“I do not believe there is another city on earth so beautiful as Paris nor another people with such an appreciation of the beautiful as the French...” Edward Hopper
Our CST 'Cariad Dementia Cafe' this week focuses on all things France and French, as 14th July is 'Bastille Day'.
We asked members to come to the session wearing berets and carrying French flags, if they had them, and introducing themselves by saying something in French.
Next, we asked them to say what they most liked about France or French people, food and culture. "Ooo la la!"
PARDON MY FRENCH We asked members to give the meanings of these French sayings that have become embedded in the English language. Oo la la - SURPRISE
C'est la vie - THAT'S LIFE
Double entendre - DOUBLE MEANING / RUDE CONNOTATION
Avant garde - NEW OR EXPERIMENTAL IDEAS / RISQUE
Carte blanche - FREEDOM TO ACT AS ONE WISHES
Deja vu - A FEELING OF HAVING ALREADY EXPERIENCED SOMETHING
Faux pas - AN EMBARRASSING OR TACTLESS ACT OR REMARK
Cliche - STEREOTYPE / AN OVERUSED PHRASE WHICH BETRAYS A LACK OF ORIGINAL THOUGHT
Creme de la creme - BEST OF THE BEST
Cul de sac - DEAD END ROAD
Je ne sais quoi - A CERTAIN SOMETHING
Raison d'etre - REASON FOR BEING
Hors d'oeuvre - APPETISER
Vis a vis - IN RELATION TO
Tete a tete - HEAD TO HEAD
Et voila - THERE YOU HAVE IT
Tour de force - A PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENT ACCOMPLISHED WITH GREAT SKILL
Pied a terre - SECOND HOME
Art deco - DECORATVE STYLE OF 1920s and 30s
En suite - BATHROOM
Femme fatale - A SEDUCTIVE WOMAN WHO WILL CAUSE HARM TO HER LOVER
Sacre bleu - EXPRESSION OF EXASPERATION
Laissez faire - ANYTHING GOES
Joie de vivre - JOY OF LIFE
Nom de plume - ALIAS OR PEN NAME
RSVP - Respondex sil vous plait - PLEASE RESPOND
Fait accompli - FOREGONE CONCLUSION
Aide memoire - MEMORY AID
Vive la difference - CELEBRATE DIFFERENCE & GENDER EQUALITY
We then moved on to the picture and music quiz. Here are the images, songs and questions we used.
Our virtual prize was a bottle of Champagne, invented of course by the French monk Dom Perignon in 1697.
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ QUESTIONS
Take time to use the images for reminiscence and reflection, about places visited, foods tasted, books read, music listened to and so on ...
Round 1. Histoire
1. What is the name of the French flag?
2. The French motto is 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite'. What is the English translation of these three words?
3. Which bird is the emblem of France?
4. When is 'Bastille Day'?
When was the 'French Revolution' (nearest guess)?
5. How tall was Napoleon Bonaparte (nearest guess)?
Who defeated him at the 'Battle Of Trafalgar' in 1805?
6. When was the last guillotine execution in France (nearest guess)?
7. Which French saint was known as 'The Maid Of Orleans'?
(She died, burned at the stake, in 1431 aged 19 and was a famous heroine for fighting in support of Charles VII dressed as a man in the 'Hundred Years War')
8. Which French queen (the last one!) infamously said 'Let them eat cake' when told her subjects had no bread to eat in or around 1789?
9. Which battle does 'The Bayeux Tapestry' depict? And which English king here is shown with an arrow through his eye?
10. Which French saint is depicted in this stain glass window? She saw visions of 'The Immaculate Conception' ("Holy Mary, Mother Of God") in a grotto at Lourdes in 1858.
11. SONG. 'I Dreamed A Dream', sung by Susan Boyle on 'Britain's Got Talent' in 2009 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deRF9oEbRso
Which musical does this song come from?
Susan Boyle came second in the competition. Who came first?
Round 2. La Place
12. What is the highest point in France?
(Does anyone enjoy skiing holidays, or the 'Apres Ski'?)
13. What is the name of the river that runs through Paris?
What happens if you fall in?
14. Here is the 'Arc De Triumph', which can be found on Avenue Champs Elyses in Paris. Whose grave is underneath it?
15. How many steps are there to the top of 'The Eiffel Tower' (nearest guess)?
(Anyone been up it?)
16. Which London station does the 'Eurostar' journey to Paris from?
17. Here is a photo of Sarah Thomas from Colorado, who in 2019 swam the English Channel four times consecutively, without a break. How wide is the English Channel at its narrowest point in the Strait of Dover?
Comedy sketch. 'Swimming The Channel', Victoria Wood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2poRHmFvLI
18. Which annual arts event takes place in Cannes every May?
19. Which annual sporting event takes place in Monte Carlo, again in May?
20. Which UK landmark is twinned with Mont Saint Michel in Normandy?
21. Which French cathedral was damaged by fire on 15th April 2019?
Factoid: Some people who were at the fire believe they saw an image of Christ in the flames.
22. SONG. 'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien', Edith Piaf - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJvI0WNihyM
What does 'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien' mean?
What was Edith Piaf's nickname?
Round 3. La Bouffe
23. Which type of French bread is this?
24. What is a cheese and ham toastie called in France?
25. What dish is 'Escargot'?
26. What dish is 'Cuisses De Grenouille?
27. What meat is 'Viande Chevaline'? (Some found its way into 'Findus' products a couple of years back)
28. What flavour is the French drink 'Pastis'?
29. Which ex French footballer advertises beer on TV currently, and which beer is it?
30. Beef up your points with naming as many French cheeses as you can?
31. And French wines?
32. What is the name of this French TV chef? He has a hotel and restaurant in Oxfordshire called 'La Manoir Aux Quat Saisons'.
33. SONG. 'She', Charles Aznavour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esE0zlP7AWs
Who re-recorded this song for the a 1997 rom-com movie starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant and what was the name of that movie?
Round 4. Art Et Littérature
34. What were the names of 'The Three Musketeers' and their young protege?
Who wrote the book in 1844?
35. What were 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' and his girlfriend's names?
Who wrote the book, published in 1831?
36. In the TV drama series 'Robinson Crusoe', who was his one and only friend?
Who wrote the book, published in 1719?
37. Which character (and actor) wore a French beret in the TV sitcom 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em' & who played him?
(Go around the room and ask members to do their best "Oo Betty!")
Comedy sketch 'Rollerskates' - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=469672404260256
38. Who are these characters and actors from the 'Pink Panther' films?
39. In the TV comedy series 'Allo Allo', what was the name of the bar owner and who played him?
What was the catchphrase of 'Michelle Of The Resistance'?
40. What was the name of the painting from 'Allo Allo'?
How much do you think it sold for in 2018?
41. According to the Dan Brown book 'The Da Vinci Code', who is laid to rest here?
Where is it?
42. What is the estimated value of 'The Mona Lisa' (nearest guess)?
Who painted it?
SONG. 'Mona Lisa', Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdBsu7jiYTU
43. Which Christmas song did he sing?
Some extra songs
44. 'Music Of The Night', sung by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNrkY8X8qyE
Which Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical is this song from?
45. 'The Can Can', composed by Jaques Offenbach - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F7B2i02jrM
What is the English translation of 'Moulin Rouge'?
Get everyone up dancing, if they wish ...
46. 'As Time Goes By', sung by Dooley Wilson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_paHK6JdHA
Complete these catchphrases from the 1942 movie?
- "Here's Looking At You, ***."
- "Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, *** ***** **** ****." ...
- "We'll Always Have *****." ...
47. 'Vincent', Don McLean - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk
Which Dutch (but lived in France) artist painted 'A Starry Night'?
48. SONG. 'Je T'aime', sung by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlpDf6XX_j0
Who is this song about? (She is pictured below)
What does 'Je T'aime ... Moi Non Plus' mean?
49. 'Thank Heavens For Little Girls', sung by Maurice Chevalier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRsb9qyvofU
Which musical does this song come from?
50. SONG. 'Waterloo', ABBA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj_9CiNkkn4
Who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the 'Battle Of Waterloo' in 1815?
Which year did ABBA win the 'Eurovision Song Contest' with this song?
51. What is the name of the French President?
He married his teacher. He is aged 44 years old. How old is she (nearest guess!)
And we finish with ...
52. SONG. 'All You Need Is Love', by The Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sme6SYyvk
Which other Beatles song does this picture point to?
Included for a good old fashioned singalong. But also noting, the song starts with the opening bars of 'Les Marseilles'.
With English translation ...
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY Next we had a French cheese and wine tasting session, with the remaining tracks on the playlist playing in the background. We tried Brie, Camembert, Port Salut, Boursin and Roquefort with grapes and crackers. We washed it down with some low alcohol wines. We then played a game of Boule, otherwise known as Petanque.
Tin Tin & Snowy have the answers ...
ANSWERS
1. Tricolore
2. Freedom, Equality & Brotherhood
3. Gallic Rooster
4. 14th July / 1789
5. Napoleon Bonaparte was 5ft 6ins - 5ft 7ins
(At autopsy he measured 5ft 2ins, but that was in French measurement which at the time was different to British measurement. Hence the fable about his diminutive stature stuck!)
Horatio Nelson
6. 1977
7. 'Joan Of Arc'
(She fought in 'The Hundred Years War' and was burnt at the stake aged 19.)
8. Marie Antoinette
(She was executed by guillotine in 1793 after 'The French Revolution'.)
9. 'The Battle Of Hastings' in 1066 / King Harold
(The tapestry is over 70 metres long!)
10. 'Saint Bernadette' (Surname Soubirous)
11. 'Les Miserables'
The dance group, 'Diversity'
12. Mont Blanc
13. Seine
You go insane (In Seine)
14. Arc De Triomphe / 'The Grave Of The Unknown Soldier'
15. 1665 steps
16. St Pancras
17. 21 miles. She actually swam 130 miles due to drift caused by the currents!
18. 'The Cannes Film Festival'
19. 'The Monaco Grand Prix'
20. St Michaels Mount, near Penzance
21. Notre Dame
22. 'Little Sparrow' / "No, I do not regret anything!"
23. Croissant
24. Croc Monsieur
25. Snails
26. Frogs Legs
27. Horse
28. Aniseed
29. Erica Cantona advertises 'Kronenbourg' lager
30. Baby Bel
Boursin
Brie
Camembert
Comte
Fromage Frais
Port Salut
Roquefort
Saint Agur
31. Beaujolais
Bordeaux
Burgundy
Cabernet Sauvignon
Champagne
Chenin Blanc
Cotes Du Rhone
Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc
32. Raymond Blanc
33. Elvis Costello / 'Notting Hill'
34. Arthos, Aramis, Portos & D'Artagnon
(The novel 'The Three Musketeers' was written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844.)
35. Quasimodo & Esmerelda
(The book about the deformed bellringer was written by Victor Hugo in 1831.)
36. Man Friday / Daniel Defoe
37. Frank Spencer ("Oo Betty!") / Michael Crawford
38. Inspector Clousseau (played by Peter Sellers) & Cato (played by Burt Kwouk)
39. Rene Artois / Gordon Kaye / "I shall say this only once!"
40. 'The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies' / £15,000
41. Mary Magdalene / 'The Louvre'
42. 'The Mona Lisa' was valued at $100m in 1962. In today's money that is $850m! /
Leonardo Da Vinci
43. 'The Christmas Song' ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ...")
44. 'Phantom Of The Opera'
45. Red Windmill
46. "Here's Looking At You, KID."
- "Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, SHE WALKS INTO MINE." ...
- "We'll Always Have PARIS." ...
47. Vincent Van Gogh
48. Bridget Bardot / aged 87 / "I love you ... Me neither"
49. 'Gigi'
50. Duke of Wellington / 1974
51. Emmanuel Macron is 43 / Brigitte Macron is 69
52. 'Yellow Submarine'
