A NEW LIFE IN FRANCE
How to make the most of your new life in France
Young children play together on the street like we used to. We spend our time deer-spotting, watching the sun rise, marvelling at star-fi lled skies, making jams and eating tarte aux fraises.
school day and class sizes are limited to 20 pupils but the lessons are more prescriptive and less interactive. Poppy was bilingual in no time at all and made friends both English and French quickly but for me, conversing with other parents and teachers in French was daunting and quite a challenge. We started to miss family too and
although we felt accepted by the local community, the weight of my decision to move here permanently suddenly felt heavy. To help ease the pressure I took Poppy out
of school temporarily, I decided to home- educate her so that we could spend more time in the UK as well as France. During the last year, winter has been spent in Staff ordshire with family and summer in France. T is has been a useful time to re-assess
what is best for Poppy and I and we have decided that France is where we want to be. Poppy would like to go to back to school here from September and I am in the process of
selling property in the UK so that I can buy a chambre d’hote business and a shop to rent out. I am doing a Masters in illustration online
and hope to pursue a career writing and illustrating children’s books, using my background in children’s media. I also speak better French. Of course, we will miss England. In my darkest hours I can have the most incredible doubts, but the UK is only a short fl ight away aſt er all. I am also still in love with this location.
Seven years aſt er fi rst stepping foot here, I still love to meander through the winding streets, collecting my thoughts as I go and refl ecting on what has been a life- changing experience. T is town has become my new faith. I
have hope, aspiration now and, at long last, I can say that I am doing something I believe in with every part of my being. I am living my dream. §
FOR SALE: IN AND AROUND ST-ANTONIN MID BUDGET LOW BUDGET
St-Antonin-Noble-Val €128,000 (£102k) Three-bedroom townhouse in the centre of St-Antonin-Noble- Val. High vaulted ceilings, period features, garage. Located on a square. Spacious and light.
immobiliercombarieu.com
It can be really easy to be seduced by the laid back way of life and cheap property prices in France. However, if you are considering moving out to France make sure you do the following:
1. Be realistic about how you are going to make money. 2. Research the area carefully. Be very picky about where you choose to buy!
3. If at all possible give it a trial run. 4. If you have children and want them to go to school locally - research the schools in the area, talk to other parents, children and teachers.
5. Choose a location where there is already an international community. You will be grateful of the support and advice of fellow Brits!
6. Learn the language. 7. Be practical about proximity to local amenities. Don’t be tempted to buy in a setting that is too isolated.
For our guide to buying in France, visit
HIGH BUDGET
Caylus, Tarn-et-Garonne €375,000 (£298,438) Ancient farmhouse and barns full of preserved character, set in approx. 2.3 hectares of private land including extensive mature gardens, a fi eld and wooded hillside. Yurt camp, summer kitchen and huge barn to renovate on site. Currently listed in Alistair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay.
green-acres.com
94 |
aplaceinthesun.com
Tarn-et-Garonne, €565,000 (£450k) Exceptional six-bedroom property in extensive grounds with pool and equestrian paddock. Beautifully renovated traditional farmhouse.
agencelunion.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156