I’m on holiday in Spain at the moment and I went out to get bread the other morning and passed a woman wearing one of those “housecoats” beloved of French women of a certain age. She was sweeping the bit of pavement in front of her house. I was brought up in rural Gloucestershire and there were few pavements, but I remember women sweeping the pavements in Bristol where my grandparents lived. Does this happen still very much? And what is the proper name for the garment?
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In english housecoat is ok, if its not a pinny. In French a robe-tablier, and there are camionettes that come round selling them still like Class y’mode.
Early morning, I see lots of (elderly) villagers here in what I always thought are their dressing gowns. They come down the lane to get their daily paper from the mailbox or feed the cat and pigeons on their doorstep and we say a cheery “Bonjour!” as we pass on our dog walks. 
Is a housecoat the Nora Batty thing she wore?
I seem to believe in France that each householder is responsible for their own piece of pavement etc in front of their property ? You know, keeping it clear etc.
Maybe I dreamed it.
I know I am responsible for the side of ditch in front of my land but not the road-side of the property which is cleaned by the commune.
My commune has their own road sweeping machine that comes round every week without fail but then the Lotissement is brand new and a showpiece for the commune so they keep it pruned and spotless and there are rules too about all having the same colour paintwork, gates and crépi which is nice. We also have several wooden composters dotted around for vegetable waste and lots of bottle banks and ordinary and recyclable waste as well as weekly house collections of bins. I tend to pick up the stones off my driveway if they get onto the pavement as they are pebbles and I paid for them so put them back on the drive!
Yes, I’d forgotten about Norah, I think she did wear one. I saw another Spanish woman sweeping her bit of pavement yesterday.