La vie Francaise.

So I am now fully installed in my new French life, and I like it. One of many things I have noticed about the French is their appreciation of the small but exceedingly important pleasures in life: A steaming, milky coffee from a bowl at dawn, fresh-from-the-source meat and veg (there is absolutely nothing in Cecile's freezer), smoking a cigarette on the balcony before bedtime, wine and cheese with every meal, laughing a lot. The simple, enjoyable things which the English have long since not had time to do, or thought it too much of a threat to health and safety. When all put together, these small pleasures logically add up to a generally more pleasurable standard of life. Nevertheless, the French are also a hardworking nation. Cecile, a typical example of a French student, leaves her appartment before 8 O clock every weekday morning, and stays in college until between 4 and 6pm. In the evenings, she either does homework or goes horseriding, swimming or, from time to time, socialising in bars. Polly's flatmates work during the day but return for lunch and a siesta, then again return in the evenings to enjoy supper and some drinks together.

As you may have noticed, the before-mentionned small pleasures do tend to revolve around mealtimes, and why ever should they not? It goes without saying that food is one of life's greatest pleasures. But mealtimes here are also very important in terms of their social significance, as the French generally always eat together as a family, flatmates or friends. The classic, buzzing atmosphere of a French street seething with brasseries of an evening is a fine example of the sociability food creates. Wine is also very important to the French, and is consumed alongside a meal. However, unlike Bingeing Britain, its consumption is moderated and one rarely sees a French drunkard. All in all it seems that the French have achieved an incredible balance in terms of work and play, and balance is of paramount importance. The extremes in Britain are portrayed by gossip magazines every day, comparing the obese to the anorexic. People cannot simply enjoy a glass of wine, but three bottles. Let's learn how to chat, not scream and shout. We need to take a tip from our neighbours; less is more.