just john
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Posts posted by just john
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Good choice![8-|] though I'd advise nearer the former than the latter, 16 beautiful (affordable) Charente; any particular reason to upsticks?
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Reasonably safe perhaps since 'Dog' doesn't seem to be around[Www]
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A great site Normy, I loved the panorama treatment, and it looks a lovely spot to be, certainly a reason to be cheerful, it's a wonderful life eh . . .
and it reminded me of this rosy poem.Leisure - W. H. Davies
WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. -
''religious values are not superior to the laws of the republic''
French-Muslim-jailed-punching-nurse-tried-remove-wifes-burqa-in-childbirthI should think not too . . .
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[quote user="Patf"] This book gets a good review in this week's Sunday Times:
The Resistance - The French Fight Against the N.a.z.i.s by Matthew Cobb.
Simon and Schuster £17.99 pp 416 [/quote]
Having recently read this I can thoroughly recommend it, it certainly reveals the chaos of the different factions; I lent it to a friend who returned it a week later and when I asked if he didn't have time to read it, he replied that he couldn't put it down and had been enthralled virtually none stop. The bibliography too is substantial, with lots of further reading.
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[quote user="idun"] Meals for 12€? Sounds cheap to me for France. Cannot remember how many years it is since I had one at anything like that price.Did have a good meal last night, three courses for £12 though.[/quote]
4 courses on the itchy feet tour for 12€ and pretty good it was too, if I recall aussi le vin compris, http://www.aubergedelabrande.com/Index.htm pop along on July 10th at aubeterre sur dronne, some of the locals do a 12€ lunch.
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[quote user="idun"] Lots of the bakers don't really do every thing from scratch and haven't for years and years. Some do ofcourse, and some are very good at it and others most certainly are not. Trouble is that when there is a lousy baker in a little village and nowhere else to buy french bread in the vicinity, then they still sell their wares. At least with the 'pain industriel' it is usually OK.[/quote]
To almost get back to topic, the problem most places locally seem to have is sustaining the business model through a 12month period(apologies for that 'speak') Rural France where we are is virtually closed en hiver. When we first bought our place it was on the basis that the village had a variety of facilities, cafe restaurant, couple of shops etc, there is now no commerce at all in that village and the nearest is 5 minutes away by car. Even the boulangerie locally which was very good, (and not inexpensive) folded through lack of trade, the current bakery has reopened under the auspices of the Mill, perhaps they could not sustain their trade without an outlet. The (extremely wealthy) Maire has been trying to reopen the cafe/restaurant which was once a thriving hub, and has engaged an architect to redevelop the property but is struggling after a year to find anyone to lease the premises, the last tenant apparently made little money, eventually having a nervous breakdown, despite running a busy premises during lunchtime for working French and equally busy for English Dutch and German Tourists all weekend, so it seems no-one is brave enough to jump in. Other restaurants locally set up bravely only to fold after a season or two, some reopen only for the same to occur. I can only assume the French tax regime is responsible.
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[quote user="breizh"] Just as an aside. Ask your boulaberier where he gets his croissant dough. He bakes on the premises, but the dough all comes from Brake Bros. Swindon's answer to haute cuisine[:D] 75% market share in France. I was a bit shocked and disappointed when that story appeared in Le Monde.[/quote]
Well apparently, my local bakery up the road still make their's with flour from their own mill; http://www.le-site-de.com/boulangerie-patisserie-du-moulin-sartier-salles-lavalette_90899.html [:)]
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Bien sur, but everyone knows the parisiens are not the real French [Www]
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I have in and around the Charente, but worse, I have come to accept it, I have recently enjoyed lunch in several places for the 12€ standard rate, but quite a few of those that were around last year are no longer there and rumours abound of those who will not be there at this years seasons end. Not surprising in view of noticeably fewer people eating out, French owners I have spoken to repeat that the main core were the English, and not so many or so often . . .
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- "The force is strong with this one, I sense something, a presence I've not felt since......."
"You don't know the power of the dark side, I must obey my master. As you wish." That said, being Maison Secondaire, it depends on when and where, July or Sept is good, -
Does it matter how we express ourselves, or why our preference is what it is, as long it is out there in the open for others to consider it, form an opinion, and compare with their own so that they may compare it with yours too, (are you still with me[blink]).
I like wild flowers and woodlands with flutterbies, I don't need to get out mower and the pruning shears on every occasion, sometimes lying in the long grass with the smell of the daisies and wild garlic beats a game of croquet. Mind you I also like shallots.[8-|] -
Once started, I don't believe there is a required finish date, despite calls to declare if it is habitable, [:P]
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I've been advised that not all expiring CU's or detail planning will be renewed, since the department is tightening or reducing permissions, and that new detailed planning when renewed may have additional stipulations, (on mine they changed the position of the building on the plot for example).
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And as I understand it, if you declare and commence work, then the permit continues. . . .
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[quote user="Sprogster"]woolybanana, I don't believe most Brits that leave France do so because they dislike it, quite the contrary, often they are reluctant to leave. It is usually just the economics, or missing family & friends.[/quote]
And becoming infirm or ill, the vagueries of what to expect under the current reciprocal health agreements doesn't give so much confidence when ill in the country of choice,
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Touche! Isn't it great that we are not all the same? [:)]
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[quote user="cooperlola"] I visit the forum for a bit of fun and "intelligent" conversation,thank you.[:)] .[/quote]
Which one is that Coops?[6][:D]
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[quote user="cooperlola"]Whenever I talk to my mother, if ever I remember something from the past, she always responds with a "pity we left there" or a "shame we didn't do this" or "I shouldn't have let your father do that." What I truly hope is that when I'm 88, I never look back at my life with that attitude. No wonder she's always been miserable. Even if France had turned out not to be right for us, I hope I wouldn't just have put up with it then moaned about it afterwards, but that I had got out when I could. And if I ever want to return to England in the future, then I hope I'll have the guts to do it if I want to. [/quote]
''…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either '' Don't be too hard on your ol'mum; despite all the best planning and commitment, life gets in the way and changes more than you might bargain for. I know it's not always easy to sail through life with the sun shining on you and there isn't always an easy out, I think everyone's entitled to a few 'if only's'; as long as they're not a Meldrew and have a few good times too of course[:D]
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…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. …what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. [8-|]
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[quote user="Alan Zoff"] (weather, quality of life, etc), had not allowed enough for variables (e.g. currency movements), were relying on the property market (both in France and UK) continuing on a level (ie didn't see collapse like many others), understood and accepted the risks, took a flyer, giving it my best and not thinking of leaving.[/quote]
All the above apply to me, italics are mine, but I'm not thinking of leaving (not here all the time anyway) and I don't know anyone who is thinking of leaving. I can only think of one couple who has left (financially secure having inherited loads, seeming to have it all, several gites in nice position etc, but wife hated it and wanted to go back home, she got a job in a department store, he did what he was told[Www]).
Talking to the Removal Company who store my chattels in the UK about deals and they said that all their business is full loads out?
is it really much of a story? -
Shame, it is the single most defining image of France to me.
Course it could have been different, they could have been felled for autobahns[Www]
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Pierre-Yves wouldn't act the goat
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Depending on what type and quality of trees you have (Oak, Chestnut, Pine), timber merchants will buy collect and pay you if they were suitable for flooring for example, try the timber yard at Chalais, or Frank Maze, Bois Sawmill at Place Says Fayard, 24600 Segonzac. 09.65.30.98.79 or 05.53.90.30.84
Thats it decision made!!
in South West (Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées)
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[quote user="sweet 17"] Wouldn't you know, TQ, I have a property between Angoulême and Bordeaux (one hour to each place and one hour to the estuary) and, although not yet on the market, have been thinking about it now it's summer and there is a lot of grass to cut! [/quote]
Don't forget Sweet's; bun in the oven, coffee pot on, fresh flowers on the table[Www]