Hands up who has wine left at the end of an evening? Thought not. Nor do we – until one weekend recently, that is. So, I decided to use it…
I opened a French bank account this week – and to my surprise, it proved easy to do. I was expecting endless form-filling and the need to provide evidence in…
Lille is in full-on party mode this weekend. As well as making the most of the fun, I’m pleased to report that in our second year here, we have now…
Tarragon is France’s secret ingredient. Adding it to any dish is like wrapping your food in the tricolore, as I discovered when I made peach and tarragon ice cream this…
Amiens makes for an ideal weekend getaway if you’re after a bit of culture, some leisurely walks, a little light shopping and a generous helping of great food. All in…
Damon says that having his birthday in August can feel like a disappointment each year. I’m hoping he’ll change his mind after this weekend – we’re off to Amiens. I’m…
TV can be a great way to learn a country’s language and culture. However, M6’s Chasseurs d’appart’ may not be the place to start – it appears to suggest that…
After 11 months of searching, I’ve finally found somewhere decent to stay on my 2 nights a week in London. I now have a lovely pied-à-terre just 15 minutes’ walk…
As a starter on a sunny summer’s day, what could be better than goat’s cheese ice cream served with gazpacho? The tangy cheese is the perfect accompaniment to the chilled…
Until Wednesday this week, friends and colleagues showed great fascination in whether I would support England or France if the two went head to head in the World Cup final.…
If Samantha Stephens could twitch her nose and transport me back to the 1960s, I’d be a happy man. Instead, I’m doing the next best thing – tonight I’m at…
I made somebody cry this week. A lot of people, actually. No, I wasn’t being horrible – I’d written a scene that was acted out in front of over 2,000…
Cheeses are seasonal – that’s something I’ve come to appreciate in recent years. So, before summer arrived this week, I decided to have a go at making a fresh, spring…
In the calendar of Pride parades in Europe, Lille is often overlooked – but the city did itself proud. The floats pumped out high-octane dance music, revellers sported outrageous costumes…
I think nothing of spending €60 on a bottle of wine in a restaurant. But that isn’t to say I don’t like a bargain too – like a wine that…
This week I learned that I have made the list of the top 100 French blogs. I’m delighted to find myself alongside some fascinating bloggers whose posts I really enjoy.…
Our trip to Bergerac last month left us salivating for the tastes of Périgord. To satisfy our cravings, we headed for Lille’s south-west themed restaurant on Saturday. Quite why it’s…
I was looking forward to representing my company this week at a European conference in Paris… until I realised that social housing finance was the theme. I gritted my teeth…
Tonight, the duo Madame Monsieur carry the hopes of France at this year’s Eurovision song contest. Unusually, the French entry is one of the bookies’ favourites to win. Since scoring…
If dreams involve dirty kitchens, no toilet paper and negotiating even to get a towel, then, yes, I am living the dream. Sadly, these are just some of the realities…
