Tag Archives: social customs

Getting a (Social) Life in France

Posted on 04/06/2017 by

Making friends is difficult when moving to a new country. Twenty years ago, our Brummie removal men asked, “Do you know anyone here?” When we said no, they shook their heads in disbelief. If you move to la France profonde, … Continue reading →

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French Telephone Etiquette

Posted on 21/11/2016 by

Even after more than 19 years in France, I lift the receiver with apprehension when the phone rings. This is partly because it’s invariably a cold caller. It’s also because dealing with people on the phone in French is damn … Continue reading →

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Halloween Traditions, Ghosts and Witches in France

Posted on 31/10/2016 by

I don’t need to tell you what today is. Halloween has become more commercialised in recent years in France and traditions such as trick-or-treating have taken root. I hope we live far enough off the beaten track not to encounter … Continue reading →

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How to Queue in France

Posted on 20/02/2015 by

  Forming a neat queue is inscribed in we Brits’ DNA. Not so our French counterparts. Our two countries are separated only by a 30-mile stretch of water, but in some respects it might as well be 30 light years. … Continue reading →

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17 Years in France: What’s Changed Since 1997?

Posted on 27/08/2014 by

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 →

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Things I Didn’t Know When I Moved to France: Part 1, the Positives

Posted on 25/05/2014 by

Now, you’re all thinking I’m going to complain about everything I’ve encountered in France since moving here 17 years ago. Not so. What follows in this post is complimentary; Part 2 (to be posted later) is less so. I’ve restricted … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

May 1st – la Fête du Travail in France

Posted on 01/05/2014 by

  May 1st has a special significance in the French calendar, since it’s la Fête du Travail (labour day), when everyone downs tools. Even our local newsagent closes on May 1st, although it is open every other day of the … Continue reading →

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Toussaint at Teysseroles

Posted on 30/10/2013 by

Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) on 1st November is a big religious event in France. French people honour their dead relatives and tidy and deck their tombs. Even if the church at Teysseroles is in poor repair, the cemetery is still … Continue reading →

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A Grave Issue

Posted on 10/02/2013 by

Sorry; I couldn’t resist the pun. Our local commune’s Bulletin Municipal (annual report) contains a lot of practical information. This year’s included an article about regulations relating to cemeteries. Now, none of us wants to dwell on our mortality but … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, Teysseroles chapel | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

That End of Term Feeling

Posted on 14/06/2012 by

I haven’t had a lot of time for blogging recently. Things are hotting up as we prepare for our fête at Teysseroles (more of that below) and the Parisot choir rehearses itself intensively for the concert at the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Burning Desires: Enleveurs de Feu in France

Posted on 22/01/2012 by

The old year didn’t end terribly well for me since I managed to burn three fingers of my right hand while removing a metal oven tray from a very hot oven, using a holed and damp oven glove. I couldn’t … Continue reading →

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All fêted out

Posted on 24/08/2011 by

So much has been going on in this area during the past few weeks that I scarcely know where to begin. This is typical summer in rural France. For a couple of months there is a plethora of cultural events, … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What Do the French Talk About at Dinner Parties?

Posted on 03/08/2011 by

Last night, we were invited to dinner with French friends with whom we socialise regularly. The SF and I have christened our group ‘the Gang’. There were nine of us yesterday. Some of them were born in the region and … Continue reading →

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Good-bye to a venerable old lady

Posted on 13/04/2011 by

I’m interrupting my series about finding our house in France to tell you about a funeral we attended today. Mme P., the mother of a friend, died on Sunday aged 98. She would have been 99 in August.

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French Christmas traditions

Posted on 23/12/2010 by

Like every country in Christendom, France has its Christmas traditions. Some of them are local or regional; others are celebrated countrywide. Here are a few I have found through my researches or experienced personally. 

Posted in Customs, Food/drink/recipes, French life | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A crèche with a difference

Posted on 19/12/2010 by

Some things in France are well-kept secrets. Countless times, we have heard about something – a concert, fête or market – after it has taken place. These events are rarely well advertised; the organisers rely on le téléphone arabe (bush telegraph) … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why does “merci” mean no in French?

Posted on 06/12/2010 by

If you think that “merci” in French just means thank you, then think again. It also means no, thank you. Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, Food/drink/recipes, French life, Language | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

What do I miss about England?

Posted on 03/10/2010 by

I have just returned from a visit to the UK. People often ask me what I miss about England, having left 13 years ago. I can happily live without most things, but there are three features of English life I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/writing, Customs, French life, Language | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Life in Southwest France

Posted on 17/08/2010 by

Welcome to La Lune, French for the moon. This is the name of the lieu-dit (locality) in southwest France where our 18th-century farmhouse is situated. We have lived here since 1997. The name almost certainly has nothing to do with the moon, but … Continue reading →

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A moo-ving experience: la fête de la transhumance

Posted on 20/05/2010 by

An adapted version of this post was published in Tiens! Magazine, a webzine about southwest France, in March 2011 along with some of my photos and sound clips. The small town of Aubrac in the eastern Aveyron is subject to an … Continue reading →

Posted in Aveyron, Customs, Food/drink/recipes, French life, History, Places | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

French women forbidden to wear trousers – it’s official

Posted on 05/05/2010 by

French women are forbidden to wear trousers under a law passed more than 200 years ago and never repealed. Where does this leave the elegant wife of President Sarkozy, asks A writer’s lot in France? Continue reading →

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French social customs 7: tu or vous?

Posted on 11/04/2010 by

Another knotty problem in my French social customs series [for the others, see Customs in Topics in the right-hand sidebar].

Posted in Customs, French life, Language, Top tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sexism is alive and well in France

Posted on 04/04/2010 by

I’ve felt this post coming on for a long time – about 13 years, in fact.  Much as I love France, there’s one aspect to which I will never be reconciled: the attitude to women, especially the further south you … Continue reading →

Posted in French life, Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

French social customs 6: greetings in French

Posted on 29/03/2010 by

For my other posts about French customs, please see Customs under Topics in the right-hand sidebar.  In theory it’s simple: to say hello it’s bonjour all day and bonsoir in the evening.  To say good-bye it’s au revoir at any time of … Continue reading →

Posted in Customs, French life, Language, Top tips | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

French social customs 5: Monsieur, Madame or first names?

Posted on 25/03/2010 by

For my other posts about French customs, please see Customs under Topics in the right-hand sidebar.  The French are more formal than the Americans or the English and are sticklers for politeness.  Many an unsuspecting foreigner has got stuck in the swamp … Continue reading →

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French social customs 4: table manners part 2

Posted on 21/03/2010 by

People in France eat out a lot (although somewhat less during the present crise).  On Sundays, you will often see whole families from grandparents down to babies tucking into a five-course meal.  This is the reason why French children are … Continue reading →

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French social customs 3: table manners part 1

Posted on 15/03/2010 by

For my other posts about French customs, please look in ‘Customs’ under Topics in the right-hand sidebar. For part 2 of this post, which is about eating in a French restaurant, please click here. Here are some tips for when … Continue reading →

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French social customs 2: apéritifs

Posted on 11/03/2010 by

Apertifs are among the most enjoyable French social occasions. Here are some tips for how to conduct yourself when you’re invited. Continue reading →

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French social customs 1: kissing

Posted on 07/03/2010 by

The issues of whom to kiss, when to kiss and how to kiss in France are a potential social minefield.  Here are some tips.

Posted in Customs, French life, Top tips | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments