There are things I love about socialising in France, and there are things I find downright odd. I spent this evening in a way that was one of the motivators behind me moving to France: Sharing a meal with eight friends, with plenty of vin rouge, a mixture of idiocy and social commentary, and the rather pleasant backdrop of St Germain des Pres.

This is the French at their best: inclusive, open, and able to cook for large groups at the drop of the hat, and quite happy to share this with the likes of me though the fact I brought champagne helped (and brought double cheek-kissing action!).

However, their pub / bar drinking and etiquette remains a mystery: It must be said I can probably count the times I’ve been drunk in a bar with a Frenchman on the fingers of one, well, finger.

We left Carole’s place at about midnight to ‘prendre un verre’ in a nearby bar, which is where things got confusing (for me at least). The first thing Jacques did when he got here, was ask for a bottle with his name on behind the bar.

Now, many’s the time I’ve gone to a pub and there was a pint waiting with my name on it, but only because someone else (okay, usually Ben) got there before me. Here though, it seems, you can buy a bottle of spirits in a bar or club and, if you don’t finish it, they’ll pop it on a shelf ’til the next time you come in (at which point you get free mixers).

Another thing that always, always catches me out is the lack of round-buying in bars. Take tonight, for example: were we in England, and you were the first of four blokes at the bar all wanting a pint what would you do? you’d get a round in of course. not here it seems. You may well order four beers, but you’re quite within your rights to then say ‘and here’s the money for one of them’ and let your mates fight amongst themselves over the rest. Mind you, at eight euros a pint (£5.50ish,) I guess it’s almost understandable.