Not the most exciting topic in the world but I did want to draw your attention to the Ashan chain of hypermarkets here in Moscow. There are about a dozen of them scattered around Moscow mostly, but not exclusively, located outside the Moscow outer ring road (Moscow's M25). They are quite difficult to get to if you don't have the luxury of a car and often involve the peculiarly Russian phenomenon of the "marshrutka". These are minibuses with no seat belts and the back doors semi-permanently sealed. They can be found all over Moscow and take you from A to B for about 50p whilst at the same time giving you a few more grey hairs. Back to Ashan.
Something good to come out of France! A vast range of goods, and service with a smile - both sadly lacking in other Moscow supermarkets. They are much cheaper too. Always worth a trip when you are feeling the results of poor Supply Chain Management and the rudeness of ordinary Russian shopkeepers & shop assistants is beginning to rub off on one. In general shopkeepers don't say anything and wait for you to speak first. When they do speak it's usually "I'm listening" rather than the "can I help you" we are more used to back home. Politeness costs nothing and puts both parties in a good mood. Rudeness has the opposite effect.
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