The French Film Festival is on right now, so let's go a little French this week.

Only a little mind you. We don't want to accidentally slip in un peu Français and raise the ire of those who insist on objecting loudly to languages they don't understand.

First though, a quick callback to last week and the assumption that Tauranga was snubbed in the Queen's Birthday honour list. I received a very helpful email from Maggie Gething pointing out that, in case some folk aren't aware, potential recipients have to be formally nominated for Honours consideration. She suggests people unhappy at the paucity of local honours consider nominating someone. In the interest of possibly increasing the Bay's honour toll I'm happy to pass on the explanatory link: https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/make-nomination/nominations-honours

There is another option if you're after an honour: buy one. And, yes, I'm aware that 'buying an honour” sounds a tad dodgy. But all you have to do is purchase a little land in Scotland.

Yep, the good folk at Established Titles will sell you a piece of Scottish wilderness along with a title. Your one square foot on a private estate in Wigtownshire comes with a printable certificate (with a crest!), all thanks to an historic Scottish land ownership custom where landowners are ‘Lairds', the Scottish term for ‘Lord'.

It's less than $100 and I'm thinking of doing it myself. Lord Winston Watusi. That'll make those abusive e-mailers think twice.

French things

Okay. Back to French things. Je m'excuse for ignoring the French Film Festival last week. It's still on at The Rialto Cinema with lots still to come before it finishes on June 24.

Amongst things still on offer: Karin Viard in psychological thriller Appearances; charming comedy How To Be A Good Wife; historical drama De Gaulle; another of those French films about food, Delicious; the 50th anniversary restoration of Jean-Luc Goddard's Breathless; and a wonderfully quirky thriller, Only The Animals, starring the wonderfully quirky Laure Calamy.

Laure Calamy is also one of the stars of the French TV dramedy everyone is talking about, Call My Agent (or Dix Pour Cent to give it its French title.). It's a smart, engaging show set around a Parisienne talent agency and featuring cameos from a who's who of French actors, including Isabelle Huppert, Juliet Binoche, Jean Reno and more. Four series are available; a fifth and a film have been confirmed.

Meanwhile, another French series has arrived on Netflix, the most popular non-English series on the streaming service (and, yes, you can watch a dubbed version). It's called Lupin, a name familiar to Francophiles through the famous literary adventures of master thief Arsène Lupin, a character created in the early 1900s. There have been many film adaptations.

It stars Omar Sy in the role of Assane Diop, a man inspired by Lupin and his ingenious methods, who is seeking revenge for his wronged father. It's both heartfelt and clever, and ideal for family viewing since it contains no serious violence, sex or swearing.

More news

More French news... This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Serge Gainsbourg, who in French terms was kinda like Bob Dylan mixed with Mick Jagger. For the last 20 years of his life he lived at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, an expansive townhouse now perpetually covered in eye-catching lyrics, tributes and portraits, graffitied in every colour imaginable.

Serge's daughter, actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, has announced the building will open as a museum in October. The main attraction will be the living area, with its piano, art deco bar and Gainsbourg's huge collection of sculptures. Gainsbourg used to tell guests: 'I don't know what it is: a sitting room, a music room, a brothel, a museum.” Now the thousands of fans who stop outside each year will be able to see for themselves.