We’ve never had it so good
I was looking for Christmas lights in the attic when I came across our copy of the Millennium Times – the one from 1st January 2000. It was also the last New Year before we left the UK. I posted it here just in case this years New Year newspapers are less upbeat and you [...]
So this is Christmas. And what have you done?
It’s always interesting to look back on a year of change, so here is our personal summary – a Queen’s Speech from France if you like, but without the Queen. Or the speech. The year has been hectic for us – and as it turned out pretty hectic for most expats in France, along with the rest [...]
Happy Christmas for expats?
How quickly times can change! Until two or three years ago hardly a month passed without a new family arriving in France from the UK. Many pensioners have also moved here, for the weather, the health system, and the quality of life. Although the rate of arrivals has slowed during the last couple of years [...]
Christmas food treats
I’ve written before about the pleasures of a capon for Christmas dinner – and despite the rather dubious practices involved in raising capons I think we’ll be having another this year for Christmas dinner. But by way of a treat I thought we might try something new as well. One thing I’ve never yet been [...]
All a lot of hot air
The weather is a bit cooler this week so my training for the Tour de France 2009 has been a bit inadequate, although the number of logs I’ve been throwing in the wood stove has been keeping me fit. There is a danger that the tumbling price of fuel means it will soon be cheaper [...]
France web 2.0 – one big happy community
See that gizmo in the right-hand column? That is a new groovy ‘web 2.0′ idea from google to bring social networking to the masses. No longer do you need to dash off to facebook or mybloglog to join communities – now you can do it in the comfort of your own favourite websites. Now I’d [...]
Pigeon invasions
One thing I’ve noticed this year that I don’t remember seeing before is enormous flocks of birds circling around all the time – many thousands of palombes (wood-pigeons) fill the air in great sweeping flocks. And a very impressive sight it is too. The palombe is also the most hunted bird in France, with special [...]
St Andrews Day – ce n’est pas Bastille Day
This is a guest entry by Alasdair Smith – a keen Scottish Francophile who blogs wistfully about moving to France at French Obsession. On the basis that you are almost certainly sick of my continual grumblings, it should be nice to hear from someone who still sees France through rose-tinted spectacles…and Scotland is my second [...]
Topsy turvy television timings
I expect I’ve given my opinions on French television before – generally I find it to be no better or worse than UK television. Very often it is probably exactly the same programme (eg dubbed American detective series) or a copy (French versions of reality shows and talent shows). There are a couple of differences [...]
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