letrangere
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Posts posted by letrangere
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I'd just relax, invest the loot elsewhere (outside of France) keep a low profile and move around, often.
Woa! steady on here. It's much harder these days to get away with this in France and if you're going to try I would recommend even more professional advice, nerves of steel and a contingency cash fund put aside for if (when?) the French tax authorities do eventually catch up with you. If this really is your game plan, try Italy instead for it's far, far easier to disappear there. M
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Perusing a friend's bookshelves last night spotted something called Gardening in Mediterranean Climate(?). If anyone's interested, PM me and I'll get accurate details. It was interesting because it doesn't only give tips on what to plant if you live in dry parts and advice on irrigation but it also recommends fire resistant species. Heaven forbid anyone here would suffer from that but it is surely an important consideration in many parts of the south these days? M
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St Guilhem le Désert
We nearly bought a house here in the early 90s. Shame we didn't 'cos it was a poor man's Provence at the time but is now catching (caught?) up. Exquisite village but we had seen it only in the spring and then September, which just goes to prove you should always view the house of your dreams at the WORST time of the year. And this could be mid-winter or, then again, mid-summer. M
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"Customer Service in Germany in our experience is just a few years behind that of Paris!!"
Impossible! And I speak as one who reckons Paris is still the best city on earth to live in. M
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SB, But did you come across anywhere else on your travels up through France that you would prefer to live (think climate) and, more importantly, where you could both get a job (think survival)? I'm not 100% sure what this expression means but I'm tempted to say, "it's horses for courses". You can't have everything, ie live in a part of the country that half the world hankers after, enjoy the best weather in France and pay rock bottom prices.
Which has started me thinking, where is the cheapest place in France to live? Rural Auvergne perhaps? Any ideas? M
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I think it really does depend upon where you live. My friend's coat was bought in the lovely Sunday market at Libourne (33), admitedly a fairly well to do extension of nearby Bordeaux. But Cahors market is equally as good, though again, prosperous town? But then again, the huge Monday market in Caussade (82?) just off the A20 - which is about as SW and farmers' orientated as you can get - is where I've bought country style pullovers, undies, baskets and hats. Marche aux Puces is wonderful but people say there's nowhere else on earth like that. M
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Gosh, this is always tricky. You like it so you don't want to lose it but you also want the best price. You don't say how big it is or land, etc. but for a Tarn address only requiring CH and a bit of roof work, that doesn't sound a bad price. If it's been on the market for months and it were mid-winter, I'd suggest going as low as 90K, knowing jolly well that most of my French friends would start at around 75K. But the sort of figure you're talking about is a popular price-range for so many Brits. If you have the courage, go in lower, but if you're cautious, why not offer 100K and see what he says? Sudden thought, did the agency price include fees? That could explain the difference. M
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I was thinking of figs when I posted as the season is just around the corner, or perhaps it's already started in the deep south? Must be her husband who wrote the book on wine for it's such an unusual name. Can you recommend that too, Daytona? M
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Found Carole Drinkwater's books a bit icky but have read them all the same ...
Val, don't worry, your amongst friends here. I'll own up and admit I only read the second one, the Olive Season, because of the picture on the cover, and I don't even think it was her house! And I read a bit of the third one everytime I'm in my local bookshop at an hour when I won't bump into anyone I know! Will definitely be getting the next Patricia Atkinson when it comes out in paperback. Gill's right about Ruth Sylvestre. Her sunflower series books are really lovely. M
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Logan's post is spot on. And Val makes good points too, though wealth tax kicks in at Euros 720,000 and it's based on world wide assets, not world wide "income" as stated incorrectly in the otherwise very useful 50 facts for living in France that came with this month's LF magazine. It's not a huge percentage but it's there and you're liable. I would argue that everyone could benefit from professional advice before making the move but certainly the more you've got, the more those in the know can do to ensure you keep it. And in your position you simply must do this as a matter of priority. Talk to them NOW before you even plan your date for leaving the UK for timing is all important. They'll be able to help with advice on business set up too. There are numerous companies offering such services, most advertise in all the French expat mags. M
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I'm tempted to say that if that's the case, they only do it in an effort to keep up with their wandering eye (and limbs) husbands!
Was it obvious that you were an Englishman? For I've long held that some French women have a certain penchant for a particular type of British male. I've got quite a good looking specimen at home with 15 years on you but he's frequently flirted with by French women of all ages. I'm not suggesting for one moment that you were sitting on the beach sending out "signals" (or perhaps you were...) but I think French women are especially receptive to even the most covert glance of approval. They're constantly on the look out for them as reassurance that all that time, money and energy spent on beautifying themselves wasn't in vain. Many of my French women friends, most of whom look terrific, complain constantly that their husbands don't notice them anymore. So they take to eyeing up strangers on beaches instead...
M
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It's back in print (hurrah!) after many years, spotted it on Amazon the other day. This is one of those books I had, loved and lost leaving it accidentally in a gite many years ago. Jeanne Strang is the author and it's arguably the definitive recipe book for dishes from the SW. Rest assured though there's lots more to it than duck a thousand different ways. Her guinea fowl cooked in coming-soon figs, for example, is a dish to die for. M
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Thanks everyone, I'm certainly going to check out Deborah Moggach. Did a search on Amazon simply using the word "France", results of course ran into the hundreds. I see Patricia Atkinson's sequel is out in hardback, La Belle Saison, and yet another(?) Carole Drinkwater, A Celebration of Olives.
Has anyone read Instructions for Visitors by Helen Stevenson? That had very mixed reviews on Amazon with some saying it was puerile, Mills & Boon rubbish whilst others said it was best thing written on France. And how about Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. Isn't she an Aussie living in Paris? Comments anyone?
M
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We've been gone from the UK 20 years but still retain property there. Can't see us ever moving back (perish the thought!) but you can imagine how much it's appreciated in value since we left. If nothing else it's been a fantastic investment, though the rental income has been a nice bonus too. I would urge anyone who can to hang on to something, no matter how modest. You may want to return (ill health, bereavement) or you may want/need to sell it and live on the proceeds later in life. M
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Talking of Ireland, hate to appear a damp squid but has anyone looked at property prices there recently? Had dinner with an Irish expat recently who sold up in the mid-90s when he moved abroad and bitterly regrets it. Even in the back of beyond pint size cottages are in the $400,000+ price bracket. Also, coming from Phoenix, wouldn't it be a bit damp and grey? M
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We have a regional forum on Corsica, you may want to post there too. Depending upon where you come from in the US - and if you say you lack culture I suspect you're not moving from one of the major cities - you are going to find both property and the general cost of living hellishly, if not, prohibitively expensive compared to back home. Can some kind person give this lady an idea of gas prices? I think that alone would put me off. You'll be paying southern California prices for a place with a sea view. Incidentally, have you been to Corsica, especially out of season? Do you speak French? Are you trained in fire fighting skills so that you can save your house when the Corsican separatists fire bomb it? M
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Gill, welcome back and many thanks for the recommendation, sounds perfect. I've never been to Ile de Re but would love to. M
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David Hampshire's book is without doubt the best in what is a rapidly expanding field. He will also reiterate what people are saying here. You may feel we're being a bit hard on you but when you've lived in France and either worked or tried to run a business, you do see things rather differently. You see things for what they are. It is bloody hard even assuming you have sufficient cash to invest or the requisite skills. About 50% of those who try return to Britain in less than 18 months. In addition, there are many more extremely unhappy Brits trapped in a new found type of rural French poverty, ie those who can't afford to go home.
You're planning on moving to a very quiet part of the country where employment opportunities even for the French are pretty few. We have people on the Forum who have been running B&Bs and gites in that area for years and I'm sure if they had the time (I doubt they have much at present) they'd add to the above.
Why don't you go the more sensible route of taking a long term rental for at least six months and to include the winter. Actually, that's another point to consider for the weather in that region can be pretty dire from November through to March.
M
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"somehow something was missing and I realised it was the UK"
Was it really the UK itself or perhaps family and friends? Food, TV, films and plenty of pubs are readily available but it is harder to find friends and perhaps that was what you felt was missing? As Anton says, it can be very easy to feel lonely in a big city and I know many expats of various nationalities who had problems initially in Paris.
I'm going to go against the flow here and suggest that perhaps you try again. Put out feelers with your former employers in Paris, any chance of another job? Contact the British Embassy on arrival, drop in and see them is best. There are ads on the noticeboard for a 1001 different types of groups and activities. If that doesn't appeal, look in on Paris Parler website, I think it's www.parisparler.com. This is run by an American and a terrific site for meeting other English and French speakers.
Try and keep enough cash (tricky in Paris!) to ensure you can fly home for the occasional weekend. I know this helped several friends of mine at first. But after a while they began to lose the need or round themselves too busy with new found friends.
bon courage
M
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Persist with TV5, there is after all Jour pour un champion(title?) and although not quite as dreadful as other shows, it has its moments. (Do you think anyone on this planet is deranged enough to want to log on to the web site to listen to le jingle???) And all students acknowledge, no matter how boring the programme, it does help with the French. And where else on TV are you going to find so many drop dread gorgeous bimbettes interviewing (and flirting with) sad old ageing intellectuals? Now that's entertainment, and that's just the breakfast programmes! M
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In an article on SW France, next to mention of pruneaux d'Agen (yummy) and Armagnac (ditto), came across reference to "a much-favoured local drink, a serious alcoholic hit of orange-flavoured liqueur mixed with Champagne". Sounds heaven but anyone know what it's called? Thought I was pretty well up on what to drink in the SW but I haven't come across it before. M
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I'm glad TU posted this for I was feeling the same way whilst reading about (is it Lizzy's?) recent visitors. I would have thought a zoo would have been more suitable accommodation for that family! Personally I was appalled but she was so calm about it and I somehow got the impression that perhaps the occasional visitor like this isn't that unusual? M
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Tresco, I'm not so sure. The written style is similar but the voice behind the postings sounds more articulate than the person we're all thinking about. Unless, of course, he's been doing something about his lack of education since he left us! It's a shame though whoever it is for it's a nice site and someone has clearly worked very hard to put it together. I guess it's an occupational hazard of running a Forum? M
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Fantine makes a really good point. Double checked and the booklet came with the August edition featuring Normandy on the cover. M
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