January 2008

Each week I am going to post my favourite local news story, but to begin with here is a selection of January’s news.

Marseille: In the summer it gets so hot that you don’t really need a chef to heat your bouillabaise, even in January, you can sit outside in shirtsleeves and yet strange as it may seem the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony could be held in Marseille. The southern Provencal Alps are being put forward by France as possible hosts - skiing in Serre Chevalier, Ice Hockey and Ice Skating in Briancon and the closing ceremony in the Stade Velodrome where everyone will be in t-shirts.

Menerbes: Apparently the residents have had truffles on their mind. First they announced the world’s only municipal truffle field. 150 green and white oaks were planted with the aim of bringing truffles within the reach of every single villager. They will have to wait 8 to 10 years for the first crop and invest in some good guard dogs.

Secondly hot on the heels of the municipal truffle field announcement Menerbes hosted a climate change conference with a difference - experts from around the world gathered to discuss the effect of global warming on truffles. The conclusion - wildly varying annual temperatures are lowering yields.

And the solution to this problem - typically French - protectionism. The EU should restrict the import of low grade foreign truffles.

Gourdes - People were peckish in Gourdes and so 9 potters in the region produced a special mould which was then used to create the world's largest terrrine. Measuring 3 metres long, 70 centimetres wide, and 45 centimetres high it was a monument to French gastronomy, until it got eaten.

Carpentras: And finally French judges staged a sit in at the Carpentras sub prefecture, protesting over proposed cuts in the judiciary. The gendarmes, took the softly softly approach they are renowned for, and tear gassed most of the higher echelons of the Provencal bar.