@vjmalletft.bsky.social
Happy Diwali to all, and may the light drive out the gathering darkness in our world!
October 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Happy Diwali to all, and may the light drive out the gathering darkness in our world!
France's Fifth Republic is looking very ragged these days, with Macron having lost his 4th prime minister in just over a year. The far right thinks its time is coming... as it has already come in the US, Czechia and elsewhere
October 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
France's Fifth Republic is looking very ragged these days, with Macron having lost his 4th prime minister in just over a year. The far right thinks its time is coming... as it has already come in the US, Czechia and elsewhere
London clearly over, but, um, what is this? The sweepers guild?
July 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
London clearly over, but, um, what is this? The sweepers guild?
Hummingbird hawkmoth on lavender, Kent, today
July 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Hummingbird hawkmoth on lavender, Kent, today
Peacock on yew, Kent, today
July 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Peacock on yew, Kent, today
Mares' tails. Weather coming in a few days.
June 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Mares' tails. Weather coming in a few days.
A Comma in Kent. When the wings are furled it camouflages itself as an old oak leaf.
June 19, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A Comma in Kent. When the wings are furled it camouflages itself as an old oak leaf.
I don't think the FT would let me write like this, even for a football report. The intro celebrating a PSG victory that will be remembered till the end of time is a triumph of joyous Gallic excess...
June 1, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I don't think the FT would let me write like this, even for a football report. The intro celebrating a PSG victory that will be remembered till the end of time is a triumph of joyous Gallic excess...
Remember how a TV star got to be president of the US? Perhaps the same could happen in France with a populist television star who could outflank all the candidates of traditional parties, including the disqualified Marine Le Pen? He's called Cyril Hanouna. This from VA, original scoop from Marianne.
May 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Remember how a TV star got to be president of the US? Perhaps the same could happen in France with a populist television star who could outflank all the candidates of traditional parties, including the disqualified Marine Le Pen? He's called Cyril Hanouna. This from VA, original scoop from Marianne.
Us and them in today's world. An excellent satirical column by David Caviglioli in Le Nouvel Obs. Among other tragedies and mass killings, think Israel-Gaza.
March 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Us and them in today's world. An excellent satirical column by David Caviglioli in Le Nouvel Obs. Among other tragedies and mass killings, think Israel-Gaza.
Streets of Paris: Pickpocket St, or Cutpurse Alley, near the Banque de France. They seem to have moved to other arrondissements these days.
March 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Streets of Paris: Pickpocket St, or Cutpurse Alley, near the Banque de France. They seem to have moved to other arrondissements these days.
And for something less distressing, here is the most beautiful representation of Mary Magdalene greeting the risen Jesus
March 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
And for something less distressing, here is the most beautiful representation of Mary Magdalene greeting the risen Jesus
King Trump looks on as Russians slaughter Ukrainian children... Oh no, sorry, that's Herod and the slaughter of the innocents. (By Pierre de Chelles and fellow sculptors and architects in 13th-14th century, from the choir at Notre Dame in Paris)
March 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
King Trump looks on as Russians slaughter Ukrainian children... Oh no, sorry, that's Herod and the slaughter of the innocents. (By Pierre de Chelles and fellow sculptors and architects in 13th-14th century, from the choir at Notre Dame in Paris)
Donald Trump's policies on Ukraine, Gaza and everything else are 'very provocative, arrogant and destructive' but will soon meet reality when inflation hits the US, and the rest of the world begins to resist US hegemony and selfishness - ex-PM of France Dominique de Villepin talking to AAPA in Paris
February 14, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Donald Trump's policies on Ukraine, Gaza and everything else are 'very provocative, arrogant and destructive' but will soon meet reality when inflation hits the US, and the rest of the world begins to resist US hegemony and selfishness - ex-PM of France Dominique de Villepin talking to AAPA in Paris
The environment: one step forward, two steps back in France. On the plus side, three species of freshwater mussel (what we call swan mussels in the UK I think) have reappeared in the Seine at Paris. On the negative side, the Senate pushes for exceptions to ban on pollinator-killing neonicotinoids
January 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The environment: one step forward, two steps back in France. On the plus side, three species of freshwater mussel (what we call swan mussels in the UK I think) have reappeared in the Seine at Paris. On the negative side, the Senate pushes for exceptions to ban on pollinator-killing neonicotinoids
I know Colombia caved in to Trump pretty quickly and lost the battle over migrant return flights. But on the basis of this rather crazed post on X I think he might have won the propaganda war. (You can find the original Spanish on X @petrogustavo )
January 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I know Colombia caved in to Trump pretty quickly and lost the battle over migrant return flights. But on the basis of this rather crazed post on X I think he might have won the propaganda war. (You can find the original Spanish on X @petrogustavo )
Something tells me the lead to this story tells us more about The Times and its proprietor than the plans of the Labour government or the state of Britain.
January 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Something tells me the lead to this story tells us more about The Times and its proprietor than the plans of the Labour government or the state of Britain.
Good news on UK energy: (Source: FT UK print edition 10 Dec 2024)
December 10, 2024 at 11:43 AM
Good news on UK energy: (Source: FT UK print edition 10 Dec 2024)
French political dilemma when politicians demand a) lower taxes b) more public spending c) slashing the national debt. Barnier: 'Yees, Mrs Le Pen, and what if I meet all your demands?' [which he almost did]. Le Pen: 'Oh yeah, and how are you going to finance such madness?' Source: Le Canard Enchaîné
December 6, 2024 at 7:12 AM
French political dilemma when politicians demand a) lower taxes b) more public spending c) slashing the national debt. Barnier: 'Yees, Mrs Le Pen, and what if I meet all your demands?' [which he almost did]. Le Pen: 'Oh yeah, and how are you going to finance such madness?' Source: Le Canard Enchaîné
Dentist's waiting room in Paris. Will this hurt (my wallet)?
November 22, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Dentist's waiting room in Paris. Will this hurt (my wallet)?
It's a bit weird to blame a foolish entity called 'Science' for losing trust and enabling sceptics. I would rather blame the sceptics for being sceptical. Science just... is. I'm reminded of people who say they 'don't believe in climate change', as though it were a religion. It's just a thing.
November 20, 2024 at 6:41 PM
It's a bit weird to blame a foolish entity called 'Science' for losing trust and enabling sceptics. I would rather blame the sceptics for being sceptical. Science just... is. I'm reminded of people who say they 'don't believe in climate change', as though it were a religion. It's just a thing.
A belated post of a couple of sculptures from the Palais de Chaillot, where the Paris Peace Forum was held last week
November 19, 2024 at 7:48 PM
A belated post of a couple of sculptures from the Palais de Chaillot, where the Paris Peace Forum was held last week