francofiled

One of the parties in the French Presidential and Legislative Assembly elections brought its campaign to Belfast yesterday in the person of Parti Socialiste candidate, Axelle Lemaire. She came hoping to enlist the support of French people living here who are registered voters back home in France. For the Presidential elections, French people can vote by proxy or using a ballot box at one of 9 centres throughout the UK. For elections to the Legislative Assembly, which take place in June they have an even greater choice being able to use: ballot box, proxy, mail and for the very first time the Internet. Axelle explained that also for the first time, two and a half million French people living abroad would be able to elect 11 députés to represent them at the Assemblée Nationale . The constituency, La 3ème circonscription - Europe du Nord , is expansive, comprising the 10 countries of the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. T...

The Calvados evening went well. A little sample was offered and those driving had theirs tightly wrapped in cling film to taste later. Had a nice Domfront cheese to go with it but found out today that Sawyers Deli is selling Calvados Camembert! Need to get a picture to share here. Santé

A week to go until my talk on Calvados. It is intended as a collection of faits divers, drawing on historical, geographical, literary and culinary aspects. At the heart of the evening will be a degustation of this hors d'age bottle of the famous spirit. Plenty of content still to be added yet and it may help to pour a small sample just to let the inspiration flow.