Dear digital playmates,
How are you all this fine February?
February already! Hasn’t it passed quickly?! Anyway, I need to get on with this otherwise it’ll be March!
So, in this calm episode, we will look at:
Croatian calm
Hackers
Rod Stewart
…and more!
Have a relaxing week!
James x
February
In Croatian, the word for February is veljača. This means the month where the days get longer - from the word oveljiti se (to get bigger).
So now you know.
Fjaka
You may be aware of the Danish concept of hygge - the cozy, contented mood that comes from comfort and conviviality.
Croatia has a different but similar concept - fjaka. The idea came from the Dalmatian area.
And, like hygge, it is difficult to describe precisely.
If you go from the normal state of mind, through mellowness and keep travelling, you might find the state of fjaka.
It’s a state of relaxation that is bordering on nothingness. Not meditation… just fjaka.
I sat here a few months ago, had a coffee and stared out to sea. I didn’t quite manage fjaka but I was certainly on the way.
Here’s a better explanation - but no explanation is perfect.
Once you find fjaka, you’ll know.
Chicken News
Our chickens are lucky enough to have an Eglu chicken coup - and we are lucky enough to have an automated door. Now, an automated door is a luxury but, to be honest, it can get a tiny bit rainy around here… so, to me, it’s a life-safer!
However, this week, it stopped working. I went full ‘The Scream’ emoji when I realised and, so, spent the day dismantling the door and motor, cleaning every little bit and putting it all back again before reinstalling it. When it was not installed (and cleaned), it worked really well. The second I reinstalled it, it stopped working again!
After another hour of uninstalling and some medicinal swearing, I realised it was the crush detector - so dismantled that, cleaned it and put it back on!
My reward?
Four eggs! For the first time this year, we’re getting more than one egg a day! Must be summer or something!
I’m eggstatic.
(sorry)
Co-Pilot News
Saturday was spent in the far south-west of Finistère for the departmental archery championships.
The co-pilot has been unable to do any sport for over a month - including archery - so it was his first outing this year. Despite that, he managed a very good 6th place in the under-18 category.
URGENT BREAKING NEWS
Please sit down and try to remain calm while reading this mind-blowing headline.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this part of the newsletter, please contact your local helpline.
Podcast Corner
I was having a bit of a think about comedians this week and, particularly, ones that are no longer with us.
There are, perhaps, none better than the legendary Barry Cryer.
Just before he died, Baz had started to record some podcasts and they are all, as you would expect, excellent. Sadly, though, there are only 9 episodes - but each one is just gold.
It is such a shame that he did not record more. Every episode is a masterclass in anecdotes.
This one, with Barry and Danny Baker, is one of my favourites. Actually, it is one of two with the pair because, as you can imagine, neither would shut up!
A treat for the ears!
Hello to Germany, Croatia and China!
In the past 24 hours, I’ve had 64 failed login attempts to one of my accounts. They’ve all been from various locations in Germany, China and, also, Zagreb in Croatia.
A great reminder to change your passwords, make them longer, add 2FA and use any other tactics that you can to ensure your data is as safe as it can be in the circumstances.
And, in case you would like a simple explanation of 2FA, here it is!
Stay safe!
Bluesky Invites!
Still looking for a Bluesky invite? I have more! Just ask! Reply to this email and I’ll send you one.
You too can escape Twitter!
In France? Need a Nespresso Machine?
If you live in France, L’Or have an offer on one of their Nespresso machines until THIS MONDAY!
For 69€88, you get a L’Or Barista Sublime plus 200 L’Or Nespresso capsules. However, if you add a box of 50 capsules for just under 15€ (the ones that aren’t on offer) and add the code BD-0TO1V4 at the checkout, you’ll get them for free! Plus there are 9 more capsules in the box. So 259 coffees and a coffee machine for 69€88 - less than 27c per coffee with a free machine!
Here’s the link - I get nothing if you use it!
If you want another few euros off, buy it via the cashback site Poulpeo. Sign up at this address https://www.poulpeo.com/p/JPRsab and you will get 5€ for signing up plus another couple of euros cashback on your order (sign up, use the search bar on Poulpeo to look for L’Or and go through that link). (I will also get 3€ if you sign up for Poulpeo using my link)
Lots of writer’s block this time! I have no idea what that’s about. :/
And I still haven’t registered to vote - which I MUST do this week. And get some chicken food… I’ll spare you the rest of my shopping list!
Hope you all have a fantastic one!
James x
PS If Volotea could open a line from Brest to any Croatian airport, that’d be great. Thanks!
St Augustine wrote, "Paradise is the absence of desire." Thus fjakka makes perfect sense to me. It is a coffee and Metaxa in the late afternoon on a terrace on the south coast of Crete watching the sun sink into the ocean.