JackT

I'm keeping an eye (from the UK) on the weather in 16 & 17  with a view to moving there. Could someone living there say what it's been like the past week, and what it's like now? meteo.fr has shown rain most of the past week. At this moment - Sunday morning - meteo.fr and yahoo weather show a vast difference -- La Rochelle cloudy 14C http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/FRXX0044_c.html?force_units=1 La Rochelle sunny 19C http://www.meteofrance.com/FR/index.jsp Which is nearer the truth? Cheers JT

[quote]Sorry Taq and Jack T - I've had a nice day and I can't be arsed to engage with people who are either deluded paranoics or trolls. GB getting like the USSR? What are you on? What threats to free speech...[/quote] So people who disagree with your opinions are either deluded paranoics or trolls, is that what you are saying? Obviously a fully paid-up comrade. Case very proven. You remind me of the 'mature student' I recently overheard in a Welsh pub opposite Lampeter University just after opening time. "New Labour are the best thing that ever happened to this country, and if anyone disagrees with me I'll smash their face in." JackT    

Well said Taq, you're spot on with those comments.  It's getting more like the USSR every day here in the UK. But just watch what happens to free speech when the dour Marxist Scot-Brit chancellor is declared PM.

Well, thanks for the input everyone. Your comments paint a sunnier and drier picture of Charente than I get from watching meteo.fr.  However that seems like a mixed blessing with the drought and all. Amazing that it's so much hotter in Central Andalucia, e.g. around Seville, yet they don't have anywhere near such a severe water supply problem as in France. JT  

Anyone else not see any author name showing on posts, or is it just moi? JT  

Is anyone in Charente who can say what the weather is like there at the moment. also what's it been like the past 2 months? We're undecided on which region we'd like to move to, and the weather is an important factor. I've been keeping an eye on the meteo.fr site but not sure it's that accurate. Currently it shows all France sunny approx 19-20c. The other week it was showing raining in Vienne but someone there said they've not seen rain for ages! Thanks JT --    

All press articles are biased, but apparently the material came from France-Soir, Le Parisien, and Ouest-France -- straight from the frog's mouth so to speak! I'm just reading The Da Vinci Code and they don't fare too well in that either!

This is a good read.  Sounds like a pretty pissed off nation to me! <i>“The French went on holiday with their morale already at rock bottom,” the tabloid newspaper said. “They were crushed by the insolent success of the British, their eternal rivals. Growth, consumption, unemployment, Olympic Games — they had everything and we had nothing. Tony Blair was making fun of Jacques Chirac at European summits and the ideas of France and its social model were no longer worth tuppence.” </i> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1755986,00.html  

As you are not using an agent the notaire may require you to pay for a translator if he/she or any of his staff do not speak fluent English (few do). I'm sure I recently read somewhere that the notaire is legally obliged to provide a translator free of charge for foreigners? JT    

I'm surprised there's not been more in this group about this. After all it's going to totally change the character of the entire area - it's nothing short of an environmental disaster. Many people have been attracted by the peace and solitude of Charente - I wonder how many knew about this before they purchased! It should keep property prices down, in fact many places will be unsaleable. Anyway I'm pleased I discovered this before wasting time viewing within the blighted areas.

Does anyone have any details about the proposed TGV extension from Poitiers to Bilbao? Apparently it's going to slice right thro the middle of Indre (36) Charente (16) Gironde (33) and Landes (40). I'll shortly be househunting in the area and need to know the exact planned route so I can avoid it like the plague.  

Thanks all for those helpful replies. As was sensibly suggested by everyone, we really have to rent for a bit first and see if it feels right. I think we're leaning towards France for a couple of reasons including the more varied and verdant countryside, culture and convenience (driveable). Language isn't really an issue cos I can just get by in both Fr and Sp and am confident I could quickly improve if on location.  I realise the winters can be cold in France, and they can in Spain too (as Widnesbob discovered) - in fact on the costas - and also around Seville - they've just had the coldest winter for decades! I anticipate visiting France for a week in the next few weeks, for the purpose of finding a place for medium term (3-5 months) rental. Maybe I should start another thread for this, but can anyone suggest the best method to find a medium term rental property - preferably house not apartment - in or near Niort, Angoulême, or Bordeaux - websites or wait till get there and look in local ads?

My partner and I, mid 50's, are looking to buy a place for 2nd home then retirement, and have narrowed our search down to 2 areas - SW France (Lot & Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde etc.), and rural Andalucia in the general Seville area (big difference I know). We enjoy sun/pool, countryside walks, and eating out etc. I realise it's all a matter of personal choice, but looking for 1st hand feedback on living in SW France, especially re. weather - storms, rains a lot? and eating out - expensive? much choice? - to compare with Spain. Thanks.