Our Irregular Dispatch From French Life

This isn't your average newsletter. It’s the honest, occasionally ridiculous, behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like for two Americans and a Golden Retriever to move to France. Whether you’re a daydreamer, a planner, or already knee-deep in French paperwork, this is the one email you’ll actually look forward to.

Paul Blanchard 11/19/25 Paul Blanchard 11/19/25

How to Buy Firewood in France

You don’t learn France from guidebooks. You learn it from the people who quietly know how things actually work — and from realizing you’re still the idiot in the room.

Paul Blanchard 10/10/25 Paul Blanchard 10/10/25

I Didn’t Know You Could Get Moles in Your Yard in France

Four fresh molehills lined up like runway lights. Viggo was already there. Sniffing, tail wagging, eyes wild with purpose.

Paul Blanchard 9/26/25 Paul Blanchard 9/26/25

Our First French Electric Bill Was €650

Our kitchen sat at a toasty 58 degrees, the bedroom never crept above 63, and then the electric bill arrived: €650 for two heaters.