Just watched a video (a French news report from 1975) from INA.fr on YouTube, and to my disgust found that YouTube had automatically turned on an AI-assisted English dub.

My son's observation about gendered holiday childcare in the form of a question: "Were you the only Daddy at Clip 'n' climb [today], Daddy? You were the only Daddy at Bopping Tots [yesterday], too."

Today my son finishes his first year at primary school. He's not even 5 yet, and is now on his fifth Prime Minister. Fully expect to be on Prime Minister number 18 when he finishes school for good.

My record of performing stand-up at least once a month since January will now be broken, as I was due to perform tomorrow but the England match has meant my 'bringer' (a friend who watches, usually compulsory) has pulled out, and none of the other friends I've tried can make it. A shame.

During this hot weather, I don't have an air conditioner so I'm having to make do with 'air shampoo.

Editing proofs for my forthcoming article. I reference more German pictures like the one on the right here showing spitting Frenchmen in occupied Lille, 1914-18. I then include one of my favourite footnote asides: 'If true, these may have been the spitting image of genuine inhabitants of Lille.'

"Life is life. And it's not that bad. Arcs are arcs. Poo is poo. Cars are cars." - My four-year-old's statements are giving me "Brexit means Brexit" flashbacks.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j... Apparently some people are skipping the queue because of their contacts - they have it all sewn up.

Bayeux tapestry tickets generate nine-hour online queues as public scramble for access

Reports say up to 80,000 people waiting by mid-afternoon for chance to see historic artwork at British Museum

theguardian.com

I know there are much worse things going on in the world, but: saying goodbye to your twin and his children, who are moving abroad permanently right before your (obviously joint) 40th birthday is a particular kind of sadness that is difficult to communicate.

Having a conversation with my wife in front of our four-year-old, and she says I have a chip on my shoulder. Son: "What?! Can I see?"

My four-year-old, when getting back from school, knowing it's too hot to play outside: "Can we watch TV, so we can have a good time and not a hot time?"

Just tried to open the 'Clock' on my laptop, only for it to need an update. What, are we going decimal like France during the French Revolution? Should probably make a Tik Tok video about that.

I've noticed that when I stir food, my default direction and the one that feels more comfortable is anti-clockwise. Wondering if it's my inner historian wanting to turn back time.

Today I helped with my four-year-old's primary school forest school, and was delighted to see a group of children playing at making a library, including fake books and library ('lighbery') cards like this one. It gave me hope for humanity.

Shellfish, and almost all fruit. In French, I say, "Je n'aime ni les fruits ni les fruits de mer."

Brendel@brendelbored.bsky.social · 2mo ago

What’s the most widely enjoyed food that you can’t stand, not because of allergies or anything but just because you hate it?

My first book, "Inspecting the home: Urban poverty and public health in nineteenth-century France", will be published by @manchesterup.bsky.social in February 2027 To find out more (or to add it to your wish lists...) see the link below: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526183149/

Despite my module covering a hundred years of modern French history, lots of students have answered the exam question on the early Fifth Republic. Some might find that a little Gaulling.

Charles De Gaulle: Public Address

Alt: Charles De Gaulle gesticulating wildly during a press conference.

static.klipy.com

"Daddy, you're making me have a headache because you're talking too much." - my 4-year-old.

If someone's general knowledge is really impressive, should it be recognised by calling it 'marshal knowledge'?

My current state, going through essays then exams.

Love being rushed on my way to oral exams, dropping my son off to school breakfast club for the first time, getting an earlier train with a change, then not being able to actually get on multiple second trains because I'm faced with a wall of people.

More franglais from my son: I was talking about when I chipped a bone in my foot as a child, and he asked, "Were you boxing [boitais/limping] when you walked?" Then he spoke about wheelchairs, calling them "rolling chairs... No, what's the English word?"

Random sweet memory from the last week: my four-year-old told me he's changed his mind and no longer wants to be a train driver when he's older, but "a universary school teacher like you."

Random sweet memory from the last week: my four-year-old told me he's changed his mind and no longer wants to be a train driver when he's older, but "a universary school teacher like you."

Talking to my four-year-old in French, pointing out a ray of sunlight (rayon de soleil), and he makes a bilingual pun on 'rayon de miel' (honeycomb) by saying, "Sunnycomb". Very proud.

Some student feedback on my modules this term. Nice to know at least a few people appreciate my attempts at humour. One day the fusion between stand-up comedy and teaching will be fully complete.

I took off my glasses to clean them, only to realise my right nose pad has fallen off. I'd argue it's more annoying than losing an iPad. I won't be able to go to the opticians until Wednesday, so until then I'll no doubt make a real spectacle of myself.

A woman on the train is angrily discussing pet insurance on the phone with her mum: "I don't understand it. Okay, I'll just put it into Copilot to work out what's best." Stop outsourcing your thinking, people!

And it's happened again for the seminar of this module. Sigh.

James Connolly@drjamesconnolly.bsky.social · 5mo ago

This term is nearly over, and one thing I've noticed is that I've never experienced so many colleagues teaching 10 minutes longer than they should, taking time out of my lectures and seminars. Very frustrating.

It's been a difficult term of teaching, especially juggling returning from research leave with my son starting primary school, so I'm even more delighted than I would've been to have been nominated for a Student Choice Award in Inspiring Teaching!