More on the storm
http://www.france24.com/en/20090124-storms-lash-france-force-closure-bordeaux-airport-
A bit about music exams in UK and France
They're really different. I think I have already mentioned that while in the UK people generally find a private teacher for their instrument, or do it through a school scheme, here there are municipal music school, conservatoires and so on. The situation is a little more complex than I had first understood, because the schools vary in the rigidity of their organisation: the most, the conservatoires, next the municipals, then the associations. Our music school is an association, but it tends to apply the standards of the municipal schools with its programme of cycles, etc. Britain - grade 1 to 8, grade 8 being roughly equivalent to A-level, pre university/conservatoire. France - 3 cycles, each taking about 4 years, with 3ème cycle being roughly equivalent to grade 8. Theory of music - UK to take grade 8 you need theory grade 5. In France you study theory alongside your instrumental studies, very slowly. Catrin's flute music is MUCH more difficult than the stuff she does in theor
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PS My word verification is brule - doesn't that mean something in French.
I much prefer the Andrew Davies likeness to the Stephen Fry one.
The best ever was Dustin Hoffman, but that person was very visually impaired...
I have seriously gone off the BBC. It just gets worse and worse. Nightmare !
We're OK. We're just thankful that the bit of roof that's damaged is on an overhang so doesn't affect the house as such, and that we still have electrity and that we can stay put and wait for the calm ! And that the tiles missed the car. And lots of things...