Living the dream

[Battypuss]

If I can help in any way, let me know or send a private message. For example, I have a lot of school books which show the curriculum for the whole year, can be useful as in some matters (such as division and multiplication, occasionally subtraction) the French do it backwards! Difficult to explain, obviously they come out with the same answer, but to my mind, they go about it in a very strange manner. And of course, their way is the only acceptable one; eldest daughter was continually in trouble for solving problems 'English Style'!

[Annhopkins]

We too watch these programmes with interest, they emphasise the need to do your homework.  We have had a property on the Normandy/Pays de Loire border for 3 years and have considered moving several times.  This time we have the possibility of starting our own building business, general builder who specialises in damp-proofing and a service to help others who own property here but who find the language, paperwork etc difficult (feedback on these ideas would be appreciated) we have French contacts who believe that there is a market.  I speak French, and should we decide to move (sometime in the new year) my husband and 2 children will have intensive lessons in England to improve their language skills.  We will have a reasonable amount of money to sustain ourselves for at least a year whist we establish the businesses and have good work contacts in France.  We intend to register and fully integrate into French life.  The most difficult aspect of our decision is our 13 year old daughter, however she is bright and we firmly believe that she will overcome the language problems and in the end being bilingual will be beneficial to both of them in future.

So are we fools? No I don't think so. Those who move without thoroughly investigating all aspects, they are either fools or like living life dangerously.