Mais non!

Change of plan - my intention to continue on studying French has been interrupted by the realisation that my current responsibilities/commitments come first with regards to my family and career - so,  I have decided to put this plan on hold for the time being.   I am disappointed but I know timing is everything, I am studying 2000% for my other language and doing very well in it, getting A's straight through....

This is not goodbye French, hello strange world. Rather it is hello to a fresh start and I hope readers will wish me luck in my endeavours!

'Surveillez cet espace!'

French blogs

Blogs I like to read and recommend!

http://french-housewife.com/

http://toutparis.blogspot.com/   

http://basicfrench.blogspot.com/

Practise your French!!

The BBC offers a very useful website on all aspects of learning French. (Click here)
As well as giving you opportunities to refresh your French grammar using quizzes and French TV, there are also reports you can listen to which will ultimately aim to give you the best training in the language.

In one newspaper, it was reported that the French need to 'cheer up' a bit more and to be less miserable.  I was surprised to hear this.  It said in the article that in a country which is considered the world's top holiday destination and enjoying a quality of life envied by so many, you'd think otherwise but apparently there is so much pessimism  amongst the people.  According to a survey only 37% of the French actually like President Sarkozy.   His partner Carla Bruni has stated that the French are always 'negative', she added that ''they also are crazy about their own language, so every time there's something that's not in French, they get so mad about it."    Perhaps this unhappiness is just a reflection of the global recession that has hit so many of us recently.    Or, then again it could be so many factors...what do you think?

My current reading material...

Stephen Clarke has also written numerous other books on the French theme - I found 'Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French' quite fascinating & at times funny. Read it if you ever get a chance!

French studies....mmm

I have enrolled myself on an advanced French course with the Open University. (It wasn't an easy decision but I know it's the right one).  At times when I have received a letter in French in the post,  I have struggled a little to decipher the full meaning of the words...there was a time though I'd reached near fluent level, so I admit although it has become somewhat 'rusty', I still have it 'in me' somewhere, somehow - I hope!  (Just as you never forget being able to ride a bicycle or drive a car).

Let me share a couple more pictures taken in Paris many years ago....

        Does anyone know the name of this urban type pond of water?

         (it was taken I think between the Grande Arche de la Defense & the way to the Arc de Triomphe)

View of Montmartre from the top of the Sacre Coeur

A gigantic stick of rock?

The Eiffel tower

For me the ultimate symbol of 'Frenchness' no doubt is the very famous Eiffel Tower...

I joined a group on Flickr that showcases this incredible work of architecture;

Click here to see photos.

French swap!!

I have been a member of Swap-bot.com for a while now and just recently I hosted a swap with a French theme. L'idee (pour chaque personne) etait envoyer plusieurs trucs francais a son 'partenaire' et, voici ce que j'ai recu!

J'etais folle de joie au-dela de la croyance!  Thanks Natalie!