Saturday 21st June is the Fete de la Musique - Which will ensure many people living in towns throughout Brittany and France as a whole will not be getting to sleep very early tonight.
The Fete de la Musique usually involves free concerts and music in towns throughout France. In Brittany my local town of Pontivy will have several bands and different types of music spread throughout the town center. It's a night where the police will not be telling bars and clubs to turn down their music!
Get out there and enjoy the closed streets and the families walking from band to band soaking up the atmosphere and meeting friends.
The Fete de la Musique only happens once a year in France!!!!! Doesn't happen at all in the UK :o
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
IMPORTANT DRIVING IN FRANCE NEWS!
As of the 1st of July 2008 you are required to carry not only a warning triangle in your car but also a fluorescent safety vest while driving in France. In fact the safety vest must be carried inside the car and not in the boot.
If you are involved in an accident or breakdown whilst driving in France, or assit someone in an accident or breakdown in France, you are required to wear your reflective saftey jacket.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Brittany Forum France
I recently moved my Dotnetnuke website to a new dedicated server. Sadly the old forum Dotnetnuke module that I was running was not compatible with the more recent version of Dotnetnuke so I ditched it and went with the default forum software that ships with Dotnetnuke. The real pain is that all the old posts are lost, well not totally lost because I have a backup of the Dotnet nuke database but it's too much like hard work to sort all that out manually - so I've relaunched the Brittany Forum and it's started from zero. So anybody out there interested in BRittany France, Living in France etc. feel free to register with my site www.brittany-internet.com and post questions and information about Brittany and living in France.
A+
Jules
A+
Jules
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Childrens education and schooling in France
Here is an interesting article I just dug up about the French education system. Covers some topics where I was a little lost myself! Things like what the classes are called -very useful when talking to your French friends and neighbours and they ask which class your child will be in next year!!!! Don't look ignorant, go and read it now! Click Here
It also explains some of the differences between French Public Schools and French Private Schools, not just simply that Public Schools are free in France but the difference in the way they operate - makes interesting reading.
It also explains some of the differences between French Public Schools and French Private Schools, not just simply that Public Schools are free in France but the difference in the way they operate - makes interesting reading.
New Website - Stages Aquarelles - water colour painting courses in France.
Currently working on a website for a french water colour painter: Gérard Bastien.
Gerard Bastien is running watercolour painting courses in France, mainly in Brittany and he attends art exhibitions throughout France and sometimes the UK.
The french word for a watercolour is Aquarelles - a watercolour course is Stages Aquarelles.
Visit his website as it takes form at http://www.gerard-bastien.com/
Gerard Bastien is running watercolour painting courses in France, mainly in Brittany and he attends art exhibitions throughout France and sometimes the UK.
The french word for a watercolour is Aquarelles - a watercolour course is Stages Aquarelles.
Visit his website as it takes form at http://www.gerard-bastien.com/
Brittany Gites
It's been a long time since I've posted in here - will get some more posts in over the comming weeks! Promise!
Currently updating http://www.gites-brittany.com/ as well as creating tons of new websites for clients and an exciting collaboration on http://www.angloimmo.com/ a new French property website that will have distinct areas for Brittany and every region of France.
A+
Julian
Currently updating http://www.gites-brittany.com/ as well as creating tons of new websites for clients and an exciting collaboration on http://www.angloimmo.com/ a new French property website that will have distinct areas for Brittany and every region of France.
A+
Julian
Monday, February 26, 2007
Brittany Maps and Satellite Photos
OK so it's not news that you can find great Brittany Maps, maps of France or anywhere in the world with Google Earth. It's not even news that you can incorporate Google Earth Maps and images in to websites.
So what is news?
I've incorporated a database with Google Maps which generates a database driven list of all of the communes and towns in Brittany France to generate links to display Google Maps and satellite images at the click of a button.
Ok it's not that pretty at the moment but it works and it's usefull - next I'm going to make the same thing available to generate town and commune maps for every town and commune in France. I've already got this working but would like to make it more attractive and searchable.
Enjoy :)
Jules
So what is news?
I've incorporated a database with Google Maps which generates a database driven list of all of the communes and towns in Brittany France to generate links to display Google Maps and satellite images at the click of a button.
Ok it's not that pretty at the moment but it works and it's usefull - next I'm going to make the same thing available to generate town and commune maps for every town and commune in France. I've already got this working but would like to make it more attractive and searchable.
Enjoy :)
Jules
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Hi
Thanks for the feedback Roger!
I'm in the process of setting up a news/forum website...hopefully unlike the other forum sites that appear to become petty and bitchy. I'm currently running it off the back end of my web design website please take a look. http://www.brittany-internet.com/BrittanyNews/tabid/53/Default.aspx I've just posted a piece of news I picked up about the Gendarms yesterday.
Feel free to register and post stuff into the forums. I'm about to start letting people know it's there and getting people involved in the site. I aim to get some select users involved to submit news and to help mediate the forums.
One thing I'm considering is adding something warning Brits over here not to become too much like some of our er... 'ethnic cousins' in the UK. It appears that lots of Brits are setting up their own clubs and are making very little effort to integrate with the French or learn the language.....If this continues we will be looked upon just like the Hindi speaking members of British society :( in our own Brit communities etc..... What do you think?
Jules
Thanks for the feedback Roger!
I'm in the process of setting up a news/forum website...hopefully unlike the other forum sites that appear to become petty and bitchy. I'm currently running it off the back end of my web design website please take a look. http://www.brittany-internet.com/BrittanyNews/tabid/53/Default.aspx I've just posted a piece of news I picked up about the Gendarms yesterday.
Feel free to register and post stuff into the forums. I'm about to start letting people know it's there and getting people involved in the site. I aim to get some select users involved to submit news and to help mediate the forums.
One thing I'm considering is adding something warning Brits over here not to become too much like some of our er... 'ethnic cousins' in the UK. It appears that lots of Brits are setting up their own clubs and are making very little effort to integrate with the French or learn the language.....If this continues we will be looked upon just like the Hindi speaking members of British society :( in our own Brit communities etc..... What do you think?
Jules
Friday, October 29, 2004
Internet Radio
I like listening to local radio to get my ear in...But since I got ADSL I've been listening to a lot of radio on the Internet...I'm using Winamp and listening to Virgin radio...I was surprised at the outstanding sound quality...Sounds as good as FM to me!
Found that my much missed show from many years ago: 'The Friday Rock Show' with Tommy Vance - which used to be on Radio 1 or 2 in the UK Friday nights is now on Virgin Radio, Friday nights! And it still Rocks!
Another good reason to get ADSL!
Found that my much missed show from many years ago: 'The Friday Rock Show' with Tommy Vance - which used to be on Radio 1 or 2 in the UK Friday nights is now on Virgin Radio, Friday nights! And it still Rocks!
Another good reason to get ADSL!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
X-rays and scans in France
It's all a little different in France. When you have an X-ray, magnetic scan or blood test it's YOU that collects and keeps the scans and results! Whereas in England the NHS is battling the never ending problem of storage and retrieval of patient information, here they just give it to the patient.
A little like NASA spending millions developing a pen that will write in Space. The Russians just used pencils!!!!
The health system in France ROCKS! Average waiting times in A&E of minutes rather than hours!
I love it here!
My trapped nerve in my neck is now better and I'm firing on all 8 cylinders again :) Though I guess that means I'll not have to go back for any more scans for a while...with all those lovely nurses in Pontivy :(
Jules
A little like NASA spending millions developing a pen that will write in Space. The Russians just used pencils!!!!
The health system in France ROCKS! Average waiting times in A&E of minutes rather than hours!
I love it here!
My trapped nerve in my neck is now better and I'm firing on all 8 cylinders again :) Though I guess that means I'll not have to go back for any more scans for a while...with all those lovely nurses in Pontivy :(
Jules
Rollout of ADSL in France
Yes it's true! ADSL is being rolled out rapidly throughout France. There is now some sort of timetable in place for the rollout of ADSL in France with the largest towns and communes getting the service before the smaller ones.
I used to use Tiscali for my Dial Up Internet Connection...when ADSL arrived in my commune I was going to stick with Tiscali because their deal of 30 Euros per month included free calls throughout France!!!! Sadly they told me they wouldn't be able to provide ADSL to anyone in my Commune until sometime in 2005.....perhaps France Telecom are being a little over protective of their sister company Wanadoo? I think so...The only ISP I could sign up with was Wanadoo...
To find out if your telephone line is already compatible with ADSL click: ADSL FRANCE LINE CHECK or you can call one of the two following phone numbers: Personal Lines: 1014 - Business Lines: 1016
Have fun!Jules
I used to use Tiscali for my Dial Up Internet Connection...when ADSL arrived in my commune I was going to stick with Tiscali because their deal of 30 Euros per month included free calls throughout France!!!! Sadly they told me they wouldn't be able to provide ADSL to anyone in my Commune until sometime in 2005.....perhaps France Telecom are being a little over protective of their sister company Wanadoo? I think so...The only ISP I could sign up with was Wanadoo...
To find out if your telephone line is already compatible with ADSL click: ADSL FRANCE LINE CHECK or you can call one of the two following phone numbers: Personal Lines: 1014 - Business Lines: 1016
Have fun!Jules
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Working in France
I've been living in France for over three and a half years now and haven't been back to England once!!! In fact I've only left Brittany for two days and that was to go to
Normandy.
Originally we came over to run a Gite Complex but sold that last month and bought a normal Neo Breton style House in Brittany. Now we are relying on our web design in France and Internet work to keep the wolves from the door. Plus we have some cash to invest in property as well but at the moment we're too busy sorting out our new house.
Been very busy but still managed to find time to bugger up my shoulder whilst Karting at Plumeliau in a very fast 2 stroke Kart!!! 110km/h REAL FAST when your back side is an inch off the tarmac!
We are doing a lot of work for www.bretonhomes.com who are a legit estate agent in Brittany and have a large portfolio of interesting properties for sale. They are just taking a company holiday now so a little peace and quiet for a week or so.
I'm going to see if a Physio Therapist Massage can sort out the trapped nerve in my shoulder later today.....I keep imagining images of Large Turk trying to yank my arm off :(
TTFN
Jules
Normandy.
Originally we came over to run a Gite Complex but sold that last month and bought a normal Neo Breton style House in Brittany. Now we are relying on our web design in France and Internet work to keep the wolves from the door. Plus we have some cash to invest in property as well but at the moment we're too busy sorting out our new house.
Been very busy but still managed to find time to bugger up my shoulder whilst Karting at Plumeliau in a very fast 2 stroke Kart!!! 110km/h REAL FAST when your back side is an inch off the tarmac!
We are doing a lot of work for www.bretonhomes.com who are a legit estate agent in Brittany and have a large portfolio of interesting properties for sale. They are just taking a company holiday now so a little peace and quiet for a week or so.
I'm going to see if a Physio Therapist Massage can sort out the trapped nerve in my shoulder later today.....I keep imagining images of Large Turk trying to yank my arm off :(
TTFN
Jules
Monday, June 28, 2004
Drunk Driving Laws in France
Wehay!
Just rode back on my Bike from a bar in the village GREAT! BUT beware if you're tugged by the old bill in France and you're on a push bike you can still lose your driving license if you're over the limit!!!!!
But you can still drive !?&*(£"! Yes that's right you can still drive a car...Ok so it's a very little car with a very small engine that'll do about 45-50 mph MAX but it's got 4 seats and a roof, doors what more do you want.
These cars are called Sans Permit which means you don't require a license to drive them. So if you see one be afraid because the only people driving them are either Old people who can't drive or people that have lost their license for one reason or another!!!! They can often be seen driving the wrong way down a one way street or bouncing of thecurbss around the Place de La Eglise! Shocking stuff!
So drink driving over here is more acceptable, by the people...but the state says only 50mg/L whereas I think the UK is 80mg/L so beware they can confiscate your car if you're driving it over the limit.
Having said that the roads are not as heavily policed over here. I wonder if you'd get done if you were on a horse...or perhaps you'd only get done if the horse was over the limit?
Bon Chance!
Jules
Just rode back on my Bike from a bar in the village GREAT! BUT beware if you're tugged by the old bill in France and you're on a push bike you can still lose your driving license if you're over the limit!!!!!
But you can still drive !?&*(£"! Yes that's right you can still drive a car...Ok so it's a very little car with a very small engine that'll do about 45-50 mph MAX but it's got 4 seats and a roof, doors what more do you want.
These cars are called Sans Permit which means you don't require a license to drive them. So if you see one be afraid because the only people driving them are either Old people who can't drive or people that have lost their license for one reason or another!!!! They can often be seen driving the wrong way down a one way street or bouncing of thecurbss around the Place de La Eglise! Shocking stuff!
So drink driving over here is more acceptable, by the people...but the state says only 50mg/L whereas I think the UK is 80mg/L so beware they can confiscate your car if you're driving it over the limit.
Having said that the roads are not as heavily policed over here. I wonder if you'd get done if you were on a horse...or perhaps you'd only get done if the horse was over the limit?
Bon Chance!
Jules
Friday, June 04, 2004
Living in England or Living in France
I hope someone can answer this:
Why do people still live in England, when they could live almost anywhere else in the world and have better surroundings and a better standard of living? Talk to these guys about living in France they are honest and registered estate agents in Brittany France and they have a comprehensive range of properties for sale in Brittany.
But first you could take a holiday here to make sure you like it...take a look at Holiday Gites in France for places to stay and some tourist information.
TTFN
Jules
Why do people still live in England, when they could live almost anywhere else in the world and have better surroundings and a better standard of living? Talk to these guys about living in France they are honest and registered estate agents in Brittany France and they have a comprehensive range of properties for sale in Brittany.
But first you could take a holiday here to make sure you like it...take a look at Holiday Gites in France for places to stay and some tourist information.
TTFN
Jules
Grass cutting in France
Just sat down with a very nice real ale - McEwans Champion 7.3% and it's really nice ;)
Had to have a drink after cutting the grass. Why do people think sit on lawn mowers are COOOL? They're not! If you've got a lot of grass to cut they're just a tool to get the job done without getting too bloody knackered. However you still get rattled about and jolted all over the place....Oh yes they can be dangerous too:
I was cutting the grass on a nice sunny day and... (I'd better explain now about the brakes on my sit on lawn mower...There is one peddle it is the brake and clutch at the same time...Let it up and off you go put it down and you stop..It's got gears as well but that's not important) anyway there I was cutting around the swings no probs but I then cut under the swings which normally involves a bit of fending off of ropes etc... This time I get the swing chair and rope caught under the brake peddle!!!!!!!!! I can't push it down!!!!!!!!! I'm going forwards and UPWARDS and slewing to the side!!!!!!>.................................
Thankfully the seat has an ignition cut out. So if your backside comes off, the motor cuts out. BE WARNED SIT ON LAWN MOWERS AND KIDS PLAY AREAS ARE BAD NEWS!!! Anyway learned from that one! Built a fence around the area so I can't go in there with the sit on lawn mower...I now send my wife in with a push mower to cut that area....Hey it's good exercise and she's always watching what she eats :0
A mate of mine was driving his sit on lawn mower into a trailer to take it for repairs. He ended up trapped underneath the thing when it over balanced and back-flipped....Petrol pissing out everywhere and all his wife said was 'oh you're OK, get up'. This guy couldn't see straight he'd cracked his head on the ground and had double vision. Now that's no way for a wife to treat her husband! He's OK now!
What the hell, the grass is cut and I've got a nice drink so cheers, Bon Weekend!
Jules
Had to have a drink after cutting the grass. Why do people think sit on lawn mowers are COOOL? They're not! If you've got a lot of grass to cut they're just a tool to get the job done without getting too bloody knackered. However you still get rattled about and jolted all over the place....Oh yes they can be dangerous too:
I was cutting the grass on a nice sunny day and... (I'd better explain now about the brakes on my sit on lawn mower...There is one peddle it is the brake and clutch at the same time...Let it up and off you go put it down and you stop..It's got gears as well but that's not important) anyway there I was cutting around the swings no probs but I then cut under the swings which normally involves a bit of fending off of ropes etc... This time I get the swing chair and rope caught under the brake peddle!!!!!!!!! I can't push it down!!!!!!!!! I'm going forwards and UPWARDS and slewing to the side!!!!!!>.................................
Thankfully the seat has an ignition cut out. So if your backside comes off, the motor cuts out. BE WARNED SIT ON LAWN MOWERS AND KIDS PLAY AREAS ARE BAD NEWS!!! Anyway learned from that one! Built a fence around the area so I can't go in there with the sit on lawn mower...I now send my wife in with a push mower to cut that area....Hey it's good exercise and she's always watching what she eats :0
A mate of mine was driving his sit on lawn mower into a trailer to take it for repairs. He ended up trapped underneath the thing when it over balanced and back-flipped....Petrol pissing out everywhere and all his wife said was 'oh you're OK, get up'. This guy couldn't see straight he'd cracked his head on the ground and had double vision. Now that's no way for a wife to treat her husband! He's OK now!
What the hell, the grass is cut and I've got a nice drink so cheers, Bon Weekend!
Jules
Living in France
I've been living in France for three and a half years. I'm living near to Pontivy in Central Brittany. I've only left Brittany for two days in all that time and that was only to Normandy.
I've not been back to the UK since I waved goodbye at Portsmouth!
SO what do I mis
Real Ale
Curry Houses
M8's
Mum & Dad
But most of the above can come over and see me and bring a bit of the other so I get by!
I've got about 30 bottles of prime real ale left. So that'll keep me going a little longer...until my m8 arrives with some new home brew system he's found :)
I've not been back to the UK since I waved goodbye at Portsmouth!
SO what do I mis
Real Ale
Curry Houses
M8's
Mum & Dad
But most of the above can come over and see me and bring a bit of the other so I get by!
I've got about 30 bottles of prime real ale left. So that'll keep me going a little longer...until my m8 arrives with some new home brew system he's found :)
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