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Everything you always wanted to know about France |
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Newsletter 98 From Springtime in the South of France
More than a decade and a half ago Carole and I came to live in France with our two very small children. We (eventually) got married in France and our three children (Jack was born in Beziers) have grown up as French citizens. We left England because I believed that the "quality of life" for a family would be better - and my conclusion - we were right. Raising a family in a rural village in the South of France is a positive thing and has benefited us all. Sixteen years of struggle, making a living and raising three kids is enough time to begin to see how things really are - the "rose tinted specs" have gone and our experiences in creating a home, surviving and dealing with life in an environment very different to the one we came from, gives us some insight. We have had our problems, we are and always will be, immigrants, foreigners, strangers in a strange land, ex-pats and outsiders. But this is our home. What I say in this newsletter is from the heart and meant to help, I am delighted to be contradicted - it makes me think deeper about the reasons and I am happy to change my opinion - if some positive criticism persuades me to. I try to reply to all mail, most are about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers put by others wanting to come to France. By linking the points I make to our weblog at http://www.fblog.com http://www.fblog.com I hope readers will go to the adverts which help support our overheads. Our business is our advertising sites for property and rentals at http://rentalsfrance.com/ http://rentalsfrance.com/ and http://1stpropertysales.com/ http://1stpropertysales.com/ Please make use of these sites for all propert needs (and do go to the adverts). ======= In this edition 1. Leasebacks or - What You Will 2. There'll be a Welcome in the Hillsides 3. Courage - et Battre les Cartes 4. Building Ballsups 5. It's Not So Bad After All 6. Leaseback Limbo 7. Build It and They Will Come - Yeah, Dream On ======= 1. Leasebacks or - What You Will Hello Tony - another query on leasebacks I'm afraid. I feel I have a fair understanding of the system and we are in the early stages of buying a ski apartment in a residence de tourisme. Our initial lease period is for 11 years after which we have been assured by the London Office we will be offered an automatic lease renewal on favourable terms as the management company will be wanting to retain their freeholders. However, ideally we would like to have full access to the apartment after the 11 years. The company have told us To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/144 Leasebacks or - What You Will ======= 2. There'll be a Welcome in the Hillsides Tony, Thanks for the latest newsletter. I enjoy reading your newsletters although I don't always agree with your views! The more relaxed attitude to work is one of the attractions of France for me and we have found that services and craftspeople work differently, but To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/143 There'll be a Welcome in the Hillsides ======= 3. Courage - et Battre les Cartes Hi Tony Hope you move went off ok and you are settled once again. I do find it disturbing reading your incoming letters and your replies regarding the ever increasing influx of British people to France. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/142 Courage - et Battre les Cartes ======= 4. Building Ballsups Your help please . I am a retired Chartered Surveyor with a house in the Morbhian close to Vannes. Through the offices of a Building works coordinator I have had a conversion carried out on the house which has gone badly wrong. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/141 Building Ballsups ======= 5. It's Not So Bad After All I'm Emmanuel, from Lille, northern France. I read some of the last posts on the weblog, and was stunned by the way you describe France and the opportunities to work here. Obviously the French culture regarding work is very different from the US/UK, and it's true that it's difficult to start a company or worse, a home-based business. On the other hand, To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/140 It's Not So Bad After All ======= 6. Leaseback Limbo Hey Tony Avid reader, always good stuff!! Last April we placed an offer on a leaseback condo in Antibes, this is a long term plan for us but the deal has taken on an interesting and relative life of its own. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/139 Leaseback Limbo ======= 7. Build It and They Will Come - Yeah, Dream On Tony, We are in the process of buying a house in the Limousin area which seemed to be one of the last areas to avoid the "English invasion". Our house is virtually livable and we would like to convert the barn into 2 Gites with pool, hopefully to provide a modest income. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/138 Build It and They Will Come - Yeah, Dream On ======= |
