Bonjour
Here in France we’ve been through a bit of a cold spell the last week. Even in the normally not too frosty south, my friends have been complaining of below zero temperatures. I quite like it when it’s cold out. After several years here, I’ve got the hang of making sure there’s enough wood that the fire is kept going every day to warm the house up. Though I find nothing remotely romantic about chopping and storing wood, a wood fire with bright orange flames is mesmerising on a cold night. The dogs sleep on cushions in front of the fire lazily watching the dancing colours and the cats curl up on the hearth or on my lap. I had three cats sitting on me at the same time on Wednesday night, there’s really only room for one but they squash, squeeze, push and wriggle until they’re satisfied there’s enough of me to go round.
I learned a new French expression this week from my friend Lydie who emailed me to tell me about a biscuit shop in a town near to where I live. “I have tasted the biscuits yesterday and I almost cried: they are so good!” she said and then she added: “Je tuerai père et mère pour en manger un”. Which translates as: “I could kill father and mother to eat one”. What a charming expression (!), and one you can be sure I shall be using at every opportunity! Anyway, you probably want to know about the biscuits and I hate to let you down so, I shall go to the new shop and taste them for myself so I can tell you more – I’m good like that!
Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you a very bon weekend
Bisous from France
Janine
Editor
Don’t miss on the website this week
The magical Mimosa Festivals of the French Riviera: Craving sunshine and bright colours? Check out the awesome floral festivals on the Mimosa route…
The Paris Effect by KSR Burns: We review a coming of age book as Amy from Arizona visits Paris, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, our reviewer LOVED it!
Gary Mullen and The Works: A Freddie Mercury/Queen tribute act that’s sheer class. I went to an exhilarating performance that had the audience dancing in the aisles, they’re on tour in France, Europe, US, UK and NZ – catch them if they’re your way! I loved having my photo taken back stage with them (you can see it in the article!)…
The expat good life in … Provence! We meet a Scottish woman who moved to the south of France with her horses, read her top tips for home searches in the area.
J’Adore la France: What do you do if holidays and visiting France is your passion? Well Karen Slater, after a career in travel, set up her own France holiday company with a difference. Tailor made holidays to France sharing her first hand knowledge…
Recipe for apple and pear filo pastry parcel: Easy to make and absolutely scrumptious, one for the weekend!
Contest Winners: Congrats to: Vikki Greenhill who was the winner of the gorgeous L’Esprit Francais gift box of goodies from Paris; Cynthia Hill who won the EveDamon France bag; Heather Glover who won the personalised suitcase; 5 pairs of tickets to the France Show London went to – Alan Gatling, Maggie Sawney, Laurie Fergusson, Phil Patten, Catherine Godsill.
Photo: Walking my dogs in the hills surrounding my village in the Seven Valleys, Pas de Calais. It was a chilly day but the sun filtered through the trees and made the ground go green as if it shone through a stained glass window…
