This French Life

How the 'museum' that is France is slowly changing

WHEN you watch a city, and country, long enough you begin to recognise its idiosyncrasies; its swings and its roundabouts.

And it is these traits that the writing and observations of Matthew Fraser reveal, as he offers up views of life in Paris but also an insight into what lies beneath the French people.

His latest book, Home Again in Paris: Oscar, Leo and Me, tells of his return to the French capital, much changed from when he left it 25 years earlier, with two bichon dogs in tow.

Discover streets of 19th century Paris at the Wallace Collection

D. Cox, 'The Pont des Arts with the Louvre and Tuileries from the Quai Conti', c. 1837-38.
THE Wallace Collection, in London, will offer visitors the chance to take in the streets of 19th century Paris in an exhibition that opens on 20 June, 2013.

The Discovery of Paris will focus on the period c. 1802-40 and features seventy watercolours, preparatory drawings and associated prints, this exhibition includes outstanding works by Turner, Girtin and Bonington, and other artists who are now less familiar, such as Thomas Shotter Boys and William Callow.

The beautiful Parisian views they chose are often the same as those painted by the artists we can see today selling their pictures in Montmartre or on the banks of the Seine.

The Discovery of Paris charts the remarkable contribution of the British to the iconography of Paris, depicting the French capital as it became the major destination for mass middle-class tourism that it has remained ever since.

Taste of American independence in Cahors on 4 July

CELEBRATING the spirit of independence and liberty, the Americans in the Lot association will host a barbecue, on the Fourth of July of course, in central Cahors in front of the Villa Malbec.

A degustation featuring, along with Cahors Malbecs, those from several California wineries, will be presented by Paul Bush, owner of Madroña Winery in the Mother Lode Country of California.

A must for such an event is a genuine American barbecue offering up hamburgers, coleslaw, fries and brownies are on the menu, provided by a 'chuck wagon'.

And to really get you in the spirit of the day, there will be American blues and country music provided by guitar and banjo strumming duo Harpwood and those down home boys at Grizzly Dreams.

Entrance to degustation and music €5, including a Malbec wine glass and one glass of wine, with the barbecue priced at €15.

For more information: contact@cahorsmalbeclounge.com or tel: 05 65 23 82 35 or 06 85 79 32 94

News stops: Chinese students attacked, Napoleonic semaphore and Paris mayor

A QUICK round up of some of the recent news headlines from France.

Attack on Chinese students dents France's image: minister
French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said Sunday that the country's image had taken a hit following an attack on six Chinese oenology students in the wine-producing Bordeaux region.

How Napoleon's semaphore telegraph changed the world
Napoleonic semaphore was the world's first telegraph network, carrying messages across 18th Century France faster than ever before. Now a group of enthusiastic amateurs are reviving the ingenious system.

Paris mayor praises beauty of revamped Place de la République
Bertrand Delanoë says £20.4m renovation of French capital's historic square has allowed it to be reclaimed by the people.

Head blow leaves Australian with French accent: report
An Australian woman who now speaks with a French-sounding accent after a head injury eight years ago has revealed the experience has left her feeling frustrated and reclusive.

Anne Hidalgo: How heir to Spanish socialist tradition has chance to be first female mayor of Paris
Working mother takes on France's elite in battle for job to run capital city – a position which is seen as a stepping stone to the presidency.

Socialists in third place at Cahuzac by-election vote

THE Socialist government has been given a bloodied nose by finishing in third place in a parliamentary by-election to replace disgraced minister Jérôme Cahuzac.

In Sunday's vote in Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Lot-et-Garonne) the second-round run off will be between the UMP party representative and a member of the far-right National Front (FN).

It would appear that the damage done by Jérôme Cahuzac, who was forced out of the finance ministry for tax-dodging, is going to take some time to shake off for François Hollande and the Socialist party (PS).

First round results:
UMP - 28.7%; FN - 26%; PS - 23.6%.

Workers needs to pay into pensions for longer

A REPORT into proposed changes for the French pension system has recommended that people should pay contributions for longer to get a full pension.

The Moreau report also said well-off pensioners should pay more taxes, and that there should be a small increase in employers' pension contributions.

The panel recommends increasing the contributions period needed for a full pension from 41.5 years now to up to 44 years, which could mean that many could end up having to work longer although the statutory retirement age would not change.

Increasing the contributions period was believed to be the best way to adapt the system to longer life expectancy, and that changing the actual retirement age was something to look at in the medium term.

The government is set to sit down with unions and business leaders in the coming weeks, although the threat of strike action and worker protests is likely to hang heavy over the discussions.

NSA snooping: Facebook reveals details of data requests

Facebook received 9,000-10,000 requests for user data from US government entities in the second half of 2012.

The social-networking site said the requests, relating to between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts, covered issues from local crime to national security.

Microsoft meanwhile said it received 6,000 and 7,000 requests for data from between 31,000 and 32,000 accounts.

via www.bbc.co.uk

Hop on the bus for a movie tour of Paris

THE French cinema industry is great export for the country, but also a real draw for lovers of the 'seventh art'.

Rolling countryside scenes, dramatic coastal views and the streets of Paris have formed the backdrop of many cinema classics.

Such scenes lie at the heart of Abigail de Bruyne's business idea, Le Movie Tour- Set in Paris, which promises to take film fans to hidden corners of the capital and shine a light on the stories within.

Here Abigail answers a few questions about the business, but also highlights some of her favourite Paris film scenes and why the silver screen has such an appeal to many.

A 'preferably eaten before' date planned to cut food waste

IN its campaign to cut food waste the French government has proposed a new labelling system that provides consumers with a 'preferably eaten before' date.

Agriculture minister, Guillaume Garot, has signed an agreement with major food suppliers to feature packaging with À consommer de préférence avant… on them, in an attempt to reduce by half the amount of food wasted in France.

The agreement also outlines an awareness campaign amongst the public and in schools, and hopes to make it easier for food to be donated, with a website also set to be launched to enable people to donate food that would otherwise go to waste.

News stops: Airbus jet's test flight, Thatcher opera, EU cars safety call

A LOOK over some of the recent headlines from France.

Airbus A350 successfully completes maiden test flight
The newest aircraft from European planemaker Airbus has successfully completed its maiden test flight.

Thatcher and Pinochet turned into opera
Margaret Thatcher's friendship with ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet turned into an opera due to open in Paris for a five-night run.

Pastry chef jailed for Internet humiliation of apprentice
A French pastry chef has been sentenced to two months in prison for systematically humiliating a young apprentice in incidents that were filmed and posted on social media.

New EU cars will dial for help in case of a crash
The EU wants all new passenger cars fitted out by October 2015 with a life-saving automatic dial-up system so emergency workers can speed to the site of a crash as swiftly as possible.