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...

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!

Brilliant.

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...

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.

A fair summary

I don't normally do political posts but... how do you nominate somebody for the Nobel peace prize who then bombs the shit out of somewhere.

I haven't been posting much: whining isn't fun to read. Gritting teeth and soldiering on and all that. I do know I'm privileged and fortunate and all. BUT. Heatwave forecast. Our A/C has died. Last straw sort of feeling here. Send cat photos, please. And/or wine. Virtual hugs also, if ever.

HUGE brown/white rabbit - not a wild one - hopping around in our garden. Tyke ran away from it (but that's Tyke). Not from immediate neighbours, so will have to post on the town's info site. He has plenty of grass to eat, so there's that. As long as he leaves the veggies alone.

Editing about whether broccoli contains something good for muscle pains after effort: very factual study that concludes that no, it isn't (despite several earlier studies saying it is). A lot of people got to eat a lot of broccoli extract. Trivial? Yeah, probably, but it was a serious bit of work.

@olivierroth.bsky.social I found you a job. You're welcome.

Quite apart from the content, I am shaking my head at you, the Guardian.

I'm doing a huge and fascinating edit about 'autocratization'. It's not, in fact, about the US but about Hong Kong. However, it's... enlightening, and particularly about 'preferential falsification'. Too long to explain here but have been bending Mr K's ear about it. My 'Easter treat', in a way!

This.

Stray thought, from Mr K last night. We were talking about the latest... stuff from the USA. Considering the current US government's attitude towards Europe, WHY are there still rather a lot of their troops in Europe? I may have missed something here. But nobody has mentioned that, have they?

Me at the moment.

And in other Really Exciting News, I have booked for us and some friends to eat Feesh and Sheeps (as they announced it). I will report back. Its for médecins sans frontières, so even if they screw up the meal, there's that.

Walking through town, past the optician I use. New sign in the window about a 'brand new line of frames'. Called... "French Disorder". Um. Oh. www.krys.com/french-disor...

Somehow, this just appealed to me. Thanks, @clivethebike.bsky.social - I needed that after 10K of clunky prose to whip into shape.

According to the Swiss news, Swiss Tesla owners are removing the logo from their cars and sticking another one on. Not sure whether this is going to achieve much but it sort of amuses me. This is one disguised as a Honda Civic

Twice-yearly food bank collection at supermarkets. Guy dressed in black but lots of bling: 'Can I take some food - I'm hungry and need to feed my cat'. Me: 'Sorry, that's not how it works. But please come to the food bank - I'm sure we can help.' Him: 'We're all going to die anyway, but... 1/2

Caught sizing up the daffodils. Again. 'Only' four on the ground this morning.

Imagine, if you will (it was pre-coffee, so phone function not working in my brain). Empty vase. Water stains on an antique wooden table (renovated and waxed by me). Twenty daffodils on the floor. ALL OVER the floor. Twenty. Bought yesterday. One kitten looking rather pleased with himself.

I don't usually get political on here. But.

Some idiot woman in the supermarket dropped an entire carton of 10 eggs, and messed up somebody's really nice shoes. Eggs go such a long way when they hit the floor, too! I've more or less got it off the shoes now, though.

Antique crystal perfume bottle 0 Adolescent ginger feline 1 Time spent sweeping up a zillion shards (at bedtime) 20+ minutes. It was on a shelf in front of the mirror. He likes mirrors. He talks to himself in mirrors. He also thinks beds are trampolines. He is not popular this morning.

Need to do some quick but urgent Sunday shopping. - Toilet cleaner (ran out) - Alcohol-free wine (still being fairly good, but also ran out) - Cat treats (nearly ran out: crisis in the making) - Ice cream (friends over for curry tonight: quick dessert) My life is utterly thrilling, right?

French word of the day (waving to @lesliefarnsworth.com who often does these). 'Enjoliveur' - roughly 'pretty-maker'. Meaning? Wheel trim for cars.

A little light relief. Swiss government buys a new official plane. Sadly, they didn't check whether it would fit the official hangar for it. It doesn't. It'll be parked at a military base for now.

We often call the news the 'daily gets-much-worse' as we open up our PCs and start our coffee-time browse. But recently, when I've been thinking it *couldn't* get much worse, it does. Almost daily, and the last few days in particular. Wish I knew what to do. But of I'm powerless (and old).

I took delivery of something with 4 wheels, an engine (and A/C!) today. It is not my beloved RAV4 but it's something. It's a 12-year-old Renault Modus, which has seen better days but was affordable in light of Mr K's reluctance to have a 2nd car at all. I'm sure I'll get used to it. Eventually.

Cat spam. Relaxing as a fine art, Salto style.

The lads on Caturday

So the car is dead. Beyond repair. Garage were pretty good though and I should have a rather elderly but low-km and low-priced* runaround by Monday or Tuesday. *Partly because of all the hassle. And partly because I was rather good at negotiating if I say it myself.

Meeting tonight. Promises to be chaotic. With 15 (lovely) people - who all talk at once - trying to organise a 'black pudding day' for charity. Followed by a meal. And wine. Might be tempted. I've done 28 days without.

I'm not *all* about whining. After six weeks and actually going down to the garage and being rather blunt this morning, I *might* have my car back by the end of the week. 'Or thereabouts'. If not, I shall take up the offer of a courtesy car which I was too nice to do before as I don't need it much.

Today in 'nothing-goes-right' land. Water softener epic. Third visit. Boss technician had assured me the unit was all fixed and would be installed today. He arrives (from about 100 km away). *He had forgotten to put the unit in his van*. He was mortified. Gave him coffee. Said 'it happens'. *Sigh*