One minute we were dreaming of windsurfing the English Channel and compiling our 'bucket lists' in the back room of our good friends David & Eileen Flinn and the next thing I was reading 'Buying a Home in France' by David Hampshire...a Christmas or birthday gift no doubt given as a result of one of our crazy mad-cap 'discussions' of what it might be like to get away from it all.
Get away we did...in that memorable year of 2000 when the world's computer's still worked and hadn't ushered in global chaos at the stroke of midnight ...yes, the world's press would have us believe it would.
We had been tracking Lance Armstrong and planned to be in Paris for his second Tour de France victory. What a victory it was...it was so good to be a part of it all. In fact, we couldn't get out of the centre of Paris as the cyclists zoomed around us...we were trapped and very hot. We paddled...or at least the kids did...in that glass pyramid 'thingy' of which I'll remember in a bit.
The holiday was further entrenched in history when Concorde crashed. The newsagents windows and bill-boards displayed vivid, dramatic pictures, but we couldn't understand the captions...they being in French and all.
We continued our journey out of ile-de-France, across several departments of the Loire valley to the Vendee and then up into Brittany via that frightening bridge of the town twinned with Sunderland...it's on the tip of my tongue!
Our friend Gary lived in Brittany (still does) so we dropped in to see him. It was glorious weather and it was easy to fall in love with the place, especially when Gary gave us some idea of how much we can expect to pay for the kind of property he was living in. We couldn't wait!
It wasn't until the Summer of 2003 however, that we determined to buy. Three couples...David & Eileen, Phil & Pat and Ken & Bev.
As romantic as the notion of searching for a French house to buy was, the reality soon kicked in. It was so disappointing to see the actual locations of what looked ideal on the internet.
I was particularly depressed on the very day we struck gold. It was by chance we saw the property as we flicked though a folder at a Josselin English owned estate agents. We saw the property but found out that a couple already had the keys and were looking at it.
The place was typically about to close as it was now gone 12:00 (it always catches us out). We took the address however and went searching for it, found it, fell in love with it (peered through the windows), dashed back with hearts thumping and hopes soaring to learn that the previous couple had also like it and were considering an offer as they looked at another property to compare it to. We took the keys and dashed back to look at the inside, liked what we saw...loads of potential, rushed back to the estate agents thinking the worse and made an offer that was immediately accepted by the owner who was working in the Far-East.
Once verbally accepted it's yours in French law! The other couple..and one notable 'other' also wanted it, but it was too late. He who hesitates, loses. We were on cloud nine. We'd grasped the nettle. We'd done it. We'd actually done it...no more speculation, no more searching, it was ours and, although it was some time before it was legally ours ( the French do things at their own pace) the outcome was never in doubt, there would be no gazumping.
Thus began our great adventure. I'll give regular updates on how it has affected our lives. It'll either inspire you or put you off for life.
Eileen has a more accurate version of events which I'll post tomorrow.
Eileen has a more accurate version of events which I'll post tomorrow.
9 comments:
My first comment on your Brittany blog. I've just read the previous post about Joel killing himself. It happens quite often in Brittany and quite a lot has been written about that and also the fact that so many people here are alcoholics. Sad isn't it - the place we find so very beautiful having so many disappointed people.
So it happened to you the same way it happened to us - we knew straight away that "this is the one" - like love at first sight.
I am reading Michael wright's book "La Folie" about quitting his job etc and moving to France. It's very entertaining and so far I would recommend it, if you have time on your hands in between all that painting !!
I will ask our French teacher if she knows of anyone in your area. Her house is about an hour away from you which is a bit too far I think but she may have some ideas. You never know.
Hi FF
Yeah! There does seem to be a lot of people here with an over-the -top liking of all things alcohol. Sometimes it's a little difficult because they just don't understand anyone who is 'dry', but fortunately we are good at making them laugh.
We have film footage of someone living close to us trying to walk straight along the lane...we know where he's been, but he doesn't know where he's going. It's hilarious!
Hi Jean
For Eileen it was love at first sight. I reserved judgment until I'd peered through the windows...then I fell in love with the place.
If it was just for us, we would have been immediately smitten, but it had to have potential to carve up into three properties...hence the peek inside.
Thanks for asking about the French teacher. I really appreciate it.
It's funny when one doesn't really have the alcohol gene - I mean I enjoy a glass or two of champagne or good wine or - on a hot day - a glass of cider but I never drink very much. Now food on the other hand...
Same thing happened to us, only we connected with our home first of all on the Internet. Having spent many a happy hour for loads of months, looking for something entirely different, and then 'Wallop': this one literally jumped off the PC screen at me! When we saw it, minus roof and all services, our feelings did not change. And neither have they during our time of battling to save the house. Because we were meant to be here. And since your house 'spoke' to you, then it is right for you as well. Bon courage, my friend!
Oh! Being a new visitor to your blog, Ken, I didn't realise you are now in France! But, anyway, still wishing you 'bon courage' because we all need a bit of courage to keep pedalling our bikes here! What I mean is: keeping on working at moving forward into a new life.
Hi FF
I have to put my hands up to liking food too. There isn't a day goes by that I don't indulge. Fortunately, my indulgences don't have any effect on my waistline.
Hi Vera
No, we aren't there yet. Like Jean (Grand Pressigny) we have commitments with an ageing relative here in England which prevent us from upping sticks just yet. Fortunately, there is still a lot of work to do with the place anyway. It looks as if we are about four years ahead of you (time flies). Seeing what you are up to brings back memories for us. It looks like we are all moving forward.
We moved out to France before the 'ageing relative', who was my mum, became aged and ill. So we were not stopped from coming when the window of opportunity arose for us. However: the guilt factor of not being in the UK, and the rest of the family having to do the necessary care, is quite a load on me and is the reason why I am probably feeling so tired. But I really hope that soon you will be able to start living your life here.
Hi Vera
You shouldn't feel guilty, but thankful that at least there are family members around to help. If they weren't around then yes, I think perhaps I'd feel guilty too.
My fear is that our own health will give way and prevent us from making the most of the experience.
No regrets or complaints so far though.
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