Letter: Fast food French

Sir: About the French and hamburgers (6 October). The other day I spent the night in Paris alone and, not wishing to dine amid a throng of romantic couples, I decided to go to McDonald's. The added attraction was that my French is terrible - I am English - and at McDonald's I would be able to speak American.

'Big Mac, french fries, chocolate 'shake,' I said to the man. He looked at me with the same easy- going contempt that waiters all over Paris use on people whose French is hopeless, and confirmed my order in his own language. I didn't catch what Have a nice day] is in French.

Yours faithfully,

PAUL SHEPHEARD

London, NW5