This French Life

Author: Coral Luke

  • Education in France – a view from the playground

    ChateaublockFOR parents moving to France the biggest worry is how their offspring are going to cope. What are French schools like, how does the system operate, will they settle, what options do I have?

    The list is endless and the older they get the more complex and difficult the subject becomes.

    Last year my daughter and her two children moved to France. We had worries about how the children would settle, although we were told many times that children adapt very easily; more easily than adults!

    So for a mini series about education in France and the options available I decided to ask a mini expert, my granddaughter, on how she feels about living in France and about school here.

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  • UK benefits and allowances after moving to France

    Francehealth
    WITH so many people leaving the UK to take up residence in other EU countries, including France, there are always dozens, if not hundreds, of questions to be answered.

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  • Dijon – a city of art and history

    Palais ducs Bourgogne

    The Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne, in Dijon, just one of the jewels in a city of art and culture

    THE mayor of Dijon, François Rebsamen, has been in Paris to put his case for Dijon to be awarded the status of ‘City of Art and History’, a status that has been awarded since 1985.

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  • We all need a holiday sometime

    Jacqui Alban

    Jacqui Alban spotted a niche, providing holidays in France for disabled people

    “We don’t need to know what your condition is, your disease, whether or not you use a wheelchair, have a sensory or physical impairment ; these are not important, we try not to label you, we try not to ask, all we need to know is that you want to go on holiday.”

    As a disabled person, this is music to the ears. What a disabled person wants is to be accepted in exactly the same way as everyone else. They want people to see past the wheelchair, the walking stick, the hearing aid and guide dog; they want to be seen for exactly who they are; themselves.

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  • Medical advice for disabled travellers

    Disabled holiday FranceWITH the holiday booked, and your accommodation and travel arrangements in hand, the next thing is ensuring your medical requirements are taken care of.

    When looking for medical insurance always advise the insurance company of all your medical problems.

    If you are completely honest about all your conditions and you understand what you would liable for in the event of an emergency it will save any unforeseen bills at a time when you are under stress and worry.

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  • Travel and accommodation for disabled people

    Wheelchair access gitesHAVING chosen your holiday destination, if you haven’t booked an all inclusive one then there is the matter of travel and accommodation to be taken into consideration.

    There is a variety of travel facilities on offer to cross the channel and a wide range of accommodation accessible to disabled people; but the final choice depends on each person’s personal needs.

    Many hotels are now equipped with lifts, have generously sized bedrooms which allow manoeuvrability for wheelchairs and bathrooms with disabled facilities.

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  • Ways to explore France for disabled people

    CoralTHE time of year has come when we want to sit by a cosy fire and browse a variety of holiday magazines.

    Perhaps you are dreaming of sun, sea and sand, or maybe something more energetic, let’s say surfing, skiing, cycling or perhaps hot air ballooning.

    But, spare a thought for a group of people for whom holidays can seem just a dream.

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  • On yer bike!

    1259186945_5ac07b13b8_mWHETHER it is the influence of the Tour de France, the cost of petrol or the urge to get fit, it seems that Britons are becoming a nation of cycling fanatics.

    There was a 30% increase in bookings for cycling holidays last year and the trend looks set to rise.

    In recent years cycling has come out of the shadows and received a new lease of life. Issues such as carbon emissions, eco travel and sustainable transport as well as an increase in health and fitness have seen Britons take to the saddle.

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  • Auxois-Morvan in art

    1221898013_d4b8b2c296_mBURGUNDY is not an art centre but a centre of art until September 16.

    Under the auspices of CRANE (Création artistique, reseaux, attitudes poétiques, nouvelles technologies, échanges internationaux) there is something for everyone scattered around the area.

    Many of the exhibitions, workshops and concerts are being held in places not usually associated with artistic matters.

    The small village of Drée which has 20 houses and 33 inhabitants has voted overwhelmingly to pledge 1000€ toward the festival. As the mayor, Paul Robinat, says how many municipalities would dedicate a tenth of their budget on such a scheme?

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  • Mystère de Sainte-Reine

    Alise-Sainte-ReineTHE village of Alise-Sainte-Reine is set on the hillside of Mont Auxois in the Cote d’Or.

    It takes its name from a beautiful, young, Christian woman, Reine d’Alise, who, in 252 AD, was beheaded after spurning the advances of the Roman governor, Olibrius and not denying her Christian faith.

    The legend surrounding the story asserts that, following the execution, a spring started to gush from the place where the young woman’s head fell.

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