Realize the dream of a new life in France?

‘Would this loathsome inner creature which had poisoned his past and was now infecting the present leave its slimy traces on his future?’
The first novel in the trilogy, CALL OF FRANCE, Barfield School explores the thoughts, feelings and motivations of Michael Morgan. Disappointing academic results, a disastrous first love and a failed job experience have all gone to make Michael feel he hasn’t yet found his way in life. He decides to train to become a French teacher. But at his parents’ home the atmosphere is poisoned, school life soon becomes tedious, and his unfortunate handling of relations with two female colleagues leads to disturbing repercussions. He longs to wipe the slate of his past  clean by realizing his dream of starting life afresh in France. But he’s also tempted to stay in England and develop an exciting business venture. Which should he choose? Wouldn’t both allow him to escape from the tensions at home and school to a more fulfilling life? Or is he simply running away from himself?
Barfield School is a dramatized portrayal of some of the things which led the author to become a longstanding expat in a country he’s always felt an irresistible attraction for.

Beautiful Hill-towns of Provence

We Join Denis Callan on another video travelogue, this time it is the beautiful hill-towns of Provence.

"Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône River on the west to the Italian border on the east, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the south. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and includes the départements of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse.The largest city of the region is Marseille." Excerpt edited from Wikipedia

Armistice Day in France

"Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11 to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I  and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. The date was declared a national holiday in many allied nations, and coincides with Remembrance Day and Veterans Day,
public holidays." -Via Wikipedia

When You Finish That Book...

Re-posted from my new website CallofFrance.com

There’s an understandable tendency among Indie authors to think that when their book comes to a final full stop they’re somehow at the end of their labours. For beyond the satisfaction it brings, I can’t help comparing that moment when you tell yourself that the actual writing is now complete to the sorrow you feel when faced with the finality of having to bid adieu to companions you’ve shared your life with for so long that they’ve now come to be parts of yourself.  For not only did you invest yourself in your work of fiction as a whole but, above all, in the characters you portrayed in it. So, what’s more understandable that the two years.

(see the rest of the post here)

France Street Music for Sunday October 18

Published from Paris, December 2012. Typical French street music...surprise trio on the bridge over the Seine near Notre Dame Cathedral.

15th Century Paris

Seems that Dennis Callan has a new twist and is now appearing in his travel videos.

Paris walk to ille St Louis: We cross the Seine at Pont de la Tournelle to Ile St. Louis, in the middle of the river. This island is like a small quiet village in the midst of the city, with some of the oldest shops and mansions, and the best ice cream at Berthillon.
Just a beautiful place with one main narrow street down the middle – it's kind of a pedestrian street. There are a few cars going by, but you are safe walking down the middle, just keep your ears open for the cars that will show up. Lovely shops along the way – there's wine stores, cheese shops, flower shops, a couple of little hotels. It's isolated from the rest of Paris by the river, being on an island in the river, and there is very little automobile traffic here. There are no Metro stations at all on the island so you do have to walk up cross a bridge to the mainland to get the Metro – it's not that far – it's really fairly convenient. It's a good place to stay in one of the little hotels. There are 3 or 4 charming small hotels on the ill St Louis. It's a quiet peaceful spot with a lot of atmosphere.

French Street Song

French Street musicians kick it up a notch in a musical performance posted for today's Sunday music tribute.

A Delightful Activity

Dennis Callan delights us with another of his travel videos. This time on the River Seine.

From the YouTube Video Description: Boat ride on the Seine in Paris is one of the most delightful activities in your visit, passing the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks of the city, capital of France. Most of this ride is at sunset, a fine time to do it. Only takes one hour, costs about $15, ride outside for full effect or inside if you are cold, and you can purchase beverage of your choice before boarding.

Top Ten Songs of the Week in France

Top 10 Songs of The Week - August 22, 2015 (France)
Just for fun...Top 10 Songs In France rated by Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique (SNEP) the week of August 22nd.

Accordion Music and Paris Photos

I missed posting a Sunday music video for yesterday, but that is because I was creating some new videos. The idea behind this one is street scene photos from around Paris mixed with some fantastic accordion music.

French Accordion Music Valse Musette

French Accordion Music Valse Musette | Duo Jo & Huib - Lively accordion music with some stunning French visuals. Relax and enjoy this video on a summer Sunday.

More Paris Street Music

A video of amazing Jazz musicians playing on a bridge with saxophone and piano near the Notre-Dame de Paris in France. Jazz music seems to be a favorite in Paris and France all over.

History of Jazz in France - "Starting in the late 1940s the Le Caveau de la Huchette would become an important place for French and American jazz musicians to work. Many American jazz artists have lived in France from Sidney Bechet to Archie Shepp. These Americans would have an influence on French jazz, but at the same time French jazz had its own inspirations as well. For example Bal-musette had some influence on France's form of Gypsy jazz. In a related vein violin, and to an extent guitar, were traditionally more popular in French jazz than American. Related to that Jean-Luc Ponty and Stéphane Grappelli are among the most well-respected violinists in the history of jazz. That stated the violin is also popular in Eastern European jazz." Via Wikipdia

Vence in Provence

I have not posted any Dennis Callen videos about his trips to France for some time, and he really does have great videos...so here goes.



From the Video Description - "This small picturesque village in Provence with its pedestrian zone makes a very worthwhile daytrip. You really cannot get lost when you're inside the Old Town of Vence because it's so small, but you might get a little confused by these twisting foot paths. Just keep in mind there is one primary route and several plazas, but the village is only 300 meters wide so just feel free to wander, walk along the main lane and deviate down the little side alleys, come on back to the main lane and walk both directions – it's interesting whether you are coming or going."

Related articles

• A Provence Engagement Session in Fields Lavender
• Morning photo: Postcards from France

Paris Street Music

Something a little different and maybe not expected. These Paris street musicians seem to be playing Reggae music. At any rate...it is still enjoyable and easy to listen to on a Sunday afternoon.

Robert Doisneau Celebrated with Music

Famed Robert Doisneau Photographs celebrated with some French music for this Sunday in July 2015.

"Robert Doisneau was a French photographer. In the 1930s he used a Leica on the streets of Paris. He and Henri Cartier-Bresson were pioneers of photojournalism. He is renowned for his 1950 image Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville (Kiss by the Town Hall), a photograph of a couple kissing in the busy streets of Paris. Doisneau was appointed a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour in 1984." Excerpt from Wikepedia

French Cafe Accordion Traditional Music

More Music Sunday..French music and French cafe. 1 Hour of best of French cafe music and French cafe accordion traditional music. Collection 1 with beautiful video of French music playing in french cafe is here: http://youtu.be/AsSnv75F1Es.


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More French Music

Listen to frenglish tracks and watch videos of frenglish artists. Just as would expect, there is Frenglish music out there. You may have to hunt and peck a bit on the Internet and perform some Google searches to find what seems like limited resources.

A recent search yields a channel on YouTube labeled "Frenglish Music" and also the popular Internet radio station Last FM offers up a selection of Frenglish music artists.

French Automobiles

This is a video montage of vintage and classic French automobiles and other French vehicles past and present.The French are famous for making tires (Michelin), but French automobiles are not so much well-known except for multinational giant automaker Renault.

The British Empire - UK Revisited

Infrequent trips back to the UK after 40 years as an expat living in France always stirs emotion of the former glory of the British Empire. Here are some stunning visuals of London and other points of interest found on the Island Britannia.

See other great photos on my Instagram page:
https://instagram.com/frenglishman




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French Music Sunday

A continuation of my Sunday posts about French music. This time French music and French cafe. 1 Hour of best of French cafe music and French cafe accordion traditional music.