I can understand that last point, which is why I never fail to look at both church and Mairie doors for the large sign which says Obseques, otherwise you may never know.
Until that is, if you get an annual magazine from the Mairie which includes, amongst a host of other useful stuff, names and of the departed during the year.
I was stupidly gratified to see at the end of 2024 Fran’s name in the list with her maiden, Irish, name included and our married name in brackets following the word ‘veuve’.
Fascinating subject and even more fascinating, funny and heart rending replies. It all goes to prove the old saying that everybody is different! I live in a little village in the Languedoc 34 (Pop 1600) I have lived here for 6 years and my girlfriend 13 years. We have a nice balance of European and French acquaintances. We both speak enough French and still attend french lessons with one of our long term French friends , one of whose purposes in life is integrating the Brits! We have been to many meals, walks, picnics, met her family and friends and many other French occasions with her and her friends. We both belong to one of the village “societies” and help organise LOTO, and other social events for the locals. Everybody has always been very friendly and my own view is that they appreciate us trying to integrate, speak the language and socialise with them. But, having lived in many countries over my 80 years - everybody and everywhere is DIFFERENT!
I would just add that retiring here for me has been the best move of my life after last living in Lancashire, back to my roots, and just having the feeling every day that the place was full or overfull. I love everything about living here in the peace and quiet of the French countryside. Our village has all the amenities people like us need. ( VERY important when choosing a new place to live and contemplating old age) Every place within walking distance (5 minutes). Large Medical centre, 2 x Boulangeries, 1 Epicerie, 1 Boucherie, Mairie, Post Office, Communal park for Summer activities - well used as is the village hall and Boulodrome. No hint of the current troubles either.
Luxury! Some of the communes around me have around 200 people, and some of those are 2nd homes! Lucky if they have a boulangerie. Chemists and hairdressers seem to survive though
We all have different wants and needs. I’m naturally solitary, having had a small number of close friends, but none apart from my wife in the last 35 years. OTOH she values a large number of friends, and would become desperate without them. I’d be quite happy in Cussy, but not her. Population around 350 of which more than a third have second homes.
We still have a bar but I don’t go there. I’m TTotal for a couple of years now and find bar talk boring these days. Also it’s a gossip shop. When I was a drinker, I went to another village for that reason, among others.
In Devon I go to nice cafes with good coffee and homemade cakes, and am usually surrounded by ladies
I have always given the impression of being outgoing and social as being a self emolyed businessman almost all my working life it was a necessity.
Being in that position you quickly realise that you have many who consider themselves your friend but in reality it is simple cupboard love, both ways.
I can count my true friends who I can rely on for better or for worse on one hand of which only one digit is required.
We were resident in France for 18 years and never had an interest in joining clubs and the like and yet we survived and had a ball.
We are all different.
