This French Life

Cost of mobile phone calls reduced

AN agreement has come into force meaning the cost of making and receiving mobile calls within the European Union is now cheaper.

The new EuroTariff has been introduced to force mobile phone companies to cut prices and bring to an end striking differences in call rates across Europe.

UK users often paid some of the highest prices, but from today the cost of making a call can be no more than 34p a minute, and 17p to receive a call.

Ferry ticket deals available

ALTHOUGH the impact of low-cost flights is often quoted as the main reason behind the popularity of a place in France, the increased competition on the ferry routes across the Channel shouldn't be discounted.

The Independent newspaper's Simon Calder highlights a couple of £30 each way ticket deals for a car and their occupants.

The two main operators, P&O Ferries and SeaFrance are offering passengers the chance to save, although availability is likely to be limited and travel restrictions apply.

Pics, computers and wedding bells

THIS reflection of stalactites, from Les Grottes de Lacave in the Lot, features in the This French Life photo album on Flickr.

Taken by jojo79 it captures the dark, reflective atmosphere of the caves, which you access via a small train, with the chambers up to 60 metres high.

Staying in the south west and artist Adam Cope has been out gathering the last of the sunflowers from the fields near his home in the Dordogne.

Saturday schooling to end

SATURDAY morning classes are to end from la rentrée 2008 for primary school children, although older pupils will not be so lucky.

With parent's social lives changing, many have expressed their dissatisfaction with a system that denied families the chance to spend weekends together.

The decision has been announced by education minister Xavier Darcos, although how the lost time will be made up has not yet been decided upon, it is possible the summer holiday period may be reduced.

Related article:
Count down to, La Rentrée

French language course from the BBC

HERE is a another handy resource for those people keen to improve their French, this time care of the BBC.

They are promoting a 12 week course, delivered via email, which will offer tips and advice over a three month period before finishing with an 'end of course' assessment.

All you do is sign up with your email address, confirm your registration and then each week a lesson lands in your inbox - great for those keen to improve their language skills.

Internet tools and tips for your site

IT has been quite a while since I wrote about some of the new internet tools and tips I've discovered that you can use to help give your holiday home website a bit of a brush up.

So I thought with the nights beginning to draw in, and maybe your thoughts are drifting off to revamping a web page or two, I'd point out my recent finds.

Fears over impact of health changes for disabled people

THE problems thrown up by President Sarkozy's plans to restrict access to health services has thrown up many questions and comments.

The new rules will mean people who are under retirement age, and not working, who move to France from the end of this month will need to take out private medical insurance.

But Euro MP Mary Honeyball has raised the issue of how disabled Britons will be able to get medical insurance for pre-existing conditions, claiming this goes against European Union laws.

Taking in a few stops on the web

HERE are a few interesting stops out on the internet, taking in everything from Vélib' bikes in Paris to changing attitudes towards bull fighting in the south of France.

The first story is a look at life in les banlieues two years after the riots, many believe little has changed, while a campaign is being led against bull fighting from the Dordogne town of Périgueux, organised by the Comité radicalement anti corrida.

Alfred, the hatmaker of Montpellier

EVERYONE knows Alfred. Well, everyone in the handsome city of Montpellier at least, writes Jeremy Josephs.

Situated within a stone’s throw from Richard Branson’s swish and spanking new Virgin Mega-Store, Alfred the hatmaker stands out more than the odd kilometre or two because of its faded 1930s facia and fittings – evidently the last time a single centime was spent on the shop.

Annual Foire de Chalon-sur-Saône, Saône et Loire

CHALON-sur-Saône, Saône et Loire, Burgundy, is not a town to rest on its laurels. With the annual Foire attracting on average an extra 1000 people each year, in 2006 33,000 people attended, they expect this year to be bigger and better than ever.

Being held at Parc Expo from September 28 to October 7 there are 150 exhibitors from a range of businesses and entertainment lined up to entertain visitors with special dedication to people with reduced mobility.