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jackrabbitslims

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  1. After seeing the above 'picture', am I the only one who thinks that there might be a market for pepperami porn??!!  Judging by his eyes, he's obviously enjoying himself!!   I think I saw that picture on a Office De Tourisme notice board in Brittany? LOVVL  
  2. Thanks again for all of your responses.  Most replies have basically confirmed our own fellings, thoughts and fears with regards to making the move in our situation (less than perfect language skills, no lump sum and no jobs lined up).  St Amour, you had no need to apology though it is definitely accepted.  Sometimes peoples' opinions, advice, condolences or criticism can be mis-interpreted in mail format.  Touchy? Moi?!! It's nice to know that we're not the only people to have attempted the move in less than ideal circumstances.  As it stands at the moment, we are going to hang fire, brush up on the language, holiday in France frequently and keep getting the emails sent from immobiliers in the hope that our dream property (at year 2000 prices) falls into our laps! For fear of statrting another thread, what is the situation regarding setting up a haulage Company in France??!!  At the moment this is a joke but...  
  3. There are way too many people who think that just because they are prepared to do anything and work hard at it that it is enough. St Amour, you may have missed the tone of our post? The very fact that we're asking for people's experiences in moving to France with limited language skills, hoping to do any type work surely suggests that we don't think that this is simply enough to succeed; in fact it's the very essence of the question we are asking.  IS it enough to simply want to work hard and be prepared to do anything that can make you succeed in France, at least in the initial stages?  You obviously think not?! What exactly is your experience St Amour as it's the experiences of people in similar situations to ourselves that we would love to hear from. Did you arrive in France with no lump sum to live off and activley go out and find work in the French economy?  If so, then do tell.  Though your response is appreciated - helping to give a balanced view? -  it tended to patronise slightly (see your above quote).   We do have limited language skills but not non-existent.  We have conversational French but are not fluent enough to undertake the jobs that we do in the UK.  As you will read from our other posts on this thread we are hoping to make a 'life decision'. ie we are hoping to weigh up our life in the UK against a potentially very different life France. Thanks for your response. 
  4. Thanks for the reply Pat. As we've said we would do anything initially to get established and we realise that it would be a struggle financially.  Your right about it not seeming much by UK standards but our hope is to downsize\simplify our lives, living in a warm, beautiful country.  We are prepared to forego the nights out on the town, a new car every 2 years and working long hours to live our ideal in Southern France on much less money.  Will we be happier long term? That we don't know, but we're hoping to find out.   A note to Alexis** We are currently looking into Manpower and Adecco to see what sort of work they have on offer and what it pays.  Thanks to you both for your responses.   Regards.
  5. Hello David and thanks for taking the time to respond.  We did initially think of offering a service to Gite and holiday home owners offering basic cosmetic work to properties and general gardening between holidaymakers' arrivals.  We thought that there be enough work in the area we're looking (Languedoc\Pyrenees)?  We've always had a positive response when we've attempted conversing in French (I studied it at Uni to minimal success!).  We think if we immersed ourselves in France for a year - on a 'Sink or swim' basis - that we would adapt\learn reasonably quickly.  It's the work element that concerns us, in fact it's the only thing that concerns us.  With regards your tennis club, I'm still a reasonable footballer and would definitely get involved with a local club if we moved as this is usually a good way to meet people in the local vicinity.  We are still siding with the view that the obvious risk will be worth it for the lifestyle, climate and natural beauty that we would gain from moving to France. I doth my cap to you and your wife for taking the plunge and genuinely hope that it all works out for you.  Regards
  6. Thanks for your replies thus far, you've basically confirmed what we thought anyway though it's always nice to hear from people who've first hand experience.  With regards to the potential move being 'sensible', I don't think that leaving a nice home and secure jobs\careers to move to a foreign country, hoping to do ANY type of work could ever fall into the realms of sensible!!  As I've stipulated, this is a dream of ours, one that may take hard work and a big risk, but one that is attainable.  Maybe starting our own business is the way to go.  My wife and I have a couple of interesting ideas that we may research further.  Entrepreneur's a French word isn't it!!?? Just wish we'd bought our UK home 10 years earlier! Thanks again to those of you who've taken the time to reply.  Merci et Tout a'lheure (is that how you spell it)?
  7. Also Posted in 'Employment in France' section. Hello all, having read loads of threads on the livingfrance forum re employment (and lack of it?),  my wife and I would like to know your opinions\experiences of moving to France with no jobs and no big financial lump sum to live off for any period of time.  Our dream is to live in france permanently but we would take a year to get a rounded, realistic picture of what this actually entails.  We plan to rent out our house in the UK for a year and rent somewhere in the Pyrenees\Languedoc.  This doesn't phase us at all.  We are simply worried about earning enough to get by.  We are a qualified dietician and an HGV driver (now office based) and would consider doing anything initially until we find our feet.  Are there agencies in the above areas that could help us?  Our language skills are weak at the moment so that is an obvious hindrance.  If there are jobs, what type of work would it be?  What about salary?  We don't really need to be told that 'this is a massive risk' and you're crazy to move without language skills' as we've read this lots of times on the forum.  What we would like are peoples EXPERIENCES.  Are there jobs in factories\fruit-picking\couriers\market stalls?  We have considered starting a business but the bereaucracy puts us off somewhat! We're not frightened of people being realistic with their replies as this is what we want.  ALL experiences relayed to us will be welcomed.   Thanks & Regards. 
  8. Hello all, having read loads of threads on the livingfrance forum re employment (and lack of it?),  my wife and I would like to know your opinions\experiences of moving to France with no jobs and no big financial lump sum to live off for any period of time.  Our dream is to live in france permanently but we would take a year to get a rounded, realistic picture of what this actually entails.  We plan to rent out our house in the UK for a year and rent somewhere in the Pyrenees\Languedoc.  This doesn't phase us at all.  We are simply worried about earning enough to get by.  We are a qualified dietician and an HGV driver (now office based) and would consider doing anything initially until we find our feet.  Are there agencies in the above areas that could help us?  Our language skills are weak at the moment so that is an obvious hindrance.  If there are jobs, what type of work would it be?  What about salary?  We don't really need to be told that 'this is a massive risk' and you're crazy to move without language skills' as we've read this lots of times on the forum.  What we would like are peoples EXPERIENCES.  Are there jobs in factories\fruit-picking\couriers\market stalls?  We have considered starting a business but the bereaucracy puts us off somewhat! We're not frightened of people being realistic with their replies as this is what we want.  ALL experiences relayed to us will be welcomed.   Thanks & Regards. 
  9. Thanks for your reply Sam, though not the best news. Your probably right about the numbers of expats. Need to brush up on my French if I am to get anywhere, or move to plan B, busking in Foix town centre!
  10. I am a registered dietitian in the UK and am considering a move to the Midi Pyrenees  (around Foix) and wondered if there was any requirement for a dietitian/nutritionist, initially within the expat community owing to my limited french.  What is the situation re my qualifications (BSC hons Human Nutrition, RD(SRD). Would these qualifications be recognised in France. Ideally I would like to work privately       (self-employed). Any thoughts or experiences from other health professionals  would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance
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