This was the view from my bedroom window as I woke up yesterday. It’s been cold recently, but this is the first time it’s got cold enough to snow. Things soon warmed up enough for the lovely white snow to become slush, and then puddles. Today it’s been a little warmer, enough at least to [...]

As most of you know, the French love to go on strike. Especially the public sector, with the lead generally being held by train workers. Yesterday, the SNCF (French national train company) were on strike, causing packed trains and leaving many people stranded waiting for a train to get home. Even with only 30% (highest [...]

It’s dropped below 10°C here which means it’s feeling very cold. The heating has been switched on in our flat and cars are already beginning to be frosted if left outside overnight. The riots have calmed slightly; every night on television the count of burned cars drops, but the figures are still alarmingly high. Gennevilliers, [...]

Residential areas around France are burning. Cars are being torched. Local commerce is being reduced to broken glass, ash and smoke-damaged furniture and fittings. For the last couple of weeks, there have been a number of events around Paris which have caused widespread alarm. The initial event which seems to have sparked off the violence [...]