Bren Kübler
@brenkubler.bsky.social
Lined up words for 40+ years (editor, translator, writer). Swiss/UK citizen originally from Yorkshire. Retired, living in rural SE France since 2007. Language(s), books, cats, food, gardening, France, bees in my bonnet. Food bank volunteer
The food bank association, Les Restos du Coeur, will be doing one of its twice-yearly collections around this month. Ours is this weekend (I shall be lurking at supermarkets, begging). We REALLY need donations of food so anyone in France, please consider dropping some extras in your trolley. Ta!
New yoga class 'hatha yoga doux'... Gentle? Hah! I've done a year of yoga for old biddies but this was challenging. However, in the ongoing quest for sanity, I've signed up for 10 classes. Definitely the oldest biddy there. The instructor sang for us during the 'final relaxation' bit. Nice.
#caturday - Tyke (tabby) and Salto (ginger, all grown up now). They do have soft, snuggly places to sleep, honest, but love this ancient watchmaker's bench. Missy (black and white) does not associate with the lads.
Despite my life being basically far too boring to talk about on Bluesky, I'm going to try. Usually I just comment a bit. Starting with a minor discovery for the Brets gang. I like these!
Me, for the last 10 days: 'Please empty the compost bin in the garage' Today, Mr K picked it up. So heavy the handle broke. And tipped about 20 kg of semi-liquid compost alllll over the garage floor (including a rug). Delightful. Had better days. Did not take photo, surprisingly enough.
Today - after WEEKS of asking, begging, pleading, and no responses, the pool people are here to do (I hope) the major repair. They gave us an hour's notice. But... they are here. So there's that. Perhaps one day our replica of a certain reflecting pool will be swimmable in. Fingers crossed please!
Southeast France would like a word, please. We might have been one or two degrees less hot than some places during the major heatwave but it was 42 in town yesterday. Today is supposedly 31, and the coolest day in the next ten. Yippee. Not.
Planted veggies. Mr K: "No need to water them in, it'll rain tonight". No rain. Tomatoes had started to droop. Went out to fix up hose and the heavens opened. Of course. WITH HAIL. Rather a lot of hail (but small hailstones, at least). Veggies slightly shaggy but now at least watered.
This is the face of a cat whose latest trick is to remove an entire throw from the settee and walk off with it. Three times in 24 hours. He's still cute, though! #caturday
Happy New Year, everyone. 2025 has been horrible on every front, but I'm having a stab at optimism. Let's see. Thankful for friends (local and on 'ere) and cats - without them I'd have lost what little sanity I still have.
Lidl's 'Luxury' range included Beluga lentils on our last visit. Didn't know them. Tried them. And wow. Really recommend this recipe and see the interesting part about adding butter/cream at the end. smittenkitchen.com/2017/03/punj...
punjabi-style black lentils
Tiny black lentils and a little “French” finish make this dal taste like the most luxurious thing in the world.
smittenkitchen.com
Had to change my phone - swollen lithium batteries are rather dangerous. Got new one. Linked it to wifi (already a miracle). The young geeks at the shop transferred data/contacts, etc. but I am still in password hell. I now need wine. And soothing words/hand-holding. I am... too old for IT stuff.
There's life in the old girl yet. I actually felt like doing stuff today for the first time in weeks. So I did stuff. Small stuff, but phew. And with added Lidl goodies (was lovely to get out and see all the autumn colours).
@dwpete.bsky.social Lidl done and dusted, with Alpine goodies. Also Stollen bites. Thank you!
Our sturdy, 19-year-old Miele washing machine has finally died. Trying to find one that isn't made in China was a challenge. Our fabulous heating/plumbing/AC people have found one made in Sweden. At a price, ofc. Now hoping and praying it's in stock, looking at the pile of sweaty clothes/towels.
A very small drizzle just happened. Went out, breathed in the smell. And it stopped again. Hmph. The forecast says more later. Not sure I trust it.
I was just raving about this to somebody else but really - try it. Super easy. Use in sparkling water with a dash of lime. And also neat, in whisky (apparently). I need to make some more NOW but don't feel like braving 40° today to buy ginger. www.davidlebovitz.com/fresh-ginger...
Fresh Ginger Syrup
Many moons ago, I worked with Bruce Cost at the now-shuttered Monsoon restaurant in San Francisco. Bruce is an amazing Asian cook and I've rarely had better Chinese food than what came out of his wok....
davidlebovitz.com
Me to all three cats: "Was it YOU chewing the wicker laundry basket? Eh?" (after finding bits of wicker and knowing full well who the likely culprit is). Rather deaf Mr K who often gets in trouble for not answering me. "Er... yes, love". I should explain, I suppose. But now I have this image...
I posted on an international grammar group. Some guy from the US criticises my spelling (of defense/sympathise). Others (it was last night and I wasn't around) tell him that it's UK English, and fine. Him: 'I read it on my PC and I'm in the US, so I expected it to be in US English'. *Sigh*
This morning: pool man, A/C man *and* pest control man! Pool: teeth-sucking. '*Maybe* we can clean the bottom next week. But lots of people with algae/dust issues.' A/C: teeth-sucking. 'New part won't solve the problem as mice ate so much'. So whole new unit. Mice: 'Should be fine now. Probably'.
Reading a lovely letter posted by @englishmaninbx.bsky.social which reminded me of this one - seen many times but... it's excellent.
Storms to the north, east and west of us. It ain't half black over Bill's mother's, too. We're middle, leftish.
Am I the only one constantly staring at the weather forecast and willing the temperatures to go down? No, thought not. First, it was 'it will go down Wednesday'. Then Thursday. Now - a bit - Friday.
I'm editing about cosmic rays and meteorites - all very serious stuff. And my childish, shallow brain is suffering from too much Star Trek.
Another step forward. Found a mouse-extermination company locally, who use pet-safe products. They're coming Saturday. Sorry mice, but... has to happen. A/C repairs are £££. Oven wiring last year too. I'm getting things sorted. And it's all easier to do when I'm not sitting at my desk melting!
We have *half* our A/C back. Mice have destroyed the innards of the other unit. We should be able to get it repaired/spare parts 'fairly soon'.* But already soooo much better. *This is France. It's summer. So this could mean anything from next week until it's time to switch it from A/C to heating.
