Last Word In France they Last Word In France they say of those of us who live in the far north of France, ‘they might not have the sunshine on their heads, but they have it in their hearts.’ It’s true we are not as sun-kissed as our southern neighbours, but (and despite a particularly wet winter this year) it doesn’t rain half as much as people think it does. Writer Somerset Maughan once described the French Riviera as a “sunny spot for shady people”, you could say of Pas-de-Calais, that it’s a shady spot for sunny people. Any excuse to celebrate is considered a very good idea here. So when my neighbour Jean-Claude, a man who rarely needs a reason to enjoy a glass of wine or a plate of andouillette (extremely pungent sausages made with offal, much-loved by the French, not understood by anyone else), decided that he would honour the 60th birthday of his long-suffering wife Bernadette with something special we knew it would be memorable. “A secret party in the town hall salle des fetes” he said. It doesn’t sound like much, but in these parts, people are potty about parties, and a lot of effort goes into making sure the food is fabulous, the wine is worthy, and the music brings out the dancer in all of us. The birthday girl pretended she knew nothing about the special day, though you can’t keep a big secret in a small village. Came the day and almost the entire village turned up bearing bottles of wine, crates of beer and delicious dishes. A long table was crammed with the most delectable home-made pies and pastries, mouth-watering tarts and cakes, a basket of crisp baguettes and trays of smelly, sweaty and succulent cheeses. And in the centre, an enormous celebration croquembouche cake, a tower of profiteroles bound by an intricate embroidery of molten sugar topped with a love heart shaped pink macaron, made by Jean-Claude with help from Bernadette’s mother Claudette, the best cook in the village. The DJ played the songs of the late, great but still much-loved Johnny Hallyday, AKA the French Elvis, and upbeat songs that make the feet tap long before they reach the dance floor. Abba’s Dancing Queen echoed around the lush green Valleys battling with the gurgling of raging rain and the rumbling, roaring wind. And the sound of laughter of people with sunshine in their hearts was priceless. Janine Janine Marsh is Author of My Good Life in France; My Four Seasons in France; Toujours La France, and How to be French: Eat, dress, travel and love la vie Française – available on Amazon, all online bookshops and in bookstores in high streets everywhere. Buying in France? Discover how to save time & money on your currency transfers. Excellent exchange rates No transfer fees Personal account manager Multiple transfer options Regular currency updates Award winning service Email: calum.h@currenciesdirect.com or register for free and request your free Buying in France digital guide, or call +44-207 847 9446 and quote “Good Life France” © Currencies Direct Ltd, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA, United Kingdom. Registered in England & Wales, No.: 03041197. Currencies Direct Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011. Our FCA Firm Reference number is 900669. Our EU services are provided by Currencies Direct Spain. © Currencies Direct Spain, E.D.E., S.L., Avenida del Mediterráneo, 341, 04638 Mojácar, Almería, Spain. Registered in the Commercial Registry of Almería under the Spanish tax ID number B04897930. Currencies Direct Spain, E.D.E., S.L. is authorised by the Bank of Spain as an Electronic Money Institution under Law 21/2011 of 26 July and Royal Decree 778/2012 of 4 May. Our registration number with the Bank of Spain is 6716. Register here UK18844EN 142 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 143
