jon

Aparently the female in nership was an ex solicitor or lawyer. Would you say there is a gap in the market for a good version of oui can help...or not ?Good idea or not?  

Never used a tin of sauce...however sause of foie gras is good for chicken breasts sautedor roasted and served with simple vegetables to contrast the richness.Heat the sauce very slowly....and make sure that it is hot.Check the date on the tin!  

      Brit...are you refering to "oui can  help"   Which was formed ...maybe ten years ago by a couple based in Mayenne.A very good concept.They offered a translation service ...helped people buy and sell properties.They also would sit-in on sales and assist with translating for the notaire ...seller/buyer.Totally different to this forum...as you could solve any problem with a few telephone calls.There was a membership fee...and you paid for various special assignements which you may have directed towards them. They sold the buisness...maybe two years ago to a Frenchman...I believe.What has happened to the originators of the company or how it works now....I have no idea. Any one elese remember the service?  

restaurants!

Above Nice and Vannes tou have some very beautiful villages .Biot......Vance which is much les known than st Paul de vence and has its old village with really nice reastaurats...all with outside eating and a really unusual hotel with 5 very comfotable  rooms.Haute Cagnes way above Cagnes Sur Mer...streets so narrow that you can barely get the car through the roads...but the atmosphere is really interesting and there is a really good hotel there .From the Terraces you have an amazing views.The two problems with the area of Cote d azur is that it gets very very crowded in summer and decent hotels will be at least 120 pounds per night.   

Frenchie...re the presbetyre. I will try and find the deatils...the agent lives a couple of km outside the town.He house was priced at 450.000 and this was about 5/6 months ago.Was in a quiet spot of the town ...had metal gatesd...farden 1500m and very pretty. The house was full of character.....If this could be of interest to you I will kind out all I can ...it would be no prob....the owner needs to get bacl to UK to be with family. I have to say that I love castles, chateaux .......but prob ably most of all cats. Let me know.......

 I think that  it is time leave you all  because some of you are too badly behaved...... bye

What a funny bunch you are. If someone is experiencing good things in France it is concidered moaning. Some of you left your homes in UK there had to be a reason. Others bought a second home in France to prosper from the purchase or /and from the enviroment.    

Seems that you get dissapointed  when I say that things are going well in France. Sorry if that is moaning.You are a funny bunch!!!  

And why not.....what is wrong with romance. Why all this negie stuff again.People do fall in love and its not all about trophies. Thats a very grumpy attitude Maybe they are happy...that is possable

This is not a honeymoon but some detail of  life here....I am keeping positive as the alternative is not an option for a contented life I talk of all my experiences as they have happened. I do not give you figures and dates...just a report...in my way... Some of you...maybe many of you have had different experiences. No one is right and no one is wrong. And certainly I believe that no one is more or less qualified to become "the chairman of life". There is no board of directors which can sit in judgement..... as to how someones luck, hard work or choises will work for them. I have never said that my life in London was bad ...but it no longer feels comfortable for me in a city..You have learnt of some of the reasons...bad experiences with the NHS Russet house gave a good report.Respect her findings ...and its good. And now that I am here in France I am making an effort to enjoy what is on offer...and hopefully I can offer a little to the community... So stop attacking please it is not necessary ....surely  

  oh yes has to be suitable for cats......imperative.

yes location....location...location. Something you always know about...but can not always afford.

Frenchie are you looking for a lovely property to buy? Before we bought ours in 33 we saw a lovely  Presbtyre.....lovely rooms and nice garden...so many nice features....may still be on the market.Why did we not buy it?Was the wrong area for our project  

Actually No!!!!!!! As a child I would go to Victoria park almost every week.My aunt had a stall in the market and a cousin lived just close by. There was an open air theatre in the park behind the caferteria. One of my best friends had a dry cleaners just opposite the East Ham Granada....it was called Pronto. My father was a bus conductor based at Bow garage  and he worked on the No 8 route Our Neighbours...at one time were The Piermans and I would sometimes drink in a pub...once frequented [and more] by the Krays. I come from very humble beginings but have explored.People...most engaging, facinating....and so different from each other!    

In London we had a tiny garde n where we could have a few plants and sit with 4 others in the summer months...but it was far from private. Here in 33 we have a parc with many different types of trees...very mature trees.Lots of flowers....and not manicured. Many spots with a stone bench or little table and chairs to sit amd catch the sun or hide in the shade. Good to here the sound of the many varieties of birds..neighbouring cockeral. We wanted to be near to a village...like most people ....just to be able to buy bread and milk. Large rooms are an attraction to Londoners as they were such a premium in Kensington.Lots of windows....with wooden shutters [not in a bad state of repair]letting the sunshine in.Our style of house was partly tied in with our Chambre d hote project.We needed a house which would look delightful in photo/web form.There are many reasons why vacationers are lured to a particlar spot.With the world finances being so difficult now...attention to detail,quality,location it all matters so much. The house is pale and handsome...described as a maison "bougoise". Accross from it stands a Pigioner which would make a good 2 bed gite....but that will wait....next door to the house is a barn. I do like chateaux but the up keep and heating would be too much to take on.There is no harm in looking though.

Yes your picnic ....what a birthday treat that would be for me!

Ok Russet House maybe you like France you have a property here...for holidays? You have decided  not to agree with any of my points of view a little bit Labour/green party. However as you enter into Chit chat...what do you mean ...the community in Bray is not do fond of Mr Blumental? Do they feel that their property has risen in value too much.....or is the earier too busy and buzzy. How do the locals  feel about the Roux bros? Are you so British Russet House that you wantged to taste a little France and then withdraw a little. By the way I too can spend time in UK  ......I am sure that I will visit  at some point in the near furture. Maybe we will meet...without knowing it!  

reality. Each persons reality is different. I  told you all that I know things can be hard/difficult here in France and good/wonderful in uk...but it is a passage of life. I spent a long time in UK and now I am here. Yes some of you know  more...much more about France than I do...so . Either return to Uk.... or if you are there...do not move to France. There is no arguement. Or do you all feel that I should say that France is awful? Not sure what your arguements really are.  

Russet House you have brought up the same point again. I agree that both countries have problems....Problems are everywhere and they come in all forms.Deal with them. Russet House must be time for you to be going off to Marlow or Maidenhead for lunch...I remeber going to a couple of very good chinese restaurants with Heston and Co. All of you scatter off for you lunch and remeber to enjoy your life....enjoy eating and cast aside your appertite negativity.  

I have a handsome house which needs a little work...but not a chateau. I am not far from the Perigord Noir...2 hours I guesse. I too am curious about the price.....any idea what it would cost to renovate.? It looks like a Knights Templer sort of castle  

So what is the problem.... 12 years ago I had a life threatning illness, three years ago both my parents died....three days ago I had no hot water or electricity..yesterday my best friends brother suddenly died in Paris at the age of 50....but each problem big or small is solved...sometimes with the endurance of great pain.....or you see the sunset and your eyes close for last time. What  can be so bad here that is so much better there. I hope that none of you take up social work or trying to help those who are contemplating suicide.!!!!!!!!!!  

not justifying anything.There are others he may take too much notice of all the negativity which some of you have inside your heads If people are contenplating a move to France from uk......the picture does not always have to be bleak. Who is the "we " awarding gold stars I do not need accolades      

Well Raindog hope that no one rains on your parade. Look I have to say two things......dreams are not solid...nothing in Life is solid.....you are both bitter....easily done. There is nothing left of life if you do not look towards the unreachable....maybe things do not work out...they often do not....pop along and see me here and we will have a little chat....both of you need more than a nice cup of tea to sort you out. Everything I wanted in life...apart from things which involved huge money and hurting others.....I went for and found it....fragments of it sometimes...maybe because I do not compromise.I have my standards and what I believe in.As a youngster I wanted to dance, manage a band, write for a newspaper, run a lettings agency, become a good chef, own a succesful restaurant, help run a nightclub and have lots of good friends[some go back to school days]I found all this and much more.....and now France......where there is more...and it is different. I am not the one with problems!!!

Apparently...just at the moment the Brits are not buying! Probably this is related to the fact that it is very difficult to achieve sales... We all know what has been happening in the last few months. I feel that it was brewing early last summer and at one point I had most of the local agents asking if they could sell my home. I had three or four people bidding...including a cash buyer. If I had waited from the safe option...the lawyer to get her mortgage....I may well have still been in London. Because as my sale was passing from "exchange"the market flickered and the candle was about to burn out. The Brits will now be very carefull as they know that the world is their oyster in France. What is Brit appeal? To each person appeal is totally different.My best friend likes modern property ...easy to maintain and keep clean.She is allways having to make repairs or replace.For me I like character .....seen enough bland housing in London...especially the council bloc