Beckett

Well, you're both his client, so the notion of breaching client confidentiality doesn't really make sense. It would help if you indicated what the problem is. Were you rude about your ex or something?

As a general rule of thumb, though, for your sort of money you'll be getting a small property in a poor part of a big town, or something bigger in a village, or a renovation project.

Don't know about Laon but Le Treport is nice. Sleepy, but nice. It'll liven up in the summer. Have you any idea where you want to be, or are you still at the pipe dream stage? Would you be better taking some time off work - maybe a month or so - and touring the likely areas? There are plenty of good books on the subject - Amazon had loads - for you to browse.

I'm surprised you think of this as harassment, but I can understand why you wouldn't want your guests to be hassled. Is it actually that you just thought they were a bit peculiar, and had a laugh about them, and it's only when they started speaking to the people you lent your house to that it became a problem? Anyway, I echo what the others suggest. You don't say where your house is, but I imagine it's in the country. If you're only there rarely then you will be a source of fascination for your neighbours, and they will want to know about you. They will find excuses to do this. I think you will have to be used to being a bit like the penguin pool at the zoo, being a spectacle without wanting to be! Indeed it may be that you are considered a bit weird because every time one of your neighbours tries to be friendly/neighbourly/asks a question about access you scuttle upstairs and hide like a frightened rabbit! As others have said, you're the foreigners, so it behooves you to "fit in". You're only there 8 weeks of the year. People are asking you reasonable questions as your neighbours - they'll have difficulty catching you if you're there so rarely - and trying to help you, with the EDF info. Even if you don't like people, or French people, grit your teeth and be prepared to improve your French by speaking to these people and, if you can bear it, invite them for aperos.

The promenade was where I'd thought, too ... I hoped it might be a draw for French in Dieppe on business.

Oh, Veules les Roses - STOP IT, PLEASE!!!! Especially if you're going to mention Les Galets. :D This is the year we intend (all right, I intend, but the Boss will be persuaded) to buy a property in France. We have good (French) friends living in the Somme and for many years had a school exchange running with a school there. We both really like Dieppe. But are conscious that we know the rest of France no better than we know, say, the South of England (we have always lived in the North). Are there any drawbacks to living in Dieppe? Where would you choose? We would have to let the property for much of the year: house or flat? We would also want to get on with our neighbours: anything to consider there? Thanks.

Does anyone live in Dieppe apart from the French? I have read that Dieppe has an English community, that it has long had a connection with England, etc., yet I never seem to see a post from anyone who lives there. (It's not that I want to live somewhere there are many Brits, although I wouldn't let it put me off, and on recent visits to Dieppe it hasn't been a problem.) So ... does anyone frequenting these fora live there? If so, what are your experiences, if you would be so kind? (I can be more specific in the event anyone actually responds! :D) Cheers.