Some of you will remember that in 2003 France had a major ‘canicule’ (heatwave) that lasted for several weeks – and that an estimated 15,000 people, mostly elderly, died as a result. Following that heatwave, France implemented measures to prevent the same thing happening again.
This week has been very hot in the south of France, [...]
Given the recent demise of the ‘French News’ newspaper, it might seem bold, even reckless, to launch a new newspaper targeted at the same audience just three months later, but that’s exactly what some brave souls are doing with ‘The French Paper’.
I’m impressed! Personally I often struggle to think of a couple of blog entries [...]
In a reaction to the crisis in France, company bosses have been finding themselves taken hostage in an effort to gain improved redundancy terms or to avoid staff cutbacks.
In the latest kidnapping, French workers in a factory in Metz blocked the door of the meeting room holding the bosses because some of the work from the [...]
This is a long story, but might have a moral in it somewhere. Or at least a warning.
Six months ago I bought a portable PC, which had a lot of technical challenges i.e. didn’t work. I wrote about the problems at the time because I spent ages on a premium phone line while someone explained [...]
I haven’t seen the Eurovision Song Contest for quite a long time (28 years to be precise, when Bucks Fizz were making their minds up – I watched because I fancied Cheryl Baker) but was pleased to hear it is still going strong, and to be held in Moscow this year.
There is exciting news for [...]
France is a great country to live in, and I’m very happy to be here. But there are issues to do with running a company that are, to say the least, challenging.
It’s not unheard of for me to grumble about the bureaucracy and costs involved with running a business in France, usually while I dream [...]
It’s been quiet here since Christmas and New Year, without so much as an unexpected URSSAF bill to keep me amused, so I’ve had plenty of time to catch up on business paperwork and read the news. Neither is as much fun as you might think.
Our accountant reviews our numbers with a fine-tooth comb, querying [...]
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 need [...]
It seems a bit trivial for me to chat about growing vegetables in France when the world has such grave problems, although Mrs B does tell me she is going to double the size of our potager next year. Good news, lots of leek soup and fried courgettes, please do stop by…
I also need to [...]
South-west France is to receive the Pope in a week or so, revolving around a visit to Lourdes, the town in the northern Pyrenees.
Lourdes, as we all know, is best known because 150 years ago a local girl, Bernadette Soubirous, spoke several times to an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Since then Lourdes has attracted millions [...]
Cars that run, quite literally, on air have been in design and development for a few years now, but this year it seems as if the impossible might actually happen – the French designer / inventor Guy Negre is hopeful that the cars will actually go on sale before the end of 2008. That is [...]
In the over protected business environment of France few things surprise me any more, but even so I was shocked and dismayed to hear of the recent court ruling against Amazon France.
Much as in other countries, Amazon France offers free delivery on orders over a certain value. Seems reasonable, I think you will agree. A [...]
An interesting news item about Miss France has surprised France during the last few days – the recently elected Miss France is now being asked to stand down as the winner.
It seems that three years ago she posed for some ‘inappropriate’ photographs, one involving floating on a crucifix in a swimming pool and the other [...]