From Pezenas in the South of France

This is number 77,

You can read the daily news at
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1. Why Buy in France
2. The French Inquisition
3. Dangers in Parks and Architects
4. Pirates of the English Channel
5. Choose you Vacation Home


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1. The Best Time to Buy a Home in France

We moved to France over 12 years ago for many reasons. Carole and I arrived with two small children and a lot of dreams and lived in an apartment overlooking the Beaujolais just North of Lyon. Three years later we moved South, with slightly more children and a dog, to our home in Nizas, our son Jack was born in Beziers.

Our little village is typical in many ways of the changes happening all over France. When we arrived the Nizas village school was in risk of closing, our two children increased its population by 10%. Ten years later it is thriving with over 70 kids. Apart from our late and dear friend Terry and Barbara, there were no other English people living in Nizas. Our village of less than 600 people has many British residents, once we knew every person we met, today at the frequent fetes and festivals we hear languages from many other countries and don't recognise many of the faces.

We can see from the huge increase in the numbers of properties we are offered for vacation rentals through our websites like RentalsFrance that scores of thousands of people are coming to France each year to buy a property and to find their own dreams.

So why do I say that this is the best time to buy a property? Should I be saying that this big influx of foreigners will alter the special values we have found, perhaps the local French families will resent this invasion, the roads and beaches will be crowded and prices will rise.

Well all of this has an element of truth, but the benefits will outweigh the changes. Better services and more facilities are coming to serve the needs of these "New French", for no matter how much the traditionally chauvenistic French argue, these residents are as French as they are.

In all the history of civilisation, France has been the crossroads of every marching army, pilgrim trail and trade route. You can see in the faces of Nizas the blue eyes and fair hair of Vikings, the dark eyes and hair of Spain and Morocco, the bandit faces of Corsica and the genes of ancient Palestine and Armenia from the crusades. Centuries of migration throughout France has made a nation of people with today only one common link - their language, and even this is recent history (well 1669ish).

Very interesting, but what has this to do with buying a home in France?

My reasoning is this, the numbers of English speaking people at present in France is such that the French government and the local authorities have recognisd the need to adapt some services and supply these in English. These initiatives, mostly to administer and "manage" things like taxation, financial and health services. This local infrastrucure is developing so that a move to France will be much more attractive to many people, especially the growing numbers of those approaching retirement.

This is likley to increase demand for homes and the supply and demand will mean a rise in property prices. So before these new initiatives in demographics come into play - buying property will have some ofthe pioneering elements with none of the risks of getting filled with arrows.

In my estimation buying property in the next two to three years will be the best time. We are building up this side, but meanwhile use this link. Property in France

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2. The French Inquisition

I wrote recently Fblog.com about the trials and tribulations I am going through with the tax inspectors in France. I compared them to the inquistors of the 13th century who tried and executed thousands of heretics, whether they be guilty or not - "Kill them all, God will know his own". At the moment I am not anticipating the Guillotine, but interestingly it was pointed out to me that there was some justification for the religious inquisitions in medieval Europe. Popular tourism myths show us the cathars and others as maligned and persecuted. Perhaps, yet perhaps not - I cannot judge from the distance of nearly 8 centuries, but I would be interested in hearing from anyone about this period from the point of view of the church.

Interestingly, most of the heretics burnt were denounced by their neighbours, usually for financial gain - that at least is still the way in France. We have a very visible rentals business in France and I have had blackmail letters (not from French friends) threatening to denounce me if I don't pay. A "denociation" automatically starts a government "controle" which takes endless time and costs to attend and causes months of misery. You are guilty until you prove yourself innocent and constantly you are accused of being a liar and cheat.

At the time I thought the letters I received threatening this action stupid and pathetic - but I see the damage these sad people can do I will take steps to prevent their hurting others. I am discovering the ways of French lawyers and the system, in future newsletters I will report on this fascinating part of life in France.

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3. Dangers in the Parks and Public Spaces

After our son Jacks' fall in the public park opposite our home, I asked our Mayor to make it safe. Jack suffered nearly two weeks in intensive care with a damaged spleen and lung after falling off a small wall onto a concrete staircase. He cannot cycle or play football for months yet.

We are finding that unless we take action, nothing is likely to be done to prevent a child falling again in this "modern ruin" designed by the local offical architect who has plagued the region with his ego and mania for views from 19th century helicopters. (I kid you not).

Some new laws passed this year do make it the responsibility of the local authorities to ensure the safety of public places. In France our household policy covers the costs involved and in a small way I hope I can make at least our corner of France safe for children to play in.

My thanks to all of you who wrote to Jack while he is recovering Jack@Nizas.com I am proud of him.

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4. The Pirates of the English Channel

There has been a big advance in the campain to get fair fares across the English Channel. This initiative has been headed by a neighbour of ours in Caux. Jonathan Miller who is a journalist for the Sunday Times in the UK. To join this happy band contact jonathan.miller@sundaytimes.co.uk

This is the text of his recent mail to me - please pass on this message and if you have any access to the media tell them about this campaign.

"Action stations! With the raids on P&O and Eurotunnel by the EU competition authorities, we have won a huge initial victory in our campaign for fair and transparent channel fares.

Brussels has heard our demand that British citizens of the European Union must be entitled exercise their right to freedom of movement, without being victimised by a predatory cartel.

But we all know that the raids by the European Commission are only a first step. Our friends in Brussels cannot do this by themselves.

It is vital that we apply much more pressure - and the time to do this is Immediately.

I beg all supporters of this campaign:

It is most important that all of us write to our local newspaper editor, MP, MEP, radio station and - all others persons of influence we know.

We have a fantastic story to tell and this is the moment to tell it.

This letter should:

1. Note your approval of the EU raids on the channel operators.

2. Recall your own experience (you have already written this up in your complaints - and you can find these by clicking the petitioners' comments link on our homepage at Channel Pirates

3. Demand for fair fares, transparent pricing and proper competition on the ferry and tunnel routes on and off our island.

Action this day is absolutely essential.

You can bet that the operators are mobilising squads of lobbyists, lawyers and spin doctors to see us off. You only need to see how poorly many journalists have reported this, relaying without question the claim of the operators that their prices are coming down in response to stiff competition. We know this is not true. We have to see the media reports our side of the story and that decision-makers hear from all of us directly.

We'll make these pirates walk the plank - and we will push them with the "sword" of our computers and the "daggers" of our pens.

Stand by to repel borders!

Best wishes

Jonathan Miller

for the Mutiny!

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5. How to Choose a Vacation Home to Rent

That is simple - make sure you rent it through our websites from a reputable company or person RentalsFrance.

All pools in rental properties must be correctly fenced and gated next year. Make sure the owner has installed a correct system - this is a strict law and the fencing requirements are very precise - if in doubt ask us Contact Us to look into it - we will only list properties complying with the new law.

Make sure you have a valid correct contract with the owner or the owners agent.

Get good a travel policy to cover cancellations, losses, damage and medical liabilities and make sure the owner is covered for paying guests - ask for a copy if possible.

Ask the owner for references from other guests.

Check other websites and forums if the property or the owner have had complaints against them, we are working on our own forum and will be listing websites where you can find out about this, but some intelligent searching on Google can tell you a great deal.

If you have a problem, we can recommend ways you can claim and are talking to firms which will assist you. More about this in the next newsletter.

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6. Nizas

I have had hundreds of letters asking me what is happening in my village of Nizas - the story of the barrel etc. Life goes on in our rural village by the Mediterranean. In the next issue I will be introducing the inhabitants of "Nizas Place" the 11 houses around the fountain in the center. A sort of combination of "Harry Potter" and "War and Peace".

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Please excuse the typos and mistakes and do write to us about anything tony@pezenas.com Until next week - Tony