This French Life

Cold weather sees Eurostar delays

THE freezing weather conditions has forced Eurostar to introduce speed restrictions on its service between the UK and France.

As a result delays of around 90 minutes are being experienced by passengers, and this means Eurostar has cancelled a number of trains.

The rail service intends to accommodate passengers on the next available train, alternatively people may either exchange their ticket or receive a refund through their original point of sale.

Separately, planned engineering work near Paris until December 18, 2010 means minor delays of approximately 10 minutes are expected.

Rosslare to Cherbourg service from Celtic Link Ferries

DETAILS of the summer 2011 ferry service between Rosslare and Cherbourg, operated by Celtic Link Ferries, have been published.

Stay safe when driving in winter

AN icy blast has already caught out some drivers in France, with the Dordogne experiencing snowfalls and cities suffering freezing temperatures.

This is not the time of year to be stuck on an isolated road in the heart of France with little in the way of protection.

The simplest advice is to not travel if you know that bad weather is on the way. Keep an eye on local reports and check out the 24-hour Bison Futé traffic website.

French cities must prepare for rising temperatures, says study

THE French government body charged with researching the impact of global warming says many cities will see average temperatures rise.

The Observatoire national sur les effets du réchauffement climatique (Onerc) has produced a detailed study that predicts the possible consequences of a warming planet.

Onerc provide details of one model that says by 2070 Paris and Marseille would be experiencing temperatures similar to that of southern Spain today.

The study says that France needs to ensure its infrastructure is ready to handle the demands of rising temperatures, as the interconnectedness between systems can create weaknesses.

Broadband in Europe speeding up

Broadband speeds in Europe have risen sharply in only a year, suggest official EC figures.

In July 2010, 29% of broadband lines in Europe ran at speeds of at least 10 Mbps, revealed Commission research.

via www.bbc.co.uk

Review of The Camargue, Portrait of a Wilderness

FOR centuries man has attempted to control and master the Camargue, from the creation of vast salt pans to the promotion of modern day tourism.

And it is many of these attempts that Edwin Mullins chronicles in his book The Camargue, Portrait of a Wilderness, as well as the rich stories and often violent history of a region that still excites and intrigues.

Starting with the river Rhone that sets out from the Alps you are introduced to the Romans and the important role they played in establishing trade links and creating an infrastructure, evidence of which can still be seen today.

Norman Leader ticket prices for Portsmouth to Le Harve

PRICING details for the new LD Lines ship, the Norman Leader, have been released for its first crossings between Portsmouth and Le Harve.

One-way tickets are priced from £82.50, based on a five day return for a car and two passengers and are available for travel from May 1, 2011.

The ferry has capacity for 1,215 passengers and combination of either 67 lorries and 200 cars or 44 lorries and 400 cars.

The Norman Leader will operate the overnight 11pm service from Portsmouth and return on the 5pm sailing from Le Havre.

French patients sue over weight-loss drug linked to deaths

Mediator has been available in France for over 30 years despite fears it could cause heart problems

via www.guardian.co.uk

February flights from CityJet between Brive and London

A NUMBER of additional flights between Brive Airport - Vallée de la Dordogne and London City Airport are to be operated in February by CityJet.

The airline is already offering special flights over the Christmas period, but due to the success of the route, CityJet, which is a subsidiary airline of AirFrance KLM Group, will offer passengers more opportunities to fly between the UK and France.

The additional flights will operate on Friday, February 18, 2011; Sunday, February 20; Friday, February 25; Sunday, February 27 2011.

Les Amis des Chats launches fund raising calendar

CAT welfare charity, les Amis des Chats, has produced its 2011 calendar to help raise funds and awareness of its work.

The money raised through the calendar is very important because it comes in during the early part of the year, which is a busy time for les Amis des Chats.

For instance it is a time when a large number of cats need sterilising before the mating season in the spring.