This French Life

Remi Ochlik: I expected to see horrible things. Yes, I was afraid

Remi Ochlik, 28, who has been killed in Homs alongside the veteran war reporter Marie Colvin, was an award-winning French photojournalist, considered one of the biggest talents of a new generation of photographer-reporters.

Last month he won a World Press Photo award for Battle for Libya, his series from the Libyan uprising.

Born in Lorraine in the east of France, Ochlik had always wanted to be a war photographer. He made his name aged 20, while still at photography college in Paris, when he went to Haiti in 2004 to document the riots and bloody conflict surrounding the fall of president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

via www.guardian.co.uk

French housing crisis, 'Mademoiselle' banned and more

A LOOK over some of the news stories from France.

France Telecom plans dividend cut after sales fall
France Telecom plans to slash its payout to shareholders this year after a weak performance in 2011.

France's housing crisis
As Nicolas Sarkozy enters the presidential election race we take a look at the issues likely to dominate the campaign. The recent cold snap highlighted the acuteness of France's housing shortage.

'Mademoiselle' banned on official French forms
French feminists have scored a major victory in their fight to have the term "mademoiselle" outlawed as sexist after the prime minister's office issued a decree banning it in official forms.

France coach crash driver 'admits he may have dozed off'
The driver of a coach involved in a fatal motorway crash has admitted that he may have "dozed off" at the wheel, according to a French prosecutor.

November 11 is Remembrance Day
Armistice Day on November 11 is to become the national day of remembrance for all France's war dead, and not just the First World War, MPs have decided.

Condor Ferries temporarily moves Weymouth service to Poole

CONDOR Ferries has announced that sailings up to Monday 27 February will be relocated from Weymouth to Poole, while initial investigations get under way at Weymouth Port.

Earlier this week mutual concerns were raised by Condor Ferries and Weymouth & Portland
Borough Council regarding the structural integrity of part of the ferry berth in Weymouth Port.

Condor Ferries continues to contact passengers affected by the change of port and where necessary is helping them to change their travel plans, as well as making sure that up-to-date information is available on its website www.condorferries.co.uk.

Related: Condor Ferries ticket sales open for summer 2012

New BA routes to France from London City

British Airways will be operating two new French routes from London City Airport, to Angers in the Loire Valley and Quimper in Brittany, starting in May.

via www.londoncityairport.com

Websites to help with petrol and fuel prices

YIKES! The price of petrol is heading to record levels again in France, and I'm sure some are still recovering from paying for extra heating fuel after cold snap.

Unfortunately petrol prices are flirting with the €1.60 a litre barrier, and domestic fuel is around the €1 a litre level.

With demand around the world for oil appearing relentless, it seems many will have to change driving habits as well as look at alternative methods of heating.

But if you want to keep an eye on petrol prices don't forget the official Prix des Carburants en France website.

The site is run by the French government and collects data from thousands of filling stations across the country.

You can start your search via département, commune or postcode, with the results displaying the name of petrol stations and supermarkets closest to your chosen location and the individual prices per litre.

If you register an account with the site you can track prices over time at different stations local to you.

And if you want to make sure you are not paying over the odds for heating fuel then the rather bare bones, prix de vente moyens des carburants, du fioul domestique et des fiouls lourds en France website will help out.

Motorist body higlights breathalyser kit requirement

THE Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has issued a press release highlighting the introduction of the requirement to carry a breathalyser kit when driving in France, which starts later this year.

The IAM is warning that from 1 July this year all drivers visiting France will need to carry a breathalyser kit in their cars, as French drivers will have to. From November there will be an €11 fine for not complying with this.

With a start date for the new measure of 1 July 2012, the rules will apply for anyone traveling to or through France by car in the summer holiday season, even just for a day trip.

via From July all drivers in France must carry a breathalyser says IAM

Beautiful but frosty morning in Loubejac

AT this time of year a frosty morning often means a clear blue sky later in the day, this brings out the occasional butterfly and in the distance I've heard the cranes heading north, a sign that spring is just around the corner.

French pub quiz in London for Doctors of the World UK

BRUSH up your knowledge of France to take part in a fund raising French pub quiz in London.

Organised by Doctors of the World UK, the UK division of Médecins du Monde, the quiz will take place on Thursday 19 April, 2012 at The George Pub, 213 The Strand in London.

A maximum of six people per quiz team is allowed, and there will be plenty of prizes to win as well as much French merriment and mirth.

With all the money raised going towards Doctors of the World UK, whose work currently involves 90 projects in 50 countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Spring book sale for SOS Help in Paris

THE English language helpline service, SOS Help, is holding a fund raising event in Paris in March.

The book sale takes place on Sunday, March 25 at Orrick Law Offices, 31 ave Perre Ier de Serbie, 75016 Paris from noon until 4pm, and its booksales are the charity's major fundraisier, providing two-thirds of the income required to keep its telephone line open.

SOS Help is an English speaking crisis line in France, it is open from 3pm to 11pm daily and can be reached on 01 46 21 46 46.

Coach crash death, Iran stops oil sales and more

Un accident de car fait un mort dans la Marne par BFMTV
CATCH up with some of the news headlines from France.

British teacher dies in school coach crash in France
A British man has died after a coach bringing Worcestershire pupils home from a skiing trip crashed in France.

Iran 'halts oil sales to France and Britain'
Iran has halted oil sales to British and French companies, the nation's oil ministry has said.

Sarkozy opens re-election campaign headquarters
French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened his re-election campaign headquarters in a residential area of Paris on Saturday. He emphasised the office's modest size, in a dig at the larger headquarters of his opponent, Socialist Francois Hollande.

French parties target London expats in bid for key votes
New overseas constituency sees political parties crossing the channel to woo voters.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn faces 'prostitution ring' questioning
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is to be questioned next week by police investigating an alleged prostitution ring in northern France, officials say.

France is warming to Francois Hollande as 'Mr Normal' after years of Nicolas Sarkozy as president
France's presidential election may come down to a battle between bling and bland as Francoise Hollande challenges Nicolas Sarkozy.