Ciao Torino! Already back on Frecciarossa from our four day weekend trip to this uncharted Italian city. With the big kids at home, Mathilde and I only had to deal with Effi aka Topolina, which was quite a heavy lift by itself. I cannot remember when I last slept through the entire night, and she’s specially tough on sleeping when away from home. Anyway, away from home it was and we had a good time nevertheless discovering Torino. Hosted by a true Airbnb and a perfect host Didie, we started all our four days at the same infinitely delicious place to get a coffee and some Italian sweets for breakfast. The Torino Exposed photo festival happened to be on, guiding us to some worthwhile exhibitions. The Fiat car test track on the top of the Lingotto building was probably the most stunning, combining industrial culture with some art and breathtaking views on the snowy Alps. Public transporting back and forth, enjoying ice cream here and there, watching the highlights of the ongoing Giro at night, and being worn out by Topolina’s infinite energy. Good days, good memories nevertheless. It’s Italy, impossible to not enjoy yourself here.

Back from a week of summer-like vacation in Mopertüllingen! Vacation? Not really! Much had to be done to finish all work in the former Siebenschläferzimmer. In the meanwhile, Dad finished insulation in the TT-Room, which concludes all roof-related work some three years after it has been fully redone. I’m just as done as the work, good that an easy and short work week is ahead. We’ll be back at the cottage on Thursday night, the May madness of long and longer weekends has started. Bernie the cat now fully moved to the countryside, we built her a tiny house with an automatic feeder, as well as a smart flap to do the bouncer work.

Now in Pantin I can focus on transitioning my job from TopScore to another meaningful project that got confirmed last week: fighting cabanisation with French beta.gouv.fr, which is building public service’s services! Maybe this way I can help fixing some of the problems that cause pain and frustration and damage faith in the state and thus democracy. Just like the devastating issue I had with the tax authorities.

I’m spending a day at Station F with former BlaBlaColleague Anne-Laure, who’s currently building an AI-powered skills assessment and career coach platform. In the meanwhile I’m dealing with a few issues (my Paris apartment is causing maintenance headaches; TopScore is being dismantled by its owner) and have had some good moments (an Easter weekend in Lorient with Mathilde & Effi; cycling to and from Maupertuis with Nicoko under summer sun in two days; finally receiving the reimbursement of a heap of wrongfully claimed tax money by dysfunctional administrations after 5+ months of hassle). The impactful and nasty doings of TopScore’s owner Fullsteam also forced me into job hunt mode, which already lead to a handful of interviews. Things are moving fast, almost too fast. But at least they’re moving.

TopScore Retreat is on! I’m back in the US despite all the mess that’s currently going on. My fresh new passport works as expected, and the father-son road and train trip to and fro Neustadt to fetch it was much fun. It’s a special retreat, for two reasons: firstly, Liam is not part of the show for the first time in its history or almost, and despite running the retreat in his hometown, he unfortunately couldn’t join. Secondly, and sadly, it might actually be the last: the continued complexity that’s being added to basically everything by owner Fullsteam is making everybody’s work-life a challenge. So it’s now only seven of us to retreat to a house in Jersey City’s The Heights, not the best house nor the best area but it checks all the boxes. We started with a weekend and some fun city activities, all connected to strolling through Manhatten. Icecream, scavenger hunt, food, Washington Square and Central Park, we did it all or almost. We managed to meet Liam in his fancy Manhatten apartment and keep working and cooking away all day.

On the move! Five (holy)days in Mopertüllingen went by fast, with loads of sun and good family vibes. I managed to spread even more cork panels upstairs, while removing an annoying acacia tree next to the house. The year of gardening is well under way! Once the four girls (Bernadette, Effi, Lise & Mathilde) have been dropped at Auxerre’s train station, I drove the car back to Germany with Max in the back front. A good drive, fun and fast. Dinner with mum (since dad is still roaming through Chile) and 24 hours later we’ll be already on the train to return to Paris. A couple of hours later I’ll head to the airport to fly to New York, TopScore’s annual retreat is calling. It’ll be a special one, for many reasons but good ones. Hopefully not the last, also because I just finished my almost 3-years-long mission at NW last week, with a lovely pot de départ and loads of warm words. There will be news soon, fingers are already crossed.