jon

The Whole idea of posting "the story so far"was so that I could encourage people to make the changes to their life ......I am telling the story as it evolves. Earlier on I gave some detail of my life and I have pointed out that although I have now moved here to live the French life and operate my buisness...I have purchased and sold property in France during the past 15 or so years.Therefore I understand various aspects relating to life in France in different regions...and have spent years of travelling through many parts of France.I am not, by any means an expert when it comes to any legal system or have any special commands over artisans/builders.What I do have in store is a vivid past in London where I spent time with so many chara cters...this has enriched my knowledge in the catering/leisure industry and will help me through this stage of my life....which is a projection/extention of my life in London.....but unable to execute ther project there. Not everyone will have my dreams/expectations.Others will want to come to France and live in a fairly small house and carry out the rest of their life in great family tradition.Whatever the wish/way of life...I see no reason to crush someones desires and replace it with seeds of sorrow. So every step of the way I have related my experiences and if it can help others decide that they should move away ..or not ...then my words are not wasted.For those of you who prefer to live within their own omnisience please refrain from attacking other peoples ideas and opiniouns. This is a forum and I would like to think that it offers freedom of speach and, above all can help others with their aspirations. So lets be moderate.

Well  it seems that some people like people and others like to have fun. Fun is about shareing exsperiences with others and seeing others hurt or sad is very uncomfortable....to most human beings. Maybe thats where we are going wrong...being hard/macho/does that give kids an insight to concider others. Educating the youngsters to get what they want...no matter. Fun....where has fun gone...has it been taken over by a bank balance?

Wooly bully where are you based at the moment? Something tells me that you are mot in UK of France...is that correct?  

Woolybully or banana rama s aunt...there is no need for this!You do not know the deatails.The new owners are happy with their situation. That is the m ost important outcome.Time to learn about life...it does not live in the wallet.

Raindog ...you lighten up...a bit. I am settling in....and put a lot of effort and taken a huge risk in changing my life...so why on earth do some of you try to make things difficult. Yes London is probably as bad as Paris......I would never move to Paris...its a great place for a week end running around shops and restaurants.....just as London is great for music venues, restaurants and people who are basicly very unfriendly and very busy tryin g to impress each other.Like for like....yes. I like what I have now  and I am certain that others who come from a busy, buzzy world would be very happy to taste a little of "the local wine"and recomend this area for those seeking a retreat from Turnham Green Terrace or "very exciting" Oxford Street .....or Lazy days at the Charles Napier where even champagne is on tap. We are not all the same...said it before.  

That is a nice story. I am in touch with a prominent, well informed immobilier and he has confirmed that prices are 15...to 20 %lower than 3 months ago...in other words property has been over priced and will sell at a lower figure.Some areas are especially outside this situation......Negotiation is part and parcel of buisness and any seller understands that.Respect is related to the two individuals and how they relate to each other.   

missed part of my sentance "trying.......to be smart"

`Russet house and raindog...one of you needs to try harder and to rule out some of the negativity. The other one needs to step off the high horse.... I am only relating everything as it is.As I said it is not perfectection on a plate here...why do you persist in knocking the truth and trying. This particular  area of posting is to portray/help others making a decision about moving/buying in France. There is no need  for your attitudes we are not in a competition!  

Arrived in November and stayed in a rented house[which was located 2 km from our house]we signed in Dec.Some of you may remeber that we came from London and I explained that the only things that I miss about the City was a couple of my fav restaurants  and our friends.Mentioned that I had some very bad experiences with the NHS and that my long love affair with UK was sadly over.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. Well since my last posting on this sight I have moved into the house which we purchased last year.......and there were numerous problems.One of them was legall and that was settled within two weeks.The electricity was mal functioning and the central heating not working.....and the water coming from the taps was fizzy like perrier....everything was taken care of within a day or so.All workmen....[including chimey sweep] arrived on time or 10 mins ahead of appointed time.All deliveries of goods arrived with a cheerful driver. Neighbours....nearest and dearest awaits my attention in the m orning...surely for food[I have his parents ok on this]but he comes and goes most of the day.There is a friendly owl who, I hope we will see ...of course he is in residence and does not appear when the neighbours pussycat is around. The only drama which remains bazaar is the telephone..France telecom.Took a week to get line and internet conection at the rented place...but something very odd is happening here at our house....3 weeks apparently for all to work.Afer ten days and two visits we have internet and outgoing calls.I spoke with a friend in UK yesterday and she said that when she picked up the phone last week she could hear me talking in French to someone.....she remained as a third party ....but unable to comunicate. Interesting to look at the propspects of solar power.The way forward. For those of you thinking of mooving to France in the near future...and have been lucky enough to sell[I hear that in trendy Chiswick the estate agents offices are silent for lack of visitors...when a few months ago...so so diffrent] I can recomend that you concider Entre Deux Mers.Had a chat with an Estate agent in Paris who always seems to have the best properties and knows how to sell them.He tells me that we must wait untill sept to see how the market is but he tells me that the British are not buying just now because they are unable to sell.He also said that my area remains the strongest in the S.W and property in Lot et Garon...Agen etc asking prices need to reduce by 15 to 20 per cent. 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. Granted it is not all roses ...[but  they will be here soon] but when I hear that my sister in laws 16 year old niece was mugged in Reading I feel that I have made the right decision to turn my back on the agression of London and her peremeters. So if you wish to leave uk....work out your finances carefully, future income and where you will be based...then research.You can rent in France for about 800 euros per month ...2 bed house.  

Maybe the point has been missed a 15 kilo cas is not enough...what is the cost for another case...therefore giving one person 30kilos??????????? Flights to Bergerac have risen greatly...noticed near christmas time....nearly 300 pounds each way....last year that was...when I looked in Nov

Iceni....If you are staying in hotels ...or anywhere not too close to a washing machine it is not so easy to all you need for two or three weeks into a 15kilo case. Going on holiday is an adventure not a voyage to the nearest launderette.The French have very few launderettes! Come-on once you have a few jumpers, a couple of cardies, a change of shoes, underwer and a few skirts...there is hardly musch room for hairdryers, a few reading books, guide books and favourite cosmetics.

Poolguy could you give us a clue to what the set-up cost may be ...just roughly...thank you.

It is obvious that if you are going on holiday you need to take clothes with you and in some months...as we know winter clothing is  much heavier.It does look as if they want buisness clients flying off for a few days.  

Tegwini....this proves...more or less what I have been saying since I came to this forum a few months ago. Everyone goes/moves to where they feel they can make things work for them. I have brought my money here to France and purchased a property...employing French artisans. Offering my life style exsperiences and culinary skills to those who venture from other countries to enjoy a week or a few days away from their hecting life.People like birds miagrate.

We were on the road from  Sainte Foy   La Grande yesterday and we came accross two young Frenchmen who had set up a buisness selling solar and wood burning systems plus some natural paints etc.This saturday they are having an Open House. Interesting;one of the boys has a brother who has moved to London and is working in The City...who was, infact visiting the region this weekend and I got involved with recomending local Hotels etc.It seems to me that although this local young man may not get rich quick like his brother he has his feet firmly placed in the future.

Well thanks for the suggestions. We have used a selection of different furniture stores plus we have a lot of things which we brought from uk...treasures collected over the years. The house is going to look great when it is ready! We did find a s shjop about 10km away whiich appeared to be just an ordinary Brocante....however we found several pieces of reconditioned commodes, beds etc re-painted in styipple...pale greys and pastel beiges......some marble...just what we really like. We keep looking  ...another shop is based just outside Bergerac and has designer furnishings...there was a sale the other week...and that was fun.

Positive reasons....you are often leaving things behind which you no longer like ...need to move on from a country where you no longer feel comfortable .It really depends on your fincial situation...your dependents and the type of work which you are familiar with.....and whether you feel that you can continue with that profession. Normandy...the Manche around the Cherbourge peninisular....and the 76 area which has beautiful villages like Veules Les Rose.....both have a very short touristic season .....but very accesable to UK....and because they are in easy reach of the beaches....the most exspensive parts of Normandy.

That is exactly what we will be doing here in 33 in the middle of the vines....everyone collected together ...we only cook French cuisine and......except for my fresh crab and s kate fish cakes which are made with spring onions and corriander leaves with a rocket salad....and chilli/sweet paper sauce.....but that is modern French cuisine! Local wine will certainly not upset anyone...and alittle local pud wine with fresh grilled figs with honey, mascapone mousse and fresh passion fuit sorbet...could easily  pass as a truely French dessert. I have been cooking for groups of people all my life as a chef cooking for 8.....al eating at the same time ...same menu is not too difficult for me. Lokking forward to the summer.

My neighbour[who has a very sucessful b and B] has a very large table and everyone has a wonderful time chatting and getting to know each other.We have stayed with her and many others who operate in a simillar manner.But in summer guests could have breakfast in the garden.

We have travelled the Portsmouth to cherbourge crossing....which usedto/operates from Spring and it takes just under 3 hours to get from A to B ...but sometimes...even in summer the crossing has been a little shaky. I have memoreis of a crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo where all the food, plates...almost everything was crashing from surfaces to the ground...This was in the days of Brittany ferries.

We have travelled the Portsmouth to chebourge crossing....which usedto/operates from Spring and it takes just under 3 hours to get from A to B ...but sometimes...even in summer the crossing has been a little shaky. I have memoreis of a crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo where all the food, plates...almost everything was crashing from surfaces to the ground...This was in the days of Brittany ferries.

Gemonimo...were exactly are you lost in the vines?Probably just around the corner from me!

Looks like we will never know....I am not too sure of how many Americans pass by Morvan.    

Lots of people have skills in doing things up.....not having alcohol in the mini bars is a matter of law...I believe...however I am uncertain of many aspects relating to Keiths extras....If you area hotel you charge for breakfast some hotelks charge as much as 15 euros for a very very simple breakfast. But as I have said before....if that web site realates to his up market Chambre d hote....to me it resembles that of a formula one style. But he has disappeared...has he not. Some years ago I bought a n interesting property near St Malo which we did not keep for more than a few years....the pressures of restaurant life in London did not give us time or energy to explore the properties full potential.Despite the local immobiliers suggestions of price...I achieved almost double to their figures and made a profit for us and the French funds.I used by contacts and inspired the market with interest...after recieving about 80 calls and a few vistgs to the house a couple fell in love with it.So all parties were happy...I still like the area...and was delighted to have known and loved the hous  

Funny thing Russet House.....there is a hotel in the village.. So what is the point? I have to say...talking about schools...are you a headmistress?