• Waste water and sewage treatment in France

    Fosse-septique-franceLIKE everywhere in Europe, used waste water cannot be discharged in France without appropriate treatment either via a private waste water treatment system or a municipal waste water plant, writes Keith Lacey.

    There are two main types of water treatment plants:

    – Assainissement Non Collectif (ANC) that are all privately owned waste water treatment plants whatever the size, from an individual house septic tank or a 200 bedroom hotel waste water treatment plant.

    – Assainissement Collectif which are all municipal waste water treatment plants no matter the size.

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  • The Tuilières hydroelectric dam and fish lift

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    Updated 29/10/2016

    FOR something the size of a hydroelectric plant, the Tuilières dam in the Dordogne keeps its visitor centre pretty well hidden.

    The dam and adjoining fish ladder, or more accurately fish lift, are found on the D660 between Lalinde and Bergerac and after stopping in a small car park, you walk over a bridge across the canal and then you will see a number of information panels near the main power hall.

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  • Milling around at the Filature de Belves

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    Updated 29/10/2016

    THERE are some seriously spiky machines in the Filature de Belvès, but they are not there to squeeze out a confession, only to start the process of spinning wool.

    The spinning mill sits beneath the hill on top of which stands the Dordogne town of Belvès, and it produced yarns up until the 1990s, now it traces the history of a once important industry in the region.

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  • Prats-du-Périgord, the Dordogne, a walk

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    TAKE a peaceful stroll around the small Dordogne village of Prats-du-Périgord*, but keep an eye out for the speedy Nordic Walkers as they stride past.

    There are a number of walks around the quiet village of Prats-du-Périgord that take you up and down the gentle surrounding hills, through thick woods and along shaded paths.

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  • Discovering The Roannais in the Rhône-Alpes

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    Looking across cross the fields to the Chateau des Cresses, in the Rhône-Alpes

    SO just what is involved in a move to France, where a home has to be found, work has to be done and a new language understood?

    Here Brian Franklin starts a series of articles on This French Life about the troubles, pitfalls and pleasures of moving to the The Roannais in the Rhône-Alpes region.

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  • Introducing the Google Translate app for iPhone

    The official Google Translate for iPhone app is available for download from the App Store. The new app has all of the features of the web app, plus some significant new additions designed to improve your overall translation experience.

    via googleblog.blogspot.com

  • Electricity In Your French House – an English guide

    Electricity-frenchRENOVATING a house in France can sometimes leave you up to your elbows in wires, bits of wood and dust.

    So the 80 page paperback book, Electricity In Your French House, may prove a helpful distraction when sitting down for a break with a cup of tea.

    Written by retired electrical engineer and long time resident of France, Thomas Malcolm, the book provides English speakers an opportunity to learn more about the French electrical system.

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  • Books on France – reviews and interviews

    TAKE a browse over these books about France which I have reviewed, or in some cases read an author interview and learn more about living life with a French twist.

    Plus if you decide to purchase any products through the site it receives a small commission to help keep it up and running – and that does not cost you a penny extra.

    Review of Je t’aime à La Folie, by Michael Wright
    Michael-wrightWelcome back to the French life of Daily Telegraph columnist Michael Wright in his latest book, Je t’aime à La Folie.

    After his first book, C’est La Folie, which told us of Michael’s move to France, this time we are taken further into his local village community and how he looks to put down some roots.

    All the regular characters are in the book, his always helpful neighbours, the foraging chickens and rastafarian sheep…

    Review of The Camargue, Portrait of a Wilderness
    Camargue-wilderness-reviewFor centuries man has attempted to control and master the Camargue, from the creation of vast salt pans to the promotion of modern day tourism.

    And it is many of these attempts that Edwin Mullins chronicles in his book The Camargue, Portrait of a Wilderness, as well as the rich stories and often violent history of a region that still excites and intrigues.

    Starting with the river Rhone that sets out from the Alps you are introduced to the Romans and the important role they played in establishing trade links and creating an infrastructure, evidence of which can still be seen today…

    Interview with Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth and Sepulchre
    Kate MosseThe bloody history of medieval Carcassone was brought to life in the international best-selling book Labyrinth.

    And now its author Kate Mosse takes us back to the south west with her latest book Sepulchre, a tale from the dark woods of the Corbières involving ghosts, murder and tarot cards.

    Here I chat with Kate about the mystery of the region and her writing life – also find out how to win a copy of Sepulchre – and so my first question was what frights can people expect from the new book?

    Interview with Vicki Archer author of My French LifeMy french life archer
    When an email landed in my inbox asking if I was interested in finding out more about a book called My French Life, I thought with a title like that how could I resist?

    So I quickly arranged an interview with the book’s author Vicki Archer, and asked for a copy so that I could offer it up as a prize for readers of the site.

    The Q&A style interview is below and you will find details of how to enter the competition to win a copy of the book at the end of the piece, but first a little about Vicki Archer and her book…

    Review of C’est La Folie
    Cestlafolie170906Few people leave the UK to buy a home in France on their own.

    But Daily Telegraph columnist Michael Wright did just that when he left the easy life of London behind to ‘toughen-up’ in Limousin.

    And in his book C’est La Folie, Michael charts his progress from theatre critic to rugged paysan, as he shepherds his sheep, chats with his chickens and tackles the renovation of his dilapidated home…

    More books about France.

  • Review of Je t’aime à La Folie, by Michael Wright

    Michael-wright WELCOME back to the French life of Daily Telegraph columnist Michael Wright in his latest book, Je t’aime à La Folie.

    After his first book, C’est La Folie, which told us of Michael’s move to France, this time we are taken further into his local village community and how he looks to put down some roots.

    All the regular characters are in the book, his always helpful neighbours, the foraging chickens and rastafarian sheep.

    But there is one character missing from Richard’s life and that is someone to share the rest of his life with, as well as the taste of his first home grown potato.

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  • Moving to France with Courage and Croissants

    Courage-croissantsTHERE are many books and websites offering advice on having a phone installed or getting the electricity turned on when moving to France.

    But what about the psychological challenges and changes you are likely to face, just what do you have to do to make a success of starting anew in another country?

    It is from this direction that Suzanne Saxe-Roux and her husband, Jean Roux, come from in their book, Courage and Croissants.

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