lovelywenitsdone Posted August 21, 2004 Share Posted August 21, 2004 LAST EDITED ON 21-Aug-04 AT 10:29 PM (BST)LAST EDITED ON 21-Aug-04 AT 10:28PM (BST)Whilst in France recently we noticed two fundamental changes which I think are probably not unconnected...Firstly, what's happened to the Brits? When we first bought our home 4 years ago it was generally a pleasure when we came across fellow nationals (usually frowning at the plumbing accessories in the local brico, just like us), there would be a small conversation and we were all on our way. Not anymore it seems - being a Brit in France appears to have become a serious business, particlularly to those who just glared at us when they heard us speaking English to each other, and then drove away in French registered vehicles...... Secondly, our lovely French neighbours who made it very clear in the past how pleased they were to see us buy our home, renovate it, and bring children back into the community, are no longer happy at the continuing influx of Brits. It seems that there are now just too many of us - and they feel that the newer purchasers seem less ready to fit into the community.Has anyone else felt a change in the wind recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted August 22, 2004 Share Posted August 22, 2004 If you trawl back through some of the archives on this page, you will find many and some very vitriolic debates at the wind of change in France now. Yes, in general there is a cooling off now and many of us on here,myself included, have been victims of it first hand where we have been subject to questioning by french nationals over the influx and high property prices. You have to remember that holiday home owners whether french,british,germans etc are seen in a completely different way to resident foreigners as they buy houses in many cases which locals would prefer to purchases and then they are left standing empty all but a few weeks every year.This is not a phenomenon peculiar to France either, ask anyone who has/lives in a touristy part of the UK what they feel about weekenders and property cash rich people moving in and pushing them out. If your neighbours are not the same as they were, why don't you start the ball rolling and get to know them better by inviting them round regularly or going out together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted August 22, 2004 Share Posted August 22, 2004 >they feel that the newer >purchasers seem less ready to >fit into the community. For as long as I have looked at this forum (2years) I have wondered what this 'fitting in' means. Does it mean you have be aware of everything that goes on in the village hall and join in with it all or invite all and sundry to your home and hope to get invited back to their places. If so, I don't fit in. I go about my own business and meet local villagers or neighbours when it happens without making a special effort. We have had a few people here at odd times and we have been to other houses and at times it is hard work and so do not make it a regular thing, we have also used local artisans and an english builder. Hopefully those locals we do come across think of us as not particularly friendly or not particularly unfriendly in much the same way as those that knew of us in our Sussex village when we were there.I don,t think it essential to make a special effort because we are in a "foreign country" I leave the banner waving to those that think it neccesary. I would adopt just the same approach if we had moved to the north of england, or god forbid, to Wales.PS.I put that bit in about Wales just to stir them up, look you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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