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Mike

Life in France update

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by
Mike
on 27th March 2012 at 12:33 PM (548 Views)
Well it is now getting on for eight Months since we moved here in Brittany.Although it was obviously a gamble in selling up completely in the UK I can honestly say that it is a decision I don't regret for one moment.

I fell it has given us a new lease of life so to speak, we are experiencing a whole new way of life and see and do different things nearly every week. Of course it is not for everyone and many people would, I am sure feel uncomfortable about moving to a new Country and not be able to speak the language. In addition the customs, laws and regulations are different from the UK. That is not to say they are worse or better but just different.

Certainly there is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy here which can be frustrating at times but there is a good side to that as well in that you know where you stand. It seems every time you need to do something that is official you need everything from birth and wedding certificates, passport and bank details. However on the plus side cheques are accepted just like cash over here ( Nobody bounces cheques as It's against the law ) When you insure your car, you do just that ( not the driver ) which means that anyone can drive my car with full cover. If I apply for health insurance for instance, by law it seems they must accept me and without asking questions about past health history.

With regard to health the French system is regarded as one of the best in the world, to give an example If I went to a doctor in the UK and say needed something non urgent, lets say a hip replacement I'm guessing that it would take at least a few months to be dealt with. Over here If I went to the doctor about the same thing I would probably be seeing a specialist consultant tomorrow and having the operation before the end of the week.

Since I have been here I have bought a tractor, plough and rotavator and am taking up producing all of our own vegetables.
The last couple of weeks I have been working on an area at the rear of the house, the area gets a lot of sun but was not very attractive to sit out on as it was just plain concrete so what I have done is to form a decking area and seating area.
here are before and after photos:




I am really hoping that at some stage some members here will make a visit, I reckon there is seating for up to 25 people there so It would make an ideal BBQ setting..........

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  1. Roger - 29th March 2012 12:45 AM
    Roger's Avatar
    Sounds quite idylic Mike!

    The differences (vive la difference!) between UK and France was interesting to read. In particular the bureaucracy ...as you say, you know where you stand, etc.

    That may be due to a mindset that enjoys a written constitution. As you know - across here we have a lot of 'grey areas' that allow for less rigid interpretations of things - which can be a good or a bad thing!

    Nice to see the pics of the decking, etc. Certainly good for a party!!

    Take care,

    Roger
  2. John - 30th March 2012 08:36 PM
    John's Avatar
    I experienced the French bureaucracy when I worked there for 9 months. I needed a residence permit for Marseille which required a document issuing in Paris by the agency funding my visit to the University, and then taken to the foreigners police in Marseille. The problem was that such documents have a use-by date and it took longer than that for the document to come from Paris. The police would then reject it at the entrance to the building. I tried several times to get one in the hope it might just arrive in time but no luck. Then I went to the University administration with the latest document and explained the problem. A secretary crossed out the date and wrote the next day. The police were perfectly happy to accept a document which had not expired and I got my permit.

    Glad to hear you are finding the differences novel.
  3. Steve - 4th April 2012 09:11 AM
    Steve's Avatar
    Mike,

    The place and your work on it looks great. I'm still hoping for folks to make it out there for a BBQ too... but have to remain wary that it may or may not work out as travel and other things during the Olympics may be a problem. As you've said before though if that timing doesn't work out we can still do things another time. I'm very keen to come see you out there and am always tempted to just get in the car and set off...

    I really enjoy visits to France and I like lots about it.

    Their ideas of law and order and rights etc seem a little odd at times - for instance the French President is throwing people out of the country because they are arguing against the wishes of France.... I would not want that to be how people were judged myself.... and free speech is important.

    The paper here today talks of foreign folks in France who say they think a Muslim Veil is okay to wear being expelled as that is against the wishes of France... hmm.. not too tolerant/reasonable not to listen to any views but your own really. Their laws have to be obeyed - but to ban argument against them means they can never be changed and updated to something better for instance.

    Steve
  4. Frenchman - 9th April 2012 08:10 AM
    Frenchman's Avatar
    Mike
    We have a place in Brittany too.
    We are near Dol de Bretagne close to the Normandy border.
    Perhaps we could meet some time when we are over.

    John