For some it will be a date to note in their diaries and one on which they will undoubtedly rush out in anticipation to the record stores For others it will quite possibly be time to clap their hands over their ears in an attempt to protect their hearing

The big guns within the Socialist party here in France are warming up for battle ahead of an election to choose a new leader even though that’s still over six months away Segolene Royal officially announced her intention to stand last Friday

Eating out is never exactly a chore in mainland France, and the visitor is in for just as much of a culinary delight on the French Caribbean island of St Barth There are over 50 restaurants mentioned in the excellent guide Saint-Barth Tables

Eating out is never exactly a chore in mainland France, and the visitor is in for just as much of a culinary delight on the French Caribbean island of St Barth There are over 50 restaurants mentioned in the excellent guide Saint-Barth Tables

Eating out is never exactly a chore in mainland France, and the visitor is in for just as much of a culinary delight on the French Caribbean island of St Barth There are over 50 restaurants mentioned in the excellent guide Saint-Barth Tables

Eating out is never exactly a chore in mainland France, and the visitor is in for just as much of a culinary delight on the French Caribbean island of St Barth There are over 50 restaurants mentioned in the excellent guide Saint-Barth Tables

This is the rather muddled tale of the public holiday that disappeared from the French calendar four years ago when it became a quasi-working day But lo and behold, and hallelujah, everything’s back to normal at last and lundi Pentecôte, or Whit Monday, is once again a day off

It has not been made official yet but it’s already doing the rounds of the media both here in France and across the channel in Britain The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, is apparently not going to back former British prime minister, Tony Blair, as a candidate to become the first president of the European Union

It must be hard work being a television addict in the US Not only are there far too many channels to choose from, but you can turn on the box just about any time of the day or night and be guaranteed to find something that’ll keep you watching – even if you don’t really want to

It can be a bit of a gruff experience trying to enter the United States as a tourist, and there’s one thing certain on arrival at New York’s JFK airport – a surly welcome awaits the visitor And unless you’ve been lucky enough to make it off the ‘plane at double-quick speed, the chances are the first sight of the good old US of A will be from the back of a mighty queue agonisingly snaking its way back from passport control