I imagine that this is one for the women amongst us. I'd like to know if and how France has changed your attitude / lifestyle / approach to life / appearance etc...

Since moving to France:

- I no longer straighten my hair
- I no longer put any products in my hair apart from shampoo
- I've grown my hair long
- I use argan oil on my face morning and night which has totally transformed the quality of my skin. I also occasionally put this on my hair.
- I drink about 2 litres of water a day
- I've given up smoking
- I do lots of exercise
- I eat very simply and healthily...apart from in restaurants!
- I spend A LOT less money
- I drink a lot less alcohol, even though I can totally appreciate a fantastic wine
- Mooncup!
- I no longer wear foundation on my face - infact, I barely wear make-up anymore unless I go out but instead of 'worsening' my appearance, this has improved it and saves me so much more time!!!
- My wardrobe has become simpler but more elegant.

My wife feels like an odd sock in our district... Imagine all the old ladies with nips and tucks, skin stretched across their face (it's ghastly)... Fur coats everywhere (forget the moral arguments, they just look tacky), Daddy's girls with 1000euro+ handbags, Daddy's boys with Daddy's money, everyone with blackberries and a multitude of ultra-expensive brands.
Nothing wrong in looking after yourself, but keeping up with the Jones' isn't me. I haven't cut my hair in four months, haven't shaved for more than a month, my jeans are at least 7 years old, most of my clothes and shoes, coat etc were bought over a decade or more ago. It's quite liberating not to care.

I have to say my diet has improved immensely (no more Tesco's ready meals), and we always cook and prepare our food, and enjoy it with a moderate glass of wine.

Sounds like you made a lot of positive changes. I convinced my partner to give up smoking, but got some serious grief when I first suggested the idea.

Someone needs to shoot the Jones, You would have thought leaving the UK for a slightly more remote part of France would see shot of them. There are more here than there. Someone is obviously someone is shipping them out of the UK on the sly.

To the OP given up smoking haven't had a drink for a while, Which is why Cleri is not speaking to me. Less Junk Food and Im more creative.

I always felt more creative after a drink or two, but the results leave a lot to be desired.
Do you really have the Jones' down in your neck of the woods. I thought they were far more care free over in the SW.

I have come to the conclusion that people struggle to shed themselves of the baggage that they acquired over the years in the UK, Here there is a lot more people with less to do and they take up low level politics instead. My writing improves when I drink, But having not had a drink for a while has improved my creativity in Maya "3d" and I have been tackling Gaming Engines of late. So its helped me no end.

I'm pleased to report that there are more dodos than Joneses around these parts.

Never met a "Jones" since we moved to Pyrenées Orientales and then to near Carcassonne. In fact, around Carcassonne, the Brits are so "discreet" and "blended in" that only their language gives them away when you happen to hear them in the market or at supermarket checkouts!

Different story to the Côte d'Azur where I worked for 9 years near Antibes!
There - Nice/Antibes/Juan-les-Pins/Cannes, many of them are flaunting their multi-million yachts, top-of-the-market cars etc.
The place swarms!!
On the Côte, money is all - including the local maires' adjutants running around with cases full of big notes!!

There are, however, notable exceptions among the rich and famous!
People like Roger Moore and Tina Turner are discreet and even quite unobtrusive, even when they check in at Nice Airport (my wife used to work in the local Swissair office and knew very well which "VIP celebrities" were which!!)
The local rôle model used to be David Niven who always (for the local French) epitomised the "real English gentleman!

Personally, with my French wife and a natural language ability (luckily for me), I always just did (and do) my "thing" without any regard to "what the neighbours think". My favourite bar in Carcassonne, "Bar le 98" is the epitome of the local French bistro, where I am greeted as any other of "the boys and girls" when I pop in for a beer or two most Saturdays after the market in Place Carnot
http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/bars-et-bo...84/Profil-Lieu

I wish I had spoken to you last week.
I went to Carcassonne last week as an overnight before continuing to Collioure and was disappointed with the standard of eateries and shops in La Cite. It was out of season, rainy and cold and the Montmorency Hotel had the builders in. The view of Carcasonne from the motorway seemed to flatter but only to deceive.
Perhaps I should try again in later Spring?

As a 30 something moving from a hectic work, eat, run, sleep... lifestyle to a fabulously slow life on the Midi, I have made a few changes!

1. I visit Marionnaud monthly for a facial (something I rarely found time for before)
2. I don't have my nails manicured anymore (but that's more to do with 11month old than France)
3. I use more expensive make-up but less of it
4. I actually follow a skin care regime, cleanse, tone, serum & moisturise
5. My hair is now really long & I love it as it's really natural
6. I eat really healthily - this is probably the most dramatic change, we used to work away from home & stayed in hotels so ate awfully bad food but now we cook everything from scratch & try to buy local & organic produce.
7. We walk every day in the vines or round the village so I get lots of fresh air & exercise which is totally beneficial for both mind & body
8. Overall I still like to take care of my appearance but I am much more relaxed about the clothes I wear, I now have everyday clothes & 'smart clothes' whereas before I had stiff suits & smart weekend clothes (England Rugby shirt aside).

Roger,Does the bar do PMU or my lunchtime favourite Rapido?
won 80 euros last week.......