A big fat nosedive

Blog
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Things couldn't really have got much worse last week when we drove over to Boulougne to view our proposed new house for the second time before signing the paper. On the drive over we excitedly went over just how wonderful the house was for the umpteenth time, reiterating again how much the kids were going to love it. And despite our 4am start, they played their part in getting overexcited on the boat and generally behaving like maniacs. We arrived in Montreuil sur Barse in Aude where we were staying with our French relatives and had a great time reacquainting ourselves with as much wine and cheese as we could.


All was well until the next day, Friday. I woke up in time to go for a run. The first one in about 4 months so it wasn't as part of my daily regime, more of a 'please don't get any fatter' effort. It rained as I huffed and puffed along the country road and in my excitement I did a couple of Mary Poppin-esque side step taps and laughed gleefully in anticipation of seeing our house in Thoires once more. We arrived at 11am and waited in the rain for ten minutes for the proprietor to turn up to unlock the house. I glanced ruefully down at my canvas shoes and berated myself for being such a t*t in allowing myself to think that it would obviously be sunny because we had crossed the channel. Wellies were in order. Not canvas pumps. The children were in equally unsuitable clothing but didn't care as they screeched and squealed running around the house, arguing over who was going to have which room. Screaming as a bat flew out of the grenier and then delighting in the grange at all the space they would have to play in. We were equally as happy, measuring up and discussing again what we were going to do. So it was all a bit of a shock when we returned after lunch to continue as before (only a lot wetter), to find that the downstairs had flooded. The estate agent's wife had turned up in time to see this and the proprietor came back in to the house screaming in shock. The estate agent, via his wife, explained that it really wasn't a big problem and we just needed to do this and that and it would all be sorted. We didn't fall for this and the next day we backed out of the signing the Compromis de Vente. Yes, it was flooding like never seen before in the region since the 50's.. but it was also a sign of much more investigations and renovations than we had bargained for or could afford. The estate agent said the seller wouldn't renegoatiate price.. how much of this was true is unknown.


So with a heavy heart and mounting concern as to what to do as we were about to exchange contracts on our house in England, we set up about trying to hook up with estate agents and search for a new house. It was at this time that my 16 month old's son's health took a turn for the worse and was admitted into the hospital in Troyes. So from Saturday to Tuesday we took it in turns to try and jolly up an exceedingly frustrated baby who was attached to the wall by his nose (oxygen) - the French relatives not daunted by the extent of our problems, continued to insist to know who was coming back for another 3 hour lunch/dinner and when that person would arrive. By the time we had managed to locate internet and purchase a French pay as you go mobile, the two day bank holidays had arrived. And we couldn't speak to anyone, let alone view anything. On Friday, a week later, we managed to view 5 more houses, none of which were suitable for various reasons. On Saturday we drove home, feeling glum while the kids' excitement, this time, was due to being desperate to get back to England, disappointed with their trip to France.


So as I sit here now, my cat Seamus, watching me type, purring contentedly and waiting for my lap to become available, I am about to stop telling the tale of my woes and ring the solicitors to tell them that we can't continue with the sale of our house. We shall find out about renting here and renting in France. We shall look into how much my son's ongoing health problems will cost us when taking out top up health insurance. We shall see if we can instead live here for a couple more years (unlikely). I am also going to look at the South of France, near Carcassonne and Montpelier and see if there is a possibility (my mum has a house near Carcassonne) as I feel that if we are going to make this move then why don't we just do it to somewhere a heck of a lot warmer and hopefully drier (the wet canvas shoes are haunting me).


And to top it all. I have put on nigh-on half a stone. Joy.


P.s. If anyone knows any agencies for renting in Aude, then do share :-)

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Chloe, I am so sorry to hear of all your problems. I hope things resolve themselves eventually. I think your idea of a period of stability, especially with your son being ill, is a good one.

We looked for quite a both the Charente and here in Burgundy before finding our present house. We have wonderful neighbours and have been welcomed and are included in local happenings.

You will find the right place for you when the time is right.

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We rented in the UK just a mile down the road from our old house, so maybe that is a possibility for you, but you have a huge amount on your shoulders at the moment sso all the best with things

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I think regarding not selling and renting.. because we have three children, two of whom are of school age and one of whom has already been to three primary schools in the last 4 years (complicated) - we decided it would be better to cancel the sale. We didn't want to be under pressure (we were due to exchange last week) to find a property and I don't really want to move anywhere without first having a reccie of the place and getting familiar with the surroundings - none of which can be done easily without having enough money to travel back and forth. We found a buyer within 3.5 weeks and as we are in a sought after area, we shouldn't have too much of a problem if we put it back on the market again.

I will admit, I feel thorough gutted. Quite empty. I wish I could just fly out to Carcassonne, rent a car and do some research but I just don't see how I can right now.

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We have lived in the Allier for over 10 years and our French friends have lived in a very large house nearby for the past 60 years. Last week we had a downpour lasting just 30 mins. We had major flooding outside and some came in through the barn and our friends ground floor was flooded with 5cm of water, to their knowledge this is the first time in 350 years that their property has ever been flooded and they said it was most likely the last time. Flash downpours happen in France and we have seen them many times, they do not always lead to flooding but it happens and you could well find the perfect property, buy it, move in and then it happens....

Rgds, Mike L

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Have to agree, we sold up in the UK and rentes while we sorted out a house purchase here in France, it was the best thing we ever did and out us in the driving seat when it cae to buying as we had the funds available, we could choose when we transferred the funds to take advantage of currency fluctuations. we too thought we had lost the house of our dreams, only 12 months later to find out current home that was better, cheaper and where we have been happy for the last few years. Good luck with whatever you do decide and I hope your son is soon better

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Dredging back in my memory the Maire should have a map for all to see, on is marked places that flood or likely to catch fire .

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Hi Chloe

Sorry to hear of your woes. Jolly good thing you saw your prospective house during some bad weather.

You ask about agents near Carcassonne.

Firstly we have a small town house which is available for rent - 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with an outside terrace, but no garden, in a village 10 minutes south of Limoux in the Aude.

Secondly, although my wife is not an agent, she does know what's what in the area and has helped numerous people find houses to buy or rent. Her forte is project-managing renovation jobs and interior design work.

Would this be of interest?

David

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Oh dear, you have been very unlucky, but better to find out about the flooding before than after, a blessing really. I agree with James i'd still go through with the house sale in the UK, we have friends desperate to move over here and have been waiting over a year with their house on the market in the UK and no buyer on the horizon yet.

We are in the Gers, just above Carcassonne, by about 2 hours, it's lovely and we get (normally) less average rainfall, but we don't get that awful wind they seem to get down there. Coming from the windy & rainy North West of England, that was very important to us to get away from the wind & rain.

Hope you son gets better very soon, the fresh clean air down here could be great for him.

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I feel so sorry for you Chloe, what a disappointment. One good thing I suppose is that it flooded before you signed and not a week after.

As your son would appear to have respiratory problems, have you considered moving to an area where they have the thermal baths? For example, our local thermal station Amelie les Bains specialise in respiratory problems so he would be on hand to have a three week treatment each year. (Normally these are paid for by the health service!!)

Good luck.

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Thank you Sandra for your kind words :-)

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What a trip and what a disappointment! I hope your small son's health is improving. As far as I understand it, over here top up insurance doesn't seem to care about pre-existing conditions, but I am willing to be shown to be wrong. I hope you find what you are looking for soon so that you can begin your new life this side of the Channel.