Polly Fielding has no idea what she is letting herself in for when, on impulse, she decides to blow her savings on a tiny apartment in Paris. She views it as an exciting adventure until, having paid the deposit, she comes face to face with reality. Struggling to use a rudimentary grasp of French, she tries to cope with situations rapidly spirally out of her control and grapples desperately with the infamous French bureaucracy in her attempts to settle into an alien environment. Through trial and error (mainly error) she discovers the importance of always observing French etiquette in shops, on public transport, in everyday life... We are introduced to a randy Italian plumber, a drunken French electrician, the Parisian from hell, Polly's all-too-English husband and wayward daughter, not to mention the best and worst of Parisian toilets.Polly's bewilderment at the variety of ways in which the French differ from their British neighbors is evident.Meanwhile, she attempts to transform a semi-derelict shell into a homely, peaceful oasis.If you are familiar with Paris you will enjoy an alternative view of this amazing city and if you have never been there yet you could find yourself rushing to book a holiday there.As for the title, read on to find out why it's more than just a corny pun..."Fielding's affection for Paris and all things French shine through and make for a thoroughly enjoyable read." French Property News
About the Author: Polly Fielding is the author of several non-fiction books (in English) on a variety of subjects of which she has a great deal of personal experience. They include - The 5:2 Diet, Mental Health, Paris and Haemophilia. Many of her books are written in the present tense which gives them a striking immediacy. Over a span of thirty years she has had numerous articles published in national magazines and newspapers. She is also an artist, using both pastel and gouache. 'Poppymania' is evident in her vibrantly colourful pictures as is her passion for the beauty and warmth of summer scenes both in the UK and abroad. Polly has a unusual mixture of professional qualifications being a certified Voice Over Artist and Swedish Body Masseuse. And in a former life she was a teacher in the UK, Canada, Gibraltar and Iran. She had a brief spell as a nanny to two small children in Paris when she was twenty-three. It was during this six- months period that she fell in love with this magnificent city, its culture, cuisine and people. She is married(she met her husband in Gibraltar), has five children and currently divides her time between Yorkshire and Paris. She speaks English, French and German. To find out more about Polly, her books, her art and her most recently published articles, please visit her website: www.pollyfielding.com