PaulGerard.bsky.social
@paulgerard.bsky.social
Anglo-German. Living on Italy/France border. Enviously snapping other people’s old cars Talk to me about movies; basketball; opera. I’m here for a break from talking about politics.
If you peered into a French farm courtyard a few years ago, you used to be sure to find a practical but quirky 2CV or R4 quietly rusting in the corner.
Looks like the series 1 Renault Twingo has taken over the job.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Looks like the series 1 Renault Twingo has taken over the job.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
November 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
If you peered into a French farm courtyard a few years ago, you used to be sure to find a practical but quirky 2CV or R4 quietly rusting in the corner.
Looks like the series 1 Renault Twingo has taken over the job.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Looks like the series 1 Renault Twingo has taken over the job.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Siblings from another mother!
An unlikely pairing of a Chevrolet Camaro convertible and a Renault Mégane Cabriolet in matching yellow body work with black roof.
#WeirdcarBS #carbluesky
An unlikely pairing of a Chevrolet Camaro convertible and a Renault Mégane Cabriolet in matching yellow body work with black roof.
#WeirdcarBS #carbluesky
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Siblings from another mother!
An unlikely pairing of a Chevrolet Camaro convertible and a Renault Mégane Cabriolet in matching yellow body work with black roof.
#WeirdcarBS #carbluesky
An unlikely pairing of a Chevrolet Camaro convertible and a Renault Mégane Cabriolet in matching yellow body work with black roof.
#WeirdcarBS #carbluesky
Seeing this smart Mondeo (lovely interior) in the autumn sun makes me nostalgic for the 1990s, when I lived in Milan and drove around in a Mondeo station wagon with 3 kids on the back seat.
#weirdcarBS #Carbluesky
#weirdcarBS #Carbluesky
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Seeing this smart Mondeo (lovely interior) in the autumn sun makes me nostalgic for the 1990s, when I lived in Milan and drove around in a Mondeo station wagon with 3 kids on the back seat.
#weirdcarBS #Carbluesky
#weirdcarBS #Carbluesky
Sad day!
After 55 years & 15 million cars, Ford are stopping production of cars at their Saarlouis factory in Germany.
1,700 of 2,700 jobs to go.
Tip of the iceberg for the German auto industry?
#CarBluesky
After 55 years & 15 million cars, Ford are stopping production of cars at their Saarlouis factory in Germany.
1,700 of 2,700 jobs to go.
Tip of the iceberg for the German auto industry?
#CarBluesky
November 13, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Sad day!
After 55 years & 15 million cars, Ford are stopping production of cars at their Saarlouis factory in Germany.
1,700 of 2,700 jobs to go.
Tip of the iceberg for the German auto industry?
#CarBluesky
After 55 years & 15 million cars, Ford are stopping production of cars at their Saarlouis factory in Germany.
1,700 of 2,700 jobs to go.
Tip of the iceberg for the German auto industry?
#CarBluesky
It being November, it seems a good excuse to get out some photos of cars in autumn tints.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
It being November, it seems a good excuse to get out some photos of cars in autumn tints.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
In a mad moment, decided to buy a rundown house in my neighborhood, so unexpectedly packing up my old auto books.
It’ll be a few months and a shed load of money before I can get them back on the bookshelves.
It’s a good reminder that I should actually read them from time to time!
#WeirdcarBS
It’ll be a few months and a shed load of money before I can get them back on the bookshelves.
It’s a good reminder that I should actually read them from time to time!
#WeirdcarBS
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
In a mad moment, decided to buy a rundown house in my neighborhood, so unexpectedly packing up my old auto books.
It’ll be a few months and a shed load of money before I can get them back on the bookshelves.
It’s a good reminder that I should actually read them from time to time!
#WeirdcarBS
It’ll be a few months and a shed load of money before I can get them back on the bookshelves.
It’s a good reminder that I should actually read them from time to time!
#WeirdcarBS
They’re both 60’s icons & they’re both blue and white…. but they couldn’t be more different🤷♀️
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
November 7, 2025 at 1:43 PM
They’re both 60’s icons & they’re both blue and white…. but they couldn’t be more different🤷♀️
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
My neighbor who daily-drives an MGB has finally cracked now that November is here and put the hood up.
I added a couple of top-down photos from summer.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
I added a couple of top-down photos from summer.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
My neighbor who daily-drives an MGB has finally cracked now that November is here and put the hood up.
I added a couple of top-down photos from summer.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
I added a couple of top-down photos from summer.
#weirdcarbs #Carbluesky
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
They’re spring colors really…. but even in autumn the Renault 8S and Austin-Healey Sprite look fabulous.
Bonus points for the hub caps (or nave plates) on the A-H.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Bonus points for the hub caps (or nave plates) on the A-H.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
October 27, 2025 at 3:35 PM
They’re spring colors really…. but even in autumn the Renault 8S and Austin-Healey Sprite look fabulous.
Bonus points for the hub caps (or nave plates) on the A-H.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Bonus points for the hub caps (or nave plates) on the A-H.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Spotted these two lovely Alfa Romeos today. I managed to get a photo of the column gear change on the Sprint.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
October 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Spotted these two lovely Alfa Romeos today. I managed to get a photo of the column gear change on the Sprint.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Very pleasing to see a Méhari being used as a proper workhorse. Though the load seems big enough to test even #Citroën legendary suspension.
#weirdCarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdCarBS #CarBlueSky
October 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Very pleasing to see a Méhari being used as a proper workhorse. Though the load seems big enough to test even #Citroën legendary suspension.
#weirdCarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdCarBS #CarBlueSky
Not so many north European tourists bring their classic cars to the Mediterranean by the second half of October, so it was nice to see this Swiss-registered Mercedes 350SL in Italy.
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
October 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not so many north European tourists bring their classic cars to the Mediterranean by the second half of October, so it was nice to see this Swiss-registered Mercedes 350SL in Italy.
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
Lovely Toyota LiteAce street parked in Perpignan, France. Chrome and whitewalls!!
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
October 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Lovely Toyota LiteAce street parked in Perpignan, France. Chrome and whitewalls!!
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky
Albert - owner of the Aiguës-Mortes Auto museum - proudly showed us each of his cars in turn, opening the doors, lifting the hoods.
A self-taught mechanic, he did all the restoration work himself. He also claimed to be 90.
Quite a character!
Mainly older cars, but some moderns too.
#weirdcarBS
A self-taught mechanic, he did all the restoration work himself. He also claimed to be 90.
Quite a character!
Mainly older cars, but some moderns too.
#weirdcarBS
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Albert - owner of the Aiguës-Mortes Auto museum - proudly showed us each of his cars in turn, opening the doors, lifting the hoods.
A self-taught mechanic, he did all the restoration work himself. He also claimed to be 90.
Quite a character!
Mainly older cars, but some moderns too.
#weirdcarBS
A self-taught mechanic, he did all the restoration work himself. He also claimed to be 90.
Quite a character!
Mainly older cars, but some moderns too.
#weirdcarBS
Calling #weirdcarBS!
Historical accuracy nerds should probably look away now.... although
Marks will be given for spotting what's wrong!
Marks will be given for spotting what's wrong!
October 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Calling #weirdcarBS!
I can’t think when I last saw a Fiat Coupé. Chris Bangle’s controversial design still looks quite fresh.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky #FIAT
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky #FIAT
October 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I can’t think when I last saw a Fiat Coupé. Chris Bangle’s controversial design still looks quite fresh.
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky #FIAT
#weirdcarBS #CarBluesky #FIAT
Reposted by PaulGerard.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by PaulGerard.bsky.social
Today on the blog, the year is 847 and the Frankish world is in turmoil. Can three Carolingian brothers stop plotting against each other for long enough to do some much needed firefighting? Find out as they have a little family get together. #medievalsky
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/f...
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/f...
Franks United? The First Treaty of Meerssen (Feb 847)
You know what we haven’t had a lot of in a while? Carolingian treaties! (All those who answered ‘hope’ are sentenced to read the complete Opus Caroli until they learn what true despair looks like).…
salutemmundo.wordpress.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Today on the blog, the year is 847 and the Frankish world is in turmoil. Can three Carolingian brothers stop plotting against each other for long enough to do some much needed firefighting? Find out as they have a little family get together. #medievalsky
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/f...
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/f...
The perfect car for late summer touring, the Mercedes W114/5’s elegant lines catch the early evening sunlight.
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
September 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The perfect car for late summer touring, the Mercedes W114/5’s elegant lines catch the early evening sunlight.
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
#weirdcarBS #CarBlueSky
Reposted by PaulGerard.bsky.social
Today on the blog, I celebrate the forthcoming paperback release of The Emperor and the Elephant by looking at elephant diplomacy in the twenty-first century. #elephant #diplomacy @princetonupress.bsky.social
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
Pachyderm Presents: Elephant Diplomacy in the Twenty-First Century
I’m delighted to be able to announce that my book, The Emperor and the Elephant: Christians and Muslims in the Age of Charlemagne, is coming out in paperback on 23 September 2025![1] In addition to…
salutemmundo.wordpress.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Today on the blog, I celebrate the forthcoming paperback release of The Emperor and the Elephant by looking at elephant diplomacy in the twenty-first century. #elephant #diplomacy @princetonupress.bsky.social
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/p...
Reposted by PaulGerard.bsky.social
Now in #paperback, The Emperor and the Elephant by @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social is a new history of Christian-Muslim relations in the #Carolingian period that provides a fresh account of events by drawing on Arabic as well as western sources.
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
September 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Now in #paperback, The Emperor and the Elephant by @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social is a new history of Christian-Muslim relations in the #Carolingian period that provides a fresh account of events by drawing on Arabic as well as western sources.
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Reposted by PaulGerard.bsky.social
The elephant rides again! 🐘 Join us on a journey from the palaces of Baghdad, through the streets of Córdoba and all the way to the forests of Aachen #medievalsky
Now in #paperback, The Emperor and the Elephant by @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social is a new history of Christian-Muslim relations in the #Carolingian period that provides a fresh account of events by drawing on Arabic as well as western sources.
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
September 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The elephant rides again! 🐘 Join us on a journey from the palaces of Baghdad, through the streets of Córdoba and all the way to the forests of Aachen #medievalsky
There was a very rare Alfa Romeo 1600 Zagato at the Autogiro d’Italia this week.
Its fastback styling seemed to be a forerunner of the Alfetta GTV (also at the Autogiro).
#weirdcarBS
Its fastback styling seemed to be a forerunner of the Alfetta GTV (also at the Autogiro).
#weirdcarBS
September 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
There was a very rare Alfa Romeo 1600 Zagato at the Autogiro d’Italia this week.
Its fastback styling seemed to be a forerunner of the Alfetta GTV (also at the Autogiro).
#weirdcarBS
Its fastback styling seemed to be a forerunner of the Alfetta GTV (also at the Autogiro).
#weirdcarBS