Not a problem, here to help.
Wow, a lot of information already!
@letstryagain we both love Lauzun. Also Duras. Husband loves Eymet, and it’s wonderful, but I hear differing opinions on the pros and cons of having such a large Anglo population. Our French is only A2 standard currently. We’re about to start formal lessons soon, but I’d like to be “forced” to speak French as much as possible, as I suspect it’s the only way to really improve. I would definitely like the support and friendship of English speakers who’ve been there, done that. But don’t want to fall into the trap of not doing my best to join the community as a whole.
As for the weather, I’ve gone from assiduously looking at climate, to realising so much has changed just in the 13 years we’ve travelled about regularly. Scorching hot months in places we didn’t expect it etc.
I think climate change will gradually make a nonsense of most of my research.
As some of you have said its “dank” grey weather that I find hardest…
My brother is near the coast around the Perpignan area and the last photo is in jeans and t shirt in his sun trap of a garden: but it’ll likely be in the 40s come summer. I’m eyeing the forecast where I am in Oz, gearing up for another few 40+ days and watching my bushfire app alerts pinging like crazy. Yet we have frost and ice in winter. So nowhere IME will ever have the "perfect " weather year round for me. And of course down near the Med, you risk the dreaded wind, which makes me a little crazy:)
One of the big draws of 47 for me are the bastides. I may be slightly obsessed in my interest there!
Choice of car is also something we’re looking at. Something that clears those country roads is a must, but then you have to fit it in a 6 inch car park space between pillars in the cities! I definitely don’t want to live on acreage out in the sticks either. We’ve ticked that life experience off already and it’s not for us these days.
@NotALot very useful to read a weather report from someone currently living in 47, thankyou
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Yeah, the currency issue is a bugger. We were almost ready to shift three years ago and had to postpone. Our budget then left us with much more scope than now! I think we’re just going to have to cut our cloth accordingly. Obviously, I’m watching it closely.
I have an international account, so I can switch currencies whenever I want, but haven’t decided who to use when it comes to transferring to a French bank account. BTW being new to this site, I’m not sure if i should just press “reply” or @ people.
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Either or the icon on the top banner.
When we first moved to France in 2020 my partner wanted to be in the South, round Montpellier. I said no as am not a fan of winds or heat so after Paris we ended in the East not far from the Swiss border.
We are now thinking of moving again, and partner finally admitted that had we moved to the south it would have been a huge mistake for us. Winds, heat with now the addition of droughts and fires do not make it appealing for us.
But we are each different just think carefully if you are looking to move for the long term.
One of the big draws of 47 for me are the bastides.
There’s also bastides in the Aveyron (12) and the Lot 46 and IMO the weather’s better!
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I love Lot. Some of the happiest days of my life in that region. Husband inexplicably took agin Cahors, but I think its a really useful little city, as well as lovely. Maybe I should return to discussing that area. As for the landscape: wow!
Cahors OK, but Figeac’s a lot nicer. We live in the Aveyron in the Lot Valley about 45 minutes drive east of Cahors and about 25 minutes from Figeac.
Thankyou for that reminder: I’ve been to Figeac and loved it
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Welcome from an Aussie! We are in central Dordogne and love it. Yes there are some wet periods but generally they don’t last too long, other than last winter I think it was where it went on forever!!
Where do you live?
Be still my beating heart 
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You talk about driving/parking in Cities… so perhaps best to be aware of the increasing need to have a less/non-polluting car in France.
Basically, the higher the Critair number which equates to your car … the more likely your vehicle is to be banned for entering certain areas…
I took that photo in the local Carrefour car park 
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Have you thought about A village in the Languedoc called Azille 11700 in Aude, Languedoc? Take a look…price: 195,000 euros
I am sheila lloyd, a British lady and I own quite a big house, solidly built , in a village called Azille 11700, Aude, In the Languedoc.
Quite a few British people either live permanently or have holiday homes here…
The village has a good bar, that puts on events in the Summer a small restaurant which opens in the Summer. There is a small shop/brasserie.
This village ls lovely and very popular with holiday makers.
You are approx. 2 miles to lac Jouarres, a huge lake which a complete walking route around, lovely grass lawns and swimming in the summer, life guard provided. There is also a restaurant on site which puts on open air entertainment in the summer.
Hi there ,
If you are interested, i have a big house in Azille which is in the Aude department 11 - price euros 199, 000, between Carcassonne and Narbonne in the Languedoc region. I am about 3 kms from the Canal de Midi.
This is a very popular spot for 2nd homes.
Azille used to be a centre for selling grain in the last century, and all the wealthy grain merchants lived here in their grand houses called “Maison de Maitres” . I bought one of them - its a big house, but it has been fully renovated throughout.It also has a nice courtyard to the front of the house , which sits behind some very nice, very tall curly wurly steel gates, which makes the property very secure indeed!
The house has a lounge plus a large kitchen, with a back kitchen housing a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and a double sink. Off the back there is a small kitchen and a walk- in pantry with all the shelving, lighting and a small window.
The house has been completely renovated - all old gas pipes were taken out, complete new plumbing throught out and all electrical wiring/ plugs etc replaced throughtout. A water softener is built in the back kitchen .
The house had a new roof, insulated. It has 3 floors. The lounge is adequate , not huge but with 2 sofas and an armchair - all made for this house in UK and shipped over. With removeable covers imported from Uk.! French sofas are very poor design…!
New hot water boiler , plus radiators to all levels.
1st floor:
Two large double bedrooms complete with radiators -( the whole house is double glazed ) and double beds, large french ornate mirrors in each. The marble fireplaces have been left as a feature but the chimmneys are closed off. A large 3rd bedroom on the first level has been made into a large bathroom containing a full size bath with a very good shower nex to it, complete with a glass screen. There is another ornate large mirror over the large sink set into a work unit, with storage underneath for towels and mats.
There is a large towel rack and an extractor fan
Up again to the top level - this floor could be turned into an apartment for visitors? The main room is the full width of the house! Off this is a fair size bathroom with a shower and a sink. There is also a fair size storage room. It is light and bright - again three windows all double glazed plus a glass window in the roof. This room still has to be decorated and furnished. I do a lot of water colour painting and used the big table up there. So furnishing would be required here .
Not finished!
Opposite the courtyard,there is a huge barn on 2 levels with its own set of stone steps. It is currently set up as a workshop for my husband.There is plenty of storage in this barn.
My husband built on the left handside three cabins. One contains a toilet and a had basin, the middle bigger one has a automatic washing machine and a tumble dryer next to it. There are storafe cupboards and shelves together with a double sink. Also storage cupboards. The next one was where we stored our wine botyles and other pieces.
The back door in the barn eads out to the tiled garden. The1st part has a tiled roof over it and has wood flooring, offering shade from the summer sun. There is a large spa under cover to the left with different settings. The remainder if the gardeb is tiled×with new lighting everywhere and a central flower bed.
If you have any further questions - please email me. Sheila Lloyd
Thankyou for that @Stella
I’ve been looking into this. My brother just bought a hybrid that he says fits all the criteria and I’ll read your link with interest.
I think you’ve nicked this from our family photo album 
We’re in central VIC @toryroo
Where do you hail from originally??
How long have you been in Dordogne? We’ve spent beaps of time in the region and love it.
We have a daughter living in Perth and when she was younger we’d done a lot of (off) road trips in Southern Africa. So when we visited her, she thought we might like the Gibb River Road. We did 
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