The sub-editor's laptop has been "hors de combat" since before Christmas, so all those useful items on French life have been replaced by chapatti-munching donkeys and the like.
Back on line today and watch out for such vital information as this. If you are planning having a baby this year (at least one reader is), or perhaps a grandchild, the list of the most popular first names in the region has just been published.
For girls it is Emma which leads the way (up two places from 2015), then Alice, Louise, Léa, Jade, Chloé, Juliette, Léna, Lucie and Lou. The last two making their first appearance, replacing Anna and Mila. The little French girls of our acquaintance are called Hannah, Liv, Ayla and Maya - none from the top 10.
For boys Louis, Gabriel, Jules, Arthur, Lucas, Raphael, Hugo, Nathan, Léo and Ethan. We don't know any little boys but wonder if any twins born this year will be called Léo and Léa, both top 10 names.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
