French manners

[FlorenceandtheWashingMachine]

We are going to France on Saturday for two weeks and have been invited to stay with a former colleague of my DH's and his family for a night.

If you live in France, could you please let me know what would be considered polite to take along as a gift? I would normally take a lovely bunch of flowers and perhaps a gift for each child. I was thinking of getting something very English and taking it out with us, but space is an issue.

Also, do we take wine or will that be considered a deep insult?

I wouldn't bother with wine (we are drowning in it in this country).

A gift for each child is a very good idea - what age are the children? If they were primary aged, I would take the three original Charlie & Lola books and/or a DVD or two - they are brilliant for learning English and all children in France learn English these days.

For the parents the Duchy Originals range of biscuits etc would be nice and safe.

I will check the ages of children - I think that they are little ones. Books are always a lovely gift. There's an author called Kim Lewis whose wonderful children's books feature our local countryside, so I may go for one or two of those or failing that 'Charlie and Lola'.

I will get hold of some Duchy Originals goodies. Thank you, BonsoirAnna.