Career change in France: from police officer to gardener Amanda Freeman explains how she swapped law and order for a more creative vocation in the French countryside
‘Climate change should interest more people than it does’ France’s go-to expert on global warming and bestselling author, Jean-Marc Jancovici, talks to us about the future of our planet
Career change in France: Highway maintenance to natural pools Alex Wells explains how building her own chlorine-free swimming pool led to a new role British D-Day veteran Bill: I want to honour fallen comrades in France ‘I want to show wheelchair users they can travel the world’ How an American carpenter helped repair Notre-Dame de Paris
Fixing France: ‘We must face colonial past and revive shared values’ French-Algerian author Nabila Ramdani tells us why ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’ must apply to everyone if France is to repair
I moved to France and became an English translator by accident A letter to a magazine editor in 1997 complaining about its poor translation led to a job offer to do better
Sam Goodchild: the British sailor preparing for his first Vendée Globe ‘The French love crazy sailing adventures, I feel at home here’
‘My videos help people find the best deals in French discount shops’ We spoke to the popular social media influencer who films herself hunting for bargains in Lidl, Aldi and Action
‘I set up an invisible disabilities media company after my diagnosis’ We speak to a journalist who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021 and is now giving a voice to people with less obvious disabilities
‘I hit rock bottom, learned to swim and then swam the Channel’ A childhood dream of swimming the English Channel got Stève Stievenart through divorce and depression
France’s ‘Iron man’: ‘I had this crazy dream of flying even higher’ He tells us how hard it is to fly and why he keeps inventing despite French bureaucracy and nosy neighbours
‘We travel slowly through France in our tiny horse-drawn caravan’ With just 7m² of living space pulled by a horse called Zorba, this Bordeaux couple enjoy being kings of their own clock
‘Rugby is the reason for my move to France’ International rugby referee shares his love of Gers and the difference between French and English rugby
Interview with Ibrahim Maalouf: ‘I compose what comes from my heart’ The Lebanese-born French trumpeter tells us of his influences, collaborations and why he preaches the message of love The Franco-Scottish teen on track to break mountain-climbing record ‘Hand-delivering letters across France is slow and full of love’ Meet British singer-songwriter Terry Scott Jr, based in Normandy
The pioneering Brit who was French town’s first foreign councillor Cycle campaigning and city pride were a springboard to role in local politics in Albi Meet Nicolas Sarkozy’s former communications chief, Thierry Saussez ‘I played bad classical music because the male composer was famous’ How to avoid the wait for a driving test in France ‘The first baby hedgehog we rescued was love-at-first-sight’ Paris street cleaner is TikTok sensation with a serious message
Inside France’s ‘UFO Bureau’ - ‘we explain what people have seen’ We talk to the head of Geipan, a tiny wing of France’s answer to Nasa that inspired a Canal + TV show
Franco-Australian former water ski star nominated for top magic prize Zatanna tells of magical transition from sport to illusions and mentalism, and how her ‘very British’ show is shortlisted for ‘Oscars’ of the magic world
French abroad are valued as our local ambassadors, says senator UK-based Olivier Cadic says France’s system for support of its citizens abroad is best in world. Brexit caused issues but UK attitudes are much better again, he adds
France’s 84-year-old globetrotting ‘Tintin’ shares his life lessons We talk to a French adventurer about his amazing life on the road, the wisdom he picked up and how he thrived on a dollar a day
‘France-UK ‘détente’ only possible if Northern Ireland issue resolved’ Former UK ambassador to France says improving relationship at risk if government continues to support NI bill; warns of EU Entry-Exit System ‘chaos’ next year
‘Stupidity and provocation are trendier than well-articulated thought’ French physicist and philosopher Etienne Klein talks to us about his infamous ‘chorizo’ star tweet, post-truth and if technology is dangerous for democracy
‘We found balance between joy and frugality living off-grid in France’ A French couple have not had a water bill for 48 years but their mission has always been to save the planet rather than save money
‘We sailed to France on a barge and took our time house hunting’ Moving to France on their own boat took the pressure off finding a perfect home for this UK couple
‘I returned to UK from France, did not feel at home so came back’ A Connexion reader tells how she enjoyed her new life in Dorset but after time – especially following the Brexit vote – realised her heart was still in France
Odd guests and bad reviews - eight tips to running a B&B in France We spoke to a Danish couple who moved to France for a quiet life but started a five-star ‘chambres d’hôtes’ instead
The Londoners who ‘fell into the trap’ of buying a big French property Initially seduced by property prices in France, the couple have downsized three times
French conductor Zahia Ziouani fights inequality with classical music The award-winning conductor talks to The Connexion’s Théophile Larcher about beating ‘boys club’ attitudes and the up-coming film about her life
Finding Lucy with French paleontologist Yves Coppens Forty-five years ago, a 3.2 million-year-old skeleton was found in southern Ethiopia that changed our understanding of human evolution forever. Paleontologist Yves Coppens was one of the team that found her. Here, he tells The Connexion about his career
Hebrew, Spanish, Esperanto: readers speak more than English and French We asked what languages you know and how you learned them following the story of the American who can speak 24
Career change: UK charity CEO close to burnout found balance in France Claudia Ryan-Jones, 52, moved her family to France in 2017 and swapped a stressful job in youth work for a remote admin role and loves it
Managing one of France’s biggest charities ‘makes life worth living’ Henriette Steinberg has devoted her life to the Secours Populaire and is now its secretary general. She also manages to find time to run a bookshop
'I feel lucky to be among the last British Erasmus students in France' ‘I’ve had the pleasure of observing the daily rhythms and routines of a culture that, despite its proximity to Dover, seems almost alien at times’
Lawyer to chef: My hobby inspired me to open a crêperie in French Alps ‘I had what I now see as a bit of a midlife crisis!’ says American Rachel Howard
Simon Beck: The artist reveals the secrets of his snowshoe drawings ‘When I did my first drawing I was amazed to see how good it looked from a chairlift the next day,’ the former cartographer told The Connexion
International Women’s Day: Three French women who beat the odds To mark the annual March 8 event, we speak to a pilot, a dairy farmer and a ski patroller about the challenges they faced to do something they love
Greenpeace France: Tackling climate change is our priority ‘France is one of the very rare countries with a long coastline which does not yet have even one offshore wind turbine,’ the head of the association in France tells The Connexion
In France you are more responsible for yourself, says UK adventurer A French resident of nearly 20 years, Jerry Gore talks about his life of adventure, climbing mountains, living with diabetes and why he loves his life in the southern Alps
From chateau to treehouse: How Covid changed our French B&B business Andy and Natalie Solomon share their story of how the pandemic transformed their hospitality business
French-British snowboarder Charlotte Banks aims for Olympic success With the Winter Olympics officially kicking off today, the 2021 snowboard cross world champion tells us about her Anglo-French upbringing and switch to team GB
Meet the woman who inspired Netflix’s 'Emily in Paris' Critics have dubbed this new show as clichéd and “frankly misleading” but Rebecca Leffler, the real American in Paris, tells how it's really quite true to life
How I changed career: TV researcher to English teacher in France From Nothing Hill to Perpignan, Louise Sayers tells us how professional life can sometimes be wonderfully surprising. ‘I have found my niche,’ she says
Reader experiences: Dealing with a burglary in France Readers offer advice to others who may find themselves in the same situation and need to deal with police and insurance issues
‘I knew I would be an actress but writing was my private ambition’ She was well-known as an actress before making her name as an author, but Carol Drinkwater says writing was always her first love
The campaigner who is changing the world - one petition at a time Change.org director Sarah Durieux talks about giving power to the people and choosing your battles
Thomas Pesquet: From training in Moscow to lift off in Florida Today is T-minus zero for France's 'rockstar astronaut,' the first French commander of the ISS. From the archives, read our 2011 interview back when he was a 32-year-old commander-in-training
France's corruption problem: Why Sarkozy trial is just the beginning We need further cases like the one against the former French president to root out corruption in other high places, says anti-corruption association
'I am the novelist I am because of Carcassonne' Novelist Kate Mosse speaks about Carcassonne and her second novel in a series set there during the Wars of Religion
Making a success of a French restaurant in 2020 ‘Young apprentices do not know the basics anymore’ Adrien Descouls was semi-finalist in the M6 reality show Top Chef in 2018.
French midwife with tales of the unexpected to tell Sylvie Coché estimates she has helped deliver more than 10,000 babies in her career. There’s no wonder she had a few stories to tell in her book
I grew up in France but now ski for the UK A British-French skiing champion who grew up in Grenoble but now competes for the UK’s national ski team has told Connexion of his Olympic dreams.
British designer behind south of France fashion empire Beverly Smart moved from London to Lagrasse 31 years ago but it was her need to make money that started a successful business, she tells The Connexion
Meet the French man who saved the peregrine falcon Raphaël Arnaud looks back on a lifetime of protecting the world’s most endangered birds
Music is a universal language, says Dame Vera Lynn Dame Vera Lynn became a star when her songs of wistful love and patriotism became popular in Britain during World War Two.
Being a descendant of the Eiffel Tower's creator Savin Yeatman-Eiffel, 49, is a producer, writer-director & series creator and founder of French animation company Sav! The World Productions. He is also the vice president of the Association des Descendants de Gustave Eiffel, and the great-great-great-grandson of Gustave Eiffel
Frenchman honouring lost heroes of World War Two Jacky Emery reveals his mission to remember fallen... one family at a time
Riviera poster boy brings tourist hot spots to life Nice-based artist Eric Garence tells The Connexion about the career switch that has made his name
‘British literati can look down at crime writing’ Scottish crime author Peter May briefly puts his pen down to speak to The Connexion about writing inspiration, the importance of research, British literary snobbery, and life in rural Lot...
Game of Thrones actor is also star of the Var British actor James Faulkner is best known as Randyll Tarly in the popular Game of Thrones series but he has also made a success of his move to France.
Scaling France’s model gardens down to size Jacques Hennequin believes he is the only garden model-maker in France. Here, he tells The Connexion all about his unusual job...
An optimistic look at future of France’s wildlife Its unique location means France has the greatest variety of plant and animal life in Europe, noted biologist and film maker Stéphane Durand explains to Jane Hanks
French embraces the abstract much better than English Translator George Miller explains the process of turning French-language novels into English ones, in conversation with The Connexion
Meeting the Queen was very special for me CONNEXION INTERVIEW: Historian, TV presenter and organiser of France’s Heritage Lottery Stéphane Bern talks to Brian McCulloch
A vintage 25-year French affair Circumstances meant that Patricia Atkinson’s brand new life in France offered anything but rest and relaxation. But as she tells Jane Hanks, the pioneering Dordogne winemaker has no regrets
I write so that I can feel both human and alive Award-winning author Delphine de Vigan chatted to Jane Hanks about her career before a busy day meeting authors and readers in her role as President of the Brive Foire du Livre
‘In the end, the power of love is all’ As one of France’s most admired environmentalists, Pierre Rabhi advocates a simplified existence in order to live a sustainable, happy life. Jane Hanks falls under the sage’s spell in an exclusive interview
‘People smile when seeing a sad building dressed up' Jane Hanks meets a lighting expert who brings Lyon to life for the Fête des Lumières
Animal activist turns French off meat a menu at a time Brigitte Gothière, the founder and president of animal rights association L214, explains to Connexion why the French are starting to embrace an increasingly meat-free diet
François Hollande was funny, but he was rubbish You may recognise him from topical shows such as Les Terriens du Dimanche on C8, but what makes satirist Tanguy Pastureau laugh? Jane Hanks finds out
Dan Carter’s déjà-vu with Top 14 rugby win All Black legend Dan Carter says he thought nothing could match winning the Rugby World Cup in 2015... but that was until he won France’s Top 14 championship with Racing 92.
Ecologists don’t stop where profit begins Eco activist Yannick Jadot savaged the government for failing to ban glyphosate and buckling under to the agro-chemical lobby but such direct challenges are normal for a man who led Greenpeace campaigns against nuclear arms. The Europe Ecologie MEP tells Samantha David of the need for a green society that makes everyday life better
“It's important to know the animal had a good life” Jacqueline Yallop lived the French rural dream rearing pigs then wrote a book about it. The author told Jane Hanks about how her porcine passion changed the way she looked at both farming and food
Changing times of Jean-Pierre Rives With France confirmed as hosts of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jane Hanks spoke to former French captain Jean-Pierre Rives, now a successful sculptor.
"The traditional rural way of life has thinned out" Author Adam Thorpe speaks to Jane Hanks about French country life and the expat experience
Art de vivre that freed Meades Jessica Knipe leaves no cultural box unticked with writer Jonathan Meades in Marseille
What does it take to be a Routard guide researcher? The ‘traveller in chief’ at the respected French publisher reveals the truth about the daily life of a travel guide writer