Village Life

Village life in France is entertaining, friendly and sometimes dramatic. There is a real sense of community, even if you don’t know everyone. If we go out in the village, we greet everyone we see. Sometimes there is a small chat. The pace of village life is very different to an urban life. Whether you like it or not.

Petanque is a game that anyone can play and is the most popular game in France we discover at PumpjackPiddlewick

There is a game in France that is popular throughout the country. I think it may even be the most popular game here. It is called Petanque. Yes, I would argue it is even more popular than football or rugby. This is because those are spectator sports, with only aRead More →

Why we chose a French village to live in at PumpjackPiddlewick

We moved to our French village a few years ago now. It’s been a slow settling in, of which the last couple of years made it slower. But it has given us the chance to really come to understand the dynamics of village life here in France. We also tookRead More →

French village life sometimes means the police at the door | PumpjackPiddlewick

I am a great fan of detective fiction. Give me a Sue Grafton, J.D. Robb and especially the classic Agatha Christie ‘who done it’ any day. Consequently, I read frequently of police at the door asking questions, garnering answers. It’s something you read about, but it just doesn’t happen inRead More →

Enjoy the Saint Vincent Tournante in Bourgogne France with PumpjackPiddlewick

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, though the concept behind ‘giving thanks’ can actually be found in many countries. For example, here in Burgundy, France there is the Saint Vincent Tournante. A very French take on thanks giving. This is a festival that is normally held during the last weekendRead More →