Our life in Brittany
I am finding it harder and harder to keep this section of the site up to date due to the HTML coding required combined with my skills!
I shall therefore be taking out the diary section in the near future and updating this front page.
In anticipation of this I have set up a more traditional type of blog which will run in addition to this.
Please take a look at http://lifein-france.blogspot.com/ where I hope you will follow us.
This website will hopefully be an inspiration to all those that are thinking about taking the plunge and moving to Brittany
I started this before our move and hope to document both the highlights and low lights of moving and living in Brittany as well as compiling some, hopefully, useful information that could help others.
This site will be ongoing and we would encourage anyone to bookmark it and also participate with useful information.
|
One thing that comes as a bit of a shock is the French shop opening hours here in Brittany. Most small shops close all day on Monday and the majority of shops close for lunch for 2 hours12-2pm everyday, you can be in a large garden centre or a major car showroom but spot on 12am they will be shutting their doors! We have found that it is very important to try and speak French here, It is considered rude to just speak English not to attempt to speak French. It is a bit embarrassing at first but you soon find that the person who you thought didn't speak any English at all, will all of a sudden start to help you out. Generally speaking most things seem more expensive than in the UK, buying groceries is the most immediate example. However at lot of the produce seems to be a lot more locally sourced than in the UK with the result that it appears fresher and tastier. Also you soon learn that as it is very local you tend to buy up big when there is a glut as things will be marked down substantially. To give an example we have recently bought fresh sardines at 1.95 euros per kg or about 75p a pound, also grapes at .95C a kg or 36p a pound. So after being here for around 2 Months we are not spending any more than we were back in the UK. Autumn leaves in our garden 2011
|
News
5th January 2012
Currency exchange rates
Currency rates are something I have never had more than a passing interest in except for when we have been going to foreign countries on holiday. However now we are living here in France on a permanent basis I am becoming a lot more focussed on them! We took the ( what now seems like a very wise ) decision to leave what capital we had in the UK and transfer money for our general day to day living as an when needed. In the short time we have been here, just about 5 Months, we have seen the exchange rate move from around 1.08 euros to the Pound to over 1.20 to the pound a difference of about 12%. Before we moved I spent a bit of time setting up a French account with the same bank as my UK one, although it was a long winded and not an easy process It is now paying dividends as I get a better exchange rate than I can even get with professional money movers, no bank charges for moving it at all and I have complete control with instant movement over a secure Internet banking. I'm beginning to feel a bit like a currency trader!
19th-27th December 2011
A Christmas visit to the UK
/b
We took an extended break back to the UK over the Christmas period to visit family and friends, with some rough seas in recent weeks we decided that this time we would go via the channel tunnel. It is about a 7 hour drive from where we live in Brittany although most of the roads are very good. There are a number of tolls to pay on the motorway's totalling to about 25 Euros in each direction. The tunnel operation, for those who have never used it is very slick, they use number plate recognition software so it is just a question of punching a button and printing out a ticket. There is a 2 hour window in which to arrive which makes for a stress free travel.
We had to drive to near Hitchin north of London and approaching the Dartford tunnel in the dark and rain in 5 lanes of traffic in each direction made we once again glad to live where we do!
However once we were there, we had a wonderful time and were made so welcome by so many people in addition of course to our family, so any of you reading this I just want to say a very big thank you. Ryanair's new fares!
Ryanair's new fees: £1 for your ticket, £5 for your sandwich – £100 for your bag, that's right according to a report in the Independant today this is what we have to come this next year.
I have to say like a lot of people I do use them and I guess headlines like these will do no good to their image but If you are careful with the booking online and stick to the rules it is still possible to get some very cheap deal.
10th December 2011
Christmas party with the Babbel group
We go to a local "Babbel" group here in Huelgoat, thi is a French/English group designed to help both French and English learn and improve their skilld in the opposite language. It is also a social gathering. Thi is held once a week on a Tuesday afternoon for a couple of hours.
This Saturday there was a Christmas party, all those attending were asked to provide some food to be shared. This resulted in a large varied amount of beautiful home cooked food. On each of the tables, which were all decorated up for Christmas,there were nibbles and a good selection of wine plus we all had a "Kir" as an aperitif. After a starter and a main meal which was followed by a cheese course we had some singing of Christmas songs before the sweet course, this was in French and English. It was enjoyed by all even if the "French" words and singing were decidedly suspect!
December 2rd-5th 2011
A trip back to the UK
This weekend we took a long weekend break back to the UK, the main purpose was a get-together with some members of a forum ( www.ukexpert.co.uk )I am a member of. This was the annual Christmas dinner which this year was held in the Grace bar in Piccadilly in London and was attended by about 30 people. We also had chance over the weekend to catch up with 3 of our sons who were at an MG owners get-together in Newport Pagnal
We flew from Dinard about a two and a half hour drive away from us to East Midlands airport by RyanAir at a very cheap cost of £9 each way per person, details of the airport and flights can be found on the Links page
November 26th 2011
Books and more books
Today we attended the opening of a new bookshop in Huelgoat. It is owned and run by Sara Weston, a graphic designer by profession and is located just the other side of the road off the town square at 1 Rue du General de Gaulle, telephone number 0298167375. Sara is a very approachable person with a friendly attitude and stocks a large number of both new and secondhand English and French books
The bookshop was officially opened by the Mayor Monsieur Corentin GARREC and the opening was very well attended. There was wine and gateaux for everyone and it made for an enjoyable hour.
We wish her every success!
November 12th 2011
Jazz, Moules & Frites
We went out with some friends last night, had a couple of drinks in a bar in Huelgoat then went to Locmaria-Berrien which is about 5 miles away for what they called a Musical dinner, It was a great night but it was like going back in time 50 years and there's a lot to be said for that. It was 12 euros to get in, there was Kir (white wine and cordial) as an aperitif although they came round and refilled the glasses several times! actually If we had known that we may not have bought the 2 bottles of wine ( dirt cheap at 4euros a bottle) We all sat at long tables which was good as it gave chance to chat in pigeon French/English to others on the table. There was Moules and Frites for the main course with a cheese course following and then Ice-cream and coffee and of course loads of bread. Someone came round topping up the coffee with what I'm pretty sure was some home made whiskey out of a gallon jar, it was potent stuff anyway my head was spinning a bit by the end of the night that's for sure There was a jazz group playing all night and dancing, what a great night!
November 6th 2011
I think I'm about to become a farmer
Well perhaps that's going a bit far but I am on the point of thinking about ordering a compact tractor.
I feel it is all about totally taking on the lifestyle over here. I am coming to realise that I am never happier than when I'm out working on the grounds. So, a tractor fitted with a rotavator would certainly mean that I could cultivate enough ground to keep us totally self sufficient in fruit and vegetables.
With a link box as well it would also be very useful for transporting logs, heavy items etc around the field and garden.
As I say I am only thinking of it BUT WATCH THIS SPACE!
November 1st 2011
All Souls Day
Not a lot going on today as It is a public holiday here in France. However today we had an invite from a farmer neighbough who live about a 5 min walk down the road from us. We met him, his wife and children and spent a very pleasant If stressful ( due to the language ) hour with him over several large glasses of Pastis.........no more work for me today, that's for sure!October 30th 2011
Sunday, A day of rest
It is becoming more and more apparent to me that the vast majority of French people regard Sunday as a day of rest. We have become accustomed back in the UK to expect nearly all shops to be open on a Sunday and particually during the Summer time Sunday has become the day for "Washing the car" " Mowing the lawn" "Shopping" Etc Etc and is moving ever more closer to the USA style where more and more stores are open 24hrs and Sunday is regarded as a day to "Get things done" after being in work all week.
Here, in Brittany everything is at a slower pace of life which is part of it's charm,outside of resort areas and large towns/Cities there are very few shops open. I, am myself starting to be aware of what I do on a Sunday, I am taking care to make sure that what I do is certainly on a low key and whereas If I was back in the UK taking down trees like I am at the moment, over here I am certainly not about to start the chain saw!
To be honest, I like it!
I did however sow a few rows of broad beans to over-winter which hopefully we should be eating in April or May.
October 24th 2011
Laudeac
Today we drove to Laudeac, about an hour and a half away and met up for lunch with a bunch of people who I have talked to but never met before.
We all access a forum based around Brittany and Normandy called appropriately enough the Brittany Normandy forum http://www.brittanywi.proboards.com/ we had lunch at the Thinh Phat Chinese restaurant which is at 22 Boulevard Victor Étienne, 22600 Loudéac. A very enjoyable 3 hours were spent there with a total of around 22 people. Here is a photo of a few of them.
October 22nd 2011
Oh Deer!
I feel I am very lucky in that we have over two acres of ground surrounding our house. Most evening just before dusk I pour myself a drink and have a wander around the ground. It is very calm and peaceful at that time of day and there is nothing I like better than to take a walk down by the stream and here the water tinkling and the birds settling down for the night. On a couple of occasions I have also seen a deer as well.
Tonight I had been for my usual walk and as it was getting dark had just begun to walk up from the stream when I saw a fully grown deer run out of the hedge on the other side of the field. I suppose it was because I had stopped and it was getting dark but it ran at full speed across the field directly at me. It wasn't until it got to about 6 feet from me that it saw me and turned and lept away. It was so close that I actually turned sideways as I thought it was going to hit me which at the speed it was going and it's weight would at the very least have had me with broken ribs or more.
What a wonderful sight though and one I will remember for a long time to come
October 21st 2011
Well after a really terrific September and early October Autumn is upon us, woke up this morning to the first Frost of the Autumn, If we didn't have enough chestnuts already that will surely bring the rest of them down!
October16th 2011
SALON DES VINS ET DE LA GASTRONOMIE
Today we took a visit to the annual food and wine fayre held here in Huelgoat,SALON DES VINS ET DE LA GASTRONOMIE This was held in the Sports hall and attracted a lot of people. The car park was full and during the time we were there people were arriving all the time. It was held on both the 15th and the 16th so was obviously very popular indeed. 
This is a picture of spices etc that were being sold.
October 3rd 2011
I am beginning to appreciate foraging here in Brittany, a few minutes work this morning and I have collected some beautiful sweet chestnuts straight from my own garden. Yesterday we took a picnic down to the coast near Le Faou and on the way just by the roadside came across several apple trees, the ground beneath them was littered with apples, a lot were going over or bruised and rotten but we still picked up around 15kg. So many apple pies for the Months to come I think.
September 25th 2011
We are gradually getting all the little jobs that need doing finished around the house. Today I put up a new shower rail and sealed the bath etc plus did some more sorting and tidying up in the basement. I am out in the garden most days as well stripping off turf ready for rotavating and then planting out with veg next year, It's a bit of a mammoth task but it is getting done gradually. Most days I see fresh deer droppings from the night before and I'm wondering If this is going to be a problem with them eating the plants later on? I guess I may have to get an electric fence at some point.
September 21st 2011
We went today to the local CPAM office to sort out our Carte Vitale's, knowing that they would probably want all sorts of identification I went fully prepared, I had everything! Our passports, utility bills, forms from the doctor, birth certificates, RIB ( official bank details ),wedding certificate I even had the house documents from the Notaire....there was no way I was going to be caught out! Wrong.......... My RIB had my old English address on it as I had prudently ( ha) set up my French bank account before I left the UK, so even though I have a French Bank account I can't do anything until I get the bank to change it.
September 20th 2011
Off to attend the "Babble" group today, this is a social group of mostly English but also some French designed to improve language skills! We went to the CPAM office this morning but it was closed, cest la vie there is always tomorrow.
September 19th 2011
We finally got round to registering with a doctor today, there is an English speaking doctor within walking distance of our house, but we had been told by the previous owner of our house who had asked on our behalf, that she couldn't take us as she was not accepting any more patients. Avril and myself had differing ideas on what to do, to her it was more important to get a doctor within walking distance in the town, I was more interested in getting one that spoke good English. I had heard of one who spoke excellent English but was about 4-5 miles away. In the end, on Avril's suggestion we went to see the local doctor anyway, after a wait of nearly 2 hours ( we learnt that we should have phoned for an appointment)we saw her and she agreed to take us on, a good result for us. Avril had to get an on-going prescription which was prescribed while we were there. There is a standard fee for a consultation with a doctor in France of 23 euros, however at least 70% of this should be refunded to us through the Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie or CPAM office, apparently this is in Carhaix where we will have to go to tomorrow to register.
September 18th 2011
Peter and Rachael left early this morning to catch the 9.15 am ferry, It has been a really good visit by them and we have enjoyed having them here. Things will quieten down here now for a few weeks after having a lot of visitors in a very short space of time, although I do have a good friend of mine arriving for a short break next Month.
September 14th 2011
Back home again after a couple of rough ferry crossings! Rachael, in particular was glad to be on dry land.
September 12th 2011
I have a very quick return trip back to the UK planned for tonight, I'm on the overnight ferry towing my caravan up to my son's house in Wiltshire, I'm leaving both the car and caravan there which he is going to sell for me. I am coming back again tomorrow night with both my so, Peter and his wife Rachael, who are staying with us for 4 nights. We are looking forward to them coming.
August 31st 2011
We took delivery today of our new car, a Citroen C1 
We have made the decision to sell our existing car and our caravan, this should just about cover the cost of the new car, which with a 3 year guarantee and around 60mpg should give us fairly cheap motoring for the next few years.
August 23rd 2011
David, Amanda, Tom and Emily arrived today for the week, really lovely to see them all, the kids are loving the freedom of making dens etc in the trees and woods, here is a picture of Tom on top of a very large rock in our garden.
August 22nd 2011
A really nice night tonight spent in the town square, there was a hog-roast on a spit, loads of food for 12 euros, starting off with half a melon and ending up with tarte tatin, met up with some friends there,Donny and Rosie plus another couple we had never met before, Malcolm and Maureen. Walked back in the pitch darkness through the woods, good job I had a torch with me!
August 15th 2011
Steve and Jenny arrived today for a 3 night break in the middle of their holiday. Steve bought with him the guitar he said I could have as he didn't use it. I'm hoping to get some practice in and maybe get a tune out of it some day!August 10th 2011
Woke up this morning to see what I thought was a large dog coming over our front lawn but as it went behind the house and I saw it re-appear at the rear we saw it was a deer, what a lovely sight.The removal van arrived around 8.30am this morning right off the overnight ferry, the two guys doing the work did a good job and kept at it until around 2.30pm, we did have a table that was broken but luckily it was one we didn't know what to do with anyway! We have all the furniture in their correct rooms but have loads of boxes to unpack over the next few weeks. The next couple of weeks are going to be busy with visits to us..We have a friend of mine arriving first for 3-4 days the our eldest son Steve and his partner Jenny arrive for 3 nights, after that we have our youngest son David, his wife Amanda and 2 of our grandchildren Tom and Emily staying for a week.
August 8th 2011
Completion day at last, arrived at 7am this morning and made a stop at Geant Casino hyper market on the outskirts of Morlaix to buy some phone handsets, The UK ones are not compatible with the French system and the telephone service is being installed today. We headed straight for the house and met the present owners who were loading up the last of their belongings and then met the estate agent to have a final look round the house and read the meters etc. 2PM and we all meet up in the Notaries office to complete the sale, It took about an hour and a half by the time it had all been read through and documents signed but now it is finally ours!!!! Tonight will be another night in the caravan though as the furniture doesn't arrive until Wednesday.
August 7th 2011
Catching the 11pm ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff tonight, we arrive at 7am in the Morning.
July 25th 2011
This period before our move is quite useful as I have been able to organise a number of things in advance of our move. I am sure that I will miss some of them but for other peoples reference here are a few things that I'm getting sorted. I have rung the Pension services to get the forms needed sent to our new address so that we have access to the health service in France, their system is supposably one of the best in the world with hardly any waiting at all for treatment however it only covers around 70% of the cost the rest we will have to cover with an insurance policy. I have also contacted my Bank, HSBC, who have banking in France, by opening up a French account through them, all of which I can do from here in the UK, It should meant that I will have cheque books and cards sent to me before we leave, more importantly I will be able to access all of the accounts via the internet and be able to transfer funds between them at will. I have contacted a TV man in Brittany, I have already bought a "FreeSat" box and have arranged for a satellite dish to be installed a couple of days after we move in to allow us to get a full range of English programs as normal. I have contacted a Telephone/Broadband company and arranged for the telephone on the day we arrive however the broadband will take a bit longer!
July 10th 2011
We are now living in our caravan at our son, Peter's house in Wiltshire, our date for our house in Huelgoat is now set for the 8th of August so we can start making plans. The removers are booked for the 10th which will give us a full day to sort out in our mind where all of the furniture will be going.
June 27th 2011
Just had a call from the removers who want to come today (2 days early)to make a start on the packing, It all seems very real now! Just about said goodbye to all of our friends which is a bit sad as some we will certainly never see again. Also had an email firming up our purchase in Huelgoat, this is almost certain now to be the first week in August. Exciting times!
June 17th 2011
Another stage further, we have just had a tentative date of the 7th or 8th of August to move into our house, we will probably take the caravan over to France about a week before.
June 16th 2011
Things are really moving along now, we have just made the 10% deposit on our new house, no backing out now unless we want to say goodbye to our deposit. Not for the feint hearted!
June 15th 2011
Contracts are now exchanged with completion on the 30th We are really excited now!
June 15th 2011
At last! Just had a call from our solicitors and contracts should be exchanged today, our buyers would have like completion for next week but because of the tight time scale the removal company cannot move us until the 29/30th June.
We have also had notice to pay our 10% deposit on our house in Huelgoat, this has to be done within 8 days of both parties signing the Compromis de Vente. We will be arranging the transfer tomorrow.
June 12th, 2011
Well we have now signed our "Compromis de Vente" for our house in Huelgoat in Brittany and we still haven't exchanged contracts on our house in the UK. I don't foresee any problems as our buyers have been around to measure up curtains so It is not that stressful, however it is like living in limbo land! Until we get an exchange we cannot book the movers which all adds to the time it will take, this will also have an impact on the sellers of the house we are buying which will further delay things. I put all of these delays down to the solicitors who I'm not very impressed with! We have now had another visit to the house and have a better idea of the layout and where our furniture will go.
April 14th, 2011
The first day of our house on the market and we have a buyer! Unbelievable in this day and age but the first viewers of the house have made an offer at nearly the asking price, have nothing to sell and want a quick completion. They would like exchange of contracts by the 13th May and completion at the beginning of June. I have my doubts that it will happen this quickly but we will see!
Useful Links
www.parabolica.fr
www.brittanyforeveryone.com
If you have enjoyed reading this a "Digg" would be appreciated.
For a first class service to have a sat dish etc and equipment either installed and or fitted contact "Bart"
www.uktelecom.uk.net/
Broadband provider based in the UK designed particually for the English Ex Pat community.
www.laposte.com
Everything you need to know about posting a letter or parcel in France all in English
French HSBC web site in English, If you already hold an English HSBC account you can open up a French account that will be linked to it and accessable via the internet complete with cheque book and debit card before you move to France.
www.brittany-ferries.co.uk
Ferries,routes,timetables and fares
A site dedicated to information about Brittany.
Visit SURVIVE FRANCE NETWORK
<><