Author Archives: bill

About bill

Worked in the technical / engineering area as a Science Laboratory Technician and as an Aeronautics Engineer. The artistic side involves writing under the nom de plume of Billy Olsenn, his recently written play 'A Case of Wine' was staged by the players group Straight Make-Up at the 2012 Birr one act drama festival. It's next staging was in the one act circuit is in Cavan, at Maudebawn on Sat 10 Nov 2012. Then it was performed in the Bray, Co.Wicklow at the very popular one act festival in January 2013. Next play is FEAR. A dark tale about revenge on the cruel death of two pensioners by young thugs. Neighbours hatch a devious and dangerous plan to exact old-style revenge. Bill is a member of the Drama League of Ireland and his plays have been critically vetted and certified as original pieces of work by the DLI. Another literary project is that of commemoration of an aircraft crash on Djouce mountain in Wicklow in 1946. Bill wrote articles for the 50th, 60th and most recently the 70th anniversary, (12 Aug 2016) all were published in the Wicklow Times and ensured the survivors of the crash, all French Girl Guides, were not forgotten. Articles reproduced on this website. But mostly this site gives a more general European and specific French slant on popular and not so popular articles of French news, translated to English by the author. Each article is translated on a paragraph by paragraph basis so easy to read in either language and even possible to improve either language by comparison of the short English and French paragraphs. Amusez vous bien. The author is currently writing an easy to read technical aviation book centered around the Fokker 50. Another interest is that dealt with in another of Bill's websites www.realnamara.net, a Statue of the mother of God, Mary. It was erected in 1972 in Dublin, at the end of the Bull Wall near Clontarf, and my grandfather William Nelson, was the main instigator of that project. I give talks on the history of the statue and my grandfather's adventurous and dangerous life at sea. Technical assistance with each website is by J O'N.

Romy Schneider’s grave defiled. Yveline, Paris.

Posted on May 1, 2017 by bill

Yvelines : la tombe de l’actrice Romy Schneider a été profanée La dalle qui recouvre la tombe a été déplacée, sans qu’aucune autre dégradation n’ait été constatée. Les faits se sont déroulés dans le cimetière du village de Boissy-sans-Avoir. Une … Continue reading →

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French agriculture damaged by late frost.

Posted on April 29, 2017 by bill

Agriculture : vignes et vergers durement touchés par le gel. Vines and orchards hit by frost. Agriculture : vignes et vergers La chute des températures observée ces derniers jours n’épargne personne. L’hiver joue les prolongations au grand dam des producteurs … Continue reading →

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French Presidential: What role for Madame Brigitte Macron?

Posted on April 27, 2017 by bill

Conseillère, intermédiaire, premier soutien… Quel rôle Brigitte Macron joue-t-elle dans la campagne de son mari ? Advisor, intermediary, biggest support. On l’a beaucoup vue au premier rang des meetings ou même sur scène aux côtés d’Emmanuel Macron le soir de sa … Continue reading →

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Space: Cassini plunges into Saturn rings. A scientific martyr!

Posted on April 26, 2017 by bill

Le grand plongeon de la sonde Cassini dans les anneaux de Saturne. La mission, lancée en 1997, va s’aventurer entre Saturne et ses anneaux, là où aucun instrument n’a jamais pénétré, avant de se désintégrer dans l’atmosphère de la planète, le 15 … Continue reading →

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Paris, Champs Elysée: Murdered policeman’s partner give hommage.

Posted on April 25, 2017 by bill

“Vous n’aurez pas ma haine”, proclame le compagnon du policier tué sur les Champs-Elysées. “You won’t have my hatred”, proclaimed the partner of the policeman killed on the Champs-Elysées. Le compagnon de Xavier Jugelé a prononcé une allocution émouvante, mardi 25 … Continue reading →

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Proust 1919 letter at auction.

Posted on April 25, 2017 by bill

Une lettre de Proust évoquant les ébats de ses voisins mise aux enchères demain. The letter brings to mind the frolics of his neighbours. Par Culturebox (avec AFP) @Culturebox Mis à jour le 25/04/2017 à 13H08, publié le 25/04/2017 à … Continue reading →

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French Presidential elections: Preliminary poll gives Macron and Le Pen the lead.

Posted on April 23, 2017 by bill

CARTE. Election présidentielle : découvrez la participation au premier tour à 17 heures, département par département A 17 heures, le taux de participation atteignait 69,42% en métropole. 23.7% Macron v 21.7% Le Pen. La participation au premier tour, département par département. … Continue reading →

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Forest fires in Girond (SW France) destroys 1,200 hectares

Posted on April 22, 2017 by bill

Gironde : 1 200 hectares de pinède détruits par un incendie Gironde : 1 200 hectares de pinède détruits par un incendie Plus de 250 pompiers sont mobilisés en Gironde depuis deux jours pour combattre un incendie. Le sinistre a … Continue reading →

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Asteroid skims past the Earth

Posted on April 19, 2017 by bill

Un astéroïde va frôler la Terre Une invitation à observer le ciel ce mercredi 19 avril. Un phénomène va se produire à 23h23 précise. Jean-Christophe Batteria nous en dit plus sur cet événement. An invitation to observe an asteroid phenomenon … Continue reading →

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World’s oldest woman dies aged 117 years. Italian Emma Morano.

Posted on April 15, 2017 by bill

L’Italienne Emma Morano, doyenne présumée de l’humanité, est morte à 117 ans. “Elle a eu une vie extraordinaire”, a déclaré le maire de Verbania, en Italie. “She lived an extraordinary life” said the mayor of Verbania in Italy. La doyenne … Continue reading →

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