I think I can see what you are saying. Inspector Gamache is held up so consistently as a paragon of virtue that some pretense certainly creeps in. I'm still enjoying them, however. Plus the author references things that I know from the province of Quebec, or from the city of Montreal. It's...
I think it's more important to get the water diverted away from the foundation than to try to patch it. Gutters? Directed down spouts? regrade on that side of the house?
You are the first person I have ever encountered who did not love those book, and I've talked to quite a few people. I'm surprised. Can you tell me what you didn't like about the books? Too much French?
So let's find a legal way to do it, then I'll cook you gator multiple ways. Burger, steak, tartar, deep fried gator fingers, grilled with grits, you name it, I'll cook it. You just have to kill it with your bow, or your bare hands and bravado.
I don't believe I've ever seen a team coached so poorly as the Notre Dame team was just now. Every play was a run up the middle. Until they were on 3rd and 5, then they'd throw it. And, miraculously, they got it. And then they ran it every time after that. Crap play calling, crap special teams...