ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER


Tête à tête W


IT’S A GIFT!


ith Christmas just round the corner, can I share something


I love about my native France? When it comes to buying


presents (that you can carry), there has been a rather nice practice in French shops, and to a lesser extent in markets, for as long as I can remember. The item gets gift-wrapped free of charge. I often feel that when staff


Make this cute cottage full of character yours for only €138,500! It has an attached barn and a piece of land near a stream, what more could you want?!


Anne Elizabeth Chippendale: If only!


Pamela Lmt: Dreamy. Thank you for sharing


Janet Dyer: It looks lovely


gift-wrap things for me, they look as pleased as anyone giving or receiving a present!


Shop assistants may


automatically gift-wrap items that could be a present, or they may ask: C’est pour un cadeau? C’est pour off rir? Je vous fais un paquet-cadeau? It is not obvious, but the


verb ‘off rir’, meaning ‘to off er’, doubles for ‘to treat someone’, and ‘to give a present ’. Should the shop assistants


forget to ask, perhaps if the shop is a bit busy, you might want to ask for this free service as follows: Vous pouvez me faire un paquet cadeau, s’il vous plait? (Could you gift-wrap it for me, please?)


ON INSTAGRAM


“There are few property fantasies as timeless as a


château in the Dordogne. At Château de Monboucher you can enjoy the luxuries of the


château experience and own a slice of prime French real estate – without any of the


associated worries. Private apartments have access to the 23ha park, 50m2


kitchen, wine cellar, lounge, and car


pavilion, and all maintenance will be taken care of.


Follow us on Instagram @frenchpropertynews


Just look at that swimming pool! This property is a piece of paradise; a magnifi cent villa with two apartments and an adjoining plot in Nîmes, on the market for €1.2m.


GET IN TOUCH! Tell us what you love about France and what owning a French property means to you, on our social media or email: karen.tait@francemedia.com


This month’s pick of letters and social media The wrapping paper can be


rather ordinary, but parcels will often be generously decorated with bright coloured ribbons, and in most boutiques the fi nishing touch is a gold or silver sticker with their main details. Increasingly today though, items are put in what I would describe as plain-ish paper carrier bags, which are usually decorated with a piece of curled-up ribbon, often with handles that are made of material, ribbon or cord.


Monique Jackman (author of the Better French series of French language books)


WE ASKED YOU... “Would you prefer a


property with an attic or a basement to renovate?”


Join our Facebook group: Living in France


8 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: November/December 2023


Basement 19% 81% Attic


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