We had another useful branch meeting last night - marred only by a tired and occasionally incoherent chair. My apologies. I’ve been doing 12 and 14 hour days recently.

We generated some good ideas around two topics - the Christmas party and another meeting at the American University of Paris like last year’s with Nick Davies.

The Christmas Party is one of those topics on which every member has a view. At times they are expressed in ignorance of the time and effort that goes into organising these events. The sort of places that we’re after - large enough, cheap enough, open late enough and cabaret-tolerant enough - are very, very thin on the ground as I know from 2008 when secretary Alison Culliford, a bit of a Paris venues expert in her capacity as a guide book writer, spent several days researching and visiting possible locations before we hit upon Les Noces De Jeannette near the Bourse.

Last year, thanks to the indefatigable Annabel Simms, we were able to return to Le Grand Bleu. However, there was view that it wasn’t as good as before. €35 was at least €5 more than we’re used to. Coffee and especially wine weren’t as copious as they might have been and the space was less suitable to our needs since the redesign. Having said that we were still there at 2.30 in the morning.

If we’re going to find somewhere else we need to start looking now. We’re looking for a venue that let’s us stay late, seats 80-100, charges around €30 a head and has space for cabaret. Or do we need to decide that we can’t find this sort of place in Paris anymore and that we want something different - a drinks party with music, for example?

Food for thought.

On the subject of a meeting with AUP, we discussed the possibility of inviting another big name or Paris-based name to reduce the costs. Another alternative was the possibility of levying a small charge although this could deter some students and would increase the organisation required. Or we could have a debate with the UK election imminent. Or invite a French hack with experience in Anglo-phone countries. What about a female speaker?

All your comments on these or any other topics welcome.