INSEE, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, will begin the next sample census throughout France from Thursday, January 19th with a selection of approximately 9 million of the population.

At the time of writing (November 2018) Britain is still part of the EU, and UK citizens are NOT required to have a Carte de Séjour. However, many ex pats living in France are taking the safe option and applying for the Carte de Séjour now.

If you ever had the feeling that you have spent half your working life just paying tax, you are not far wrong, what with income tax, national insurance/social security, capital gains tax, VAT, council tax, excise duties …

Coming from the French word terre for “soil,” the word terroir originally described the special characteristics of a region, or piece of land, which gave different varieties of wine, coffee and tea their individuality. (Soil, climate, position, regional traditions….)

The word rousquille comes from the Spanish word ‘rosquilla’ meaning ‘little wheel’. Traditionally flavoured with aniseed and orange blossom, this medieval speciality started off with a biscuit texture, but has been developed over the years to become more of a cake than a biscuit.