RedMonsk

Yes, it does sound lovely!

If anyone has any information on villages in the Gironde or Lot-et-Garonne area, I would be very interested! My mum lives in Mesterrieux which is close to La Reole, so I would like to be reasonably close to her if possible.

Good villages and the ones to avoid!

onlyonebrenda

You'll be pleased to hear A is alive and well and out of hospital with a warning that he must not drink at all with his current medication. His wife R came round with a piece of birthday gateau and we shared a laugh about A being such a flirt - at seventy-seven!
Here I have a confession to make. I'm not very good at holding my end up in the foodie stakes however I do offer a complimentary therapy which goes down well and is much appreciated. I sometimes wonder what my professional association would say if I offered to pay my fees with two leeks and a carrot, even if it was a very large one!
As for neighbourliness it's very easy for cultural misunderstandings to occur and even when we understand what we are supposed to do for old habits to die hard. I get told off for saying please and thank you so much. The French just don't do it to the same degree and get irritated. On the other hand the ritual courtesy of saying hello and good bye is far more elaborate and you will walk down a supermarket queue to say hello to a friend, even interupt the start of a meeting to ' faire la bise' (kiss on both cheeks) everyone present or go up to a neighbour to say hello. We are so casual in comparison and I have to school myself to slow down and make the effort. Of course it all makes life so much richer. I feel so much more involved with everyone here - English, French and Dutch, than I did in Bristol.

kdh

Hi everyone,

We have just returned from a trip to the Lot et Garonne having just put in an offer on a house. At the moment we are planning to use it as a second home. it has two gites attached as well, so we plan on renting them out.Long term I would like to move permanently. We have 3 boys aged 8, 10 and 12. I just dont know enough about french education to know whether it is worth moving children over permanently. it is also a big upheaval for them.

One of the owners of a house we looked at said they were returning to the UK becuase they didnt think their children would get jobs if they stayed in France after they finished their education because they werent French, and there arent enough jobs for the French let alone foreigners.

Any thoughts?

scaredycat

Hello everyone,
it's beautiful in England at the moment, yesterday it was so sunny and warm that people were walking round in t-shirts!.. In November!
When the sun goes down it casts a golden glow over the brightly coloured autumn trees and looks stunning. We have starlings roosting round here and they flock in their thousands in the evenings, swooping and swirling.
It's even forecast nice weather over the weekend for our bonfires.. it's usually damp.


We are on our way to France on Friday! The ferry is booked and so is our gite for one month. I'm really looking forward to it.. this is the beginning of our adventure. I hope to find a house I like so much that I have no qualms about leaving the UK.

Good luck to everyone else in our position

dreamcatcher

Hi Scardycat,That sounds lovely.Good luck on your trip,hope it gives you a good insight.This trip will give you an insight.In the end hopefully your gut feeling will tell you wether its for you or not.So really enjoy the time its your lives.

tery little

People tell all sorts of tails for returning to to U.K. But the reason is still with them.
TERRY

Taner Baybars

In my opinion you should take advice from the French embassy rather than rely on people here or people who intend to emigrate. I have lived here for 20 years but i have known France and its culture for well over 40. I am fluent. Even so, i am often puzzled by French paradoxes in behaviour and social contact. I am in the Languedoc, before i was in the Charente. I suggest that you go for the Charente where people are much less hurried and more welcoming and there is plenty of room unlike the crowded and overburdended South. And remember that medical care is becoming terribly complicated. Take that into account before your move. Good luck. Timothy.

treskillard

That's an intriguing response Timothy! Why not the French embassy indeed but why rather that than people here and who intend to emigrate. Those here, like yourself, can give informed opinions, and those who intend to move may well have a fund of research that they can share and/or be inspired or inspiring.

FTBEver

I'm French and I live in the South-West. If you think that you will find a job here, you are wrong ! You say that you don't speak French, and French people don't speak english, so you 'll meet some BIG problems. English people living in France are old and retired. people who planed ti get money from guest houses made a big mistake. So, think twice before coming. And don't forget that French people don't like Brits... So, you will not find people to help you.

treskillard

Bonjour a vous aussi!

I must tell my French friends that they don't like me

dreamcatcher

Hallo again

I love my French friends.xxxx

val50

okay, sounds like we've got another one
Shall we ban the troll now or do you all want a go at him

Mitzyboy

Lets let him stew for the moment

dreamcatcher

Let the games comenceIts good speed typing excersize

dreamcatcher