This French Life

Using a blog for your French business

SO just who is running a blog-style website to help their business in France?

I have written in the past about the merits of spending a short time writing about your local area or speciality to help promote a holiday home or business venture (see Blogging for your business).

But for many people the proof is in the pudding, so I emailed two friends a few questions about their experience of using a blog and how they have found it.

Change on Air France flights to US

THE majority of Air France flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to the United States will now be leaving from Terminal 2E.

The new procedures will come into effect from August 31 and impact upon more than 20 daily flights the airline operates to the States.

Marseille flights from Ryanair

RYANAIR has outlined its plans for its new base at Marseille Airport, with special emphasis on its routes to Morocco.

Le Maroc newspaper reports that there will be seven flights a week to Oujda, and three a week to Fes, from Marseille with one-way tickets starting at around €23.99.

Government plans and projects

AS France heads back to work after the summer holidays, the government has outlined some of its plans and ideas for the coming months.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has announced on TF1 increased support for those on the minimum wage (SMIC) and help with the cost of fuel, but trade union Force Ouvriere believes more should be done to help the French public.

A week of Franco British celebrations

A TOUCH of the Entente Cordiale will be brought to the streets of Sainte Foy La Grande all next week.

A celebration of all things British and French will take place in the town, which is sat on the banks of the Dordogne, with cricket, petanque and art work on display.

Immigrant numbers rise

RESEARCH shows that France is home to Europe’s largest immigrant population, numbering 4.9 million, or around 8 per cent of the population.

The findings from the national statistics office INSEE are based on figures between 1999 and 2004, with more than a third from EU countries and 31 per cent form North Africa, including Algeria and Morocco.

The cost of running a chateau

I ONCE spent six chilly months helping in the restoration of a 19th Century chateau in the heart of Auvergne.

At the time only a few rooms on the ground floor were being used and our job was to build some bathrooms, repair a number of outbuildings and even create a small dining area in a stable block.

Black diamonds and dark music

NOT only has Australia taken a bite out of the French wine market, a handful of farmers are targeting a particularly valuable delicacy – truffles.

The BBC website features a piece on the growing number of truffle farms in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.

TGV Est timetable and track route

IN less than twelve months the LGV Est high speed rail track between Paris and Strasbourg will open.

The new route will cut journey times in half giving travellers the chance to take the TGV to eastern France and on to Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland.

Summing up the French

IT is Friday afternoon and I thought you might want to while away a few minutes with this short piece on The Telegraph website, which allegedly offers an insight into the French.

Don’t forget to look out for the ‘intellectual superiority’ in everyone and if you want to get on make sure you display plenty of ‘liveliness’. And people pay money for this advice?