We went up to Notre Dame de Fourviere to show Olivier, Hanna and Alma the cathedral and the view. Unfortunately it was raining so the view wasn’t great.

And then we saw this – Fourvière’s 150th anniversary is this year.

Might be worth coming back for the recrowning of la vierge Marie.

I came across this in the Russian newsroom at Euronews. After a bit of ceiling came down, they decided to create a modern art installation to mark the occasion.

We took the opportunity to create a bit of history for Hanna and Alma by visiting Brasserie Georges.

Let me explain. Hanna’s great grandfather – arriere grand-pere – Georges Cattieu – used to eat here – in fact he had a table permanently reserved.

So we booked a table and took Alma to follow in her arriere arriere arriere grand-pere’s footsteps.

It clearly worked as Alma decided she would not sleep and instead wanted to take everything in – although I got in trouble when I took her to peer into the kitchen. “Vous ne pouvez pas rester ici monsieur.” Oops.

There were eight birthdays celebrated while we were there and I got to sample the fameux steak tartare again.

We had our first guests at the new apartment this week. On Tuesday Cath’s niece Hanna, her husband Olivier and their nine-month old daughter Alma came to stay.

Olivier had to do a few days of training so we got the chance to spend some time with notre famille francaise.

It was very nice to have a nine-month old companion while I was having my petit dejeuner.

And to have some toys around the flat.

This morning I had my appointment to collect my passeport talent – my multi- year visa. And so my first trip to la prefecture.

I had a rendez-vous but was greeted by a fairly big queue. Fortunately though if you tell people the time of your appointment they let you walk right to the front.

So I took my ticket and waited in the busy salle d’attente to be called to one of the many guichets.

When it was my turn it was very quick. I had to laugh when the man asked for my Carte Vitale – I haven’t got that yet mate. Only been here eight months.

But then there it was – my passeport talent. Now we just have to get Cath hers!

No – not the W H Auden poem about Bruegel’s masterpieces but Lyon’s very own version.

We didn’t go in as many of its most famous paintings won’t go back on display for a month.

But as my French teacher has told me there is a beautiful courtyard here that you can explore for free – elle a raison- comme toujours.

We’ll come back next month.

This weekend was a car-free one in certain areas of Lyon.

We strolled into town to have a look around.

The main drag of Rue de la Republique was very peaceful.

We also stumbled across another notable plaque on the road – after last week’s presidential assassination site.

What a history-packed road!

Je ne sais pas si les pêcheurs en France utilisent cette expression mais ça c’etait ce qu’on a vu çet apres-midi.

Mais le pêcheur n’a pas eu un filet donc quand le ligne s’etait cassé le silure a disparu.

Faire de la pêche c’est comme ça mais ce pêcheur n’etait pas content du tout!

Ce matin il faisait un peu plus frais sur mon velo.

Mais les autres cyclistes au bord du Rhône s’habillaient avec les manteaux, les écharpes et les gants! Ce n’est pas possible!

Qu’est-ce qu’ils porteront en hiver?

Et moi?

J’ai repris mes cours de francais aujourd’hui et comme toujours j’ai appris beaucoup de choses.

Il n’a pas sa langue dans sa poche – he doesn’t mince his words

Ma voisine m’a tenu la jambe – my neighbour chewed my ear off.

And talking of ma voisine – remember this spread that she treated us to on the day our furniture arrived?

Ça c’est un aperitif dinatoire.