One of the many difficult aspects of learning French is the names for different types of fish. There is a fish option every day in the office canteen but one of the problems is what the fish name means – both in French and English!

For example lieu is Saithe? What? Apparently part of the pollack family.

Tacaud is whiting. Not sure I know what a whiting is apart from the fact that one once said: “Will you walk a little faster,” said a whiting to a snail. “There’s a porpoise close behind us and he’s treading on my tail.”

Then there’s Colin. Is it Coley? Or pollack again?

I see I am not alone in my confusion – although now I’m even more confused as I thought I was safe in the knowledge that merlu was hake.

At least some are more straightforward.

And if in doubt, you can always consult the fish list in your local supermarché.

Another lunchtime stroll and another encounter with a local pêcheur. This one hadn’t caught un grand poisson like last time. In fact, quite the opposite.

It was a beautiful little perch – with gorgeous red fins. The fisherman threw it back so it’s another Lyon fish that lives to fight another day.

We were in Presqu’Ile on Saturday and we stumbled across another traboule. It would be rude not to.

Wooahh- qu’est-ce que c’est ça dans la cour?

Turns out it’s this – a piece of bakery machinery. This is what happens I guess when you live above a boulangerie.

It results in bread with a crunchy crust, irregular air cell structure and a creamy colour which give it a more rustic feel, reminiscent of old-style bread.

It’s like the Great British Bake Off living here, honestly.

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.