As a general rule, I’m a great admirer of the French. They have an effortless style, an endearing self-confidence, and a love of the finer things in life. They bought us Hermes, Michelin stars and feral animals slow-cooked in plonk. They have been a long-time ally of Australia; a friendship most notably forged on the Western Front.  

But like all relationships, we’ve had our ups and downs.