Last Saturday in August
The last Saturday in August is a strange day when you live somewhere popular with tourists. It is the day when the towns start to regain their ‘normal’ personalities, the roads become quieter, and the numerous events, fairs, medieval days and street parties that carry on through the summer come to an abrupt end. This [...]
Are you self sufficient?
When we moved to France we had big ideas of self-sufficiency – harvesting nature’s natural produce, growing our own vegetables, eating fruit from the orchard… …but I have to admit, many years later, we have failed dismally! Mrs B has very green fingers when it comes to plants and flowers, but she won’t mind me [...]
What time is lunch?
Older daughter is working at a local ‘adventure parc’ this summer and has lots of fascinating stories to tell about how people behave on holiday. Most of them I can’t repeat because the people involved might recognise themselves and not be very flattered, but one thing we have learned is that there can never be [...]
English TV in France – the Finale!
(subtitle: installing Freesat in France without getting hot and bothered…) After eight years eight months and 27 days of living in France we have given in and installed English TV. It would have been a few months sooner but I’m pretty slow at getting on with things, especially when I don’t know what I’m doing. [...]
Wanted – intellectual holidaymakers
During the summer months a lot of towns in France spring into life with festivals, night markets, and various events laid on to amuse both locals and visitors alike. One popular idea both near us and in several other places in France is ‘medieval re-enactments’ where everyone in the town dresses up in ‘olden-days’ costumes, [...]
Why do expat children want to go home?
One curious phenomenon about expats in France, at least the ones we know, is that their children reach a certain age – typically about 13 to 15 years old – and then start talking about ‘going home’. Not all, but a pretty high percentage, seem to like the idea of going to university in the [...]
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