This French Life

Author: Craig McGinty

  • Bergerac Airport’s impact on the Dordogne

    Bergerac-airportYOU may have recently seen an article in The Connexion newspaper that took an in-depth look at the impact that Bergerac Airport has had on the surrounding region.

    There is no doubt that the airport has been a great success and the newspaper reported on the building of new passenger facilities, as well as the changing make up of visitors.

    A large proportion of the piece was based on a report produced by the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de la Dordogne, if you want to take a look at it yourself see a piece I wrote on the Economic impact of Bergerac Airport.

  • The Pope of biodynamic wine

    Joly-franceNICHOLAS Joly is equal parts philosopher, economist, poet, author, lecturer, country gentlemen, biodynamic advocate, and 100 per cent wine maker, writes Christopher Strong.

    His Chenin Blancs are consistently rated ‘exceptional’ by all the critics, but Nicholas Joly, often labelled The Pope of biodynamics by one wine magazine takes no credit for his renowned wines.

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  • Benefit fight raised in Westminster

    THE campaign for the reinstatement of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component, carers and attendance allowance took a further step forward today with questions raised in the House, to the Work and Pensions Ministers, by Oliver Letwin (Con) and Roger Gale (Con), writes Tina Hamilton.

    Mr Letwin’s question regarding when DLA was going to be paid to expatriates living in the EU was brushed aside by minister Tony McNulty with little comment, other than ‘I’ll get back to you’.

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  • Sharing ideas on the Riviera

    Riviera-womanTHE Riviera Woman website is taking time out from the online world to dip a toe into the real world with a get together later this month.

    The event marks the first anniversary of the website which looks to offer ways for people on the Mediterranean coast to link up, share ideas and network.

    Site editor Anna Fill said: “We have some brilliant and talented women living along the Rivieras of France and Italy and I am looking forward to meeting more. And the event is open to men too, I wouldn’t like anyone to think I am on a single mission.”

    The meet-up takes place on Thursday, February 26 at the Capocaccia Bar, Monte Carlo.

    Related article: Bringing together Riviera women

  • Curry in France? Just add hot water

    IF there is one thing that most Brits in France miss it’s a hot ‘n’ spicy curry on a bed of fluffy white rice.

    When Lee Aston, who was originally from Coventry and now lives with his French wife in Normandy, helped a family member build a website he was thanked with a box of packet curries.

    Then as his friends, both British and French, took a liking to the curries an idea grew and he realised that there was a demand for everything from a mild tikka masala to a fiery vindaloo.

    Here Lee chats about how he started his business and the setting up of PacketCurry.com

  • Insurance advice following storms in France

    Intasure - insurance for holiday home ownersPROPERTY insurers Intasure have asked owners of properties damaged by the storm winds that hit south west France to contact them so that any claims can be processed.

    Intasure are asking policy holders to take photographs of the damage that has been caused and to get written quotes for the work required.

    Work up to a value of €1,500 will be covered if it is required quickly and a claim form is available via the documentation link of the Intasure website.

    To contact Intasure call 0845 111 0672.

    Service-Public: Tempête – comment être remboursé?

    Related article: Clean up after storms in south west France

  • Niort, a walk around the town

    Niort-townWITH the diabolical sterling to euro exchange rate reducing pension and investment income by 25 per cent, expats living in the l’Hexagon are tighteningn their belts and thinking twice before lunching out in the best restaurants and enjoying evenings at the theatre, writes Beryl Brennan.

    So here is a suggestion for an inexpensive excursion on a fine day – a walk round Niort, especially pleasant on Sundays, when the streets are empty!

    Niort has its origins in the 7th Century, when a small bridge was built over the Sèvre and was named ‘new ford’. The village became known as Novioritum and then Niort.

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  • Capturing winter scenes of France

    Winter-franceA NORTHERLY wind sweeping across Germany into France is expected to take temperatures down way beyond freezing tonight.

    A figure of -10°C is being predicted by Météo France for tomorrow morning (January 7) and with a wind speed of around 20kmph things could be particularly chilly.

    Yesterday the Eiffel Tower was closed due to snow as it became dangerous for visitors, while Phil Voice has been out in the winter wonderland of the south west.

    Richard Barley has also captured the icy scene around his home in the Vendée, and if you’ve been out and about to enjoy the winter feel free to leave a link below.

  • Golden surprise in galettes des rois


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    AT this time of year many people will enjoy eating a galette des rois, but if you buy one from a boulangerie just outside Caen you could be in for a surprise.

    Baker Julien Vitrebert will place two tiny ingots of gold, worth €400 (£386) each, in two of his galettes over the coming weeks, quite a change from the usual plastic toy that sees the winner wear a paper crown.

    So you can expect quite a queue outside Julien Vitrebert’s shop in Frénouville, and he has said he will be the only person who knows which two tarts will have the ingots, not even his wife will know.

  • Looking forward on the coming year – part 1

    New-year-france
    WELL that was quite a year. From initial worries about the economy struggling a little, to banks and financial institutions around the world stumbling and pulling up the drawbridge, the coming year should be a bit of a doddle.

    But what does lie ahead? Here are the thoughts of some of the people I’ve featured on This French Life as they look to the future for their own projects as well as France as a whole.

    I have split the replies, part two is here, and of course if you have your own thoughts on 2009 please feel free to leave a comment below.

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