Hello All, I just joined. A quick intro - I was born in London, grew up in Cambridge, lived in Newbury for 12 years before moving to the US in 2001. First to Austin, TX and the Portland, OR. I moved back to the EU in 2024. My wife is French and was born in Le Mans. I work in Germany and commute every other week from Le Mans to Munich. or elsewhere in the world. I was incredibly lucky to have an Irish grandfather, so after a long wait for FBR, I was able to add an EU passport to my UK and US ones. It made the move rather easy, which I am eternally grateful for.
We are empty nesters as my son lives in Atlanta, GA and my daughter is at uni in the UK. In my spare time I renovate and fix broken things around the 170 year-old house, and if I have any spare time I like to dink with computers and electronics. I am also a life-like long audiophile and would like to renew my most expensive passion - Flying. I am a multi-engine commercial and instrument rated pilot and owned a couple of planes in the US, but so far flying in the EU has eluded me.
Great forum and looking forward to being part of the virtual community.
Welcome Tim. This is a very special forum - lots of interesting people and useful advice. Sounds like you will have a lot to contribute, given your background.
It IS special. There are very few forums about France these days (having been crushed by Facebook) that remain active, useful and a pleasure to be part of.
Haven’t you come across the use of special before to describe someone as being a bit unusual, cross-grained, weird? I’m sure it’s been mentioned on here.
Welcome, @TimFountain . You’ll soon work out who are the special ones!
Hi Tim. Interesting places you have been to some of them the same places as us. Where do you work in Munich? My husband has worked there on and off for a number of years. Auto design.
Hope you can find answers to all your questions on this, special, website.
Not trying to outdo you here for the longest commute to work but when we bought our house in Normandie, our neighbour flew every week from Paris to LAX and then drove to Bakersfield north of LA. Flew out on a Monday and the reverse on a Friday. For years! His French wife would not consider moving there to live. That’s love for you!
It coincided with a work offer for my husband too to move to California, Newport Beach. The intervening years were interesting
We have wonderful memories of Le Mans. Being car enthusiasts, “Le Mans Classic” was one of our favourite events.
Every year, we would travel from UK or Dordogne (depending) and stay at a chambre d’hôtes in the heart of the town. We found the CdH quite by chance and went back year after year as they made us so welcome.
The friendliness of everyone, the excellent food and an interesting town to explore… and fabulous car stuff what more could one ask
and I can confirm, this forum is special in the best sense of the word
Edit: our Hosts were French with a beautiful old townhouse with lots of family history. They spoke no English but were patient with us and our efforts
what more could one ask 