In article Richard Sherratt said ...

Well thanks to you and Baz for your kind words; if anything, I thought
it was a bit over-long as was, but I never know which details to leave
out and which to include. I tend to be very detailed over the food and
drink, coz people do like to know those sorts of things.

Or, at least, I do when I read other people's stuff :)

heh. To be fair, on the faster autoroutes it's 130 kph, which is higher
than the UK, but this changes to 110 kph if it's raining (they tell you
on signs when they think the level of damp constitutes "rain"). Most of
the autoroutes are so clear though that better speeds are easily do-able
in safety.

The french don't apparently process UK number plates when they get
caught in speed cameras, on the grounds it's too tricky to pursue,
although I'm told if you're a regular, serious offender they will pass
your reg number to plod. But TBH they're very fair about the speed
cameras; you get nothing for 200 km, then a sign says "For your
security" and a symbol for speed cameras and, sure enough, 200-400
metres later there's a camera, and away you go again, so it's no hassle
to avoid. And it's *always* like that, ie they always warn you, then
there's a unit, or at least that's how it's been on every autoroute I've
used. Unlike the UK, where they often place speed cameras as sneakily
as possible.

On the smaller roads and villages you get french plod who will laser gun
you, will stop you, and will fine you, and if you can't pay they'll take
credit cards or impound your vehicle (although they're fairly rare in
the rural northern areas - I've only ever seen one), but TBH on the
smaller roads I'm happy to keep to the speed limits, especially as their
surface once off the autoroutes tends towards the agricultural, and
overtaking in a RHD car while on the right side of the road can be
"interesting". Occasionally you get a stretch of dead straight road
though, although that's not necessarily a good thing as overtaking
safely is something some french drivers seem to find impossible to
judge. I saw one nutcase in a Merc, going the other way, put a move on
a car behind us (he was weaving, so I kept an eye on him in my mirrors),
and he came so close to wiping someone out coming the other way that I
slammed on my brakes even though he was past me the other way coz I
thought for sure there'd been an accident, and wanted to help.

Not at all! The Mulberry is mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide, and
is on my list of "stuff to see", so as recently as 2 years ago it was
still there :)

Well now it's all new condos for the rich, and endless streets of
identical little shops in identical buildings, or so it feels to me, but
Trouville, just across the river, is still authentically french;
slightly dilapidated, but in a cool way, IYSWIM :)

It was a lovely treat for herself; she's really struggled to get well
again, and me having the money and the time to take her away as a treat
was really smashing; previously, being freelance meant I couldn't take
the time off, but I've finished my contract now and have enough money in
the bank not to have to work for a long time, so ATM I'm just putting my
feet up and taking it easy after doing 13 months of intense pressure and
long hours.

To see a country I really love through her eyes, as she sampled new
foods, wines and sights was really, really lovely. I also think you
don't really know someone until you travel with them, and it confirmed
to me just how amazingly laid back she is about everything; never
stresses, moans or complains, yet is very involved with life, wanting to
try new things and see new places; I still get stupidly excited about
going away, and it was nice to see I wasn't the only one :)