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.…
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…
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.…
Emmanuel Macron launched a drive this week to give the French language a boost. That’s all well and good – but someone should tell the French. Here, speaking English is…
Ce qui ne nous tue pas nous rend plus fort, as the French say. Well, move over Jean-Claude van Damme, I’ve had quite a week. A new role has been…
The publication this week of the Michelin stars for 2018 has created a sensation up and down the country. Here in Lille, we’re celebrating the naming of a 3rd restaurant…
I was interviewed this week about Brexit. Now I just hope I won’t be vilified in the media like the British Conservative MPs who voted on Wednesday to give Parliament…
Call me shallow, but good bread was one of things that attracted us to France. So having one of France’s best boulangeries a few short minutes from our front door…
Looks like I moved to Lille at just the right time. This week the city has been named as the best place in France to find a permanent job and…
Families torn apart, friendships damaged irrevocably and shattered hopes for the future proved common themes at a Brexit life-writing workshop I arranged at work this week. The workshop was part…
Sometimes you simply have to focus on the bigger picture – particularly when you’re facing a week that will challenge everything you hold dear. That was the week I faced…
While many of us dream of starting over in another country, some people have already taken the plunge. Seeing how they get on makes for good television – which explains…
New Year’s Eve often brings with it a sense of nostalgia – a desire to look back fondly at the past year. This year, however, is different. I can’t wait…
As the weather turns colder, a fondue is just what we need – especially now that eating cheese has been declared the secret to a long life. Yes, really. We…
University is about more than just studying a subject – it’s a course in life lessons. The students who started at university this week will soon find that out. I think…
If something’s worth celebrating, why stop at just one party? That is the thinking of our friends Michael and David. We joined the couple to celebrate their civil solidarity pact…
There has been a lot of name calling in Britain this week. The same is true in France, but for different reasons – the names of its new super-regions have…
Thursday will go down in history as day that changed Europe – but not for the better. The consequences of this referendum will be felt not just in the UK for…
Of course, I am not obsessed with wine, but I am rather excited by the opening of La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux this week. I can’t wait to visit…
Councillors in Arcachon have this week announced that the town’s statue of Heracles will be given a prosthetic penis. They are said to have faced, erm, stiff opposition to the…
