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Wheeler at Waterstone’s

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Top billing

It’s a warm and sunny evening in London and the Kensington High Street branch of Waterstone’s was the place to be for the signing of author Karen Wheeler’s latest installment of her life in France, Tout Soul.

As fans of Karen will now be aware, such events are marked by her insistence on standing everyone who comes along a deliciously ice cold coupe de Champagne – and make that quality bubbles too, Karen just doesn’t do cheap.

Karen Wheeler chats to fans at the signing of Tout Soul.

It was a great evening, made more enjoyable by the fact I finally got to meet some of her fans, who come from all walks of life, and who I reckon are as interesting as any of the characters in her books. Many came from quite far. I was very pleased to meet a distinguished chap, originally from Montreal, but who now lives in Berkshire, who also happens to enjoy a bit of PoitouTV now and then. I think he definitely has a book or two in him.

It was also a pleasure to meet a lovely Californian woman, who has also made the UK her home, and who told me she wants to take her daughters to France to expose them to the wonderful subtleties of another European culture. One of Karen’s keenest fans was a delightful lady who made the journey to Waterstone’s despite still brandishing the bruises of a serious fall down some stairs. Dedication indeed.

I was really proud that Karen’s books seem to be inspiring people from all walks of life in so many different ways. I don’t think there can be a better reward for a writer really. But of course the pressure’s now on for KW – as fans left, I could hear them promising each other: “‘See you next year at the launch of ‘Tout 4′”!

It’s l’economie, stupid!

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With just hours to go before the French election gets underway, it’s all about the economy – of course.

Nicolas Sarkozy says he’s the man who’s steered Europe through the worst of it, while main rival Francois Hollande insists the dire state of the French economy is all Sarkozy’s fault.

It’s no secret that round the rural parts of France – where most Brits tend to buy their ‘dream’ maisons secondaire, Msr Sarkozy is not a popular man. But however France votes, it is now clear the economic future of the nation will be uppermost in peoples’ minds when they mark their ballot papers.

So will it be a case of better the devil you know, or let’s give someone else a chance to sort out ‘le mess’?

Typically, and agonisingly, the elections start Sunday, but won’t finish until the run-offs two weeks later!

What do you think? Should Brit expats be allowed to vote in the main event? We’d love to know all your views…

Strange ‘Descoings’ on

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Dangerous liaisons in New York?

France was shocked last week to learn of the untimely death of top political scientist, Richard Descoings.

The naked body of the director of the Institute of Political Sciences, or ‘Sciences Po’ was found in a New York hotel room, and strange circumstances surround the death.

Interestingly, if you read the French press, you get only very brief details of the case, with no hint of what my lie behind the bizarre demise of Msr Descoings. However, the British press have revealed far more detail of what may have gone on in the hotel.

For example, although married, Msr Descoings was ‘really into men’, the Daily Mail quotes his wife as saying. The UK paper reports he had been ‘trawling through gay hookup sites’ and that two men joined him in his room.

It’s shaping up to be quite a salacious story, moreso given we’re in the run up to the French elections and the fact Descoings had previously commented there may be a plot to ‘out’ him and discredit his reputation as a change activist in the system for creating the nation’s political elite.

What PoitouTV can’t ignore is that, lately, sinister events in French politics appear to favour as their location the luxury hotel rooms of New York – anyone remember Dominic Strauss-Kahn?

Expat French Favour Sarkozy

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French expats living abroad are putting their faith in current President Nicolas Sarkozy to retain power, but then they ARE living abroad.

Latest readings from polling firm LV2 show that 37% of ‘Henri expat’ voters would keep Sarko in power. The survey covered 2,031 French expats, in total.

Only 27% said they would vote for Francois Hollande, the  Socialist candidate.

I say if it aint broke don’t fix it. The problem, though, is that it IS very broke.

Looks like the gap is narrowing folks, but who would you vote for?