One of the first differences we have noticed here is that the post Xmas sales are in full swing – unlike France where the sales have to be approved by the gendarmes. Crazy eh – that the retail industry have to have permission from the police to hold discount sales.

But thats France – a police state in every sense.

We are in the market for a couple for a couple of beds and a new printer plus a clothes dryer. We also love that we can buy our lunch at 3pm if we wish – in France if you dont eat before 2pm you cannot buy anything at all. Too many rules there.

And I have rediscovered a decent sized cup of coffee – LARGE cups and not those useless expresso eggcups that the french use to serve coffee in.