I HAVE just called the English language helpline offered by France Telecom and been informed that that it is now reachable via a new number.

The number is 09 69 36 39 00, although the call is no longer free and is charged at a so-called 'standard rate' which I've tried to source but drawn a blank.

The France Telecom Contact Us page provides details of the number you can call in France, as well as how to call if you are outside the country, +33 (0)9 69 36 39 00.

France Telecom has also swapped the options around, so the first one is for technical questions about your telephone and internet access, whilst the second is for account queries and setting up a line.

France Telecom's English-language helpline is open Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

IF you want to gain an insight into the French life of others then drop in on some of the blogs I have in my feedreader.

You will find a collection of stories on my Google Reader page, which features recent stories from blogs dotted across France.

Here are some picks:

La Fête du Fromage: November Round Up - Chez Loulou
I tasted Le Lacandou last summer and was reminded of it last week when I drove by Sévérac-le-Château on my way home from visiting Betty in Aveyron. This is a young cheese with a delightful grassy and fruity flavor. It comes highly recommended!

Two fine cheeses - Podtours
And Vieux Lille. This is a cheese you could wrap several times in clingfilm, put in a zip-lock bag, heat-seal into a plastic box, and lock in a safe, and you’d still be able to smell it at a hundred yards.

Will I go vegan in rural France? France and The Unknown
Even though some people say it would be ridiculous to live here and be vegan I want to test it out and see if I could make it work. And my mother is more convinced than ever that I am going to starve to death.

Last Flight of a World War II B-26 - Americans in France
The morning of November 13, 1944 was foggy, rainy and cold, not flying weather. Especially not for a B-26 bomber, known as a 'widowmaker'. Under certain conditions, such as icing, the plane could vibrate violently and become unstable.

The online game of trust - Kolet ink
My French co-workers were mildly horrified to hear that I had added many a Facebook friend with the click of my mouse, never to have any contact with them ever again.

A COLLECTION of photographs from the past few weeks, taken in sight of the church at Loubejac (map).

Un hiver au coin du feu - TF1 Le journal de 13h
Belves, in the Dordogne, gets ready for winter (video from TF1)

Prisons: life behind bars - France 24
In France, one prisoner commits suicide every three days. FRANCE 24 went behind the scenes of this hidden world to bring you previously unseen footage of punishment cells. Our reporter met both prisoners and guards.

French iPhone user seeks probe into 'explosion' - France 24
A French businessman who claims the screen of his iPhone shattered spontaneously has asked a court to appoint an independent expert to investigate the device's safety, his lawyer has said.

Sarkozy: No place for burqas in France - AP
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says there is no place for full face and body veils such as the burqa, or for the debasement of women, in France.

Goncourt prize winner NDiaye stands by Sarkozy 'police state' comments - France 24
French-Senegalese author Marie NDiaye, who last week won France's top literary prize, the Goncourt,says she stands by her comments about President Nicolas Sarkozy creating the "atmosphere of a police state" in France

Bernard Laporte: French cabinet are 'cowards' - Telegraph
Bernard Laporte the French rugby legend turned sports minister has branded his former cabinet colleagues condescending 'cowards' who treated him like a 'country bumpkin'.

'Rogue trader' Kerviel to face trial after top court rejects appeal - France 24
France's highest appeal court has dismissed former trader Jérôme Kerviel's bid to delay his trial over massive trading losses at French lender Société Générale, which the bank says were due to unauthorised deals carried out by the then junior trader.

French lesbian wins adoption case - BBC
A court in eastern France grants a lesbian nursery school teacher the right to adopt a child, ending a 10-year legal battle.

Yves Saint Laurent auction: items from Normandy hideaway up for sale - Telegraph
Giant chandeliers, a billiard table and even pots and pans went on show on Tuesday at Christie's in Paris in the second - and more homely - installment of the Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Bergé "sale of the century".

Love isn't in the air as Paris hosts first 'divorce fair' - Telegraph
Paris, once known as the city of romance, might need to rethink its image after thousands have flocked to French capital's first divorce fair.

More news headlines from France.

EACH week I highlight the businesses who help keep the This French Life website up and running, and I hope you will drop in on their sites to see if they can help out.

You can find out more about advertising on This French Life, but first check out the websites below:

Gregor of property firm Immogo, which offers people the change to sell their own home without paying estate agent fees.

Guillaume of Bank House Investment Management who provide conveyancing, tax and estate planning service for those in France.

The France Property Shop who let you start your search for a property direct from This French Life.

Thanks to Phil who is helping to promote a French gardening business near Bergerac that is for sale.

I hope you drop in on the websites, even if it is just to have a look at the services they offer, because it is with their support that This French Life keeps up and running.

EUROPEAN flights operated by Air France are set to be cheaper from April 1, 2010 as the airline launches a flight back against low-cost airlines.

The French flag carrier will revamp its existing three levels of service to offer just a Voyageur economy cabin and a Premium cabin aimed at business users.

Air France will also start charging for a second hold bag, although it has increased by three kilos, to 23kgs, the maximum weight for free carriage of he first piece of hold baggage.

Meals will still be offered but reflect journey times, and ticket prices will be clearer when being booked online so that passengers know the exact amount they will be asked to pay.

Air France faces competition from the likes of easyJet and Ryanair, rising fuel prices and the increasing popularity of rail travel and these are being seen as factors behind the revamp of its medium haul service.

More than a thousand vaccination centres have been opened across the country and those people thought to be most at risk will receive a vaccination certificate issued by the French social security system.

This will allow them to receive the vaccine, before a the vaccination programme is stepped later this month when parents will be offered the chance to have their children vaccinated.

In August education ministers said that schools would be closed if three children in the same class suffered from swine flu.

A government website offers regular updates and advice on reducing the risk of contracting Grippe A.

THE planned launch of the Euroferries service between Ramsgate and Boulogne, set for Saturday, November 14, has been postponed.

The firm has released a statement saying:

Euroferries has regrettably had to delay its high speed cross channel service launch scheduled for the 14th November due to hampered final stage operations.

Euroferries apologises for any inconvenience caused to its customers and assures them that it is their foremost intention to resolve this matter swiftly allowing the service to commence.

All Euroferries bookings affected by this matter have the option of either receiving a full refund or alternatively receiving complimentary first class upgrades for an alternative date of travel.

Further announcements will be made shortly.

This is the third time the ferry company has postponed a launch, the first was in March then another date in August was cancelled, and today's news will provide little confidence to customers.

The Euroferries website is still taking bookings for its four daily crossings, the earliest date I could find to book was a departure date of Tuesday, November 17, although there is no mention of the delayed start of the service.

Should the Ramsgate to Boulogne service ever operate it promises a travel time of 75 minutes on the company's Bonanza Express high-speed catamaran.

EVIDENCE of what is believed to be the oldest known marsupial in Europe has been discovered in Charente-Maritime.

Science Daily reports that researchers found a small tooth, near Rochefort-sur-mer, from a tiny mouse-like animal named Arcantiodelphys marchandi, one of the oldest and most primitive marsupial known in the world.

The work was carried out by a team from the Centre national de la Recherche Scientifique and l'Université de Rennes 1, the French language press release can be read at Découverte du plus ancien marsupial européen en Charente-Maritime.

Related article: Dinosaur footprints found near La Plagne, Savoie

RYANAIR is to withdraw its six routes from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, in eastern France, severing its UK connection to London Stansted.

In a statement Ryanair said that it would operate more flights if the airport were to reduce its charges.

Ryanair said that EuroAirport refused its offer and so decided to drop its links to Stansted, but also Alicante, Cagliari, Marseille, Porto and Stockholm (Skavsta) from December 2, 2009.

Passengers affected will be emailed directly by Ryanair and provided with a full refund.

For regular travellers to the region Easyjet provide a service between Gatwick Airport and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (via Kate Stinchcombe).