This French Life

Looking back at 2006 in France

FRANCE seems to have spent 2006 catching its breath after the turmoil and troubles of the previous year.

The first few months of the year were spent picking up the pieces after the riots in the autumn of 2005 and although there were the occasional bumps in the road, the focus of much attention seemed to be on the presidential elections of 2007.

A website round up

HERE is a collection of news stories from various sources that you might not have seen over the Christmas period.

Ads for French retailers set to hit airwaves (IHT)
Restrictions on supermarkets and retailers covering advertising on TV are set to be lifted on January 1.

Unemployment falls to lowest in five years (FT)
Figures show unemployment has fallen although many argue statistics are not reflective of true situation.

Rule No 1 for treating les anglais (the Times)
Doctors are being given lessons in treating English patients to ensure there are no misunderstandings.

France to publish UFO archive online (MSNBC)
Space agency says it will publish its archive of UFO sightings and other phenomena on the internet.

Tune into the wine library

BLOWING away the often stuffy world of wine is Gary Vaynerchuk and his Wine Library TV website.

His regular home made wine reviews have become very popular as they offer hints, tips and advice in a easy to digest way.

Handy translation software

WHILE a French/English dictionary always comes in handy with those difficult words, even the mightiest of tomes can struggle with specialist vocabulary.

Be they medical terms, those associated with a hobby or even modern phrases to do with electronics and the internet your well-thumbed dictionary may struggle.

Le Donjon du Faucon Noir brought back to life

WHEN most people start a restoration project in France they don’t usually have to learn ancient building techniques or deal with the discovery of human skeletons.

But for Harry Atterton and his wife Jacqueline these challenges are all part and parcel of bringing back to life one of the oldest castles in France.

Briton’s caviar farm in Aquitaine

IT may come as a bit of a surprise that the second largest producer of caviar in the world is found in Aquitaine.

But even more of a surprise is that a Brit, who hails from Leicestershire, is behind the company and which this year registered sales of £4.7 million.

TGV Est set for summer debut

BY next summer the new TGV Est Européen line will link the centre of Reims to Paris (Gare de l’Est) in just 45 minutes.

The TGV line will link directly with destinations in the Ardennes to the north of Reims (Rethel, Charleville-Mézières and Sedan) and destinations to the south (Châlons-en-Champagne, Vitry-le-François).

French festivities from a far

IF you want to get a taste of a French Christmas then take look at Graham Holliday's collection of photographs from the dinner table.

And the France 24 website has a couple of entertaining news reports, the first visits the shops of Paris, while the second drops in on a chocolatier.

A Merry Christmas

HERE'S to a very merry Christmas and I'll wish you all the best for the New Year.

Many thanks for continuing to drop in on This French Life and to those who have left helpful comments, posted a photo on Flickr and passed on advice in the forum.

So I'll say Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!!!

Regards, Craig

Life expectancy in French regions

FRANCE already enjoys a life expectancy second only to Japan, but where in the country itself comes out top?

Figures from the national statistics office INSEE show that for men it is those around Paris who live longest, whilst women in the Pays de la Loire region enjoy the longest life.