems to have ambushed me early this year—blame the sudden cold, the town’s over-enthusiastic lights visible from space, or the shops that think I came in for Santa mugs instead of water glasses. With the First Advent still days away and Heart 70 refusing to play a single carol, I’ve stumbled into festive chaos far ahead of schedule… and it’s oddly delightful. Read more…
Start your day with my daily dose of chaos, coffee and comedy: from misbehaving cars to disappearing turkeys, nostalgic mornings, wild errands, creative struggles and the small triumphs that keep life entertaining. One click, one laugh — bienvenue dans mon joyeux bazar.
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Start your day with a laugh: join me for a caffeine-fueled tour of world headlines, wild ideas, vintage pyjamas, and the noble struggle of writing one page a day. A mix of wit, routines, nostalgia and chaos — all brewed fresh every morning. Dive in, it’s more energising than a double espresso.
Winter barged in like an uninvited guest this week, the Tramontane tried to blow me into Spain, and my monthly injection needle seems to be training for a bodybuilding contest — but between a divine Tartiflette in Ortaffa, a nostalgia-packed Covertramp concert, and prepping a very un-French Thanksgiving, Week 47 turned out to be surprisingly tasty. Curious? Click in — it’s worth the ride.
