Just gave in notice - we're leaving France

[Rhubarb]

And I feel utterly miserable!

Rhu - Oh no!! Is there no way of someday returning or is it Cumbria forever? Nothing prepares you for the shock of leaving a place you love. Although I had a very rough time of it in Switzerland, I found it so hard to leave. I can't imagine how difficult this is going to be for you. :(

ggg - Bordeaux? We aren't that far from you - Lacanau, out on the coast. Off there tomorrow morning for 2 weeks and am looking forward to it!

Are you on holiday 2manypimms. We should have a french mumsnet meetup - you, me and rhubarb....

I am here if you need me, Rhubarb.

where are you ggg et al?

French Mumsnet meet - why not!!! No shortage of wine! :o

Yup, on hols for 2 weeks!

ggglimpopo, I feel like crying when I watch the french news on TV5 at the moment

2ManyPimms et ggg - a meet-up sounds good to me, could be just what I need!
Frenchgirl, thanks for everything. Yes France is going through a hard time atm, but this is a proud and gutsy country, if any country can pull through the recession with its head held high, then France can!
If only they'd make square bread and edible cakes!

It's gonna be a real struggle leaving, for dd especially, I don't want to think about our final days here. Once more into the unknown then, just hope we can all handle it!

Rhuby, just catching up with this now. I'm sorry you're having to leave as I know how much you love it there. I'm sure your dd will embrace the adventure if it's put to her like that. You're doing what you have to do for your family. You've already done more than most people would ever achieve.

I will be at home tonight getting drunk with you. My first drink in about 6 weeks. Plan on falling off the wagon spectacularly so will look for you on msn!

No, kick me off if I come on ok? Specially if I mention ducks!

Rhu - Where are you?

at home!

Rhubarb, I know it's not on the same scale but I can really appreciate how you're feeling.

We moved from Croydon to Worcestershire almost three years ago because of financial circumstances beyond our control. I hated it. I think I'd have quite enjoyed moving had it been a few years down the line and it had been our choice to move, but it wasn't and I didn't at all.

It did take me a long time to build roots here. Ds1 is now in a good school and ds2 arrived on the scene. I've got a few good friends. I can admit to myself now that the move was probably a good one for us, and I don't think I'd jump at the chance to move back now, whereas I probably would have done the first 2 years.

I still have twinges of missing our old house (not particularly lovely, but it had a certain something - a nice vibe, and have lots of happy memories there) and missing the benefits of living in a London borough, but they're not as strong as they used to be.

Ducks? I'm not even going to ask!

near Bordeaux, South East.

Rhu & ggg - we are not that far away from each other! Small world!

Rhubarb, I really envied you and admired you for giving this a whirl. I am so sad for you that it didn't work out better but wish you all the best for your new life in Cumbria. XXX

Fg and ggggl, none of our numerous French students have any intention of returning to France to work when they finish. Like you, they think the country is in a bad way and about to get worse :( agree with you, it's awful.

I hope the kids will remember France. dd will, but ds is only 2, I hope I can keep it alive for them.

I am so sorry it didn't work out and I know you had a hard decision about where in England to go. You sound such a strong person and I really think you will come out of all this even stronger

I will be drunk on here tonight too so talk about ducks all you want

are you drunk yet Rhubarb?

I'm working on it! Dh is having a bath and says he still feels rotten more than a week after his bout of manflu, so looks like I'll be getting drunk alone, ah well more for me then!

We (rather I) told dd this evening. I thought it was going well but then she said "but we're not going to stay are we?"
She is particularly dismayed at the thought of living in the caravan for any length of time again, as am I! I'm trying to big it up for her, tell her that it's an adventure, that we're going to get a house with a garden, maybe a bedroom each for her and ds, that she can look at the mountains and stay with grandma etc etc, but inside I'm struggling to cope myself and I can see that it's going to be tough to keep up the charade for her.

you are in a different situation to me but I agree with how you are putting it to your dd. I say (words to effect), we are gong back to uk to my kids and I also say we will see how it goes, how we all feel and maybe we will come back here.
My kids seem to be so chilled about it as they were when I said we were moving out here.

At least you have given it a go and in the long term you will be glad of that, who knows what will happen in the future!

It's funny, dd was fairly chilled when we moved here, but then she was only 3. Now she has settled, she is happy at school and has a bestest bestest friend that she is incredibly close to (marriage!). I've seen her confidence rocket and she is bi-lingual! She doesn't want to leave and it's so hard trying to convince her of the positives when I'm not even convinced myself!

It must be tricky when you would rather be staying put, I think kids sense more than we realise.

My kids have also gone up in confidence over here + I think the better weather + outdoor life help them relax, this is'nt what you need to hear at the moment is it. I'll get me coat!

were you ever on tv rhubarb?