Mumsnetters in France, we have a new recruit

[Othersideofthechannel]

Teafortwo is new to mn and she is in Paris.

Come and say hello

Hi Castille

You should write blurbs for books - You would make a million! What a great summary of life in France "lovely and frustrating"!!!

However, I was thinking, what makes France very special is the micro-cultures within France itself. Every area has such a different vibe and feel. Where I live there are many North Africans, Africans and Portugese so these cultures are woven very strongly into the French culture. Our market is filled with dry fish alongside the cheese sellers and we even have a man who sells spices from the West Indies! In the Lot Valley, where I visited last year, it is very peaceful, the air smells slightly sweet like blossom and we picked and ate tiny wild strawberries with a taste that simply explodes in your mouth - bam! In Coastal Brittany, where Dp's family live there is a wild beauty that makes you feel real and alive and well. The sea air stings your skin and the seafood is so fresh the creatures wiggle and walk all around the kitchen table!!!

So, tell me where in France do you live, Castille, and what is it like there?

WOW WOW WOW!!!

Walkthedinosaur - I am impressed what a big life change and how lovely for you and the children.

It sounds like you are working towards creating a complete dream for you and your family... How far into your project are you? Have you got your kitchen and bathroom done? - I think in a house if you have a kitchen, bathroom and most importantly lots of love it doesn't really matter if there are a few plasterboards and a bit of dust.

P.S - I wasn't ignoring you in my last post - I think you posted a second before me and I only read it after we had both posted!

bfn - keep us updated on the house!

Hey - walkthedinosaur - Where in France are you?

See if I am right - my guess is - Normandy or Brittany (somewhere near Brest so dh can commute easyjet stylie between the big smoke and your Larsoon style paradise in working)!!! Tell me, tell me, tell me - Am I close or really really far away???

bfn - dd has woken up and we have wrapping paper to make!!!

TFT - you're nearly right we're in South West Brittany, between Vannes and Rennes and DH commutes from Stansted to either Dinard, Nantes or if Mr Ryanair is being a git and charging a fortune that he goes down to Portsmouth and comes across as a foot passenger on Brittany Ferries into St Malo.

We kind of have a bathroom, all the fixtures are in place but no tiles, just boarded walls and concrete floors, and we kind of have a kitchen, but we got flooded in January and the kitchen didn't fare that well so we're talking about replacing, but we never budgeted for having to buy a new kitchen this year so am making do. It's usable and that's what counts.

I sometimes think the house will never be done, but when I think to what it was like two years ago and what it's like now, there could be an end in sight. DH is plasterboarding like crazy every weekend at the moment and so hopefully by the end of the summer we'll have a boarded, plastered and decorated hallway and dining room. Just got to move on to the upstairs landing and bathroom after that - but we'd be bored if we didn't have something to do, God we'd have to talk to each other or whatever it is that married couples say to each other besides where did I put my tape measure? And pass me that screw driver

Right off to assist with piano practice now.

TFT - you're nearly right we're in South West Brittany, between Vannes and Rennes and DH commutes from Stansted to either Dinard, Nantes or if Mr Ryanair is being a git and charging a fortune that he goes down to Portsmouth and comes across as a foot passenger on Brittany Ferries into St Malo.

We kind of have a bathroom, all the fixtures are in place but no tiles, just boarded walls and concrete floors, and we kind of have a kitchen, but we got flooded in January and the kitchen didn't fare that well so we're talking about replacing, but we never budgeted for having to buy a new kitchen this year so am making do. It's usable and that's what counts.

I sometimes think the house will never be done, but when I think to what it was like two years ago and what it's like now, there could be an end in sight. DH is plasterboarding like crazy every weekend at the moment and so hopefully by the end of the summer we'll have a boarded, plastered and decorated hallway and dining room. Just got to move on to the upstairs landing and bathroom after that - but we'd be bored if we didn't have something to do, God we'd have to talk to each other or whatever it is that married couples say to each other besides where did I put my tape measure? And pass me that screw driver

Right off to assist with piano practice now.

I'm in Brittany too TFT, just outside Rennes.

It's great, we like it here - the city is fab, we're close to lovely countryside and only a hour from decent beaches.

Unfortunately the MIL is quite close by too

I live further south.

I was very tempted by Concarneau (that house overlooking the estuary!) but the evenings are too cold!

One of my best friends is a Bretonne and she is as stubborn as the proverbial Bretonne mule!

Hello again,
Been off line all day. This thread has grown.
Just so you all know arrived in france with DD1 and Dh about 5, nearly 6 years ago on DH work contract for two years. Contract extended again and again. Accepted to stay here on a few months ago. Reasons for accepting related to way of life, health, education, and just love France. But am driven mad by certain aspect of french culture but most of the time can ignore these. Now have 3 DD's and DD1 speaks perfectly, DD2 understands from watching TV and speaks odd words but like DD1 she will learn at school.
Chose the area we live in intially as close to Paris and very international area so wasn't too alienating to start with. (Have exp after living in other countries before). Now decided to try french village life and pick up the keys this weekend.
My french is pretty bad and written is appalling - But manage to get by in most situations. Just finished an intensive course at the alliance francaise in Paris and this gave me a much need boost and improved my grammar no end. Really recomend it. Also really recommend Ratus - I read them to DD1 and she corrects my prounciation!

I only know the coast... but find Brittany to be very nice! I like the geology, sea and people. It feels warm even when actually it is...urm...friggin' freezing - oooh Christmas on the beach br br br!!!!!!

Walkthedinosaur - our kitchen works as long as you are gentle with the tap and shower room (our appartment is too small for a bath) only semi works!!! We need to start doing some of what you've been upto... the thing is it is taking us ages to decide what to do with the shower room and meanwhile we keep booking holidays!!! he he he!!!

Yes Brittany is lovely. I say that now because the sun is shining and the birds are singing, if you'd asked me in January, February and March I would have been complaining, so grey and wet!

TFT - we're going for our first holiday in two years next month, DH has decided that he's sick of spending every holiday and weekend being the Bob the Builder, so we're off to the Vendee for a camping trip!!!

Yes Brittany is lovely. I say that now because the sun is shining and the birds are singing, if you'd asked me in January, February and March I would have been complaining, so grey and wet!

TFT - we're going for our first holiday in two years next month, DH has decided that he's sick of spending every holiday and weekend being the Bob the Builder, so we're off to the Vendee for a camping trip!!!

Farfaraway - congratulations on your new home! How exciting for you!