Comments for New Bricks and Pantiles

Comment on Tantric Golf and Fishing by Ruthann

Ruthann — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:21:24 +0000

That’s so funny….not the first thing I thought of when deciding to take time in France but hey…..it wasn’t what you thought you would find in Bahrain either.

Comment on Glopeter Glopeter by Maida

Maida — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:14:31 +0000

I love this scene but few people know what I am referring to when I say “glopeter glopeter machine”. Like you I’ll have to watch the movie again.

Comment on Leaseback Comments by s baird

s baird — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:00:57 +0000

On the whole the leaseback system works well, but the attitude of some of the staff at head office and at the resorts tends to almost owners as a ‘nuisance’. Rules and procedures seem to change annually and at the drop of a hat. It can be very frustrating trying to align booking requests and getting flights booked. There does not seem to be any recognition that owners need to have bookings confirmed so travel arrangements, often non-flexible flights, can be booked. Random extra charges seem to be introduced. Owners own apartments cannot always be used, despite the owner having availability of their entitlement and/or their apartment not having been booked by the general public. Decisions by the bookings departments can appear very abitrary.

Comment on Keep the Dream Alive by tony

tony — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:05:37 +0000

Thank you for writing Hilda

I don’t think wisdom can be shared, only learnt – information abounds but filtering it depends on the question, and then you need wisdom to interpret the answer I guess (and to be able to ask the relevant question in the first place).

In a miniscule way I try to help by feeding my thoughts and experiences into these blogs – helping me to focus perhaps and hopefully they also help others to look under different stones to find whatever they seek for themselves.

It is a basic instinct for humanity to move to new pastures if grazing is not nourishing – even if the new territory is inferior, the need for justification of the move enables and energises new experiences and actions, perhaps.

I spent months traveling around France, often by rail with a very cheap roaming ticket allowing me to go anywhere (I don’t think they have them any more) I often went to a station and asked the time of the next train – where to – I was asked – anywhere – I replied, clearly the station staff thought I was mad. Eventually after 4 years I found a place which sort of melted into my wishes, it suited Carole too, so we have been here ever since. There were hundreds of other places which I liked, so perhaps the magic spot can really be anywhere.

The reality of living means, for most people and definitely me, means earning a living or making money (not quite the same thing perhaps) – that is difficult most places and it does (to me) seem harder than the other places I have lived to earn a living in France, not just for me, but I hear from many others the difficulties with permissions and the restrictions on enterprise. None are insurmountable, but for people from most Anglophone countries this is an extra hurdle.

There are many people in France from whom you may be able to get feedback – I am finding that Facebook groups and pages offer some good introductions, also blogs and online magazines – commenting on the pages and blogs, as you are doing here, may opens some doors for you – Twitter also has groups, try searching on Twitter but use some filtering application or the nugget of useful information may be lost in a desert of dross.

I hope this helps is some way for you to see more of your Grandchildren

Bonne Chance

Tony

Comment on Keep the Dream Alive by Hilda

Hilda — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 06:03:08 +0000

Dear Tony, I too, like your 53 year old blogger above, have a similar dream and relate so well to his comment. I am 52 year old naturalised Australian originally from South Africa and as ready as I’ll ever be to find a little spot in France to lay my head each night for the rest of my life – I am still trying to work out the “how”. It has been a very real desire of mine since 2006 when France and I found one another at the Marathon du Medoc in Bordeaux. I visit Bordeaux and Sarlat and surrounds every year and will be there again from 15 – 26 September. My son and his young family live in Germany and in France I’ll be sufficiently close to be a regular part of my grand children’s lives yet not too close for comfort. If there is anyone out there who would be open to communicating with me and provide and share any wisdom and information, it will be most welcome. Many thanks, Hilda Olivier

Comment on Why Now Is A Good Time To Buy Property In France by Kirk Woodyard

Kirk Woodyard — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:58:20 +0000

This makes us feel good about closing on our place in Aix in July.
Thanks,
Kirk

Comment on Keep the Dream Alive by Claudia Driscoll

Claudia Driscoll — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:03:20 +0000

Hello,
Yes I would be interested in finding out furthur details about your Gite business. Where is it etc..photos and of course the price you are asking. How did you chose Albi to retire to.
Merci d’avance
claudia

Comment on Keep the Dream Alive by Barry

Barry — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:45:58 +0000

We did it at the age of 60; never think that you are too old to make a new adventure.
After selling up in UK and buying our ‘Corps de Ferme’ [from a bankrupt farmer] we had a year to change its use to an attractive holiday destination for groups of 12. With 14 white vans in the courtyard in the week before our first group arrived; they were delighted and came for 4 years until the chidren reached their teens and wanted more than country life, rural adventure and bastide towns. We never looked back. It is not a life of ‘gin & tonic’ by the pool – there is always something to be done and La France Profonde’ does not have the convenience of comparatively urban Britain.
However, now 12 years on and some 600 visitors plus through the ‘Gite Business’ we need a like minded couple or family to take it on from here, as we retire nearer Albi. Anyone out there?

Comment on In Praise of Olive Oil by In Praise of Olive Oil | ClubEvoo

In Praise of Olive Oil | ClubEvoo — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:09:13 +0000

[...] Link: In Praise of Olive Oil [...]

Comment on Scruffy but Charming by Graham Tigg

Graham Tigg — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:18:12 +0000

Very wise words. Go for continual evolutionary change at a pace that befits the area.