Help me choose location in France

[nannyme]

We have narrowed down our seaech to two rental properties - one in Coulonges-sur-l'Autize, Deux-Sevres and the other near Pau, Gers.

The first is in the middle of a village with schools and shops, etc. all within walking distance the other in a small hamlet with shops, etc. 3kms away.

This is a mad venture and location wise I have not done real life research - just online. Without going into detail, it has to be this way and I will be on my own for the most part with our three children and returning to UK for work periodically and to see dp who has to stay in UK for 12 months for medical treatment.

So, what advice/experience can mumsnetters offer - apart from the obvious "you must be mad or stupid"?

I want some sun in the summer/Autumn (Poitou Charente being an obvious first choice for that) so wonder how we would fair in Gers.

I would like to be somewhere where the English are welcomed but don't need to be amongst fellow Brits.

Reasonable amount of 'stuff' to do but we are country-loving and have lived very remotely in the UK in the past.

Any thoughts on this would be very helpful.

Agh! I keep missing the 's' of Charentes.

My first thought is if you want you and your children to integrate into French society then it may be better to live in a village. The kids will pick up the language more quickly and you won´t be their taxi service.

def go for the one in a village, otherwise you could feel very isolated.

We live near surgeres at the moment, near La Rochelle. There are a number of english in Deux Sevres, (we have bought there and are renovating our property) but it is possible to stay away from them if you need to, a bit like us.

It sounds like a mad thing for you to do without your dh, personally I would wait a year for him. I couldn't have managed without my dh. How can you cope if you have an emergency with one of the kids for example?

If you would like any more help, just ask...

I agree with the village option being the best. It would optimise your chance of learning the language fast if you don't already. Your children would make friends a lot easier and you as well.
I would avoid le Gers if you don't want to run into Brits at every street corner. But on the other hand the food's gorgeous and the weather quite warm.
One tip, learn a few words of French before you go, they'll be much more helpful if they see you're making the effort .
Bonne chance !

I lived near Pau and I really loved it, the area is great for getting to the coast, the mountains, border of Spain and the whole traditional village lifestyle taht goes on around Pau but still having the option of going to Pau to shop or day trip. I would drop everything and move there tomorrow if I had the chance.
In the summer months there are loads of village fetes and the fod and drink is great too, most of all I got the impression that children are welcome everywhere unlike south germany which we have just escaped from thank goodness!

Hi

Just back from HESFES and catching up on replies - thanks for all your thoughts.

Have taken on board advice and we are now settled on a property in the middle of a town - Maurbouguet.

Although we Home Ed here we will send the chidlren to a local school for optimum conditions for friend-making and language learning!

My French is 'OK' to good and partner's is okay-ish. We have decided he will spend at least the first 6 months with us and then we will see. We want to find out if he might be able to get CBT with an English speaking tehrapist in France.

We are full of excitement (and stress as we only have 4 weeks until we move!).

Thanks again.

how did it go? what happened to you living in france?