Mark is having his wisdon teeth out!

Mark is having his wisdom teeth out. Rather him than me!

I have just collected a whole bag of stuff from the pharmacy, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, pain killers, a special post extraction(!) toothbrush and three bottles of mouth wash. Isn't this a bit dramatic... he is only having a tooth out! But the French do like to be prepared!.

In England, the pharmacies put stickers on all of the medication, who it is for and how many tablets should be taken and when. In France, no stickers. The dosage is on the perscription and you are given back the perscription with the medication. The pharmacists however usually explain how the medication should be taken as well. She had explained how the anti inflammatories and antibiotics should be taken and was explaining that the mouthwash should be used 3 times a day and that whilst taking the mouthwash Mark shouldn't drive.

I must have looked confused. Mouthwash = No driving?

'Mais oui, the pharmacist continued, the mouthwash has a very high alcohol percentage and if you drive after using it, it will show up as positive on the gendarmes breathalyzer test. There is a case going to court in the South of France whereby someone is trying to proof the failed breathalyser test is due to this mouthwash.'

Looks like Mark will only be able to drive from 11.00am until mid day and from 5.00pm until 6.00pm!

International Hug Day

A few weeks ago (21st January) was International Hug Day

You will not be surprised to discover that this special day was first celebrated in the USA in 1986 and initially started as a day to hug friends and family to boost emotional health.

I have heard before that studies have shown that hugs that last 20 seconds or more can increase levels of oxytocin and serotonin, which increase feelings of well-being and reduce blood pressure.

Not surprisingly, International Hug Day has not really caught on in France!.. I am really not quite sure what the response I would get if I hugged Guillaume the pig farmer!.. not a good one!.. having said that I’m not sure that the smell of Guillaumes overalls would increase my feelings of well being!.

The French just aren’t ‘huggy’ people. Well, the French have come up with a reason as the why International Hug Day was a bit of a flop in France, there is a flu epidemic!

Check your EDF bills..... You may have been charged twice

Just over 1million EDF customers who pay their energy bills by direct debit have had payments taken twice in the past few days. OOPs!

The energy supplier, confirmed that the error was caused by a ‘computer bug’.  ‘Computer bugs’  always seem to take money out of my account… they never seem to put more money INTO my account!

The EDF sent an email to all of the customers that have been charged twice assuring them that they did not have to do anything, saying that the EDF ‘had taken all necessary steps to ensure the second payment would be cancelled within 24 hours’.