Lunch at the British ambassador's residence comes around every few months. John Holmes (who likes to joke that he shares a naame with a well-known 70s porn star) is good enough to invite the British hack-pack around to discuss the latest news. On the last occasion -- in March I think -- there was much glad talk of the success of the Entente Cordiale centenary which took place in 2004. A year of commemorations to mark the 100 years since the great act of Franco-British understanding had passed off without flaw, and we were set fair for a new era of warmth and cross-channel cooperation. But as John Holmes says over lunch this week, trying to maintain good relations between Paris and London is a Sisyphean task. Just when you are at the top of hill, the rock rolls down again. Things could hardly be worse. Chirac and Blair dislike each other personally, and the animosity is only intensified by the French belief that Britain is poised to launch its "liberal" agenda on a failing EU. Downing St meanwhile sees Chirac as yesterday's man, though it has still got to work with him for the next two years. Where would we be without these diplomatic roller-coaster rides? At least it provides plenty of good journalistic copy.