Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi there,
I really hope that somebody can help me, the more replies the merrier, we're so stuck on what to do: We have two daughters aged 4 and 1. This country (UK) is grey, dull, full of crime, obsessed with reality tv and the respect has gone here. When we grew up here we played in fields, climbed trees - now you can't let them go anywhere.
So, what to do? We considered Cornwall, but it's expensive and culturally lacking, not a great deal of opportunity for the kids. Spain looks nice but it's rammed full of Brits! France we thought. My French is of a very basic level (I did not pay attention at school !), my partners' is non existent but the kids would be fluent within a year. Do we sell up and chance everything? Or do we rent the house in the UK and have a mortgage in France? Are schools ok? Are there any parts of France that provide better education in a rural area? Are there any parts of France near the coast that bargains can still be found? Is education better inland?, better near Switzerland or Spain?
All of your experiences, advice, thoughts and opinions will be very gratefully recieved.
Look foward to hearing from you,
Kind Regards,
Vicki, Bristol. :confused:

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Don't bother with Spain - if you want your kids to experience similar childhood fun, go to France - especially a rural area. Trees and fields galore.

We have bought property in the Limousin to get as far away from the Britain you describe as we possibly can. We actually move at the end of this month. Not without some trepidation - we appreciate we are leaving our current way of life and home comforts behind, and it's all a little scary. However, we are determined to make a new life in France - it won't necessarily be cheaper, and it certainly won't be easy at first, but the quality of life will be so much better. It's a joy to hear wildlife again, and see bats at night as well as be able to move around freely.
We hardly speak any French at all yet, but it hasn't put us off at all - we intend to learn what we can and realise that it is essential if we wish to integrate with the local people (which we do).

Make the commitment and move - you won't regret it, at least do it for the children. Things will certainly not improve in the UK in the short term.

Although we have grandchildren in the UK, they are not a million miles away and we will exchange visits - and their parents are seriously considering emigrating, too.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Vicky,
We came to Brittany, France 9 years ago now and our children were 1 and 4, it was a decision we didn't take lightly but soooooooooo glad we came. We sold everything in the UK and rented for 6 months until we found the right location it paid off not to buy the first house we found on a house hunting trip. Really do your homework on the area, from a business point of view we knew we had to be within 30 mins of the south brittany coast and all the homework we did paid off, we bought and renovated 2 gite complexes and have been very successful. Schooling has been fantastic here, no problems at all and my eldest even came first in French last year in her 2nd year at college! My advice would be not to buy too rural and within easy distance of a town or village with supermarket, boulangerie etc.
You will pick up the french, we came with hardly any but get along fine now although red tape will always be a nightmare.
You won't regret your decision for coming here I'm sure. Although we love our life here, we are now ready to move on but not back to the UK, we are seriously considering Oz, but will never regret the decision or the time we have spent here.
Good luck
JR56

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Vicki,

My circumstances are a little different, as no kids involved, but the reasons for leaving the UK are the same. My girlfriend and I have been over to Limousin several times and decided that was the place for us, but it is rural and you'd have to ask what you'll do for a living?

My girlfriend is a nurse and i'm a builder, and our research shows that we'd both be ok for an income as this was our only concern.

We've spoken to quite a few brits with kids who have said the schooling and health care was very good and they could allow their children the freedom we enjoyed as youngsters without the fear of something awful happening.

I think that coastal properties will be more expensive and rural inland are far cheaper, but its down to what you want. its really worth a few weekends away just checking out the areas. we did, and as we were getting Ryanair flights from Liverpool to Limouges for 1p plus taxes it was very cheap research!!!!

If at all possible, keep your UK house and either fund the French property with a remortgage in UK or a Euro mortgage.

Anyway, I'd just go for it, much better way of life!!!

Good luck,

Stewart.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Thank you Stewart;
It seems that you don't need kids to realise the extent this country has gone downhill; I suppose we've always wanted to do it, kids aren't an excuse but it sure helps motivate the whole process! Thanks for mentioning a 'Euro Mortgage', I haven't heard of this before and also the advice on keeping the house in the UK, advice I've seen on this forum a few times; if so many advise it, we're not going to sell immediately! A safeguard in the UK is a good plan I'd say!
You say the Limosin region, is it not touristy and strictly monitored there?
Are they open to now businessess starting up there?
Look foward to hearing from you,
Best Wishes,
Vicki.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Chris and Julie,
Thanks for your advice; you too mention the Limosin region - now if that were my grandparents, they'd be doing it because they wanted pure relaxation! - Is there anything there other than peace and tranquility? Are there good facilities in a town nearby? I could look on a map for the nearest town, but that doesn't tell me if it's a great town or not! I have been told that there is a good local school that is way above the state system in the UK- have your children investigated schools there? If so, what did they think?
Sorry to bombard you with questions - there's nothing like good, old fashioned advice straight from the horses' mouth, all these TV programmes are well and good but they can't offer what this amazing forum does! Thank you!
Look foward to hearing back,
Best Wishes,
Vicki.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

JR56: You should have kept a diary! What was it really like moving with kids 4/1 yrs? My eldest is quite good but she is very settled at nursery - did your eldest have many problems at first - did he/she hate you for sending them to a school where they couldn't understand anything? I know sometimes it's best to be cruel to be kind, but will it be a good upheaval? Are the french kids nice and welcoming or did yours have problems?
Why are you now wanting to move? Or do you just need a new adventure?!
As I said to the other members, sorry for all the questions, but yuou especially are a fountain of knowledge - someone who has done exactly as we want to do with kids at the same age!
Really look foward to hearing back from you,
Best Wishes,
Vicki

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Again,

We looked at the Correze region of Limousin, it's very beautiful, the countryside reminds me of a cross between Wales and Canada, lots of lakes and rivers with little villages dotted around. We were in the process of buying a barn to convert, but that fell through at the last min, so we're back hunting again. we are considering another barn, or a house for renovation, or half tempted on land and building my own, there are plenty of properties for the right money, and the French don't seem interested in them.

I can only comment on this area, as we fell in love with it on the first visit and never looked further. They have a tourist season, but its not hectic, its just slightly more busy in the shops, etc.

As I said before, my main concern would be how you earn a living, in the UK, I could close my business down on monday and have a job tuesday, but its more difficult in France. It's not a problem opening a business in France, if you can think of a good area to work in, I get the feeling that the red tape is worse than in UK, but thats a small price to pay to leave your doors unlocked, leave your car safe at night, and go out for an evening without the risk of getting filled in on your way home!!!

Anyway, on that happy note, if I can help just give me a shout!!!!

Stewart.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Vicki,
We didn't have any problems with the girls in school really, the eldest daughter was only going for mornings at first just to ease her in but by the 2nd morning wanted to stay all day as she loved. Daughter no. 2 though did find it difficult, she was only 2 when she started a lot of tears but the school was great and within a few weeks she looked forward to school an we haven't looked back. None of the teachers in their school spoke English so very much put them in the deep end but they were fine.
We have just decided we need a new adventure that's why we are moving on I think we have achieved all we can here regarding our business with renovating the houses all from scratch installing swimming pools now all we need to do is changeovers - nice but we are just young enough to try something new.
If you have any questions, willing to help. There is a great website like this one that is also a huge information source www.angloinfo.com which covers loads of regions of france
Regards
Janet

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Vicki

We chose the Limousin for the reasons already mentioned by Stewart - Correze is beautiful. Yes, it's tranquil, but that's not to say there are no facilities within reach, there are.

Our local town, Argentat, is 20 minutes away and has a leisure/aqua centre, good schools and just about everything else you would expect in a small town, and is on the beautiful river Dordogne (but not in the Dordogne area, I hasten to add...). The much larger towns of Tulle and Brive are also reasonably close (about 30 & 40 minutes respectively). You can park freely in all of them. Limoges is just under 2 hours away, and is served by Ryanair and Flybe. There is a new airport under construction at Brive - it should open next year and will encourage no-frills airlines, so we will only be 30 minutes from an airport.

Reported crime in our area during the 12 months Jan - Dec 2006 was zero. You don't necessarily need to live in the sticks - it was our choice. The peace and quiet is heaven, compared to the dull roar of the M25/M4 confluence that we've had to put up with in the UK for years.

As regards new businesses - don't know, but we never really took that into consideration as we've both just retired early. Burned our bridges, too, with no property to return to in the UK - again, our choice.

France is such a huge country in comparison - there's bound to be an area that would suit you. Just stay away from the cities.

Chris & Julie

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

We moved to Normandy with 3 teenagers, aged 13, 15 and 16. No regrets, best thing we ever did. We didn't have a choice in area as it was where my husband's company was based. Wouldn't change it though even though we now could. It is close enough to UK that you can get back easily if you want to. I pop across to Portsmouth, have lunch with friends there, do some shopping and get back that night, all for less than a train fare to London would be from Portsmouth. Brittany Ferries fast boat takes less than 3 hours from Cherbourg to Portsmouth in the summer. We have a few friends who have bought houses further south and find getting to them a big problem, and are usually tired when they get there. We bought a run down old farm close to the beach, but only 30 mins from larger towns. The schools were fantastic, arranged free extra french classes for the children (none of whom spoke french when we arrived). After 2 years our eldest got her french bac with honours and went on to do her first year at Caen university. They are now all bi-lingual and have great job opportunities. They are not narrow minded or scared of trying new things. The countryside in Normandy is beautiful, lots of sandy beaches that don't get too busy in summer. We used to get upset if another car went down our road! Weather is really not bad. Nice in summer (around 23 degs) and not too cold in winter, rarely below freezing. If you go further south though into Suisse Normandy, they do get snow.
We have found the local community to be fantastic, really helpful and welcoming. It still surprises me when I go into the bank that the lady behind the counter knows my name and comes round to give me 3 kisses on the cheek!
Nowhere is perfect, drugs are a problem in schools here, kids smoke, drive crazy, but overall I think the way of life here is much better for children, especially when I compare our 3 to friends children in UK. One important thing I think is that family is still very important in France, and there is still a lot of respect towards elders. Obviously inner cities have their own unique problems, and I am glad we didn't have to live in a big city here.
Never had any worries about the kids going out at night, our son cycled for miles with friends, went fishing without us worrying what would happen to him. They used to cycle to the beach and spend hours there with friends. We knew we didn't have to worry about them. I think the most important thing to remember when moving to another country is attitude. If it is something you really want to do, have money or a job which allows you to support yourself and family, make an effort to fit in and not hold on to how life was before, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

We are planning to go to Normandy. We want to go for the reasons you stated. All our children have flown the nest so no problem there. We got a plot and are having a small colombage house built by a friend, big enough for us and a guest room. We can't get there soon enough. If you don't have a bank account, I recommend Britline (britline.com), you can open it by post. Our relatives live in France, they moved out 3 or 4 years ago so we have some family there.
I would really, really do your home work first. The French way is totally different. An appointment with, say, a French plumber is a statement of intention rather than fact and the family always comes first and you come last. The French also love committees - that is their way - when putting in, for example, planning permission, don't cover all the bases, leave something out for them to find otherwise they won't have anything to have a committee about and will look for something - and find it!. In short, do you homework, be really sure it is what you want, make your decision and stick to it and be resolved to integrate - you will never make it if you become a 'Little Englander'. Good luck! Oh, and brace yourself for family and friends pulling at your heart strings to stay and from what I saw on the TV the other day we really have got hearts strings for them to pull. One other thing if you hear 'Rost beef' they mean you.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Dear Vicki
I live in France at the moment and have done since May 2005. We live in the Charente. It is beautiful here. My girls are aged 6 and 8 and they both go to local village schools and are picked up on the bus in the morning and dropped off in the evening. They are both really happy at school and their french is now great - it took a while though! Living, I think is cheaper here, as I don't spend nearly as much on shopping each week, petrol/diesel is cheaper, council tax is practically non-existent compared with UK (we pay 360 EUROS for the year!), electric is more expensive, we aren't on town gas because we live rurally but that is cheaper but maybe a hassle having to make sure you have enough bottles so that you don't run out of gas whilst running your bath! Water rates are about the same. Now for the downside. The language can be a very big problem. I have A Level french and even I find it difficult. My husband has got better over the years but if you ever have to deal with a problem or something official, then it is a real headache. Another problem with living rurally is that there are ALOT of Brits whereever you go, and they all seem to be rather jealous, two-faced people. We have had quite a lot of trouble and whereas last year we had a big circle of friends, we now only have 2 sets of friends that we trust. As we live in the country, my neighbours are all quite old, so no-one that I feel like popping in on and having a cup of tea. Shopping for clothes and presents is a bit of a nightmare too. They don't really go into the card business here so if you have to send a birthday card back to the UK it will cost you. No cheap 60p ones in France! Be prepared for the amount of paperwork that you will have to deal with, even to start a contract for a mobile phone! Having said that, we do not regret leaving the UK at all, but we are thinking of moving on somewhere else as we are still young and not quite ready to take it as slow as we are. It all seems idyllic in the beginning, and it is, but the reality soon begins to show. I don't mean to sound negative because our last 2 years here have been lovely, we have been happy - just looking for a bit more now I suppose. You have to consider what is THE main reason for leaving the UK, if it is for the kids and financial aspects then it is great.
I hope that has helped and if you have any more questions you would like to ask me then please, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Carla X

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Thanks Val,
It seems you enjoy it there; I am dubious about all the tax problems and french forms, my french is probably much less than GCSE standard and my other half, David does not speak french. He is also concerened about moving to a 'communist type country.' There are a lot of horror stories of people having their life savings lost to the French governement.
Is this scaremongering do you think or is it really that bad?
Yes, our main reson for moving is for the kids - another toddler abused and murdered on the news yesterday here in the UK, only months after a six year old girl was taken out of her bath, raped and dumped in a lane. I can't bring my children up here!
Any advice greatly received!
Thanks,
Vicki
xx

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

[QUOTE=victorialee;4382669]Hi there,
I really hope that somebody can help me, the more replies the merrier, we're so stuck on what to do: We have two daughters aged 4 and 1. This country (UK) is grey, dull, full of crime, obsessed with reality tv and the respect has gone here. When we grew up here we played in fields, climbed trees - now you can't let them go anywhere.
.....Hope U make the right choice Victoria!.....I have to say though I've been for many wonderful walks in The West Sussex Countryside lately:The Downs etc...and its been marvellous,Very civilised,polite People and I saw a Blonde 5-Year-Old Girl Cycling on her own in a 2 mile Country Lane with no-one else around apart from me and my friend!..Others we met en route later were friendly(like the good old days!)..So thats one area that is very safe I would say....and very traditionally English,,,,saying this so U might widen your choice!
Regards,Tony.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi there,

We too are feeling very like yourselves and are at a cross roads. We are looking at the Limousin and surrounding areas but seem to have got pre-occuppied with other things at the moment.
You say you are unsure what to do yourselves. Well maybe I can tell you a little bit about moving to Cornwall to help you with your decision.
Just over four years ago - with a 3 year old and a 10 week old we moved form Nottingham to Cornwall. It was a nightmare move - jobs, houses and evicting a tenant when we finally sold our house which had fallen through three times, no money blah blah blah........... but we now live on the north Cornish coast at Crackington Haven where we have been lucky enough to find a decent job for my husband. The life here is slow paced, yes miserable weather in the winter but wild and fresh!!! in the sumer it is brill and we meet the kids off the school bus across from the beach and they are surfing (or trying to) or rock pooling with all their school pals within minutes. However the weather is one thing that does hinder you here. We are in two minds what to do - i teach english to french students in our house but after much investigation, it seems they all want to learn it in England so that is not going to be as easy as I first thought. Also, my husband speaks no french.
decisions decisions..........personally, we will perhaps gather as much info as we can over the next year or two (our kids are now 7 and 4) and then make our decision.
Ifyou daren't risk it all though - Cornwall is a great option and there are still some cheap houses around if you move a little in land. We find it expensive to live but it is actually making us think of all sorts of money making ideas and some are working! The kids have a great life and DO climb trees and play in fields here but in Nottingham I would be scared to let them outside of the garden. i know we would be financially better off in Nottngham as I would find work more easily but when we spend a Saturday morning on the beach and are perhaps the only ones around, it reminds me that we are in effect paying for the kid's freedom. maybe one day in France?

Hope this helps????

karry

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hello !

We live in South Africa and I'm sure from snippets you've picked up here and there it's not the safest country in the world and as we're feeling rather pessimistic about the future (we've given it 10 years !) in this crime-ridden country regarding education for our kids, safety, job prospects for our kids in the long run, we're looking elsewhere to bring up our children of which we have 3 aged 4, 12 and 15. We've noticed over the past few years that our "safe" haven is not safe anymore and crime is slowly seeping into suburbia. I do not want my family to become a next possible "statistic" and we have become far too blasé about violence which is not healthy.

Regarding income, my husband works for, believe it or not, a french company and he works all over the world (6 weeks away, 6 weeks at home) so where we actually put down roots is immaterial as he is flown from his "home" to wherever the contract is.

Naturally as South Africa is a sunny country with a mediterranean climate, France was our first thought as my husband and I have been there a few times on holiday and I speak French quite well as my parents are Belgian. Also we have family scattered in Europe and nowadays with budget airlines, your world is your oyster whereas you have to pay through your nose to fly from SA to anywhere in the world so we're very isolated here. I also feel that there is a "brighter" future for the kids in France in terms of quality of life without the threat of rape and murder around every corner, the education is certainly sounder and more stable, the weather for a good portion of the year is good, we're closer to family members and so the list goes on .. I've always loved the country life as does my husband who grew up on a farm so France does sound like the place to go. We do also realise that it won't be a bed of roses as before we returned to SA 8 years ago we lived in Belgium and had to deal with all the usual bureaucratic nightmares, ie carte de sejour, allocations familiales, etc etc We didn't get around to the buying a house nightmare yet !

All in all we are striving for a safer, quieter, simpler and less stressful way of life with a brighter future for the kids. I have found that I've been happier with "less" in the past ! Sometimes "more" is not necessarily better ! We do realise that there will be certain "luxuries" that we're going to have to give up as I will not be working in France and my salary does help but we find that our kids' school fees and extra curricular fees eat up a substantial portion of our income (about 450 Euros). We own a house here which we hope to sell at a profit and use that as capital for a smaller farmhouse in France with a bit of land and a smaller mortgage.

In a nutshell, our real worry is our son as he's at that precarious age and I'm very worried as to how he'll cope. I did look at the International School of Bordeaux but it's rather pricey as are the other International Schools although there does seem to be a few Bilingual Schools in Bordeaux which I've emailed but just don't seem to be getting replies !! Ecole Magendie, L'Assomption and LeBrun appear to be quite interesting. Any thoughts ! And if you could also throw in some thoughts about Bordeaux (outside) as we'd have to live close to Bordeaux for schooling.

Thanks !!
Regards, Nat :D

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Moving to France?

I'm never sure about offering advice because everyone has a different outlook on life and personal circumstances vary, however, I can give you the benefit (or not) of my experience of moving to France from the UK.

Like many people I became frustrated by the impotency of our judicial system, the incompetency of NHS management, lack of opportunity for the hardworking, loss of respect by young people, the increase of fear of crime and violence and the general degradation of british culture.

(Whoops, I sound like a bitter soap box merchant - I'm not really, I love England but I'm not prepared to see my grandchildren grow up, and possibly turn out or become victims of, some of the creatures that walk the streets there today. I lived in a quiet little market town in Worcestershire but we had our share of Saturday night violence and even a couple of murders).

I had been coming to France on holiday for about 12 years and I had always liked the life-style and attitude of the average French person. The fact that the French are not "in your face" is often mistaken for arrogance and stand offishness. I live, with my wife, son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren in a small village about 25km south of Rodez in the Aveyron. We bought a small hotel/restaurant/bar last April. My 10 and 5 year old granddaughters speak fluent French (after only a year) they love their schools and the freedom to play safely with their friends around the village. The locals have been wonderful to us, helping with any problems we've encountered. I read in one of the previous replies about dealing with the Mayor. They are extremely powerful people and can make or break your move. I heard horror stories of what can happen if you upset your Mayor. We're lucky, ours is an absolute diamond. He regularly comes in for coffee and brings his business friends and family in for meals. The best piece of advice I can give you here is wherever you move to don't try to create a little England. This is what's happened up north and the in some cases the locals and immigrant Brits have awful problems. Accept and embrace the French way of life. The health service is fantastic, the education system is first class, driving around is a pleasure, the food and wine is incredible, local products are reasonably priced. There are, as in all things, a downside. Tax is incredibly high and the cost of living on the whole is about the same as the UK. Dealing with public bodies is a nightmare, it's bureaucracy gone mad. To get any kind of work done, be it building or anything else, takes ages. You will have to get used to 2 hour lunch breaks, shops, taxis, offices, even the club shop at our golf club closes from 12 till 2. And of course make sure you've done all your shopping by Saturday because nothing, except churches and restaurants are open on a Sunday. Most importently, and I can't stress this enough, LEARN TO SPEAK FRENCH!!!!!!

God, I could go on and on........ Finally, do I miss England? Would I go back? Not unless they deport me!!! I live a relatively stress free life, my asthma has all but gone, I'm eating healthily and I feel safe in my own home. If I leave my car door unlocked it will still be there in the morning and my grandchildren have the a bright future. If I can be of any further help please feel free to e mail me at aubergedesarcades@wanadoo,fr.

Regards

Richard White

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

....Nice Story Richard.....Just a shame that a hardworking True Brit. has felt compelled to leave us M8:( ......I have to say though I live Half-a-mile away from the edge of South London in The Suburbs and don't bother to lock my car....though thats not advisable for every street I realise.:p
Good Luck.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Tony, if you don't lock your car you might invalidate your insurance mate.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Too right.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Wow Richard,

It is so nice to hear that there are still places in the world where you can relax and enjoy life although I did note your stress factor about the golf clubhouse hours of trade!

For me that is balanced by a two-hour cheese & wine party every day so as to de-stress.

I totally agree with your description of the UK and I am from Scotland and even the villages there are deteriorating to chaos.

I spent some time in the Greek islands and found a “magic” there and it sounds like you have found it in France. The last time I was back was in the early 90s and often wonder what it is like now. I hope the Greek islands haven’t been ruined like lots of other places.

Personally I will cheer you back up onto your soapbox mate as it is the people’s voice that motivates change and I am talking change for the better of course.

Cheers and enjoy. :D

PS: Saw Cirque Du Soleil the other day – WOW. That has got to be the best circus in the world. I understand it uses many artists from many backgrounds but it has taken the French vision to take it to this level. I also Saw Jean Michel Jarre and really see the French creative’s as geniuses of art and in a calibre way out on their own.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Richard you have got it in one mate, we just love it here in the Indre.
Would i go back to the UK, not on your nelly!.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Sorry to disabuse your notion of French creativity, but Cirque de Soleil got its start in Canada.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Bonjour,

Cirque du Soleil began with a very simple dream. A group of young entertainers got together to amuse audiences, see the world, and have fun doing it. Every year, the audiences get bigger, we continue to discover new places and ideas and we're still having fun.

Today we still dream of enriching the lives of all those who cross our path through our actions and our creativity. We also dream of imbuing our new projects with the energy and inspiration that are the essence of our shows. And we want to help young people express their dreams … and make them come true.

As we head into the future, this website will allow us to share our dream in a whole new way. It'll connect us with new audiences around the world, in an instant. And this is your chance to share your thoughts and feelings with people everywhere.

Surf the site. Take your time. Have fun!

We hope you'll be inspired to dream your own dreams, and to believe they too can come true.

Guy Laliberté
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Cirque du Soleil

-------------------------

Yes, you are correct,

Having watched the series “the Fire Within” I understand they are based in Canada.

My quoting “French” was in the same context as me saying I am Scots although I live in NZ.

Cheers…….. :D

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Vickie

I am sorry to burst your bubble, we have now lived here for 15 months in the charente region, i have a 5 year old, brill for that age group for the lang, she is now fluent, the schooling is very different here, still wondering if it better, i have my doubts, THINK HARD BEFORE YOU JUMP IN TO BUYING A HOUSE HERE, my advise is to rent for a one year period, it will allow you to get a good all round feel to living in france, it is not easy, there are no jobs for the french, they all have degrees and diplomas, but they cant get work, you have to fluent in the language, you ahve to be able to read and write, to even be considered for employment, the french will not pick you above another french person, so unless you have a business in england, or have lots and lots of money, you will struggle, its great when you come here and change the pound to the euro, when you have to live in the euro, you find out how expensive things really are, living in france takes a very special person, im not that and am looking at other places, but like the many i jumped into buying a house here and am stuck till it sells, if it sells, if you buy something to renovate, buy yourself a copy of the film the money pit,
what ever your decide, the old saying the grass is never greener applies to living in france.
Bonne Chance:blink:

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi Everyone I'm new to this forum but wish to thank you all for the info.It has been interesting reading this morning (I am in Australia )....Thisisitimhere, while I appreciate the need for balance as in both sides to the story of a move to france I find myself wondering why you are still there. You seem to have nothing good to say about it except for your childs learning a second language...I am not saying this to be a smarty pants ..I'm seriously interested.
We too are trying to make the decision about a move and its a very long way from Australia so it is good to read the negative as well as the positive comments. My husband begins the negotiations next week with his employer so it won't be too long before we have to make decisions.
Thanks again
Kate

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Richard, I am cutting, pasting and saving all the heartening stories about life in France; yours is lovely to read. I live in Greater London near Bromley and a 17 year old girl on her way to her Saturday job and used the local park (which had always looked extremely safe to me) was sexually assaulted and stabbed by someone who worked in our local hospital for years. A lovely old man who would help anyone was also murdered in his own home. I was absolutely appalled by the murder of the old man and I won't go into details, but it was really nasty. The murderer died on the way out of the old man's flat of smoke inhalation because he had set a fire. I'll keep the horrible details to myself. Bonjour! Nicky

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Hi
So glad that we are not the only ones that feel the uk has really gone to pot over the years
For this reason myself , my partner, and our 3 year old have just moved to the loire valley and it is STUNNING!!!!
We live in a rural area and as I dont drive and my partner works away its quite difficult, but its worth it ( even the 1 and half hour walk to the supermarket)
neither myself or my partner speak more than basic french but we have not had a problem with the language barrier - as long as you have a go and can at least say the basics - bonjour, aurevoir and such they'll help you a bit, my neighbour has even called round the other day with her french - english dictionary
and I was talking to the builder using babelfish on my laptop - where there's a will there's a way :D
my advice is simple - look around the internet at houses, check out the expat websites - theres loads to check which areas have good english - french ratio and go for it :D

P
If you want a newbie Frenchie to talk to feel free to PM me or go through yahoo or msn

P

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Some time back on this thread you asked about new businesses. Look for ZRR (something like zone rurale de Regeneration) which gives a 100% tax break in the first year of business gradually reducing over a nine year period.
What we could do with here are environmentally aware farming folk. The older generation are dying off and the younger generation don't want to work the land, yet it is beautiful and rich and there are a lot of incentives and tax breaks. Main products here are walnuts, beef, geese (pate de foie gras), duck, some maize and sunflowers but the whole organic farming side is ripe for development and younger people who could take over the farms would be much better off than farming in the UK.
The wild life is an asset in itself. I went canoeing today on the river which flows past my garden. I saw two buzzards, herons and a kingfisher. The only people I saw were two fishermen. (By the way I'm sixty and haven't been canoeing for twenty years but I had a great time.)

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

:) I am so jealous it sounds as if you had a wonderful time. I'd love to go canoeing and to see buzzards, my idea of heaven. Have to go now, but be back on soon:thumbsup:

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

Sorry I didn't mean to make you jealous. I just find some of the responses so negative. What it comes down to is that you still have to do some things exactly as you did in England - do the washing up, go shopping, clean the loo. That sort of thing doesn't go away, nor does your personality. If you rub people up the wrong way in England chances are you'll do the same in France. If you tend to have bouts of depression in England you'll still have to work with that here.
I do try to be realistic when I answer these threads but I am very grateful for all the lovely things and people in my life here in France and I want to share that as well. I have my problems like anyone else but basically I'm having a ball and I want other people to know that if they can stay open to the possiblity they can too.

Re: Desperately trying to make a decision! Help!
 

:D Hi OnlyoneBrenda, sorry my post came across not the way I intended it too. What I meant was that it is lovely to know that you went canoeing and saw the wildlife ..... one of my hobbies is watching wildlife .... I think your answer sounds very sensible. We are going to do lots ofresearch before we make the move .... and rent first rather than leap in with both feet. It would be better to get the feel of France and how it all works firstly .... I am worried about being ripped off and overcharged for a property so rent first sounds like a good option. Sounds like you are having a great time and I am very pleased for you. all the best :thumbsup: