This French Life

The fearful French

IF The Times newspaper is to be believed as the French head back to work after the summer holidays they are at an all time low.

Fear of flying, fear of bird flu and fear of change has seen many a French man and woman bemoan life's difficulties.

But one small piece of good news is that unemployment levels have fallen to 9.9%, their lowest since September 2003.

Poole ferry service boost

BRITTANY Ferries intends to increase its service between Poole and Cherbourg with up to six crossings a day from summer 2006.

The company will also supplement its service during this time with a high-speed ferry during the peak season.

Union calls for strike plan

UNION leaders in France look set to call for strike action in September to voice their opposition at recent changes to employment law.

Head of the CGT union Bernard Thibault said that ‘all the ingredients are there for widespread mobilization’.

New rules allow employers to get rid of staff in the first two years of employment, but unions say the plans will fail to create more jobs and have little impact on the 10 per cent unemployment level.

Summer tourism figures

FRENCH tourism bosses have said that this year’s trade was comparable to that of 2003 in the south of the country but the north did not do as well.

The Observation, Développement et Ingénierie Touristiques France (ODIT) said that summer 2005 in the Mediterranean area was improved on 2004.

Chirac backs airline tax

THE cost of a flight to France may rise after Jacques Chirac announced a tax on airline tickets would be brought in to fund aid in Africa.

"I have asked the government to start the necessary procedures so that such a levy is in place from next year," the French president said.

Tales of wine

THE wine trade in France is going through a great deal of transition as bumper harvests and increasing competition threaten many vineyards.

For many the problem lies in the terroir, the blend of soils and atmosphere individual French wine makers cherish, and the IHT takes a look at the how the ancient system works.

And for something completely different how about a glass of Kosher wine?

Price of medicines in France

THE French health service works by reimbursing people around 70% of the medical expenses, with the rest either paid out of your pocket or via supplementary insurance.

In France the cost of medicines are quite low and there is a useful website that provides you with details of prices.

More French please

WITH tongue firmly in cheek Ryanair are offering one-way flights to France from 5p, plus taxes and charges, in the hope that students take up learning French.

The low cost airline says that the cut price deals will be on offer for flights to Toulon and Grenoble because there has been a 50% drop in students choosing French A-levels over the past decade.

Eurostar ready for Bank Holiday

EUROSTAR has said services will run normally this Bank Holiday weekend despite threatened strike action by security staff.
The cross channel rail operator is to run 10 extra services, around 7,500 more seats, to cope with an expected 140,000 passengers travelling this weekend.
Strikes set for Friday and Saturday will have no impact on services Eurostar said.

Forget French property, says report

THE British public’s obsession with second homes looks set to continue, but property in the UK may prove more popular than somewhere abroad.

The number of people with second properties in Britain, rather than overseas, is on course to rise by 24 per cent, or 77,000 homes, over the next 10 years, according to a study published today.