French Life-expat France

A couple of words in praise of French expats today! That’s not like me, I know, but even I can try and be pleasant sometimes.

First in the queue of honour is a newspaper called Connexion, produced in English for the expat community. This gets delivered to our door - free and unrequested - from time to time. It used to get transferred straight to the recycling without a second thought but for the last couple of issues I’ve actually taken a look inside.

It’s actually very good, I’m happy to report, and highly recommend you track it down if you are an expat hidden away somewhere in deepest France. It covers all sorts of issues to do with topical news, money, property, life in France and so on and is well written. Congratulations and thanks to all concerned.

I was a bit startled to see a reader’s letter in the most recent issue, asking why she hadn’t got her UK cold weather allowance - I had kind of imagined that someone who emigrates to France would lose their eligibility, but it seems that’s not always the case.

Last editions eye-opener was an article mentioning that MP’s in France who lose their posts in the forthcoming elections will continue to be paid for five years (on a diminishing scale), while they readjust to the community. I can well imagine that politicians need a considerable amount of time to readjust to the real world, but I’m not sure that paying them for five years will help the transition.

Previously they were only paid for three months, if I remember the article correctly, but had voted the generous change in terms for themselves, just ahead of the forthcoming elections…a coincidence I expect.

Next up, we’ve had some slipped tiles on an overhanging roof for a couple of months - Mrs B had recklessly allowed a rose to climb up the front of the building and push them off. We’ve had various likely French artisans around to take a look, who have nodded wisely and then disappeared never to be seen again.

Well last week someone recommended an English building company, who promptly came around for a look, and then mended it a week later - 75 euros. Not a particularly big or difficult job but it’s the first time in many years that we’ve welcomed an English builder on to the premises, and been pleased with the outcome (yes they were registered, if you’re wondering).

Why didn’t I do it myself if it’s so quick and easy, you might wonder. Well it’s either because I’m enormously rich and never have to lift a finger to do anything so manual, or because I suffer from vertigo and tend to freeze rigid at the top of a long ladder. You’ll have to guess which.

I can’t help wondering if things haven’t changed over the last few years - with so many big building projects underway, it’s a bit of a nightmare finding people happy to come out and do a quick repair - new central heating system “no problem”, new washer on your tap “can’t do that until next easter” kind of thing.

Rumour has it that English builders are also now often less expensive than French builders, and doing a very good job. I think maybe (around here at least) we’re passed the ‘English cowboy builder’ stage of a few years ago and entering a new world of professionalism and quality. This is a good thing.

Unlike the weather, which is still not a good thing, and is more fitting to February than the first day of June. Now, where did I put my gloves?