What is the difference between family life in France and family life elsewhere, I sometimes get asked. Well in truth, much less than you would think.
Eating habits and mealtimes are more formal in France, and it is much more common for families to eat together. But, it is also common for a television to be [...]

We quite often get asked about French schools and how schools in France compare with those elsewhere. Although I’ve written a general guide elsewhere on the site (see French schools) a few recent conversations with teachers have given us new food for thought. This has included teachers with experience of schools in both the UK [...]

A question we are often asked, is how does the quality of life in France compare with that in the UK? A tough question because it depends so much on the individual (yes, you!) and their circumstances.
If you are retired and living in luxury in Berkshire the answer will be different than if you are [...]

Ooops that’s about two weeks since I posted here. Been rushed off my feet with all sorts of things – people coming to visit for Easter for example, and the glorious sunshine keeping me out on the tractor and my bike.
A week or so ago I had fish and chips for the first time in [...]

Suitably dramatic headline, don’t you think! Lots of people do it, and move back to the UK or wherever they came from, for a whole load of reasons. Well, two really – running out of money, and the French language – but lots of different explanations are given.
Actually there is also a third reason. If [...]

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of our arrival in France, so today I’ll treat you to some recollections ‘from the olden days’. The day we arrived was not a pleasant one – Mrs B had twisted her neck and couldn’t move; it was blisteringly cold; and there was a howling gale blowing. We were also [...]

Thought I’d comment on the thorny issue of English expats in France today, because I just read an article about it in the local newspaper. Are there too many English Expats in France? Not enough? Is France being over-run by the English, have property prices escalated because too many expats buy all the properties, and [...]