Day 728 (Thursday) 6^th June 2019

This photo was taken last night and we’re really pleased that the living room is looking more and more homely every day. As it’s so big with a tiled floor (original tiles) it’s been feeling echoey and cold, not physically cold just atmospheric cold but now it feels like home and soon we will be able to have our long-awaited housewarming party.

 

There was yet another cruise ship in the bay this morning; they don’t look quite so ugly when you look at them through lavender.

The town was bustling with tourists, who are really annoying when they are sauntering down Rue du Poilu and you are rushing to catch a train to work, how can people walk that slowly?

Other than this, we are happy when it’s busy because the locals are making a well-deserved living.

Huw managed to get this tapestry up in the bedroom today and it looks great.

I don’t think tapestry is the right word but I don’t know what else to call it but we bought it on honeymoon in Mauritius to match the bed cover. Maybe it’s called a wall hanging?

 Here are today’s mistakes frequently made in France…

Putting the washing machine on at night in Paris. You’re not living in a house anymore, and apartment walls in the capital tend to be paper-thin. Neighbours can hear everything, so save yourself their wrath and do your washing during normal waking hours.

Trying to do your grocery shopping on a Sunday afternoon. Grocery stores in most of the country close after about noon on Sundays, but McDonald's is always open.

Saying "excusez-moi" and not “bonjour” when you are trying to get attention. Bonjour is the most important word in French, in case you haven’t heard and that goes for when you're trying to get someone's attention. Even saying excusez-moi will appear rude to some locals.

Saying “Bonjour” twice to the same person in the same day. Okay, turns out you can overuse it. Saying “Bonjour” to the same person more than once in the same day is seen as rude, like you’ve forgotten you already greeted them. Instead, you can give them a nod and just say, “Ca va?” or even “Re-bonjour”.

Getting in a huff when there’s no ice in your drink. This can be a tough one for Americans who expect ice in their water or soda even on the most frigid winter’s day. But the French really don’t understand this tendency, so if you want ice you’ll have to specifically ask for it, and even then, don’t get your hopes up.