This French Life

The warmest spring in France since 1900

I SUPPOSE it shouldn't come as too big a surprise, but spring in France was the warmest since 1900.

Figures from Météo-France say that the months of March, April and May have experienced temperatures 2.6°C higher than average.

This beats the recent highs of 2007 (+2.1°C) and 2003 (+1.8°C), with the weather service saying stable anti-cyclonic conditions over Europe were to blame for the high temperatures.

Floral art exhibition in Sorèze (81)

IF you want to discover interesting ways to create floral art then an exhibition in Sorèze (map) in the Tarn may appeal.

Le Carrousel des Plantes de Sorèze takes place from June 11 to 12, 2011 and features exhibitions and discussions on flowers, plants and the horticultural world.

A floral art competition is being staged by Monique Gimenez who runs MG Fleurs et Creation, which is devoted to the teaching of modern flower arranging.

And the floral exhibition will enjoy a dramatic backdrop as the Abbaye Ecole Royale de Sorèze will be playing host.

Jelly Ariège looking to share coffee and ideas

IS that another Jelly co-working event I see? It is and this one is Jelly Ariège, taking place at the Espace Initiative, Mirepoix.

Set up by freelance translator, Leslie Starr, it lets homeworkers, freelancers, small business owners and office based people drop in and share a workspace, as well as a coffee.

Leslie has arranged for the get-togethers to take place on Tuesday mornings from 9am until 12.30pm on the June 7 and 14, and July 12 and 26, 2011.

It is free to attend the Jelly Ariège event, but you need to sign up in advance online.

Related:
Normandy Jelly takes shape for freelancers and homeworkers

Eurotunnel set to carry electricity between UK and France

SOON it won't be just trains passing through the Channel Tunnel, plans have been announced to run a high-power electricity cable through the service tunnel.

The interconnector project proposed by Eurotunnel and investment company STAR Capital, will see the installation in the service tunnel of twin 100mm diameter, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables.

On the UK side, the cables will be linked to the National Grid electrical substation at Sellindge, 14 km from the Tunnel exit at Folkestone.

News round up: Cave paintings of the Ardèche

IF it has been a busy week for you, here is a chance to catch up with some of the news that has been making the headlines in France.

Hook into growing appeal of golf in France

WITH the news that France will be host of the Ryder Cup in 2018, how can you ride the wave as the promotion of golf increases in the country?

Le Golf National, found close to Versailles, will be the location of the competition and Ryder Cup Europe has said it has entered 'into a multi-faceted relationship' with France which will last a minimum of 12 years.

So you can be pretty sure that there will be plenty of promotion of golf in France, as well as elsewhere in Europe and the USA, but how can you prosper from the sport's appeal.

Keep up with flight news as Icelandic ash drifts towards UK

IT is looking highly likely that some UK flights will be grounded after the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland.

The latest projection from the Met Office for 6am tomorrow (May 24) shows the ash cloud over Scotland and Ireland, with air traffic agencies saying they are monitoring the situation, click thumbnail to enlarge.

This eruption comes a little over a year after ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano spread across Europe, causing huge disruption.

How Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest awoke a dormant anger in the heart of France's women - The Observer

When the former head of the IMF was taken into custody, many in the French elite saw him as a victim – until an outraged feminist movement began to speak out against what it saw as years of pernicious and ingrained sexism in French life

via www.guardian.co.uk

Normandy Jelly takes shape for freelancers and homeworkers

NO Normandy Jelly is not a new delight from a kitchen in the north of France, but a casual monthly co-working event, where homeworkers, freelancers, small business owners and office based people can drop in.

Judy Mansfield is the driving force behind Normandy Jelly and hopes people will pass on tips and even collaborate on new projects and ideas.

"It's a way of getting out of your home office and getting on with some work in a friendly environment," Judy said.

Photography exhibition captures Quercy Blanc

The Domaine du Garinet, Belinda Berry

The annual Expo Patrimoine du Quercy Blanc at the Mairie in Montcuq, is now on and runs until Sunday, May 29 2011.