Too esoteric perhaps, I am writing as a social scientist so nothing of interest to most 'civilians'. Thanks for the analgesic idea but I do not take any kind of medication, prefer holistic medicine, but my problemis actually pins and needles. 24 hours a day in my forearm, perhaps I'll have the neurosurgeon unblock it from the damaged muscles by the end of the year. Relax too long and it gets painful... Oh well, bones do get fragile as we get on...
Understand, Christa, and thank you. We'd have main income from elsewhere, and would just want to offset the costs of upkeep.
Regards
Freddy Stone
I would ask about the book, Brian, but I suspect it is a touch esoteric. I hope that you do well with the publisher. Sorry about the shoulder. At the risk of seeming patronising, aspirin is a pretty good analgesic, and combined with codein even more effective (Codis), or Veganin (which I think also contains paracetamol). I hesitate to think of the form in which they might do those in France...'though sensible if you are sensitive to aspirin. Also I think, work quicker.
Kind regards
Freddy Stone.
Complicated one Freddy. I get up at about 0530 because that is my aches and pains limit since breaking a shoulder a few months back. Normally though, I am up at 0600 to let cats in and take dogs out, they have built in clocks. I work until the rest of the family get up. At present I am finishing edits on a big fat book, so need peace and quiet, sweating blood hoping the publisher gives a green light soon and on to the next thing.
Carol and Brian, to you both.Thank you for your concerns, and I do absolutely understand them. If we were to move to France (hopefully), most of our assets would remain in the U.K. We do in any case need to downsize.To my wife's constant frustration, I am the most cautious man in the world. We were in Annecy last year during the winter months (not cautious enough...had lunch at ''L'auberge du Pere Bise'.......Mon Dieu...wonderful food though) just to establish that Jane's problem is not with the weather, but with the lack of clearly defined seasons in England.
Blimey Brian, as an impertinence, what time time do get up in the morning?.
Very kind regards and best wishes to you both
Freddy Stone
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I didnt want to frighten him off Brian......!
Carol! Absolutely not true. We are often far more off the map (or globe) with our humour on here than that. We all know that SFN also means Silly, Funny, Nonsense!
Pretty normal humour for SFN Freddy...dont worry...am sure non of us thought you really meant it!
Christa, I appreciate your reply. We actually want to stay at a B&B (in the area of Montpellier) and ,if we do relocate to France, run a gite. I'm afraid that I gave you entirerly the wrong impression with regard to my wife and me. My puerile sense of humour. Apologies.
Freddy Stone
Freddy thats a kind invite....and I really do know where your wife is coming from....I was so desperate to get to France and 'live the dream' a phrase my husband strongly dislikes.....in our case for good reason. Brian is right..we have had some 'wonderful discussions'! but the bottom line remains....do your homework...we thought we had...didnt even realise how cold winters were...the first year we were here (in France..St Cyp) a spit away from Spain...it snowed...even snowed on the beach. I had expected sitting out weather from March to November....and its not always so...in St Cyp its fabulous in the season, centre of the universe from May to October....out of season you will find much closes down...if you aim for a large town...its less obvious, but dont expect a life of dinner parties and lots of socialising (especially in the winter) much of population seems to close their doors and hibernate. We have a lot of English friends here because we continue our socialising in the winter...whereas most French seem not to. Shopping... if your wife enjoys fashion its important you spend some time living in France before moving here, she needs to go shopping for her clothes and see what she thinks...I couldnt believe the limited choice and expense of clothing in Perpignan...spend a Christmas in France... and do your Christmas shopping.....was a wake up call for me...buying my kids presents...my brothers small children gifts...everything seemed so very expensive...our first Xmas it hit me how much we missed our family and friends...usually we would have 20 or so events to attend in December.....that year all we had on the calendar was fireworks on the beach in St Cyp...that was it. Our kids couldnt come over...and it was nothing like the usual Xmas's with the house buzzing and 20 for lunch on Boxing day.... Look..you may love it..lots of people do.....we dont hate it...3 years on we are ok here....not suffering...but this is not what we expected....we have a great time in the summer...but from September to April its boring.........we are not unusual and this happens to lots of people....over half those that move to France go back. So am just suggesting...dont burn your boats till you have spent some living time here, not holiday time here which is very, very different. Plus I agree with Christa.....we have our flat in St Cyp which is let out and available all year. 3 star, 2 bed, 2 bath, wifi, Sky tv, balconies, roof terraces, garage, parking, swimming pool and gated...top of the season we rent out for £800 a week....handovers cost 100 euros a week....electricity can be crippling because people use the air conditioning 24/7 in the summer and heating 24/7 in the winter, then the tax comes out......we made less than 10k euros profit last year and we have maintenance costs on top..and service charges for the flat to add to that...so to make a living we would need two flats....the flat cost 285k euros 5 years ago.......I know you can buy cheaper and make more money....and do the handover yourself...but you need to sit down and do the sums properly....which is why its good to buy a ready made business where you can see what sort of profit they are making......I really hope you move here and love it....many do.....but if you are cautious, you will be safe, not lose money and not make a mistake....
Freddy, I live roughy half an hour away from Carol and our experience is quite the contrary. Carol and I have been in heated discussions over our views and experience several times along with a couple of other people. As I said, it is pot luck. Italy, your other choice, is so bureaucratic and complicated it should not be a serious consideration. Their taxes and the way things are run make France pale into insignificance.
Thanks for the offer. I only ever make it to SW London to visit my sister and a few remaining friends (we are either dispersed or dying off) or Cambridge to stick my nose into the colleges where I have some association, my old department whre I still have friends (the professor now is somebody who was a few years behind me but a friend for many years, for instance) and use the library which is one of the most complete collections in the world. My UK world has shrunk to that and visits are one, maximum two per year and, to the point, people prefer to visit here as your son may.
Carol, thank you for your reply, and I am really sorry to hear of your experience in the Dordogne.
Like your husband, I'm on a pension (with which they keep tampering) and a few other bits and pieces;
my wife, like you, has a little time to wait for hers (not entirely sure how long and wouldn't dare ask...I know my place) so that, as a 'belt and braces' sort of person, I am keen for some income in the local currency. When I retired, my wife opened a shoe and hanbag shop (is there a message?) which she must dispose of before any emigration. I'm not sure if she's thought about freinds and family, which, patently, had a huge draw on you. My son (or as my wife would have it 'our son') lives in London, always means to come down (to Sherborne), but as a young unattached (relatively) man, always has more pressing engagements, much to my wife's irritation. I'm sure that all would be happy to spend a few days in the L.R. Given that you are largely in Berkshire, we would be happy to stand you, or your husband (or preferably both) lunch midway, while we interrogate you closely!!! (or we could put you both up down here over a weekend while we interrogated you at leisure!!). I did read a reply of yours vis-a-vis womens bosoms and their ability to engage a conversation.....given the time (some) women spend (in my limited experience) arranging their decollete it seems unfair that men should be admonished for admiring them. I may add that I am too short sighted (and too old) to engage in that sort of thing. As for women being imprisoned by their clothing, they dress to attract men (as men do to attract women) and to impress other women.
As an aside, Alan Turing (poor man) was at Sherborne, I think has something named after him.
Very kind regards to you
Freddy Stone
Brian, once again, thank you for your reply.
We had (briefly) thought of Italy....sunny climate, sunny people (actually smile while they take your money and they do that as often as possible in the most endearing way)....however, so far as the language, it would have meant starting from zero. As regards French, I am most envious of you: bi-lingual. My parents lived in France (hence 'Emile Alfred') before the war (Paris) and my mother and I came out in 1941. When my father arrived (via the Free French an North Africa...as a result of which he hated the army and wasn't too keen on the French......to the extent that when he retired he bought in Spain. No language and no knowledge of the customs...utter chaos) we reverted to English. My mother, who spoke French 'comme une vrai Francaise (sorry, no 'thingy' under the 'c') would comment on my French:'tu parle Franciase comme une vache Espagnol).
However, things are what they are.
I'm not sure if you still practising your profession, but if you do, and if it brings you to South West England (Sherborne and environs), do let me know. We'd be very happy to stand you lunch ( and or
dinner and, dogs permitting, a bed for the night).
Will no doubt interrogate you farther.
Very kind regards
Freddy Stone
We had intended to do gites or similar....not essential...as other half has a good pension...mine not available for another 10 years! however...we bought a flat in the Languedoc a few years ago...St Cyprien, near the beach...near Spain...we love it. But we planned our move to France over the course of 15 years... so determined where we to stay for ever...we sold up and moved to the flat whilst looking for a house. Long story short...bought in the Dordogne (we wanted a large garden and big stone house, not common in the Langeudoc...plus the gardens tend to dry out in all that sun....anyway....all was good for 6 months then we realised it wasnt what we wanted. Missed children...family...had lived in same area for 30 years so missed oodles of friends.....and I was really missing my career...I hated the UK...used to complain bitterly about the rubbish weather...but after six months in the Dordogne I wanted out....house has been on the market for over a year and a half...we have lost a fair whack of money....will not get back anything like we spent on this place even if we manage to sell (I know people here who have been on the market over 5 years...) and I know how your wife feels...that was me five years ago...hated the UK, weather, politics...traffic...just wanted out...we have now bought a flat back in Berkshire and last year I was there for 10 months working...my husband came out once a month for a few days...but he has to stay here to sell the house....so up to you guys...but really...save yourself the heartache...bring the dogs and rent...dogs are loved here so you wont have a problem..and whats the hurry in buying? prices are predicted to go down over the next 18 months...by anything up to 40%....I really dont want to put you off...am really just suggesting a little caution....and that way you wont have anything to lose...
Not Carol but me. There are several good agents in France, some of the British, some orginally British but now France based and others French. The agents are all different, some are very good and will advise whereas others just want to see the colour of your money. Be advised by people who have experience. My Mrs works for one part time, Leggett, who try to play the game straight and be helpful. Not all of their agents throughout France are quite as straight as they would prefer but you takes your chances, as they say. In many parts of France tourism is having a bad year and some gites are not doing very well at all. We live in the Dordogne which was a thriving tourist area until recently but this year is very quiet. That does not go for all of France, so again be advised. It is a good time to buy because Sterling is strong and prices have sunk a fair bit.
Renting is a good option as Carol suggests. It gives you the flexibility to up sticks and look elsewhere if the first area does not suit, so give that serious consideration. Dogs, well go off to the vet post haste and start getting their jabs and passports. Bring them with you. I have a large GSD I would never dream of renting out with a house for fear of particularly juicy tenants disappearing. He is a loving gentle creature unless he takes against somebody then he seems quite fearsome. I have been back and forth to the continent with dogs since pet passports came in and there is no problem with that.
Where I cannot advise well is with language. My wife and I both speak several anyway, French is her second language anyway being Swiss (Italian is first) and I grew up bilingual to begin with, learned French at school as one did in my time and my professional life for the last four decades has made me learn others. So I take languages for granted. I don't know the best way of going about that at all.
Carol has been here a while longer, but we have been here just over three years and have more or less forgotten life in the UK. Bureaucracy. Hohum, we speak, read and write French and are very good at making formal complaints anywhere when things do not go as we wish. Basically we found that by going to offices and bangering a bit that we got everything quickly and without too much fuss whereas a bit of searching on here will find you people who fight for the most basic things for several years. It seems to be potluck. France is not as casual as UK bureacracy but people are far more closed up in their positions here than there. Shouting dos not work here, it gets you thrown out of offices. Infrastructure, well that is OK, health is very good but telephone and electricity companies are often useless. That is not so different from the UK.
Carol, thanks for your reply. Do you live in the Montpelier area.....AND do b&b, or know someone who does? ( who would be prepared to be persecuted with 'pertinent'' questions).
At the risk of becoming tedious, my plan is not b and b (all that getting up before the streets are well aired! ). As you say,too much hard work. I think that gites might be a good idea, in order to cover at least just the basic running costs (My idea was my wife as the 'femme de menage' and me as the general manager/front man. You may be surprised to hear that this was not received with unconditional enthusiasm!).
Letting our house is a good idea. However we have two very large and very short tempered dogs (they seem to have acquired some of my wife's characteristics.......if you read this Darling, only joking....really).
My wife is adamant that she wants to leave England, for reasons not entirely confined to the weather, and as I previously said, 'La belle France' seems to fit the bill.
How long have you been in France, and how did you cope with the language and the bureaucracy?. We, most of us, have basic 'schoolboy' French and can get by, but it is the technical dealings with infrastructure and local mandarins (from experience they don't seem respond well to just shouting) that worry me.
Did some of the Agents help your friends with all the basics or point them in the direction of people who could?.
The larger dog seems to be expressing an interest in eating a neighbour, so, hope that I may hear from you soon.
Regards
Freddy
Hi Freddy....you have chosen a beautiful area....any reason why that specific area? anyway...the Languedoc is stunning, you certainly get the sun....and you seem to have a good plan of action. Brian has covered the pro's and con's....all I would say is dont sell up at home till you are absolutely convinced that you have found what you want....and I would also suggest you live there...rent for 6 months and then decide....you may find Montpellier not exactly what you want and another town that is quieter/livelier is better....so dont be shy about letting your home in the UK for 6 months with the option of extending it to a year.I have several friends who successfully found their bit of paradise, but it took 3 different venues...and they lived in each for a couple of months till they hit gold. If you do this you will save yourself the heartache of trying to sell if it turns out its not what you want. As far as running a b and b.....you may find you are better off buying a ready made business...a lot of brits go in for b&b or gites...and not all provide a reasonable income...so important you get your numbers right. B&B a lot more work than gites...and sometimes you will find a house with enough bedrooms that you can do both...which helps to supplement income...if you look on line you will find ready made businesses for sale....at least then you can see the books and know how much you might reasonably earn....this agency is one we trawled through regularly when we were moving over...but there are many more out there.... good luck...
Jacwood Estates - French property specialists since 1989
If you need help, just 'shout'. As for the fifties, it wasn't something to do with a television series for children involving detectives by chance?
Brian, thank you very much. As for the name, I could have wished for another at school in the fifties.
Emile, you have a head start with the name, point one in your favour. That aside, I recommend you sift through the many blogs and discussions to find some answers. To be frank, I think one of the problems that often arises with this question, is that the pro and contra, happy and unhappy people respond and sometimes the post turns into a battle ground for them at the cost of your answer and on other occasions a point scoring contest to persuade or dissuade you. In fact, it is always your choice and not theirs. Basic answers - France is expensive, taxes and bureaucracy are excessive, laws can be hell on earth if you don't do French and the language itelf ain't the easiest. Most French people will say exactly the same, including their language. The other way round, depending on where you are, it is a good lifestyle, healthcare is very good and is part of the European landmass so that you jump into your car, drive and say 'Oh look Milan, Moscow, Frankfurt, etc'. There will be people in the Montpelier area who will give you better answers than I, since I am closer to Bergerac, possibly can. Constructive comments will come from specific questions and approach those one at a time or else chaos may ensue. However, to repeat myself, go back over the discussions and blogs (down at the bottom of the home page you will see 'Blog Posts' and 'Forum' whereby they both have 'view all' (2005 blogs and 1814 discussions) but do not be deterred by the numbers of them since you will probably find ALL you need from the beginning of 2011 on. Be warned, some of the posts get very long and some turn into endless arguments and a few member's names (including your's truly) will come up on one side or the other. Anyway, everything from work, being self-employed (Auto-entrepreneur or AE), pensions, health, education, French language or whatever else you might want will be there. Then, if you find what you want, take a look through the groups and join ones where further and specialised advice may be forthcoming. What is left over unresolved can be put up as questions. I hope that helps and is constructive enough to make sense.
By the way, welcome to SFN, from one member to another I can only say that you will mostly find us helpful, friendly and welcoming on here. Use SFN generously and it will help you more than you may expect.