Hi, I'm new to the board so I apologise if this has been asked before. We are coming over to the Ernee/Mayenne area next week to view a couple of properties and fisheries. We have had a carp fishery in UK so feel confident about that side of things. Our two youngest kids are coming too, aged 18 and 22. We will need french lessons of course but are keen to learn the language. My main concern is will this area be too out of the way for the kids to have a social life. Are there plenty of little towns with bars etc. Any advice on any aspect will be welcomed. thanks

Hi there and welcome
one of our members, jazzy n'lol live in Mayenne, sure they will be along soon to give you more info about the area. We also have friends who live there. We are close by in Manche. There are some pretty big towns in Mayenne, so depending on where you are going to be, there should be lots to do for the kids. I know ours (in the early 20's) don't have any problems with their social life! Many of the clubs/disco's are out in the country anyway, and I think virtually every small village, let alone towns, have bars. You've got good road/rail links too, and it's not that far to the ferries back to UK. Our friends use LD lines to Le Havre and then only have just over a 2 hour drive to their house in Mayenne. You can also use Cherbourg, Caen or St Malo.
Good luck with the venture

Hi and welcome buzzz

We live south of Laval, but my parents live closer to Mayenne. My mother is in St Denis de Gastines, which is a fantastic little town and always something going on there. My Dad lives out in the sticks in Desertines, which is NOT recommended if you want a social life! Mayenne and Ernee themselves are lively and have plenty of shop and bars etc. Mayenne is the larger of course, and offers more for the youngsters. If you have a specific place in mind, let me know and I'll tell you what I know about it, and whether I have friends near that can offer a welcome.

Our daughter is 14 now, and has settled in with many mates. As yours will be out of the education system they will have more of a problem learning the language and making friends, but it is not insurmountable. A bar or restaurant job will help those things, and in most places there are ex-pats who can introduce you to more people etc. We signed on with www.anpe.fr (job centre of france) and through them got free lessons, you can also help yourselves by using CD's, Michel Thomas is great, and reading verb books etc. Once you are here and immersed, it gets easier!

I found a site aimed specifically towards younger expats, - http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/thisfr...ing-hand-.html

Good luck, and keep us informed on how you all get along

Thanks for these replies guys, they are really encouraging. My son is going to Canada to work in January for 12 months but when he comes back I would like him to come to us in France. Not so worried about 18 year old daughter as she is very confident and will soon pick up language I'm sure. Just really want to get them out of UK, and not have to worry that they'll be stabbed every time they go out. We still have a married daughter in Colchester and grandaughter so don't want to be too far away. It's a dilemma!

Hi Buzz
I live literally 5 minutes from Ernee. There is a bar there called Jaggers, and a lot of English kids use it as there is a chateaux about 10 mins away which employs English teenagers as it is used for adventure holidays for school kids.
There is always something going on. We went to a music festival a couple of weeks ago where Jazz and lols mum lives, it was brilliant.
Mayenne is a lot bigger, about 20 minutes from Ernee, with more bars etc.
Good luck.
Ruby