La retraite?

Grace a ma femme Cath, on a decouvert que l’appartement ou nous allons habiter est dans une residence pour les gens plus ages. 👴👵

J’espere que les voisins seront tres tranquils.

https://www.cogedim-club.fr/residences/promenade-lafayette-residence-services-seniors-lyon6/#la-rsidence

Only Lyon

I asked Euronews if they had any pictures of the flat we are moving to. Here they are:

It’s in the 6th arrondisement.

They also sent me this publicity video for the city of Lyon. Not too shabby.

Regardez ce que j’ai trouvé

OMG! Cath reminded me that we do have a book about birds in French that we bought in Hay-on-Wye (in all probability) and then surprised me even more by finding it on our bookshelf.

So I was wrong about roi pecheur. A kingfisher’s name is martin-pecheur d’europe. There are so many other names I need to learn. Tits are called mésange. A long-tailed tit? Un mésange a longue queue. Sittelle torchepot? A nuthatch. I knew learning French was going to be hard but learning French bird names looks like a whole new ball game.

Un cadeau de Noël

Christmas Day and among the presents was this little beauty! My French learning is about to step up a gear. I’ll keep you posted.

Another great reason to get to France

Here is baby Alma – born today, 23 December in Marseilles. She is Cath’s great niece and she can’t wait to see her. With travel to France restrictions currently in place that is difficult to do from the UK. But once we are in France, it becomes much easier. Cath can’t wait to meet little Alma.

A t-winning idea?

I hit on a great idea. Look up where Lyon is twinned with in the UK and then visit it before I leave.

So I looked it up and…..

On reflection, I’m not sure I’ve got enough time left to make the trip before we leave. Maybe later.

Some more specific French learning needed – les oiseaux

Je suis un observateur des oiseaux et alors je dois etudier les noms des oiseaux en francais.

Je sais quelques noms deja – le roi pecheur, l’hirondelle, la chouette – mais c’est tout.

Peut etre il faut acheter un nouveau livre sur les oiseaux de La France.

All change at Euronews

Today I got my first email as a staff member at Euronews. Although I haven’t quite started yet the restructuring announced will effect me in my new role.

The previous majority shareholder has sold up to a Portuguese investment firm.

This is all very new to me and a long way from how things worked at the BBC.

I have been reassured that the new shareholder wants to invest in Euronews’ digital operations which could make the next few months very exciting.

I know Euronews is disappointed in the way Reuters has written up the changes. For me, it reminds me that I will have a lot to learn in my new role.

Omicr-on, France off?

Today’s news from Euronews: France is to heavily tighten entry conditions for people travelling both to and from the United Kingdom in order to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, the government said on Thursday.

Travel for tourism and business will not be allowed.

Errr, hang on. Travel for business will not be allowed? What does this mean for my pending move to Lyon. Maybe it will all be all right by the end of January. Maybe? I’d better drop Euronews a quick email.

Trabouler

The Duolingo podcast I have been listening to today featured a story from Lyon!! I learnt a new word – trabouler. It means to walk in a traboule – an old passageway that connects the buildings of Lyon. Out of sight from the main streets. The oldest ones date back to the fourth century and were used to give residents quick access to the river. Silk merchants then used them to transport their goods safe from thieves.

I also learn that the la Basilique de Fourvière is known locally as l’éléphant renversé – the upside down elephant.