“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 virtual CST 'Cariad Dementia Cafe' this week focuses on all things France and French, as 14th July is 'Bastille Day'.
Members came to the session wearing berets and carrying French flags, if they had one, and introducing themselves by saying something French. They also said what they most about France or French people, food and culture. "Ooo la la!"
PARDON MY FRENCH Ask 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.
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ QUESTIONS
ROUND 1. Factoids
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. Which London station does the 'Eurostar' journey to Paris from?
5. 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?
6. What is the highest point in France?
(Does anyone enjoy skiing holidays, or the 'Apres Ski'?)
7. What is the name of the river that runs through Paris?
8. SONG. Our first song was 'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien', sung by Edith Piaf - YouTube link here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRCYEkA0_q8
What does 'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien' mean?
What was Edith Piaf's nickname?
ROUND 2. Places
9. Here is the 'Arc De Triumph', which can be found on Avenue Champs Elyses in Paris. Whose grave is underneath it?
10. How many steps are there to the top of 'The Eiffel Tower'?
(Anyone been up it?)
11. Which annual arts event takes place in Cannes every May?
12. Which annual sporting event takes place in Monte Carlo, again in May?
13. Which UK landmark is twinned with Mont Saint Michel in Normandy?
14. Which French cathedral was damaged by fire on 15th April 2019?
15. According to the Dan Brown book 'The Da Vinci Code