The 48th Monte-Carlo
Television Festival takes
place from June 6-12,
but the Monaco postal
authorities cannot wait
until then – and still less
for the more appropriate
50th event in 2010 – to
celebrate the fact. On
June 2, they are rushing
out a commemorative
€2.80 stamp via post
offices and dealers
throughout the
principality, and
selected ones in France. The portrait-shaped 20mm by
40mm stamp is gravure-printed and has been designed by
Guéirgui Chichkine.
The Var branch of the British Association celebrates its 10th
anniversary this month. Over the decade the branch has
grown to outnumber all the others in Provence put together.
Members still open their activities to newcomers and visitors
alike. The centrepiece of the birthday celebrations is typical
of the branch’s approach: it combines fun and fund-raising,
nostalgic activities for expatriates and a welcome to all
French neighbours.
On Saturday, June 28, the traditional British fête –
fairground amusements, craft and other stalls, handicap races
and a dog show – will include a brocante and local produce
stalls to attract French visitors. Refreshments couple British
ploughman’s lunches with French wine.
All this takes place on the playing field of the Entrecasteaux
Cricket Club which, along with the municipality, is supporting
the event. The grounds open at noon and the main events begin
at 2pm and continue to the closing ceremonies at 5.30pm with a
prize draw and prize-giving. More details from the website
www.baofthevar.com.
Across France, fishmongers’ shops are
dwindling, suffering from new forms of
competition, the closure of specialised
markets and changing public tastes. The
PACA region is no exception and
Catherine Serafim, who runs a fish shop
at La Garde near Toulon, has issued a
wake-up call to her colleagues: take
action now or face irreversible decline.
It was described as “un feu d’artifice en plein jour” – and so
it seemed as 53 hot-air balloons rose into the blue sky to
chase the quarry. Ten towns, five regions, five départements,
and 14 international balloonists from seven countries, along
with independent French balloonists competed against each
other at Chalon-sur-Saône’s 22nd Montgolfiades.
Held over the long weekend of May 10 to 12, a briefing
in French and English was held at 6.30am; and by seven
o’clock the competitors were on the field unpacking vans and
trailers. Watching the departure, the scene resembled a
confusion of pilots, support teams, vehicles and balloons in
various states of semi-inflation and flight readiness; but 45
minutes later they were all in the air and safely away.
The first morning’s task, the ‘hesitation waltz’, was for a
short flight over the river Saône to locate one of two targets,
the winner being the balloonist who dropped a marker closest
to it. Three other events included a traditional hare and
hounds – the hound balloonists had to land as close to the
hare as possible. A fifth flight on the Monday morning before
the presentation ceremony, was performed by Christophe
Sirugue, député-maire of Chalon-sur-Saône.
Have you ever heard
of the Vallée Bleue? It’s the
place where the Rhône does a
complete about-turn in the northern
Dauphiné, an area of lakes, abrupt
escarpments and spectacular scenery,
and a holiday playground for the
residents of Lyon and nearby towns. For
the last 12 years, the valley has also
hosted the French leg of a somewhat
obscure yet highly interesting branch of
motorsport called Truck trial. This year,
the event took place over the long
weekend of May 10 and 11, under
mercilessly clear sunlit skies, and was a
great success with its 12,000 spectators.
Annecy’s canal-lined streets and
frothy geraniums may lull you
into a false sense of tranquility as
the town gears up for a week of
bold, captivating or plain zany
animated fun. This year’s
International Animated Film festival
from June 9-14 casts its gaze on
India, as well as celebrating 100
years of animation.
An honorary exhibition of
industry founder Émile Cohl’s work
will be on display at the Musée-
Château, and bigger-than-life
cartoon character Bugs Bunny is set to take to Annecy’s
screens in a special tribute to Tex Avery some 60 years on.
There will be premières, retrospectives and exhibitions
around the town. The nightly crowd pleaser is the free
outdoor projection on a giant screen at Le Paquier, Annecy’s
lakeside park.
Jacqueline Karp has the next instalment in the liquid gas station saga
The National Public Debate Commission has brought out
its final report on the debate (reported in recent issues)
around the methane station in the Gironde estuary. Late. For
lack of a president. Not to be confused with the Public
Debate Commission, the issue has now gone up a rung to
the national level. The eight-page document that turned up in
early May is crystal clear, but hardly encouraging.
Further to recent articles in French News about women's pensions, the UK Department of Work and Pensions has issued a press release explaining that "women pensioners could boost their state pension or even be in line for a windfall payment under special terms.
Explore France
