Sunday, February 26, 2023

From the President

 A warm welcome to our members and thank you for joining, or rejoining, the Alliance Française, I hope 2023 will provide you all with many opportunities to enjoy French activities and culture. The recent Welcome Party, held at Lilias and Mike's home, was a very pleasant event complete with joyful ambiance, sumptuous food, warm and pleasant weather and the opportunity to celebrate Roger Stuart’s new decade birthday. Once again, thank you Lilias and Mike for your hospitality, thank you all for your delicious contributions and thank you Anh-Thu for sharing the “big secret”. Roger, who had decided to be noticed during the evening, along with Johanna and Robert, taught us the art of eating cheese with a spoon... not a very French practice!

This month you are invited to read “Winter in Provence - A letter from Carpentras” an article written by Brigitte and Simon who seem to agree with Frédéric Mistral, Provencal poet and writer (1830-1914), who once said: “When the Good Lord begins to doubt the world, he remembers that he created Provence”. If you are like me, your suitcase will be soon packed, ready to join Brigitte and Simon in no time!

For your diaries, please note that on 17 March we are organising a French-inspired dinner at Tidal Restaurant (Merimbula), for which you will soon receive an email with all the necessary details, followed in April by the first French film night. Further details will be published in next month's La Mouette for the film night.

While I'm on the subject of cinema, let me remind you that the French Film Festival will be held in Canberra from 9 March to 5 April. Comedies, suspense thrillers, historical dramas, family films and, of course, romance, there is something for everyone.

Sylvie