Life on La Lune

Taxing Times

nessafrance — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:12:56 +0000

Wherever you live, death and taxes are inevitable (except in Greece it appears, where it’s only death). We have just gone through the mental gymnastics required to complete our annual French tax return. This is one of those tasks that … Continue reading →

Watery Walk – La Vallée de la Bonnette

nessafrance — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:39:18 +0000

The River Bonnette rises above Saint-Projet on the causse above Caylus and ends its journey some 25 kilometers away at Saint-Antonin-Noble Val, where it joins the River Aveyron. Normally, it meanders peacefully through green, rolling countryside. It even dries up in … Continue reading →

What Happens to Former French Presidents?

nessafrance — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:51:12 +0000

For the past two weeks, the spotlight has inevitably been on François Hollande, France’s new socialist president. Last Tuesday, his first day in office, was not entirely happy: he got soaked during his triumphal progress, his plane was struck by … Continue reading →

Penne: Silent Sentinel

nessafrance — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:55:45 +0000

This week our walking group chose a route that the SF and I hadn’t done before, close to the village of Penne in the Tarn Département. Since we didn’t go into the village, I’m afraid that nearly all … Continue reading →

Musical Moments

nessafrance — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:39:09 +0000

I never cease to be amazed at the high standard of musicians and music to be found in la France profonde. In the summer, of course, you can’t move for concerts and recitals. But even out of season there is … Continue reading →

The Spanish Cemetery at Septfonds: a Moving Monument

nessafrance — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:15 +0000

Returning from an airport run yesterday, I decided to stop off at the village of Septfonds. I wanted to visit the Spanish Cemetery, one of my 10 things to do in SW France this year. There’s a poignant history connected … Continue reading →

Opportunity to Contribute to a New Expat Anthology

nessafrance — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:16:31 +0000

My online, expat writers’ group, Writers Abroad, will be publishing its third anthology this year, Foreign Encounters. We are seeking submissions of short stories, non-fiction pieces and poetry on the general theme of relationships around the world. Contributors must be … Continue reading →

Monthly Météo: Weather in Southwest France April 2012

nessafrance — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:33:54 +0000

We wanted rain. We got rain. This April has almost beaten our record for rainfall and it has certainly been the worst month weather-wise since we started recording our statistics 14 years ago. Everyone is thoroughly fed up. A number … Continue reading →

Who Won the Blog Hop Book?

nessafrance — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:09:26 +0000

Just a short post today to say thank you to everyone who joined in the blog hop last Monday, organised by Steph at Blog in France . I enjoyed reading some new (to me) blogs and ‘meeting’ other bloggers and … Continue reading →

Expat Blog Hop: Leave a Comment and Win a Book!

nessafrance — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:15:33 +0000

Today I’m taking part in an expat blog hop. What’s that, you ask? I was only dimly aware of them myself until recently, when blogging pal Steph decided to organise one. A number of expat bloggers agree to take part … Continue reading →

The French Presidential Elections 2012

nessafrance — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:50:10 +0000

This post was written two weeks ago on 21st April. Anyone looking at it now will realise that it has been superseded by the news at 20h00 6th May that François Hollande is most likely to be France’s next president. Bonne … Continue reading →

Wine Blight: How the French Wine Industry was almost Wiped Out

nessafrance — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:04:18 +0000

France is peppered with wayside crosses. Some are modest and plain, fashioned out of a single lump of stone with perhaps a roughly incised date. Others are more elaborate, featuring carvings and inscriptions, in stone or iron. Some were erected … Continue reading →

Customer Service (?) in France

nessafrance — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:40:46 +0000

I know, I know. I’ve blogged about this before and I will be marked down as a whingeing Brit. But I have to get it off my chest. The concept of customer service is, alas, in its infancy in France. … Continue reading →

Ticked Off

nessafrance — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:04:47 +0000

Before we moved to southwest France I had never seen a tick. They are very unpleasant blood-sucking creatures that make my flesh creep when I think about them. Unfortunately, they are endemic in our neck of the woods and have … Continue reading →

Book Review: Aveyron, a Bridge to French Arcadia

nessafrance — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:58:37 +0000

I don’t often do book reviews here. It’s difficult to strike a balance between being overly ingratiating and offensively critical. However, I am making an exception today to mention a book I have just finished and enjoyed about the Aveyron … Continue reading →