A day in the life of Remmy ( the french farmer)

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Phillip

Today is almost a typical working day for Remmy.After days of bad weather and waiting the wheat harvest can now begin.


Combine harvester A day in the life of a French farmer

Remmy is a 49 year old French farmer, living with his wife and 10 year old son on a typical farm located in central France. He is a son of a farmer and his wife a farmer’s daughter.  They live in a small village with 120 inhabitants, which  once boasted 8 farms, however Remmy is the last member of the village to continue in the agricultural industry. He has a herd of 150 Charolais beef cattle, 30 hectares of grazingfields and about 60 hectares of cereal crops such as wheat and rape (Colza). He is alone on his farm with no employees. Continue reading →

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My favorite impossible French words

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Phillip

Hi, or rather Bonjour.
I’ve been living in France for more than 25 years now.
Living and working every day with French speaking people.
My sons are both French, the youngest is 14 and the oldest has just turned 18 and is awaiting the results of the famous “Bac” exams.
We live in the countryside, in a small farming village with about 120 inhabitants. A very typical village with mainly old houses and barns, no pavements, no stop signs on the road and the street lights are turned off by the mayor before midnight.
Basically, I never speak English, as there are no English speakers in the village. I would say that my spoken French is very fluent, although I do admit that I have difficulty with the spelling and congregation.

On a daily basis, when I’m dealing with people who do not know me, they assume that I am a French native, not that I pretend to be one. We can talk about this and that, politics, sports, gardening and many subjects.

Then suddenly… I will pronounce a word.

Continue reading →

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Paris is as easy as A to Z

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Phillip

Come and discover Paris

An A to Z of the capital of France

Discovering Paris

An A to Z review of the city, take a journey through Paris

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Benefits Arising from having a Mother Living in France

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Phillip

My wonderful friend Ginnie has often talked about her mother’s life in France. Having just returned from a visit there, this is what she had to say:

My mother took early retirement from her teaching career in London, and  moved to a beautiful, old farmhouse in South-West France’s Anglars Nozac commune (in the Lot region) about seven years ago.  My first thoughts on learning of her intended relocation were:

  • a) Oh no … one grandparent less to fulfil regular babysitting duties  for my then toddler son, Oscar!
  • b) Fantastic!  Oscar and I will benefit from cheap and glorious holidays with a granny/mother who having always been somewhat of a Francophile, would soon be in her element; happy, relaxed, surrounded by gorgeous countryside and enjoying a language and culture she has always loved.
  • c) I must learn French!

Continue reading →

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