Simply being right won’t win the environmental war High in my large catalogue of character faults is the ability to say “I told you so.” Those little words roll off my tongue with such delicious ease that there are times when I use them even if I never said anything on the subject in question. At the moment…

COVID is killing a part of French culture — One of the things that people of Anglo-Saxon descent are quickly confronted by in France is what is known locally as the bisou. This is the traditional greeting in which people kiss one another on both cheeks. This behaviour is by no means restricted to men kissing women and vice…

The Great Underwear Divide Modern society and political correctness demand that we constantly eliminate any differences between the sexes. We must, we are constantly being reminded, seek to find common ground and disregard areas where, for one reason or another, we are simply not the same. There is, in my opinion, one area of…

The new space race is on — but will it reduce the space between the rich and the poor? — Imagine, a family where everyone’s interacting together all the time. A family that shares space constantly, and I don’t just mean emotionally, but physically too. Arguments are flaring frequently and emotions are running high. No one can agree with each other, and every small thing is annoying someone in the…

A plea for the weaker sex — It’s popular today to talk of equality between the sexes but let’s be honest here, when it comes to shopping, we men are simply outclassed. Hunting for Christmas presents for a spouse is a minefield. The chances of crossing it unscathed are incredibly slim. Occasionally my wife allows me to…

How exotic dancers almost caused a bird to go extinct — As a nature fanatic, I pay close attention to the visiting wildlife that parades itself along, and in, the river in front of my home. Normally, the list of guests varies only minimally, but every now and then we have a star appearance. Such was the case last week when…

How did we ever live with less than 3000 brands? — Dear Shampoo Provider, I am writing to offer my heartfelt thanks for the changes you have brought about in your marketing strategy (and my life) over the last few decades. These can only be described as pure genius. Many younger people will not remember a time when, upon entering a…

Beneficial creatures with a cruel reputation — In the small French village where I am living, there is a professional nature guide. Always keen to know more about the natural world around me, I recently joined him and a handful of other people for a night walk. We have six species of owl living either in or…