France goes to the polls – again

Voters in Fuveau exercising their democratic rights

It’s Election Day again in France – this time the second round of the votes for the National Assembly.

I’m in Fuveau to see my niece and she went to cast her vote for the candidates for prime minister here – Jean-Luc Melenchon and Valerie Pécresse.

You can follow the results and key takeaways at 8pm here.

En vacances

After four-and-a-half months working at Euronews, it felt like time for a holiday. We booked an Airbnb in Bouc Bel Air between Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles to enable us to see Cath’s sister and nieces and great niece.

I realise this might get annoying if you are stuck in England with a flight cancellation or bags lost in a sea of luggage at Heathrow. So please look away now if you don’t want to see pictures of sun, sea and swimming pools.

Hanna and her daughter Alma enjoy cooling off

Les hommes sur les tois – dans le sud

Another occasional series – here are some men on rooftops. This lot are on the rooftops in Cabries on the site of where Cath used to stay when she was a teenager with her penpal, Celine.

This is where Cath spent her teenage summers

It is now a development of quite a few houses – named in the memory of Cath’s penpal’s brother who was killed in a car accident when he was three.

House hunt – areas off the list

As our consultant starts looking on our behalf for flats that we could rent we have discussed areas where we would like to live.

It has boiled down to the 2eme arrondisement, the 6eme arrondisement and the area at the top of La Croix Rousse.

As we drove out of Lyon today to start a week-long holiday in Bouc Bel Air we drove past the area where there are lots of chemical plants. Maybe not there

Il y a beaucoup de martinets à Lyon

I think I’ve said this before but I mean, there are loads of them, everywhere you go.

Formation civique? Pas encore

This morning I went for another appointment at the OFII – Office Francaise l’immigration et de l’integration. I thought it was my first of four appointments for my formation civique. But no. This was my pre-formation civique appointment.

So I found myself back in Rue de Quivogne, where we had our medicals, at 8 o’clock in the morning for a demi- journée of training along with une douzaine of others.

We had to check in. I heard the woman asking everyone: “Vous comprenez le Francais?” as they were signing in and everyone replied Un peu. Alors, when it was my turn I went for: Je me debrouille.

Then it was into la salle de classe with a 20-minute test of our written French.

It was quite straightforward although I didn’t know what un travail en tension was. It was multiple choice so I worked out it was either an oversubscribed profession or an undersubscribed one. And I went for the wrong one. It means jobs that not many people want to do.

Throughout the test there were two eyes bearing down on us.

Then, papers collected in, it was time to wait for the oral test. One by one we were called out. Was the order best to worst? I hope not because before I knew it there were only four of us left. Then it was my turn.

No need to worry. I was told my French was at level B1.

In order to apply for a residency for 10 years your French must be at A2 level and for nationality at B1 level.

I now have to do FOUR days of formation civique – to learn how to be a good citizen in France. At least I can do the first two online.

It is one more step on the road to being allowed to stay here a bit longer – so I treated myself to a nice coffee afterwards.

How to survive a scorching day in Lyon

Saw this man paddle boarding down the Rhone in his trunks. Had the river to himself – what a legend.

Limonest – picture postcard with garlic

This weekend’s day out was to the village of Limonest just outside Lyon. It is a picture postcard village with a gorgeous town hall and church and amazing views.