For those of us trying to make a living in France there are numerous possibilities – mostly sharing the common feature that they don’t really make very much money.
So I was pleased to see that France was listed as offering one of the ‘Top 10 jobs in the world’ – that of cycling around the streets of Paris dragging a ‘google street view’ camera behind you, photographing all the monuments that are inaccessible to cars.
They didn’t say whether you can sell ice-creams from the box on the back at the same time, or how much of a backhander you can charge someone for the pleasure of being included in the google photos, but the opportunities for a ‘little extra on the side’ look promising. Not to mention the health benefits of being out cycling in the fresh air all day.
OK so going around the Paris périphérique on a heavyweight tricycle might not be very amusing, I’m not quite sure how well it can manage high-speed manoeuvres, but apart from that it should be quite relaxing work.
The photo shows a young google employee hard at work. I notice that the people in the background of the picture are not paying much attention, but I can’t help wondering when word gets out that the ‘google bike’ is coming along the street whether most people rush outside so they can be on google streetview for ever, or whether they hide inside because they don’t want to be recognised.
Personally, if I ever hear them coming around here I’ll be dressing the family up in matching ‘francethisway’ t-shirts and getting everyone to stand around looking nonchalant as they pass.
Meanwhile, given my cycling experiences I’m sure it would be worth google sending me a bike helmet with an attached camera and a large cheque, and paying me handsomely to cycle around the lanes of Lot-et-Garonne, immortalising the sunflowers and wildlife on film as I go.
A more pleasant way toearn a living I can hardly imagine.
Well its snowing again in Norfolk so there is not much cycling at all by anyone at the moement, outside temp currentlt -1.8C.
It’s not great here but not bad either – went out for a ride a couple of days ago, nice stretch along the Dordogne river – but it’s a bit cooler today. No more snow for the time being!
ive been reading thru all of your comments they are fab ,fun and informative,we have been seriously wanting to sell up and come to france ,but,,,,
there is so much to take in,we dont have rose coloured specs either,hav`nt even won a tenner on lottery lol but we aren’t your typical jones either, we are a family of 4 who grow our own veg like to hunt or fish and raise chickens,ducks and quail for fun
We cycle, my husband has cycled all over uk,spain,pourtugal,[his favourite bike is a pashley complete with large wicker basket so plenty of room for all the grocerys]his trade was in building up/repairing/servicing all push bikes especially retro do you think that would be of any use in france?
i just hope the sharp intake of breath and head scratching translates in french same as uk to ‘no mate its had it, gonna cost you an arm and leg to fix it ,,,’
Hi Marie, thanks for stopping by.
You know, I think most towns in France already have a small garage or workshop where someone repairs bikes, small machines like lawnmowers and so on, usually pretty cheap, so I don’t know how easy it would be to get customers, and I guess people with ‘posh’ bikes go to ‘posh bike shops’ to get new bits and pieces fitted but I’m not sure…
Selling up and moving to France depends on loads of things so I can never guess for someone else how it might work out – France isn’t a cheap place to live any more and how much money you’ve got while you get yourself sorted out to start with is usually pretty important
Good luck whatever you do!
thanks for your wise words, we are looking for a lifestyle change and have a better quality future for the boys as every day in the media its all crime,stabbings,shootings,drugs,i have married twice and have 2 grown up kids 26,23 ,it was`nt like that when they were growig up,,, so want better for my sons 15,10, we hope france could be good for us when we sell up we should have minimum 50k as only have very small mortgage less than 30k.We own a 32f motor home so if all else fails we arnt compleatly homeless ,just need to make sure we measure every 1 we knows drives to park the R.V up if it dont work out lol