Friday 2 March 2012

France; Why and How.

I was recently asked, by a couple of kind followers, why and how I moved to France. This is the simple answer.

When I was very young I went on two different 'exchange holidays' with French children of my age. One was to Dieppe, on the north coast; the other to a small village in the Champagne district. I must have been a precocious child, because I could see at once that this was where I wanted to live.

After college I did a spot of teaching, and during one Easter holiday we rushed off down to S W France, where we stayed in the house of a friend. At the nearby town I couldn't help looking in estate agent's windows, and one house caught my eye. We drove about 100 kms due South and pulled up outside a pair of impressive stone gateposts leading to the courtyard of a recently abandoned farm. Within the gates were the house, a huge barn, four massive trees, several other stone-built buildings (there's more of it round to the left); all with about one hectare of good quality land.


'I'll have it!' I said to the agent, before even getting out of the car. And that was it; after the unbelievable rigmarole of selling our home in Wales, coping with dreadful French paperwork and money transfers (this is now SO much easier), my wife and I, two children, and the dog, moved into home No 1 in September 1972.....It's at moments like this when you sit down and say to yourself  'What the fuck have I done?'.... I was just 25 years old.

Once habitable, my intention was to run a 'Painting Holiday' centre, where painters would come, have use of studio space, do their own thing, and receive critiques in the evenings over a glass of wine (if required).

I advertised in The Times newspaper, and we soon had enquiries. But our visitors were all NUTTERS; some dangerously so. A non-stop procession of certifiable eccentrics who made us permanently nervous. We abandoned the idea quite soon, and I took up stone-cutting instead (windows, fireplaces, arched doorways, etc).

We've moved house a couple of times since then, and are now very happily ensconced in our small cottage (below) overlooking the most wonderful open countryside. We are just about 300 metres from the first house, above.


OK, I've never earned a fortune and it hasn't always been easy, but my 3 children (one was born here) all had the most perfect childhoods, we grow a lot of what we eat, have an almost endless supply of wild mushrooms, and still manage, somehow, to make ends meet.

Would I do it again? Not sure; but probably. Yes of course I would!

21 comments:

  1. Idyllic and, as with most such, an idyll with no doubt a lot of work and effort behind the scenes to make it and to keep it so!

    In spite of - maybe because of - our historical national enmity I've had a soft spot for France ever since my first visit (aged 18 or so) and getting lost (literally) in Paris one evening during the most impressive thunder storm. Paris delivered atmosphere by the bucket load (literally)!

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  2. I think the best stories start with a brave action. I did enjoy hearing yours.

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  3. Thanks for that, Cro. You were indeed very brave to take that first step but it has obviously been well worth it. I wish you many more happy days in la belle France!

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  4. I wish I had the spontaneous courage to make decisions like that. I tend to be too cautious and that isn't always fun. You have a charming home and what better way to raise children than with produce you've grown yourself? Great story!

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  5. Why is it that art courses always attract nutters?

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  6. It takes a lot of courage to follow your dream but look how well it has worked out for you.

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  7. I believe when we live in the place that our heart leads us to Cro, we get the opportunity to live in harmony with our souls. I know this sounds a little new age-y, but there is a contentment about waking every morning and loving your surroundings. You are rich beyond compare Cro!

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    1. That's so true, Jacqueline. Every single morning when I come downstairs and look outside, I just adore being where I am.

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  8. I think that it is beautiful and perfect, Mr M.
    France is a beautiful country. I have always been interested in France, as my grandfather was there during WWII, and please correct me, Mr. M, he was in a village called, "St. Lowe"? There was a heated battle there with the Germans, and he was shot by sniper there and killed. I am not sure where that is from you. But from the few letters my grandmother got from him, he loved France and the people there, where he was, they were kind, and compassionate, and he said the countryside was magnificant.
    I think that you did so well, and I feel as long as you can make the bills, eat good, and out of your backyard, what better way to enjoy life!
    Have a wonderful weekend, Mr and Lady M.

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    1. I should think your grandfather was in St Lô, about 100 miles South/East of Cherbourg on the North coast. There was a lot of fighting up there.... and a lot of lives lost.

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  9. Some people let life happen to them and others take a chance and make a life happen. Your choices were perfect for you and the way you have lived seems so idyllic. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures with us. Most of us can only dream of living in such a magnificent place.

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  10. Must have been a good year for moving...that's when I first moved to Cardiff!!

    They look beautiful places to live and I'm not surprised that you stayed

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  11. What a great story about your move to France. It must have been frightening, but at the same time, exciting. Didn't there used to be a British show about a married couple who moved to France--I think it was a comedy? There was always car trouble, weird and eccentric neighbors, problems with their little chateau . . .

    Anyway, maybe Monty Python (or Faulty Towers) did this to me, but I was always under the impression that British people hated the French.

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  12. How to live life properly and with guts.

    I have a lot of respect for you Cro.

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  13. Some people stay on the merry-go-round and hope to grab the brass ring as they go past. Not you! You got OFF the horse and went after that doggone ring. Good for you! That was quite a leap of faith, but evidently you knew your own mind at an early age. (None of that "finding yourself" stuff for you!)

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  14. Great story, Cro. I loved France when i lived there for a year (study abroad programme) but i didn't manage to live there after school, which had been my plan.

    After many years inland, i have finally returned to the coast, and couldn't be happier. It's grand to live in a place you love and that feeds your soul.

    megan

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  15. very interesting blog. You can't beat France for beauty in all sorts of places. http://caroleschatter.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/saint-ceneri-le-gerai.html

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  16. What a great posting, Cro, I'm so glad that you were asked about how you came to live in France. You did what others only dream of doing and the happy outcome is well deserved.

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  17. Never been to France although I do often dream of it... But I have been to Wales and thought it is the most beautiful place in the world.I would set up house there if I could, but alas my grandchildren dictate were I lay my Canadian roots:)
    grace

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  18. I like this function on blogger 'You might also like' because I keep turning up interesting posts of yours and this was really interesting. I can imagine the bureaucracy was far worse back then so good on you for sticking it out. I shan't bore you with why I ended up in Angola but after 19 years, two children and a local wife, I STILL do not have residency status!

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  19. one of the best places in the world....!

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