Cendrillon

[quote user="suzy"] Jacquie Too - how on earth did you get them to leave ???  I have exactly the same problem - including pets. ! We are running away to France in 2009 and NOT telling them where we live ! (not really) but we have said - move out or learn French !!!! Sue [/quote] I heard of a couple who did just that, moved to France to escape terrible son but then the tables turned, the couple fell on hard times, couldn't sell their Fr. house and the terrible son (who had improved by then) sent them monthly cheques to help them out. Now the matter is happily resolved and they have sold and returned to the U.K.

[quote user="Just Katie"]Another British appeal is our eagerness to talk about our property! [:D][/quote] Definitely but it makes a change from talking about the weather.   Yes, Renaud, blue shutters are appealing and we have them too. [:)] As for Mme Renaud wanting to be nearer to things, perhaps you could buy her a bike![8-|]

We fall in to the "old stone house" category and bought a small (ish) stone house with a garage, some garden space and  it is in a village. The house was in reasonable condition and ready to move in to and has easy access to airports and motorway. Of course it has required some tlc and we have spent money and made improvements over the years. Ours is a second home so maybe in this case the requirements are a bit different. Generally I think the British dreaming of a place abroad seem to fall for the old, properties with character.

[quote user="Cathy"][quote user="Cendrillon"] Cathy, why are you up so late / early? are you an insomniac?[8-)] [/quote] Mmm.  I couldn't sleep last night.  So I came onto the Forum.  I was the only one on.  Spooky. The girls have returned to boarding school.  One of them saw me on the Forum this morning and I quickly hid this thread.  I would be skinned alive if they knew that I had talked about them to virtual friends (and strangers!). They weren't too bad after Friday evening but I find that we usually have another "spat" on Sundays, just before we have to go back.  One of them (aged 17) did say during the course of the weekend that she did love me but finds me irritating.  Great to feel wanted, isn't it.  I did earlier ask whether they grow out of it but no one has replied to that bit.  So perhaps they don't. [8-)] [/quote] [quote user="Cathy"] Wooly wrote: Full boarding then. I said this to be husband tonight!  Shame French schools don't do it. Cendrillon - good answers. Does it get any better when they are in their twenties?   [8-)]"[/quote] Definitely! [:)] Hang in there Cathy!"   Cathy, I did answer, maybe you missed it.[:)]  In my experience they are quite nice and good friends when the are grown up.

Is this old information saying the car hire desks close at 5 p.m. ? perhaps they have not yet taken into account the later flights and for sure the Stansted - Angouleme -Stanstead flights are late in the evening.

It might be best to contact the car hire companies direct and ask them if they wait for the late flights to arrive.

Jasper Have you tried contacting the tourist boards in the area? I think Inntravel (think that's the name) do shorter stay walking tours. Do let us know if you find anything good, I am sure it would be of interest to many on here.

Re. the ruined castle: Is sleeping beauty still living there?[blink]

Jon I feel we should just award you a couple of gold stars and let you get on with you new found lifestyle.[:D] It seems to suit you well and there's no need to justify your life changing decisions on here.[blink]

Bon courage Cathy, only a few more hours to go and then they'll be on the train and you will no doubt have tear in your eye as you wave goodbye.[:)] Edit: Cathy, why are you up so late / early? are you an insomniac?[8-)]

[quote user="Deby"] i'm scared of all this teenage stuff!   Surely not my two - my lovely 9 yar old girl who talks to me + my 6year old boy who loves his mummy!!!! Tell me its not true - please! Deby [/quote] Don't worry Deby, hang in there and with luck it will all come good in the end[:)]

[quote user="Frenchie"] Rire.. Et bien moi je vais aller faire des courses, ranger ma maison, ( quel chantier !! [:$] ) Cet aprem (= après midi) je vais aller promener mon gros chien dans un grand bois, où j espère il n y aura pas de grand méchant loup !! [:D] comme le Petit Chaperon rouge peut-être?[:)] Il fait un temps magnifique.. Je suis très paresseuse aujourd'hui, en fait je n ai rien fait depuis mon réveil mais hey.. c est les vacances !! [;-)] Je suis en train de regarder où je pourrais partir avec mon fils et mon chien pour deux trois jours pas cher, mais bof, je ne trouve pas alors j abandonne.. Gros bisous . [/quote]

"Just outside the house we have a sun trap and the weather has been glorious.I n L:ondon I used a drying nmachine for the washing.....everything was out on the clothes line yesterday and ready for ironing within hours." This facility is not exclusive to France! LOL   Jon I am pleased it is all working so well for you in France and long may the honeymoon period continue. "Of course many of you  were  uncomfortable with the declaration of my disatisfaction  and make massive attempts as bullies tryring desperately to tell me that my views are irrelevant." Many of us have good experiences and enjoy living in the U.K. though I would be the first to admit that there's good and bad to be found in both countries. Comparing London life with life in rural France you are not comparing like with like. Don't forget that there are people on this forum who have lived in France for years and have much experience of day to day living and working in France, their experience may have been somewhat different to your own. It's good that they find the time to share it with forum members who may well benefit from it and at least be forewarned of some of the pit-falls. [:)] Still very happy with a life in both countries [8-|]    

[quote user="Just Katie"]Cathy I could easily cope with that on a Friday night only.  I get it from monday morning to sunday night..............non stop. [:$][/quote]   Katie, I had the same thought! At least Cathy gets some respite i.e Mon. to Fri. without having to nag them to do their homework etc. must be worth a lot.   Cathy, I hope Saturday and Sunday are better for you.[:)]

[quote user="Cathy"] Wooly wrote: Full boarding then. I said this to be husband tonight!  Shame French schools don't do it. Cendrillon - good answers. Does it get any better when they are in their twenties?   [/quote] Definitely! [:)] Hang in there Cathy!

e.g. their first words are: Cathy, my answers would be a follows 'why were you 5 mins late?' "Traffic was bad, I was driving safely to make sure I arrived in one piece"[Www] 'why haven't you tidied my bedroom?' "It's your bedroom so I leave it alone, it's your job"[blink] 'what have you done to your hair?' etc etc. "I am pleasing myself, being a grown-up independent woman and making my own statement"[8-|]

Cathy, I don't know if you are serious about flying  from Bordeaux to Sweden. I did it last year, a good flight with Flynordic, make sure you choose the right day of the week though otherwise you'll have to go / return via Toulon.[:)]

Good luck with your search. I do hope it all works out well for you, let us know how it goes.[:)]

[quote user="Iceni"][quote user="ChrisintheNoir"] Any idea at all of how much I am likely to need to see me through May to the end of September [/quote] For heating purposes - none. John   [/quote] I agree though sometimes May can be cool at night especially if the house has not been heated during the winter. Do get some wood  in stock for next winter as it needs time to season well before burning

[quote user="Will"] Plenty of the English round here seem to think that 'moosh' is the correct form of address. 'Mate' is another common one, and they often get away with that at the notaire's because it sounds a bit like 'maître'. 'Monsewer' and 'Oy you, froggy' are also used occasionally, but not recommended. And I thought that everybody knew that all maires are called Marie. [/quote] Nice one Will, LOL[:)]

Did I read on another post that you are selling a house in Wales? If that sells then you would have some spare dosh to play with.[:)]

[quote user="krusty"] [quote user="Cendrillon"]oh but Frenchie, those "foreigners" are so much more exotic![:)][/quote] dont forget us brits are "foreigners" to the french [/quote] Exactement! LOL[:)]

oh but Frenchie, those "foreigners" are so much more exotic![:)]

[quote user="Frenchie"] OK , je comprends.. I was told the English did that much more than the French !! [/quote]   and we all believe it is the French who do much more of this than the British[Www][:$][8-|]

[quote user="Ian"] Interesting reading - thank you all for your replies.  Encouraging and some key points to think about. My plan is to have a city apartment and a small country/village house about 60-90 minutes drive apart (and yes both in the South of France ...it is where I call "home" nowadays). I like the idea of contrasts - modern city living and rural French tranquility.  No one house/place seems to tick-all-the-boxes, so I thought why not have two small places?  (My sister is doing the same thing in the UK: she lives in London and is looking for somewhere in either Shropshire or Oxfordshire too) I look forward  to reading more! [/quote] That sounds like the best and IMO ideal solution Ian. Good luck with the plan and let us know how it works out.