onlyonebrenda

Fascinating isn't it! It takes all sorts. There must be as many responses as people.
I would certainly agree that you need to speak French and to learn before you get here and I can't plug that view enough. English people who don't learn find themselves at a big disadvantage and can find others, English or French, take advantage. It also helps to remember that everyone gets tarred with the same brush. Perhaps our French friend has had unfortunate experiences. If one English family behaves badly then others can often be likened to them. A French friend doesn't like it that I laugh out loud, which I find quite sad. We can be considered loud in comparison to local people.

I'm just trying to think how many kindnesses have been shown to me in the last week - it certainly hasn't been lacking. Today I was on an outing organised by French people and sat down to lunch with three French, three English and two Dutch people. We all had a really interesting and informative day visiting French and Dutch entrepreneurial success stories.

I was lucky enough to find part-time employment straight away. I have enjoyed it enormously but decided to finish it this week after working six months - various reasons for that, some personal, some professional. It means I'm falling back on my own resources for a while but my own business interests are taking off and I now feel ready to tackle the system and do it all officially. Wish me luck!

val50

.I was lucky enough to find part-time employment straight away. I have enjoyed it enormously but decided to finish it this week after working six months - various reasons for that, some personal, some professional. It means I'm falling back on my own resources for a while but my own business interests are taking off and I now feel ready to tackle the system and do it all officially. Wish me luck![/QUOTE]



Sounds like really exciting times for you - sure you don't need it - but good luck.
Don't worry about the troll. Sure we've seen the last of him - we just have to learn not to take people like that seriously.

Le Chant

No problem! Good luck Brenda!

onlyonebrenda

Thanks for your kindness. Good luck to you all as well or rather bon chance

jackies

Hi we are in the process of moving to Lot Et Garonne, just outside the town of Tonniens, we have a 12 year old son, can anyone give us any advise on the schools here, Thanks

val50

Hi there
not in your area I'm afraid, but our son was 13 when we moved to France, not an easy age where ever you are
Would suggest you look at sous-contrat schools in the area. They are semi-private, but fees are nothing like those you'd pay in UK. We were paying around 670 euros a year. If you do a search on Google you should be able to find contact details. Otherwise contact your local Mairie, they are usually really helpful.

andrew phillips

Hi I have been in the Dordogne for Three years .Nice to see another Carpenter moving to Fnance instead of some of the so called registered English builders I have met here .They would not last five minutes on an English building site .Go and sort out your siret course, at various times they have English translation .If you are a good tradesman you will soon find work and quickly build a reputation .I would highly reccommend you go down the legal route as i have noticed a merging resentment for people working on the black ,this is obviously fuelled by the shoddy so called builders and people with nothing better to do .good luck to you both
kind regards andy

val50

I would highly reccommend you go down the legal route as i have noticed a merging resentment for people working on the black ,this is obviously fuelled by the shoddy so called builders and people with nothing better to do .good luck to you both
kind regards andy[/QUOTE]



I don't know about highly recommend - I think it is essential, especially as tradesmen, and the people they do work for, can be prosecuted if it is discovered you are working in the black.

onlyonebrenda

Much though I like to promote the area where I live I would suggest you avoid the Thiviers Bassin in the Périgord Vert as I think you would find it virtually impossible to find work here. The whole area revolves around the chestnut tree forests and the local college has now had to let go any training for apprentices who want to become electricians or plumbers (virtually the only other training that was available.) This leaves menuiserie and ébénistes. As this is already the local occupation the poor lads (and maybe there are some lasses too) are leaving college and finding themselves unemployable. Also generally speaking there are plenty of people who draw on their previous project management skills to offer that and frankly many newcomers want to do their own interior design.
Don't give up, take the leap, just don't jump into this area where there are already employment problems in your areas of work. Yes hard work and professionalism may overcome them but why load the dice against yourselves? I wish you every success.

onlyonebrenda

Périgord Vert is the north part of the Dordogne and part of Aquitaine for those whose French geography is as bad as mine was before I came here. It is cheaper than the south of the Dordogne and green because although we have plenty of sunshine we also have storms which keep everything green.

RedMonsk

Hi, we are hoping to move to the Lot-et-Garonne, it is just a matter of when?! Obviously selling properties over here is becoming difficult, especially if you need to achieve a certain price!

Has and how has the current climate effected you? My husband is a carpenter so we really hope that making a living in France is still achievable?!