We also are bikers....another thing to look fwd to is the lovely roads out there and the nicer weather. I passed my test 5 years ago

My hubby is also a plumber by trade and pretty good at electrics, plastering, building, woodwork etc.........GIS A JOB haha

weyhey......thanx for that!!! not all bad then

hello


i must admit that there's less of a yoof culture here, it still happens but just a little later. a engish 13 year old is the same as a 16 year old frenchie!

my sister in law is 20 and had her teenage crisis at 17 and not 13.

i've been over here 11 years and was 23 when i came. binge drinking and drugs still happen here, but people don't see it as much as everything like pubs and nightclubs are out of town. this promotes drink driving. it scares me thinking my kids will maybe do this. after our games at montpellier i was often a passenger in cars were the driver was drunk and driving between clubs and then the beach is common practice. the police are cutting down on drink driving but it still goes on alot.

it isn't all rosy over here but going to work whilst the sun is shining is almost worth the small wages!!!

I came to the conclusion that the the Youth Culture here is about 6 to 8 years behind the UK. Younger teenagers here are typically a lot nicer than their English conterparts. Most of the ones I have had contact with have had no issue with playing with younger children and that does not normally happen in the UK.

England is by no means as yobbo like as the press makes out, I would not use the press as a gauge state of a nation.

Eyes and Ears. The Young Adults here don't just order a beer, They order a Giraffe and share 3.8 litres of beer, Like a pitcher in the States. Why order a pint when you can get 6

I dont want the OP to get me wrong, I like France we are currently planning a sideways move, As we have gained a bit of a 1000 yard stare from being a little to isolated too long. And I grew up in Squeal Piggy country in the UK. I would not for a moment consider returning to the UK.

Ok positive first; compared to the uk both of my children are much happier and more content than they were in the uk. They are also much less 'advanced' than their counterparts in the uk (if my niece of a similar age to my daughter and from a similar, if not more conservative, family is an good example of a uk child!) Your children are also more likely to have a healthier attitude to alcohol.

However, having lived in many places over time, I find that problems often follow you to your bolt hole, wherever that might be. Also, as Ka Ora said, cannabis is very evident here and I almost expect that one of my children will eventually smoke, given the very large number of people who seem to smoke here. Lastly I think it will be an enormous challenge for your 2 eldest to integrate at this late stage into the education system...

Overall, though, I tend to agree with your comments on the uK and I really hope that you have a fantastic move; one which is obviously anticipated with a lot of pleasure!

Oh yes... spill the beans then; where are you off to???

I agree its everywhere and if its under their nose they will.....but hopefully not just yet. Regarding my 2 older ones the elder will have finished her gcse's before we move and then we will look into distance learning for further education or working with us...her choice, and my 14 year old may be home schooled yet as I have done loads of reading up on the french rules for this and may be more suitable for him. My 10 year old daughter will be perfect for the start of secondry next september and has already got a good grasp of the language.

I passed about 4 years ago and have been on a CB500 since - This summer I got the Triumph Street Triple - never had so much fun
I've offered jobs to a few people on this forum, but nobody has ever bothered to get back to me Its probably because I'm not in SW France as everyone seems to want to bugger off down there. Its been a quiet year, but there is still work about. I have a few appartments to renovate and I'm looking for extra (skilled) hands for November, especially someone who can put up plaster boards & a joiner. Could also do with an extra plumber - that way I can leave them to it while I take a trip out on the bike!!

Ive sent you a private message

Hi charliemaddy,

Not been on the site for a few days, so only just come across this. We live way down south in a small village in the Hautes-Pyrenees. There are children in the village, but to be honest, we never see them, except on very rare occasions.

Moving to France will be a challenge, as other posters have indicated, with the biggest two being learning the language to integrate and finding work.

However, from my short time here - 18 months - I have had nothing but kindness and help from my neighbours. Yes, sometimes there is a brusque exterior to get through, but just attempting to speak French overcomes a great deal of that. Make friends with the neighbours, try to integrate and it will help immensely with settling in.

We have no children, so can't add anything on that front.

We are also bikers - I have ridden since I was a kid back in the 80's - and the roads and light traffic make it a great playground for bikers!! Come over and enjoy :-)

Weyhey....thats cheered me up no end!! We are currently waiting to start our french course and the kids are already learning at school. You are right about the language and us brits should learn if we are to be accepted. My poor pooch is about to start her injections next week for her pet passport so the wheels are already in motion. You are in the area I like and have been looking at property around there.

Where abouts are you looking? Our next door neighbour is an estate agent - in fact we bought our house from her.

We are just south of Lannemezan, so if you are looking around here I could put you in touch, although you may have already spoken with her.

She is very nice, speaks perfect English and is married to an English guy!

Let me know if it is in the right area.

Cheers
Martin

It might be a bit too south for us.....bet its cold in winter??

It was cold this year, but apparently it was quite exceptional!! We had -15 on some days!! Having said that, I know of people in the Lot that had similar weather. I guess if you went closer to the coast you would get an easier winter.