France is synonymous with passion. French demoiselles and young macho Frenchmen are the legendary stuff of romance and French literature and films are full of it. Paris is always pictured as the most romantic city in the world and I think it really is. Whenever I visit it I feel romance in the air.

The French language sounds enchanting, and there's nothing sexier than a young French person speaking English. The soft tones of the French accent along with the musical intonation the French have with their speech have an instant effect on most English men and women. So it is when landing at a French port of entry there is an instant feeling of relaxation and romance.

It has always affected me in this way and many people I know with holiday homes in France tell me they get the same vibes the minute they hit French soil. They start holding hands, something they seldom do in England. The next thing is they are whispering sweet nothings to each other and pecking each other on the cheeks. Soon the soothing effect of France and the laid back attitude of the French starts to rub off and the stresses of British life seem to melt away. The next thing they know, long married couples are falling in love all over again and remembering what romance was like when they first met.

Friends regularly say to me, as they near the end of their sojourn how much they would like to stay on and how they envy my living out here. And so it seems that marriages really flourish in France. Yes, honestly!

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

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.

Watch out for more rants and opinion next week or buy the book today for a rollicking good read.