I have heard that France has plenty of instant sunshine. Force de frappe, or something like that.
One comment I have heard before is that if you have a stream in your back garden they won't hesitate to build a Nuclear power station near it.
I have heard that France has plenty of instant sunshine. Force de frappe, or something like that.
It must be a mind-numbing decision to do you and others have done...Really pleased it worked out for you allll..............I would have taken the plunge and opted for the Maildives or Cyprus..........but family commitments voted against a move.........
The UK is not too brilliant for some, but now I am used to what I have, and would never fault anyone for choosing overseas..
Much success, bonsoir mon ami, Howard.
A quickie - if your local Gendarme has the surname "Plonquer" do not under any circumstance laugh loudly when being introduced to him.
But, but.............what about the thread that can't be named? I thought this was a list of your "conquests"!!!!!Sadly Mrs SA would have my nads of with a blunt spoon re the chubbies.......
But, but.............what about the thread that can't be named? I thought this was a list of your "conquests"!!!!!
Gutted I am.
We Brits like our privacy. Some parts of France are not like this, especially when they think they might have family “rights” to your trees for firewood and pond for fish.
I only know through family that have moved to France. I do not live there. I would, but Mrs R would not. C‘est la vie.I've heard this....tell me more......
Is it the right to hunt over your land or a piss take because you are Rost Bif .....
It was a thought to sell here at some point and buy a small farm to retire to..... is it like a right to roam as in Scotland ?
The idea of the locals just wandering all over the farm / woods is not appealing......we've enough of an issue with that here now with Townies and covid campers thinking the countryside is just like a big park....
I've heard this....tell me more......
Is it the right to hunt over your land or a piss take because you are Rost Bif .....
It was a thought to sell here at some point and buy a small farm to retire to..... is it like a right to roam as in Scotland ?
The idea of the locals just wandering all over the farm / woods is not appealing......we've enough of an issue with that here now with Townies and covid campers thinking the countryside is just like a big park....
Less than 20 hectares the local ACCA ( 'Commune' hunt) have access unless you ban hunting on your land or rent hunting rights to a private hunt. Do get a 'bail' if you do this even if for a peppercorn rent as it formalises the arrangement. And be on your toes because someone WILL push their luck.I've heard this....tell me more......
Is it the right to hunt over your land or a piss take because you are Rost Bif .....
It was a thought to sell here at some point and buy a small farm to retire to..... is it like a right to roam as in Scotland ?
The idea of the locals just wandering all over the farm / woods is not appealing......we've enough of an issue with that here now with Townies and covid campers thinking the countryside is just like a big park....
Can’t find a thread specifically about this so here goes. God help me I’m seeking the advice of Arrsers, specifically those living in France about moving there.
Mrs SA & I have been chewing this over for a while now. Our situation is thus. Both in our early fifties. I’m retired, she is p/t. Our retirement income is just over 2k a month. We have around 300k for a house.
Currently I do a little bit of gardening for pocket money. Mrs SA speaks the lingo & would look to work p/t in France, nothing highbrow, shop work etc. I would ideally like to continue the gardening. Alternatively we have mulled over running a small B&B on a p/t basis as don’t want to be wage slaves.
we have no debt.
Looking at the Dordogne area. Ideally on the edge or nearby a town. Don’t want to be out in the stick miles from civilisation.
so the questions are;
What’s the cost of living like? Whsts a reasonable amount needed to live on. We’re not party animals, although enjoy eating out now & again, we enjoy good food, wine other than that we’re quite self contained
What are the pitfalls, I understand French bureaucracy to be a mare. What about things like health care, taxes,state pensions etc.
Areas to look at, areas to avoid?
Any advice greatly appreciated as we continue our research...
Not yet, SWMBO had a bit of a wobble about leaving offspring, so still in Blighty.Well, did you go?
We are gently looking now and France is on the list.
Not yet, SWMBO had a bit of a wobble about leaving offspring, so still in Blighty.
I'm still keen, but not pushing it, we have just invested in a motorhome my cunning plan is to do it by stealth mooching around France in it to win her over....
Not yet, SWMBO had a bit of a wobble about leaving offspring, so still in Blighty.
I'm still keen, but not pushing it, we have just invested in a motorhome my cunning plan is to do it by stealth mooching around France in it to win her over....
I am just watching Hawai Five-o. Why don't you retire there? Lots of hot chicks, great beaches and oriental food. Become a surfer dude.We are looking around (online at the moment) to suss out places of interest to us. We should hopefully be pootling over later this year for an in person recce of our French, Spanish, and Portuguese shortlist. More attention is being paid to France for a few reasons:
- We have been before and appreciate the nature of some of the natives. I must have been the only person on the planet to be stopped getting onto a ferry in Calais to have the PRI van inspected. Other than that I got on really well with the lads in the French Liaison Office at JHQ, and used to take them out regularly when they were being paid their conscript pittance.
- Excessive beauracratic admin does not phase me anymore after dealing with seppo civil serpents and their system. Allegedly they speak english......though sometimes I seriously wonder.
- Mrs WEffendi did A level French, I know how to find the toilet, and order a coffee with a croissant.
- Getting in is no problem as I still have a German passport for another 3 years and can also take the wife and kids in as dependents.
- Montpellier is looking good in France, big university town/city.
- Lisbon area is looking good in Portugal - WTF is there to do amidst estates of holiday homes in the Algarve apart from sit, and wait to die.
- Still looking at Spain, though my brother spent 15 yeas in Valencia. To me though the Costas are full of bars, tourist hordes in the summer, retirees reminiscing about blighty, and waiting to die.
With all that there is one fly in the ointment. The Mrs should be finishing her job in early April, as usual word has already gone around that she is becoming available, and she has already had a consultant sniffing around. Her words to me were, "yeah, but its a couple more years salaries to bump up the US pension, and a couple more bonuses to tuck away".
So we'll see.
I am just watching Hawai Five-o. Why don't you retire there? Lots of hot chicks, great beaches and oriental food. Become a surfer dude.
Well Hawai Five-O would be out of a job if it was crime free wouldn't they. Anyway in respect of dross, no different to Bournmouth, Brighton and Blackpool.Three problems with Hawaii:
1. For the Japanese it is so cheap that groups of businessmen buy entire golf clubs for their own private use.
2. Compared to mainland US it is expensive.
3. It is plagued by the unemployed, petty crime, and drugs, lots of drugs. Think about it for a moment; why bother living somewhere cold and miserable when you are unemployed if you can go and live in paradise. So they do. It is the same in Florida, and California, the sunshine spots are magnets for the dross, and criminal element. Its late now and I want to watch an episode of Yellowstone so I will tell you a Florida dit tomorrow.
I'm with you in that I want to avoid tourist areas. Not considered Portugal TBH, but may well have a look.We are looking around (online at the moment) to suss out places of interest to us. We should hopefully be pootling over later this year for an in person recce of our French, Spanish, and Portuguese shortlist. More attention is being paid to France for a few reasons:
- We have been before and appreciate the nature of some of the natives. I must have been the only person on the planet to be stopped getting onto a ferry in Calais to have the PRI van inspected. Other than that I got on really well with the lads in the French Liaison Office at JHQ, and used to take them out regularly when they were being paid their conscript pittance.
- Excessive beauracratic admin does not phase me anymore after dealing with seppo civil serpents and their system. Allegedly they speak english......though sometimes I seriously wonder.
- Mrs WEffendi did A level French, I know how to find the toilet, and order a coffee with a croissant.
- Getting in is no problem as I still have a German passport for another 3 years and can also take the wife and kids in as dependents.
- Montpellier is looking good in France, big university town/city.
- Lisbon area is looking good in Portugal - WTF is there to do amidst estates of holiday homes in the Algarve apart from sit, and wait to die.
- Still looking at Spain, though my brother spent 15 yeas in Valencia. To me though the Costas are full of bars, tourist hordes in the summer, retirees reminiscing about blighty, and waiting to die.
With all that there is one fly in the ointment. The Mrs should be finishing her job in early April, as usual word has already gone around that she is becoming available, and she has already had a consultant sniffing around. Her words to me were, "yeah, but its a couple more years salaries to bump up the US pension, and a couple more bonuses to tuck away".
So we'll see.