Let us take a look at some day to day differences between living in France and living in Britain...

Parking is another area of great contrast...

All villages in France provide ample free parking as do a lot of the major towns. Where they do charge it is reasonably priced, in a town centre for instance, at one euro an hour. In main TGV stations it is maximum of five euros per day and in some places as little as 10 euros per week. Compare these costs with those charged in Britain where some councils have even started charging people to park in front of their own houses.

Then there is road tax...

In France this was abolished a few years ago and instead the tax was placed on fuel which although it did increase prices, is, nevertheless, a much fairer way of taxing motorists. However, fuel is still cheaper in France than it is in Britain where both it and road taxes seem to go up on a regular basis.

France is a far less consumerist society...

The French are much happier with their lot and would not dream of going out of their way to make a fast buck. In the aftermath of the 1999 storms in which a great many roofs were damaged, the roofers could have made a killing but they did not. Their quotes for repairs were no higher than they would have been for the same job under normal conditions.

Quotes normally stand for about three months before they are reviewed in Britain. However, in France you find that builders, roofers, plumbers and electricians will usually honour a quote a year later without any additions. Workers are expected to work their full hours. They may take between one and two hours for lunch but there are no further breaks for tea or coffee at any other time.

Customer satisfaction comes high on the French agenda...

At one end, having a meal in a restaurant will usually be accompanied by the waiter asking if everything is alright and if you are enjoying it. At the other end, buying a car or some other expensive object from a trader rather than a supermarket will always be followed up by a letter or at least a ’phone call to check whether everything is functioning properly.

Whilst supermarkets will be cheaper especially on items like fridges, freezers, washing machines and the like, any after sales service is hard to get and often almost nonexistent. In contrast, from a small trader it is usually excellent.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

If you want more? then follow the links above where you can buy Fraser's published books.