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What’s new on my writing blog?: Vanessa Couchman
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Tag Archives: Expat
A Question of Accent
I speak French with an English accent. Try as I might, I can’t get rid of it, even though my French is now pretty fluent after 18 years here. As soon as I open my mouth, I give myself … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Language
Tagged English accent, Expat, French, French accent, French pronunciation, Language
38 Comments
The Little Free Library Inaugurated at Saint-Antonin
So many words have poured out in the past few days, and no doubt will continue to do so, about the horrific events in Paris this week. I can’t add anything to them that isn’t trite or obvious. So … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life, Places
Tagged books, Expat, library, Little Free Library, living in France, reading, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, street library, SW France
10 Comments
17 Years in France: What’s Changed Since 1997?
Well, I’m 17 years older. And I don’t want to think about how old I will be in 17 years’ time. So let’s look back instead and think about what’s changed here since 1997. Yesterday was the anniversary of the … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Personalities
Tagged Expat, French country life, French life, rural life, social customs, SW France
13 Comments
Keeping Your Ear to the Ground in Rural France
A reader recently bemoaned the fact that they had not heard in advance about an event on which I reported. I sympathise. Keeping up with what’s going on is not easy and, dare I say it, the French aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Top tips
Tagged cultural events, Expat, living in France, local events SW France, Parisot, rural France, SW France
8 Comments
An Opportunity to Meet French Schoolchildren
We attended a rather nice event last Friday at a school in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Le Lycée Beauregard, a secondary school, invited local English speakers to meet the students and talk to them – in English.
Posted in French life, Language
Tagged English, Expat, French, Language, language learning, Lycée Beauregard, Villefranche de Rouergue
4 Comments
Trip to Planet London
I am becoming a country bumpkin. No; not becoming – have become. This was quite clear during a recent short trip to London. I haven’t been there for a while and noticed some changes.
Posted in French life, Places
Tagged Expat, France, living in France, London, rural life, SW France, Toulouse Blagnac Airport
12 Comments
Foreign Encounters, a New Anthology from Writers Abroad
Writers Abroad, the online writing group for ex-pat writers I belong to, is publishing a new anthology today, entitled Foreign Encounters. It contains short stories, non-fiction and poems by writers who are, or have been, ex-pats. They live in, or … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, World War I & II
Tagged books, Expat, Foreign Encounters, living in France, Writers Abroad, Writing
9 Comments
Moving to France – a Cautionary Tale
Life in France is wonderful, isn’t it? Well, up to a point. If you come with certain preconceived ideas you are bound to be disappointed. I just want to tell you a story I heard today, which underlines all the … Continue reading
Posted in French life
Tagged blogs about France, Expat, French property, living in France, rural life, SW France
17 Comments
Who Won the Blog Hop Book?
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
Why Living in France is Like Marriage
This post was first written as a contribution to a blog hop in which I took part in 2012. Dr Johnson once described second marriage as, “The triumph of hope over experience.” Moving to France after falling out of love … Continue reading
Virtual friends
Writers Abroad is a virtual network for expat writers and demonstrates the power of the Internet in bringing like-minded people together. Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing, French life
Tagged blogs about France, Expat, fiction, France, living in France, non-fiction, Writers Abroad, Writing, writing tips
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Websites about living in France that I like
This post lists some websites that include networks, forums and practical information about France for expats or those thinking of moving abroad. Some are specifically aimed at Brits, others are aimed at expats generally.
Posted in French life, Top tips
Tagged blogs about France, Expat, France, living abroad, living in France, rural life, websites
6 Comments
Surviving in France: 10 top tips
Living in France is very different from spending a couple of weeks on holiday here. Here are some commonsense tips to help you get the most out of living in France. Continue reading
Posted in French life, Language, Top tips
Tagged blogs about France, Expat, France, French, French property, language learning, living in France, rural life, top tips
22 Comments
Maybe la chasse isn’t such a bad thing…
Went outside this morning to check on any damage after the 120km/hour tempest last night. Fortunately, nothing to report except a few sticks down. What I did find, though, was that the deer had, yet again, made a meal out … Continue reading
Posted in French life, Rants
Tagged blogs about France, deer, Expat, farming, France, hunting, la chasse, rural life, wild boar
1 Comment
Votes for expats?
As an expat in France you have to get used to being a 2nd-class citizen in a very important respect – voting.
Posted in French life, Rants
Tagged blogs about France, citizenship, democracy, elections, Expat, France, franchise, nationality, vote
2 Comments
Writers need to get out more
Writers are solitary creatures – especially if, like me, they live at the end of a lane in the back of beyond. It’s tempting just to stay glued to the computer in your freezing garret (well, it’s not exactly a … Continue reading
Posted in Books/writing
Tagged blogs about France, Expat, poetry, writers' block, writing tips
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Going live
I’ve done it!! My own blog. Perhaps I should have entitled it ‘A writer’s little’. The fact is, the profession is poorly paid, frustrating and lonely. But it’s also exhilarating, fun and rewarding in other ways.
