It is hard to imagine it, but the 400th event organised by Edimbourg Français, Edinburgh's leading French conversation and cultural club, is approaching...

Lise Morel, the group's organiser, explains.

 I took over the group in November 2006 after the previous organiser decided to step down. At the time, the group was organing one pub night a week on a Wednesday... Not so easy for people like me to come along as I work in the evening (as a conversational French teacher) and for me the prospect of going out mid-week was an excruciating prospect, to be honest...

So when I took over, I immediately decided that there should be some weekend events... I am the lucky owner of a small projector and decided to welcome people in my own home, every second week, to watch a film and enjoy each other's company... while speaking in French!

The overall results have been phenomenal: the group has grown but has retained its integrity and, I hope, its friendliness. I have been helped by some fantastic people, who have been crucial for the group's vitality! We now boast a monthly Book Club, a Lunch club and of course, a usual bi-monthly cineclub.

We also organised a charity ceilidh back in 2009 (a Franco-Scottish celebration of kind) which was very exciting (though rather harrowing at the time!) and allowed us to give the proceeds to Barnardo's Scotland, which we supported on this occasion. 

I really enjoy the camaraderie and the fact that it has allowed me and others to meet so many great people we would almost never have met were it not for that group!

What  is also an achievement, in my view, is the fact that a lot of native French speakers actually take part in the events - but without excluding people who are learning! In fact, I always mention to my students the fact that they can take part in the activities: it may feel slightly intimidating to begin with, but ultimately, it places you in a very natural situation for conversation...

I am not sure how long I am going to organise events of this kind... But what I am certain about is that I will really enjoy this 400th event!!!