Bren Kübler
@brenkubler.bsky.social
Lining up words for 40+ years (editor, translator, writer). Swiss/UK citizen originally from Yorkshire. Semi-retired, living in rural SE France since 2007.
Language(s), books, cats, food, gardening, France, bees in my bonnet. Food bank volunteer
Language(s), books, cats, food, gardening, France, bees in my bonnet. Food bank volunteer
The Valence staff at Leroy were so awful we found alternatives. So much depends on them, right? Had fabulous service from other DIY places, fortunately.
December 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The Valence staff at Leroy were so awful we found alternatives. So much depends on them, right? Had fabulous service from other DIY places, fortunately.
This is where I first head the phrase 'Disney for men', said by a frazzled French lady while her husband did ALL the aisles, looking as though he was loving it all.
I don't mind it so much, tbh but I wouldn't quite equate it with Disney.
I don't mind it so much, tbh but I wouldn't quite equate it with Disney.
December 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
This is where I first head the phrase 'Disney for men', said by a frazzled French lady while her husband did ALL the aisles, looking as though he was loving it all.
I don't mind it so much, tbh but I wouldn't quite equate it with Disney.
I don't mind it so much, tbh but I wouldn't quite equate it with Disney.
It took 17 years (until last year) for the GPS systems to get our address right: it was just a 'quartier' at first: the road name came a few years later, and the number a couple of years after that. But there is the SAME road name in the next village, often with the same numbers.
Welcome to France?
Welcome to France?
December 3, 2025 at 11:18 AM
It took 17 years (until last year) for the GPS systems to get our address right: it was just a 'quartier' at first: the road name came a few years later, and the number a couple of years after that. But there is the SAME road name in the next village, often with the same numbers.
Welcome to France?
Welcome to France?
That's a shame! I think ours took a year or two to produce any. Sadly, the combava - previously very productive - didn't survive last winter and I haven't replaced it but might have another try next spring.
Our local nurseries seem to have a wide variety of citrus nowadays, so at least that!
Our local nurseries seem to have a wide variety of citrus nowadays, so at least that!
December 3, 2025 at 11:11 AM
That's a shame! I think ours took a year or two to produce any. Sadly, the combava - previously very productive - didn't survive last winter and I haven't replaced it but might have another try next spring.
Our local nurseries seem to have a wide variety of citrus nowadays, so at least that!
Our local nurseries seem to have a wide variety of citrus nowadays, so at least that!
Our yuzu bush has about a dozen fruit again this year. For the freezer, as is, and then I can grate the rind.
They're really tough little critters, yuzu bushes - can stand frost. Wish I could throw you a couple over.
They're really tough little critters, yuzu bushes - can stand frost. Wish I could throw you a couple over.
December 2, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Our yuzu bush has about a dozen fruit again this year. For the freezer, as is, and then I can grate the rind.
They're really tough little critters, yuzu bushes - can stand frost. Wish I could throw you a couple over.
They're really tough little critters, yuzu bushes - can stand frost. Wish I could throw you a couple over.
I did too, when we visited a few years back. But the traffic system is awful and our onboard GPS was out of date. So we saw a lot of Narbonne that we didn't really want to visit.
I have now mastered Google Maps on my phone. Kinda sorta.
I have now mastered Google Maps on my phone. Kinda sorta.
December 1, 2025 at 9:18 AM
I did too, when we visited a few years back. But the traffic system is awful and our onboard GPS was out of date. So we saw a lot of Narbonne that we didn't really want to visit.
I have now mastered Google Maps on my phone. Kinda sorta.
I have now mastered Google Maps on my phone. Kinda sorta.
When we get Nutella in at the food bank, it's a stampede. So we only put it out when there's a jar per family or fisticuffs might break out if the people who come earlier take it all.
As for the 'fake Nutella' (from organic shops, etc.) - nah. Non, merci.
(Confession: I'm not a fan. Too sweet).
As for the 'fake Nutella' (from organic shops, etc.) - nah. Non, merci.
(Confession: I'm not a fan. Too sweet).
December 1, 2025 at 9:15 AM
When we get Nutella in at the food bank, it's a stampede. So we only put it out when there's a jar per family or fisticuffs might break out if the people who come earlier take it all.
As for the 'fake Nutella' (from organic shops, etc.) - nah. Non, merci.
(Confession: I'm not a fan. Too sweet).
As for the 'fake Nutella' (from organic shops, etc.) - nah. Non, merci.
(Confession: I'm not a fan. Too sweet).
Definitely. Our network works with hundreds of journals, and we work with ESL academics so 'content' editing is not really our territory (unless they pay for the additional expertise of our area/subject matter experts).
November 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Definitely. Our network works with hundreds of journals, and we work with ESL academics so 'content' editing is not really our territory (unless they pay for the additional expertise of our area/subject matter experts).
Nuance, though. Bronnises or broonises? I do like to get my Frenchification right and will bow to your expertise.
November 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Nuance, though. Bronnises or broonises? I do like to get my Frenchification right and will bow to your expertise.
Agreed, and yet it's not always in an editor's remit to do that. I know that our network's subject matter experts charge extra for that sort of work.
I'm just the language/style/grunt type, also known as managing editor (where the buck, sadly, stops).
I'm just the language/style/grunt type, also known as managing editor (where the buck, sadly, stops).
November 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Agreed, and yet it's not always in an editor's remit to do that. I know that our network's subject matter experts charge extra for that sort of work.
I'm just the language/style/grunt type, also known as managing editor (where the buck, sadly, stops).
I'm just the language/style/grunt type, also known as managing editor (where the buck, sadly, stops).
Normally, there should be an address for the editorial office on the journal's homepage for authors somewhere?
November 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Normally, there should be an address for the editorial office on the journal's homepage for authors somewhere?
Yep. Now do 'les brownies'. We distribute those at our food bank at times and I've had to Frenchify that to make myself understood. Brooh-niz?
One person said 'oooh, vous avez des brovnis!'
One person said 'oooh, vous avez des brovnis!'
November 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Yep. Now do 'les brownies'. We distribute those at our food bank at times and I've had to Frenchify that to make myself understood. Brooh-niz?
One person said 'oooh, vous avez des brovnis!'
One person said 'oooh, vous avez des brovnis!'
Not the journals, no - usually the reviewers who are sensible enough to want their review to be in good English (presumably to preserve their reputation). I've also seen reviewers with poor English who criticise the authors for 'not being good in their English sentencing' (genuine example).
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Not the journals, no - usually the reviewers who are sensible enough to want their review to be in good English (presumably to preserve their reputation). I've also seen reviewers with poor English who criticise the authors for 'not being good in their English sentencing' (genuine example).
Hier, chez nous, c'était crumblothérapie (courgettes, jambon, crumble avec fromage de chèvre). Gratinothérapie, c'est ce soir et j'ai le butternut to prove it.
J'adore entendre les français prononcer 'butternut', by the way.
J'adore entendre les français prononcer 'butternut', by the way.
November 30, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Hier, chez nous, c'était crumblothérapie (courgettes, jambon, crumble avec fromage de chèvre). Gratinothérapie, c'est ce soir et j'ai le butternut to prove it.
J'adore entendre les français prononcer 'butternut', by the way.
J'adore entendre les français prononcer 'butternut', by the way.
Looking at it, I don't think it came from your end either. It's surprising, the number of mistakes and other weird things that crop up in titles - often font or punctuation issues. The journal staff who do the conversions into the journal format probably don't actually *read* the titles (or text).
November 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Looking at it, I don't think it came from your end either. It's surprising, the number of mistakes and other weird things that crop up in titles - often font or punctuation issues. The journal staff who do the conversions into the journal format probably don't actually *read* the titles (or text).
I often have to edit reviewers' comments and authors' rebuttals. I try very hard to make both more civil than the originals, because some can be really harsh (even the usually polite Japanese, which surprised me at first).
November 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I often have to edit reviewers' comments and authors' rebuttals. I try very hard to make both more civil than the originals, because some can be really harsh (even the usually polite Japanese, which surprised me at first).
Shame. I'm pretty lucky with food allergies but Coquilles St Jacques... oh boy. And I used to love them. The French, it seems, put them in everything around Christmas, too.
We had a Mont d'Or a couple of days ago and I was fine but I still avoid fondue or raclette (with exceptions I always regret).
We had a Mont d'Or a couple of days ago and I was fine but I still avoid fondue or raclette (with exceptions I always regret).
November 30, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Shame. I'm pretty lucky with food allergies but Coquilles St Jacques... oh boy. And I used to love them. The French, it seems, put them in everything around Christmas, too.
We had a Mont d'Or a couple of days ago and I was fine but I still avoid fondue or raclette (with exceptions I always regret).
We had a Mont d'Or a couple of days ago and I was fine but I still avoid fondue or raclette (with exceptions I always regret).
Oh ouch, yes!
Annoying things in editing-world today include an author who has tinkered with the 'Styles' function to the point I am tearing my hair. I'm pretty good at Word's formatting/layout features but this one beat me. Told the author to go fix it.
So there.
Annoying things in editing-world today include an author who has tinkered with the 'Styles' function to the point I am tearing my hair. I'm pretty good at Word's formatting/layout features but this one beat me. Told the author to go fix it.
So there.
November 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Oh ouch, yes!
Annoying things in editing-world today include an author who has tinkered with the 'Styles' function to the point I am tearing my hair. I'm pretty good at Word's formatting/layout features but this one beat me. Told the author to go fix it.
So there.
Annoying things in editing-world today include an author who has tinkered with the 'Styles' function to the point I am tearing my hair. I'm pretty good at Word's formatting/layout features but this one beat me. Told the author to go fix it.
So there.
Couldn't agree with you more. Just hope you were spared from cranky old editors, nasty reviewers, and all the rest.
Having said that, academic editing is in its death throes and I'm now almost enjoying the few jobs I still get.
Congratulations anyway!
Having said that, academic editing is in its death throes and I'm now almost enjoying the few jobs I still get.
Congratulations anyway!
November 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Couldn't agree with you more. Just hope you were spared from cranky old editors, nasty reviewers, and all the rest.
Having said that, academic editing is in its death throes and I'm now almost enjoying the few jobs I still get.
Congratulations anyway!
Having said that, academic editing is in its death throes and I'm now almost enjoying the few jobs I still get.
Congratulations anyway!
I'm on my third. If the lithium battery hadn't started to swell in the old one, it would still be in use.
The new one is... annoying because it's far too smart for me.
The new one is... annoying because it's far too smart for me.
November 28, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I'm on my third. If the lithium battery hadn't started to swell in the old one, it would still be in use.
The new one is... annoying because it's far too smart for me.
The new one is... annoying because it's far too smart for me.
When we moved here in 2007 (4.5 hours away, with 4 at the time), the one we thought would go into full trauma mode went to sleep. The one we thought would breeze through it screamed for the whole journey and hid in the bathroom for a week on arrival.
November 28, 2025 at 8:20 AM
When we moved here in 2007 (4.5 hours away, with 4 at the time), the one we thought would go into full trauma mode went to sleep. The one we thought would breeze through it screamed for the whole journey and hid in the bathroom for a week on arrival.
Weird. All ours scream all the way there (about 10 minutes) but the return journey is full of silence and brooding outrage.
One used to fully christen his carrier before I even got out of the drive and had to be cleaned up at the vets. Lovely!
One used to fully christen his carrier before I even got out of the drive and had to be cleaned up at the vets. Lovely!
November 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Weird. All ours scream all the way there (about 10 minutes) but the return journey is full of silence and brooding outrage.
One used to fully christen his carrier before I even got out of the drive and had to be cleaned up at the vets. Lovely!
One used to fully christen his carrier before I even got out of the drive and had to be cleaned up at the vets. Lovely!
Decades ago we had a tiny flat in the mountains. Lots of fun getting the cats/skis/firewood/food/other stuff there (3 floors up). One cat puked every time we hit the hairpin bends on the road up there. The other screamed on arrival for an hour or two.
We did regularly this for years, too!
We did regularly this for years, too!
November 28, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Decades ago we had a tiny flat in the mountains. Lots of fun getting the cats/skis/firewood/food/other stuff there (3 floors up). One cat puked every time we hit the hairpin bends on the road up there. The other screamed on arrival for an hour or two.
We did regularly this for years, too!
We did regularly this for years, too!
I've always wanted to do Tai Chi: I look at courses every year. What I *have* been doing is yoga for relaxation - slow, mindful, no impossible contortions. It's great.
Wonderful memories of looking out of a hotel window in Hong Kong, seeing elderly locals do their morning Tai Chi in a tiny park.
Wonderful memories of looking out of a hotel window in Hong Kong, seeing elderly locals do their morning Tai Chi in a tiny park.
November 28, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I've always wanted to do Tai Chi: I look at courses every year. What I *have* been doing is yoga for relaxation - slow, mindful, no impossible contortions. It's great.
Wonderful memories of looking out of a hotel window in Hong Kong, seeing elderly locals do their morning Tai Chi in a tiny park.
Wonderful memories of looking out of a hotel window in Hong Kong, seeing elderly locals do their morning Tai Chi in a tiny park.