...as long as you are happy there Mr Smokin...and I hope it remains so for you... it's not for me.... I enjoy all the life that is to be had here...I'm not a little Englander... enjoy all the diversity and goings on... I ignore what the media try to force feed us...if it's nothing to do with me then I don't have to know about it... there is so much to do here...even at my age I found work within a month of looking...and I have the best job I've ever had in my life... and you know what Smokin...? it depends on east european migrants.... if they weren't here..I wouldn't have a job... and I really enjoy my work... at our age it helps stop one going a bit stir-crazy I think...
...I'm far too busy to worry about what everyone else is doing... and to be perfectly honest..as much as I love gardening...I wouldn't want to be living somewhere - and it seems to me this may be the case with you...where there is so little else to do that I spend all my days gardening.... there are other things in life.... and we have it all here...
...another thing that amuses me greatly...is when the English go and live abroad and you often hear them moaning about all the foreigners that live in England...whilst of course making themselves one at the same time... I have no desire to be an 'escapee'...to 'flee'... to plonk myself somewhere 'away from it all'... might as well give up ...sir...
It is early days for us here and we don't have to worry about finding work as OH runs UK business from home here and I 'play at' running our spare rooms as a guest house - not too hard though!
I expected life to be very quiet here, one of the reasons for opting for a house suitable for guests, wasn't quite ready to get 'away from it all', however, have never had such a busy social life, we have a small child so that helps, but really there is so much to do here and so much to enjoy even without child and obvious social responsibility that brings, we would easily have made friends, English and French.
Have no problem with England,or 'foreigners' per se however, with no family left there and fed up with soggy weather, love of French wine and family orientated culture, we moved here ( took at least 3 years of research and planning, nothing moves quickly here, but so much less stress if you just go with the flow).
Enjoying the challenge of learning the language (again - 30 plus years since passed O' Level), loving the garden, no way we would have one this big in UK or get weather so you can get out and dig - and also appreciating another culture, learning about other people's way of life and thinking is very interesting.
Hoping our son will benefit from excellent education system, as BL said, free, and also ensure his options for work in the future are greater with the benefit of being bilingual.
Finally, with the modern world of IT I get to sit here and chat to people from England and France, and probably further afield too, something whilst working as a teacher in the UK would never have found the time to do. I think I have more contact with friends in England since we moved here too - all looking for cheap holiday I realise, but definitely a good move for us so far.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Really, when I think about it, I would probably be happy wherever I live so long as I have family, friends, a comfortable bed, a decent loo and my garden.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I was an ex-pat who was left alone. Husband died when I was 47, we'd been here13 years and had 3 children at University in Bordeaux and a son still at school. The first years were awful, but I've sorted myself out now and I'm still here and met a lovely man. When husband had chest pains he wrote me a letter to explain what to do in the event of the unthinkable, it was so useful.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
This subject is so horrible to think about we avoid it, but really such an obvious and sensible thing to do! BL - hats off to you! Good idea Pansyface.will make some plans now although have touched on subject briefly.
Smokin - some good advice, luckily house is fit to live in - paid extra up front to avoid the heartache, TBH if other OH did anything silly like dying wouldn't matter where in the world we were would be devastated! Young son and garden would be only solace.Love France, love the people and the culture and if you are going to be sad can't think of a better place to be. Think I might have to go make some scones now!
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Well personally I can't wait to get to Greece in 2 weeks, if the language was easier, the economy better and I didn't have not-so-little ones, I would move there tomorrow. Nothing against France or England, I just love Greek Islands
We did once consider buying a B&B on Corfu (Kassiopi) once, but the boys were very young and we worried about their education.
Don't worry OL I love the Greek islands too I'll buy villa there as well, its gonna be a big win! one of those beautiful white buildings with blue painted doors and windows
Oh yes BM, big enough so I can rescue some more Beagles and they can run in the beach whilst my boys catch fish......then I'll go home and tend to my olive grove and grapes......I think I'm on the wrong thread
Posts
...as long as you are happy there Mr Smokin...and I hope it remains so for you... it's not for me.... I enjoy all the life that is to be had here...I'm not a little Englander... enjoy all the diversity and goings on... I ignore what the media try to force feed us...if it's nothing to do with me then I don't have to know about it... there is so much to do here...even at my age I found work within a month of looking...and I have the best job I've ever had in my life... and you know what Smokin...? it depends on east european migrants.... if they weren't here..I wouldn't have a job... and I really enjoy my work... at our age it helps stop one going a bit stir-crazy I think...
...I'm far too busy to worry about what everyone else is doing... and to be perfectly honest..as much as I love gardening...I wouldn't want to be living somewhere - and it seems to me this may be the case with you...where there is so little else to do that I spend all my days gardening.... there are other things in life.... and we have it all here...
...another thing that amuses me greatly...is when the English go and live abroad and you often hear them moaning about all the foreigners that live in England...whilst of course making themselves one at the same time... I have no desire to be an 'escapee'...to 'flee'... to plonk myself somewhere 'away from it all'... might as well give up ...sir...
It is early days for us here and we don't have to worry about finding work as OH runs UK business from home here and I 'play at' running our spare rooms as a guest house - not too hard though!
I expected life to be very quiet here, one of the reasons for opting for a house suitable for guests, wasn't quite ready to get 'away from it all', however, have never had such a busy social life, we have a small child so that helps, but really there is so much to do here and so much to enjoy even without child and obvious social responsibility that brings, we would easily have made friends, English and French.
Have no problem with England,or 'foreigners' per se however, with no family left there and fed up with soggy weather, love of French wine and family orientated culture, we moved here ( took at least 3 years of research and planning, nothing moves quickly here, but so much less stress if you just go with the flow).
Enjoying the challenge of learning the language (again - 30 plus years since passed O' Level), loving the garden, no way we would have one this big in UK or get weather so you can get out and dig - and also appreciating another culture, learning about other people's way of life and thinking is very interesting.
Hoping our son will benefit from excellent education system, as BL said, free, and also ensure his options for work in the future are greater with the benefit of being bilingual.
Finally, with the modern world of IT I get to sit here and chat to people from England and France, and probably further afield too, something whilst working as a teacher in the UK would never have found the time to do. I think I have more contact with friends in England since we moved here too - all looking for cheap holiday I realise, but definitely a good move for us so far.
Really, when I think about it, I would probably be happy wherever I live so long as I have family, friends, a comfortable bed, a decent loo and my garden.
I was an ex-pat who was left alone. Husband died when I was 47, we'd been here13 years and had 3 children at University in Bordeaux and a son still at school. The first years were awful, but I've sorted myself out now and I'm still here and met a lovely man. When husband had chest pains he wrote me a letter to explain what to do in the event of the unthinkable, it was so useful.
This subject is so horrible to think about we avoid it, but really such an obvious and sensible thing to do! BL - hats off to you! Good idea Pansyface.will make some plans now although have touched on subject briefly.
Smokin - some good advice, luckily house is fit to live in - paid extra up front to avoid the heartache, TBH if other OH did anything silly like dying wouldn't matter where in the world we were would be devastated! Young son and garden would be only solace.Love France, love the people and the culture and if you are going to be sad can't think of a better place to be. Think I might have to go make some scones now!
Just read all your post lovely friends in France and you haven't put me off!! I'm still coming over
At the end of the day it's fabulous in UK and fabulous in France so think I'll win the lottery and buy a home in each
Smokin I been to work and out of the house 12 hours, please can I have one of your funny stories to read when I get home tomorrow please
Well personally I can't wait to get to Greece in 2 weeks, if the language was easier, the economy better and I didn't have not-so-little ones, I would move there tomorrow. Nothing against France or England, I just love Greek Islands
We did once consider buying a B&B on Corfu (Kassiopi) once, but the boys were very young and we worried about their education.
Don't worry OL I love the Greek islands too
I'll buy villa there as well, its gonna be a big win! one of those beautiful white buildings with blue painted doors and windows 
Oh yes BM, big enough so I can rescue some more Beagles and they can run in the beach whilst my boys catch fish......then I'll go home and tend to my olive grove and grapes......I think I'm on the wrong thread