Of all the French words or phrases that have been universally adopted, one is first among equals, writes Christopher Strong.
It is the phrase that so perfectly describes social sins, that it has joined such mondiale stalwarts as sex, taxi and radar.
The phrase, of course, is faux pas.
FEW people can resist stopping in front of an estate agent’s window just to see what properties they have on their books.
Here regular contributor to the site, lawyer Guillaume Barlet, takes a look at some of the things you may need to consider if looking to buy a place in France.
In recent years, French laws relating to property ownership, inheritance and taxes have been subject to dramatic changes. Adaptation is key and these rules are full of traps for the unwary.
I HAD to slowly back away from the computer screen after opening an email from reader Steve Pritchard with a photograph of this bug attached.
He is hoping that other readers of the site will be able to identify what type of beetle it is, he saw it whilst out walking near a vineyard at Peyriac de Mer just west of Narbonne (map).
Click on the thumbnail image to get a better view of the beast, and if you know what it is please leave a comment below.
WITH the summer holidays here many people will be driving around France either visiting friends or enjoy a week or two away.
But sometimes things don’t run smoothly and should something go wrong and you need to call on the emergency services, a little advanced preparation may help.
WHAT should be a quiet Sunday morning as the sun beats down on the French countryside is anything but as the turbo on a Renault 5 GT rattles my ribcage.
TAKE five minutes out of your day for a quick crossword challenge that will help boost your French vocabulary.
Beverley has created another crossword for you to enjoy with the clues offered up in French, and the answers in English.
You can download a two page .pdf file offering up the quiz itself on page one, and the answers on page two.
IF you enjoy motorsport and want to experience a rally around the roads of south west France then head to Sauveterre la Lemance (map).
A number of teams will be heading to the village for a day of racing on Sunday, June 28, with drivers from across France expected to attend.
And if you want to get an idea of the race take a look over the photographs and videos on local website http://mcracing47.skyrock.com/
Update 28/06/09: Racing through the French countryside
Update: Number change for France Telecom’s English language helpline
A COUPLE of comments have been left on a story from the archive about contacting the English language helpline from France Telecom.
For quite some time people have been struggling to get through, although others have been successful, but it has now received some additional support staff.
WHEN I moved to a small house in sight of the church tower at Loubejac in the south of the Dordogne, one of the first people I met was Roger Clifford-Banks.
He first arrived in the Périgord region in 1972, and over the years has lived on and off in Loubejac with his wife and three children.
WORK has started on the new cemetery at Fromelles, in northern France, which will provide a final resting place for around 400 British and Australian soldiers.