by Marian Thornley How not to move to France Our cycling/house-buying adventure was taking place only a few weeks before the first of various financial crashes hit the world. Luckily for us, we managed to…
Tipping in France The English word ‘tip’ was originally an acronym for ‘To Insure Promptness.’ Innkeepers would write this on a box by the door, later simplified to ‘T.I.P.’, to enable customers to show…
More armed police on the streets. La police nationale may now keep their weapons with them even when off duty as long a) he or she wears a police armband for ID and b) he…
MOUNTAIN MAMA IN LES ANGLES What a summer this has been. Blazing hot for weeks on end and then ten days of horrendous storms. The heavy rains always pummel my flowers into the ground and…
The Caliph of St Cyprien (Part 1) by Basil Howitt With the benefit of hindsight, it is none too surprising that Jacques Bouille, 62-year-old former UMP mayor of St Cyprien, was driven to…
L’Homme de Tautavel by Basil Howitt A plain man’s introduction to Tautavel man, whose remains are 450,000 years old. He is one of the oldest specimens of homo erectus discovered in Europe. FEBRUARY – NOVEMBER…
La poste - Post offices in France The French village post office is a bit of a national institution. The fact that you can still find one in most small villages is really rather nice,…
Sea Hedgehogs and Prickly Railway Workers in Cerbère by Basil Howitt Whatever will they eat next? My beady gastronomic eye was caught recently by a couple of column inches in L’Indépendant’s second section…
Brotherhoods, Black Puddings, Snails, and Sweet Red Wine by Basil Howitt Basil Howitt was amazed by the number of confréries or brotherhoods throughout France whose raison d’être is to worship food…
“The use of Catalan is repugnant and is contrary to the honour of the French nation.” (decree of Louis XIV, April 2, 1700) “Be clean, wash your hands, speak in French.”