Cath and I went to a new church that was offering a Mass in English – le grand hostel dieu.

It’s near Place Bellecour and the signs of recent protests were evident.

Easter is clearly close. The chocolate offers are impressive.

After quite a few months and several missteps look what arrived in the post today:

I can now drive with the proper documentation. Just need to get a car.

I saw this photo of demonstrations during France’s national strike today.

It made me think – for us language learners it would be useful if there was a little (f) at the bottom so you knew it was la grève and not le grève.

Just a thought.

An evening stroll around le voisinage and we came across les pompiers in action. They were breaking down a second floor window to gain access. I’m guessing someone inside was in difficulty.

It reminds me of a similar incident in the 6eme arrondissement last year near our old address. Actually looking at this post it was almost exactly a year ago.

I suppose with so many people living in flats if someone gets into trouble the best way in is through the windows.

I hope whoever it is is all right.

Judging by the displays in les vitrines of the chocolate shops.

I spotted a new type of bike on the hire bike scheme Vélo’v.

Might have to think of a reason to take one out for a spin.

As well as a greve at Euronews there was also a nationwide strike and protests at President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms.

You will have seen the scenes from Paris but there was also trouble at Lyon.

In the previous post I asked the question whether there was a grammatical error in the banner outside Euronews HQ.

But my French teacher – and a comment poster – have explained to me why the words AlPac m’a tuer were written in that way.

It is a reference to the case of Omar Raddad.

In 1991 a woman was found dead at her house and written in blood at the crime scene were the words Omar m’a tuer.

Omar Assad was the gardener and was accused of the crime but always protested his innocence.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison. President Chirac issued a partial pardon in 1996 and he was released in 1998.

Omar always protested his innocence and eventually DNA evidence revealed the presence at the crime scene of several men but not Omar.

The phrase Omar m’a tuer was always seen as suspicious because the victim was an educated woman.

Learning French eh? So much to understand.

Another day, another union meeting . This one ended with the announcement of a three-day strike which started at 5pm today.

But surely there’s a little faute de frappe here?

Shouldn’t it be: AlPac m’a tué.

This bit made me sad. Le cube qui pleure.