As regular readers will know, Euronews is moving to Brussels in March next year.

Our graphics department has had some fun with the news.

I recognise the Thompson Twins, Snowy and the Manneken Pis – and a Schtroumpf.

I guess that is Plastic Bertrand holding Snowy judging by the words on his T-shirt.

But I’m not sure who this magician/busboy looking character is.

And where’s the Belgian bullet?

Of course the faces of all the Belgian celebrities have been replaced with those of our graphistes.

Update: 20 July. The red-clad figure is Spirou – a very famous Belgian comic strip apparently. A bell-boy at the Moustique Hotel.

And of course the Thompson Twins in French are Dupond et Dupont.

Vous savez deja que j’aime les martinets – leurs vols, leurs cris – tous. Et ça c’est bien parce que Lyon est la ville des martinets.

Voici des images de la fenetre de chez nous.

After missing out on last year’s celebrations because I overdid it on the swimming front this year we planned to go and see the feu d’artifice.

Because of the ongoing unease the government has banned the sale of fireworks to individuals this year. And also made buying alcohol more difficult.

But just before 1030pm we strolled down our street to see what we could see. Along with the rest of Lyon it would seem.

After 20 minutes it was over but it was a very impressive display. There were shouts of Vive la France and Allez Lyon. Good fun.

J’ai appris un nouveau mot aujourd’hui- libellule (n, f). Dragonfly.

Right – how does this work? This is ma boite au lettres.

This is my delivery from Amazon.

So how did it fit in there? Explique le moi.

Remember this time last year – how do you stay cool in Lyon when the temperature hits 38c?

Well, the same tricks still apply.

While in Marseille we also got to see a bit of the recent rioting first-hand.

As Hanna drove Lolo home there was a poubelle en feu right outside her flat.

We saw youths in masks running around and the next day saw burnt out cars around the city.

Also, when we were having lunch Chez Hanna the next day, she got a call from the local administration telling her not to put her bins out that night.

That should fix it.

As Matthew and his friends had gone to stay with Cath’s sister in Aix-en-Provence we took the opportunity to join them this weekend.

We went to a lovely lake – étang de la bonde – for some food, some swimming and a few drinks.

We also got the chance to see Alma again who is talking both French and glish- as she says.

When asked who I was, she replied tonton – and my heart melted.

We also sampled some local delicacies like panisses – chickpea slices. Delicious.

And we stayed in a delightful AirB&B which we will definitely use again.