Category Archive: News and politics

England vs Croatia, World Cup 2018
14 Jul

Game plan: questions of identity

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.…
Saturday, 14 July 2018 at 09:09 8 Comments
Lille Pride 2018
16 Jun

Out and out fun: Lille Pride

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…
Saturday, 16 June 2018 at 10:45 8 Comments
Graham at the Cordon Bleu cooking school, Paris
02 Jun

Blushes: making the top 100 French blogs

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.…
Saturday, 2 June 2018 at 09:33 7 Comments
Canard Street, Lille
24 Mar

Language matters: Macron’s big plans

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…
Saturday, 24 March 2018 at 09:13 9 Comments
Job-related wordcloud
03 Mar

What doesn’t kill you: makes you stronger

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…
Saturday, 3 March 2018 at 09:21 19 Comments
Clarance Hôtel, Lille
10 Feb

Michelin guide: the stars are out

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…
Saturday, 10 February 2018 at 09:07 4 Comments
British newspapers
16 Dec

Sound bites: my 15 minutes of fame?

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…
Saturday, 16 December 2017 at 08:32 9 Comments
Baguette de la Boulangerie Mathieu, Lille
11 Nov

La meilleure boulangerie de France: la grande finale

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…
Saturday, 11 November 2017 at 08:12 6 Comments
Lille
21 Oct

Anything but grim: up north

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…
Saturday, 21 October 2017 at 08:05 4 Comments
Katy Massey, Who Are We Now?
07 Oct

Brits abroad: who are we now?

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…
Saturday, 7 October 2017 at 08:29 11 Comments
UK passport
18 Mar

That was the week: that was

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…
Saturday, 18 March 2017 at 08:16 8 Comments
Rob and Steve, A New Life in the Sun
21 Jan

Grape escape: a new life in the sun

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…
Saturday, 21 January 2017 at 07:51 6 Comments
Good riddance to 2016
31 Dec

Good riddance: to 2016

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…
Saturday, 31 December 2016 at 07:55 9 Comments
Fondue
19 Nov

Long live: the fondue

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…
Saturday, 19 November 2016 at 08:01 5 Comments
Rennes university
17 Sep

Learning for life: Erasmus

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…
Saturday, 17 September 2016 at 07:56 4 Comments
Michael and David at their PACS, Paris
16 Jul

Very civilised: a partnership to last

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…
Saturday, 16 July 2016 at 07:57 5 Comments
Map of south-west France
02 Jul

Name and shame: Nouvelle-Aquitaine

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…
Saturday, 2 July 2016 at 07:50 7 Comments
EU, UK and French flags
25 Jun

I am: still European

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…
Saturday, 25 June 2016 at 09:31 13 Comments
La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux
04 Jun

Guggenheim of wine: Bordeaux’s newest museum

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…
Saturday, 4 June 2016 at 09:45 4 Comments
Heracles, Arcachon
23 Apr

A cock and pull story: a means to an end for Heracles

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…
Saturday, 23 April 2016 at 07:59 7 Comments