Pip64
English expat in France
Forum posts
36
Contacts
3
About me
English
Speaks English and French
Registration: 12 February 2016
Looking for green rolling wooded countryside in southern France by Scotathome
Ok i know its huge area but looking for a sizeable small town ie pop 10/20,000 located within easy reach of verdant countryside for walking etc. perhaps near an equivelant of a 'country park' Somewhere from Toulouse to Provence , not high ...
Yes, I agree with the above comment.. If 'verdant' countryside is at the top of your wish list, then perhaps the Pyr茅n茅es-Atlantiques would be a good place to start - even though it's outside your area of interest. ... Read More
Looking for accommodation for between 2-4 weeks in October
Tr猫s chic! Read More
Common misconceptions and clich茅s about life in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Old clich茅s die hard, as the saying goes... and living in France can generate lots of misconceptions in the eyes of the people. What are the most common misconceptions about the expat lifestyle in France? What are the most ...
It's clear from reading Spero's experience above and other people's on different threads here that in France "your mileage may vary". For example, I go to a lab (that's at most a 10 minute walk from home) for my annual ... Read More
New life in France
Welcome to the south west! It's a great part of the world.. We've been here for 9 happy years now and we wouldn't change a thing. Read More
Tour in France
I've seen this lady's tours advertised for some time.. "Sophisticated" might be code for "expensive" though! But - if her guide to the Pays Basque is anything to go by, it looks like she knows her stuff. (it looks as ... Read More
UK expats in France by Prudence Wright
Hello, I'm looking at moving to France. I was wondering what pros and cons there are to moving to France? Cost of living how easy was it to integrate? how different are jobs in France compared to the UK?
Hundreds of books have been written on this very subject. And judging from responses from people here on other threads, I'd suggest that it's a personal decision for you to make.. What works for one might not work for someone else. It all ... Read More
Moving to France but still looking at areas by Plezier
Greetings. We are moving to France hopefully in the next 2-3 months to fulfill Mothers dream. Our idea is to rent a place for a while so we can explore and find where we really wish to be before looking to buy a property. Once we find a place to ...
Think that subject deserves a thread all of its own. There are still a few dishes that give me nightmares..! Read More
Moving to France but still looking at areas by Plezier
Greetings. We are moving to France hopefully in the next 2-3 months to fulfill Mothers dream. Our idea is to rent a place for a while so we can explore and find where we really wish to be before looking to buy a property. Once we find a place to ...
Hi Plezier, Here's a link to the blog I started writing shortly after moving here. The early posts describe the house hunt and also engaging with French bureaucracy.. You might find it helpful. Pip Read More
Customer care in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in France and ...
Shhh! I always say that the Pays Basque is France's best-kept secret..!鈽� Read More
Customer care in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in France and ...
I apologise unreservedly if you took my comment as a personal attack.. It's just that our experiences of French customer care/after sales service seem to differ so widely. As I've said elsewhere, people in the Pays Basque are remarkably ... Read More
Moving to France but still looking at areas by Plezier
Greetings. We are moving to France hopefully in the next 2-3 months to fulfill Mothers dream. Our idea is to rent a place for a while so we can explore and find where we really wish to be before looking to buy a property. Once we find a place to ...
If I may offer a couple of tips - we travelled over here with everything we thought we'd need to be self-sufficient for an undefined period. The one thing I had with me that was worth its weight in gold was my PC and more importantly, my ... Read More
Customer care in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in France and ...
Back to Priscilla's original question.. I find sales people in shops are unfailingly polite here in the Pays Basque.. I would say that it's hard to generalise about after sales service here in France. I've not noticed any significant ... Read More
Moving to France but still looking at areas by Plezier
Greetings. We are moving to France hopefully in the next 2-3 months to fulfill Mothers dream. Our idea is to rent a place for a while so we can explore and find where we really wish to be before looking to buy a property. Once we find a place to ...
I had the same problem with finding a French language course when we moved here.. There were fewer places here for foreigners to brush-up their French than I had expected. Yes, there's a swish language centre here in bayonne but looking at the ... Read More
Customer care in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, The way customer services are handled can greatly affect your views on certain brands, products, companies or stores. As a consumer, it is important to get familiar with local practices regarding client assistance in France and ...
We've lived in Bayonne for 9 years and I beg to differ.. My memory of our experience of engaging with the oft-maligned French bureaucracy when we arrived here is that everyone - without exception - was friendly and helpful. I have no axe to ... Read More
Looking for accommodation for between 2-4 weeks in October
In addition to AirBnB, have you thought about a g卯te near Bordeaux.. You could be fortunate and find something very affordable to cover October. Good luck! Pip PS I had to smile at your pen picture - ".. in our early 50's, ... Read More
Moving to France but still looking at areas by Plezier
Greetings. We are moving to France hopefully in the next 2-3 months to fulfill Mothers dream. Our idea is to rent a place for a while so we can explore and find where we really wish to be before looking to buy a property. Once we find a place to ...
Hi Plezier, As an alternative to renting a house, have you considered a g卯te..? When we moved to France, we initially looked at renting a house - but the monthly rentals typically started from 1250鈧�/pcm. As we only wanted somewhere to ... Read More
Keeping up with the news in France
I read several online news resources.. BBC, France24, BBC Radio 4 and a selection of the UK print media. TV? T茅l茅matin in the morning and TF1 news at midday and the evening. Read More
Life in France by Larri-ann Law
Hello, My name is Larri-ann and I will be living in Versailles soon. I want to know what life is like in France, especially areas such as Paris and Versailles. Thank you.
Another thing to remember is that until you get to grips with French society, culture, customs and manners - which are all very different to those practiced in Anglo-Saxon (ie, English-speaking) countries - you'll go through life here raising ... Read More
Life in France by Larri-ann Law
Hello, My name is Larri-ann and I will be living in Versailles soon. I want to know what life is like in France, especially areas such as Paris and Versailles. Thank you.
Some interesting replies here - but I think lydiamarie1 has nailed it.. I think it's incumbent on you to give people the opportunity to befriend/like you. This means that they must be able to communicate with you in French. You might find that ... Read More
Thinking of moving to a village on the south of France, are we crazy? by bengra
My family consists of hubby, 21 month old daughter and german shepherd dog, we are thinking of getting out of the rat race and moving to the south of France, I have been to France in the winter only (skiing) few times, my husband (originally from ...
LydiaMarie1 makes a good point about Brit enclaves.. but as I see you're Irish, Bengra, that mightn't be a factor for you. How your holiday in June go? If you went home babbling dreamily about living in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, ... Read More
Gastric Dilation or "Bloat" by Pip64
This is a cautionary tale in case any dog owners out there are unfamiliar with this condition - as we were until a couple of days ago. We lost our beloved Chibby*, our 14 year old golden cocker spaniel, early on Tuesday morning to ...
Hi Bebe, He had no symptoms of anything at all.. I took him out that morning and he trotted around the park as normal.. No-one seems to be able to agree on what the causes of this condition may be.. or what the target group of dogs is that are ... Read More
Gastric Dilation or "Bloat" by Pip64
This is a cautionary tale in case any dog owners out there are unfamiliar with this condition - as we were until a couple of days ago. We lost our beloved Chibby*, our 14 year old golden cocker spaniel, early on Tuesday morning to ...
Thanks for your support Primadonna.. I wouldn't wish what we went through on anyone. Read More
Gastric Dilation or "Bloat"
This is a cautionary tale in case any dog owners out there are unfamiliar with this condition - as we were until a couple of days ago. We lost our beloved Chibby*, our 14 year old golden cocker spaniel, early on Tuesday morning to Gastric ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Adjusting to new climatic conditions is key in any expatriation process. Moving to France is no exception. What are the climate characteristics of France? How does the local weather impact your daily life, mood or ...
Why not read your printer manual to find out what cartridge it needs before going out to buy a replacement? I'm sorry but if "A Year in the Merde" is your benchmark I feel sorry for you. I set up as an auto-entrepreneur and worked as ... Read More
Dual citizenship by Bobdrum
Now that England has taken us of Europe!! :( Does anyone know how do I go about applying for dual citizenship with France/Scotland? :/
I looked at this a few years ago Bob - but be prepared for it to be a costly exercise. I worked out that it was going to cost me in the region of 拢500. The requirement from the French side is that all relevant documents (birth certificate, ... Read More
Expand your social circle in France by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to France means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop a ...
I'm afraid I don't recognise the France being described here. I've said it elsewhere here but people in the Pays Basque could not have been more friendly to us. When we used to visit the Pays Basque for our summer holidays every ... Read More
Move to France from the United States by Jerryc7231
Hello I am Jerry and I will be moving to France with my Daughter, wife and two grandchildren. My Daughter is taking a job in France and my wife and I are coming to take care of our grandchildren. I am 74 and my Wife is 72. We would like to ...
Dear Jerry, Hat's off to you for having the courage to make the move at the tender age of 74..! Of all the issues you should be thinking about, let me focus on a few. Firstly, health care. As in yours.. It is likely that either you or your ... Read More
In retrospect, would you move again to France? by Christine
Hi all, If you had to look back on your expat experience in France, would you heartily say "let聮s do it again"? From the preparation stage to your actual everyday life in your new country, what did you enjoy the most? Would you do certain ...
Yes.. it's the best decision we ever took. We've been here almost 10 years now and it suits us down to the ground. I should say though that we moved here on retirement and so I can't speak for those who are in the workplace. I think ... Read More
Thinking of moving to a village on the south of France, are we crazy? by bengra
My family consists of hubby, 21 month old daughter and german shepherd dog, we are thinking of getting out of the rat race and moving to the south of France, I have been to France in the winter only (skiing) few times, my husband (originally from ...
For Bengra.. I'd suggest to you that, instead of jumping in the deep end wearing a pair of lead-soled divers boots, you rent a small house or flat down there in the village of your choice for a few months - during the off season and see how you ... Read More
Tips and advice to thrive in France by Priscilla
Hi, When living in a foreign country, you have to adapt to a new environment, various cultures and different social codes. How did you manage to adjust to France? How long does it take to feel at home? Would you say it is an easy ...
Starcutter's right about French manners.. It's easy to commit a faux pas without being aware of it. For example, if visiting friends and you're wearing a coat, wait until asked before removing it. There are more.. worth looking at a ... Read More
Tips and advice to thrive in France by Priscilla
Hi, When living in a foreign country, you have to adapt to a new environment, various cultures and different social codes. How did you manage to adjust to France? How long does it take to feel at home? Would you say it is an easy ...
My wife (French) and I moved to the Pays Basque on retirement in 2007. I decided early on that it was sink or swim time - so I took the plunge and joined a sporting club on my own - so a new set of vocab to learn.. About 3-4 years ago I joined a ... Read More
Moving to France by mandaford
We are looking to move to France and would like some help choosing the right area :) Our requirements are as follows; I am an Interior designer and will be looking to work for a creative/interior design company We would like to be close to the ...
C么te Basquehe services of an interior designer)...? It can only be the C么te Basque.. Read More
Essentials to live in France by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in France, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in France? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would ...
Oystercatcher's wonderful post filled in so many blanks.. but the one thing she missed out was - sarcasm and irony. Thankfully the French never (in my experience) use sarcasm and irony.. and aren't they the better for it! I find it ... Read More
Essentials to live in France by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in France, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in France? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would ...
My experience of French people is that although a larger number than you might think understand English, few admit to speaking it as they consider their accent awful. Yes, the same accent that we find so charming! ParkingGratuit is right though - ... Read More
Essentials to live in France by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in France, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in France? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would ...
I'd start with an open mind.. and leave those pre-conceived ideas behind. Read More