We just managed to escape for a couple of days, and took the opportunity to visit a small cluster of villages classified as ‘most beautiful villages in France’ in the southern Limousin region. The ‘middle’ of the three was Collonges-la-Rouge, located between Curemonte and Turenne.
These French classified villages are almost never a disappointment. Some are [...]
When we bought our house in south-west France about six years ago (actually come to think about it, almost exactly six years ago to the day) there was a suggestion that property prices in the region had been inflated by rick-kid foreigners like us coming in and buying up properties at inflated prices.
It was never [...]
A few days ago I wrote about some of the ways that expats can earn money. Today I thought I’d give two examples of how people make very large amounts of money on the internet.
I don’t do either of these - they are not very ethical and and do require some technical knowledge - but [...]
When I’m out and about I see a lot of other people’s gite and holiday rental properties, and I’m always curious to take a look.
Some owners seem to have almost no bookings, even in the summer, and others have no difficulty at all attracting lots of custom. Curiously it isn’t always the least attractive that [...]
Travel insurance, like dentists and hairdressers, is something I prefer to avoid thinking about. Fortunately Mrs B doesn’t take this casual approach and has taken out Single Trip Travel Insurance for a forthcoming adventure. More of that adventure in the coming weeks.
Happily on this occasion the insurance didn’t end up costing more than the holiday, [...]
I thought it might be useful to explain how expats in France make ends meet. Just possibly this will give you an idea of how you could earn money as an expat and enable you to make the big leap yourself.
I am not concerned here with expats who work in France as an employee of [...]
Out on our bikes this week, my French cycling companion and I were amused to pass a hunter waiting patiently by the edge of the road…we cycled a further 50 metres around the corner and there was a stag happily eating grass in the meadow, just out of his sight.
There are restrictions on deer numbers [...]
I already knew I had a memorable birthdate - when my mother was halfway through giving birth to me a nurse rushed in and disturbed the special moment by announcing that President Kennedy had been assassinated.
Unfortunately the horror of the world that was waiting for me was all a bit too much, and I refused [...]
The ‘French market’ experience is one of the highlights of a holiday in France. But you need to be sure which kind of experience you are having…
Not far from where we live, on the southern edges of the Dordogne region, is an attractive little medieval town called Issigeac. It is one of the most unexplored [...]
A lot of people find this blog when they are searching in google for expat information about France. I fear they will sometimes be disappointed to find instead my ramblings about cycling and belly-button piercing.
If you would prefer some good hard facts about the tax implications of owning a second-home in France, or need [...]
(For hints and tips on improving your holiday photos visit taking great travel photos).
We are lucky enough to live on top of a hill with west facing views across miles of countryside. Sometimes, like this morning, the mist lies across the valley just as the sun rises, and the view is spectacular. But one thing [...]
