First impressions

Today it's been my first weekend back in France and I've decided to drive back to my parents; after all, they've only seen me twice a year for the past 9 years and it's always nice being fed and taken care of every now and again.

My thoughts of the day so far:

1) Somehow when you drive a small car, every other driver on the road feels the need to overtake you, even when completely unecessary / dangerous. It seems that alpha-males feel really degraded driving behind a Smart.

2) Shopping at Ikea on your own is a great experience. Being able to get whatever you fancy without compromising or having to explain yourself (yes, I really need more perumed candles). The best being to observe that 90% of the couples / families around you are arguing; it's the Ikea / pre-Christmas combination that drives everyone mad.

Right, I'm off to watch a classic French TV programme. Unlike in the UK the Miss France election is broadcasted on national television here. The lady who organises the competition, Mme de Fontenay, wears amazing hats.