iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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!

5185

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

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.

Yoga - because punching people is wrong.

081

Reposted by Bren Kübler

MDW @clevercomma.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Worth watching!

2154

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

#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.

Tyke the tabby and Salto the ginger spread out on a watchmaker's bench.

2171

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

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!

Hitherto unknown type of crisps/chips for me but they actually taste like gyosas with chicken.

11231

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

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.

5120

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

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!

1130

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

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.

4110

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

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.

4150

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

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

Salto, the youngest of the gang. Ginger, and right now two perfectly black whiskers, one at each side.

4321

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

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.

4171

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

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...

smittenkitchen.com

punjabi-style black lentils

Tiny black lentils and a little “French” finish make this dal taste like the most luxurious thing in the world.

2110

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

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.

5190

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

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).

0120

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

@dwpete.bsky.social Lidl done and dusted, with Alpine goodies. Also Stollen bites. Thank you!

170

Reposted by Bren Kübler

catsinfrance @catsinfrance.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Brilliant.

1134

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

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.

3140

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

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.

4181

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

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...

davidlebovitz.com

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....

7202

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

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...

1170

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

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*

10233

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

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'.

6140

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Reading a lovely letter posted by @englishmaninbx.bsky.social which reminded me of this one - seen many times but... it's excellent.

Letter from the UK Ambassador in Moscow, in 1943, referring to a Turkish Colleague named Mustapha Kunt. 'A tiny flash that has illuminated my sombre life' (as in cheered him up).

072

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Storms to the north, east and west of us. It ain't half black over Bill's mother's, too. We're middle, leftish.

270

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

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.

4100

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

I'm editing about cosmic rays and meteorites - all very serious stuff. And my childish, shallow brain is suffering from too much Star Trek.

0130

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

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!

6130

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

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.

5220

Reposted by Bren Kübler

Alan Hemingway @alanacct.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

A fair summary

061

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

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.

0100

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

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.

21242

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

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.

4582

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

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.

190

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

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

340

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

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!

0110

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

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?

4180

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

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.

080

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

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...

krys.com

French Disorder en exclusivité

Panier en cours de paiement

080

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

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

1201

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

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

bluewin.ch

Rien ne va plus pour Musk - Des Tesla "déguisées" en circulation

Elon Musk traverse l’une des périodes les plus turbulentes de sa carrière. Tesla est en perte de vitesse, ses initiatives en matière d’économies publiques sont remises en question, et ses déclarations...

1153

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

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

3131

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

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

Salto, the ginger kitten. Destroyer of daffodils.

3240

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

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.

7211

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

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

513213

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

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.

3130

Bren Kübler @brenkubler.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

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.

4200