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For some, the dream of a new life in France doesn't work out. For others it is hugely successful. How do you make sure you fall into the latter category? We take a look at the common problems cited by those who give up on French life.
“Avoine, avoine, avoine..?”, I try again, saying it differently each time, in the hope that I will fall on the right pronunciation, the right vowel sound, which I, with my American tongue, have trouble with...
If you do any authentic French cooking, you're likely to run across recipes that call for mirepoix. While that might sound daunting to English speakers, the fact is that mirepoix is a very simple, easily-found ingredient. So what is mirepoix, and how is it used in French cooking?
.jpg "horse racing and betting in france")
There are no bookmakers on French Racecourses, and all betting is done via the Pari Mutuel – the equivalent of the Tote in UK. At the hippodrome the betting is known as PMH, but if betting is for elsewhere it is PMU.
No, we're not in South America but in south-west France! When Margaret and Brian Venables arrived here they needed to earn a small income until the day their pensions kicked in. After a disastrous foray into renewable energy, they found success with an exotic animal
"A Burgundy barn"
A brief history of the region's food. We look at the foodstuffs traditionally grown and reared in Limousin through the ages. We also take a look at some local recipes with their particular regional variations.
"Patricia in front of her house"
Before making a life changing decision, such as moving to Burgundy, have you thought about 'testing the waters' and finding a property to rent? Or, if you know your heart ...
This is a delicious accompaniment to roast goose, duck or turkey. Every ingredient can be sourced locally in the Quercy, and the famous Agen prunes can be found worldwide if you happen to be elsewhere...
The charity organization Cancer Support France has been set up to help English speaking sufferers of the disease. They provide much needed support at a very difficult time. CSF is now hoping to start a branch in Creuse, Limousin....
"Lesconil Harbour"
David Anderson, Helen Belle and Graeme Perry of solicitors and chartered tax advisers Sykes Anderson examine the law surrounding the 3% tax payable by non-resident companies on the value of their French property
"Marie-Odile & Simon" 
"Jean-Fran at the Ocrerie" 
"The barn undergoing DIY"
No doubt you enjoy sipping Chablis in the Burgundy son but why not accompany your glass with this very simple and delicious dish...
A little history lesson on the most famous French appéritif...
If you thought truffles could only be found in the exotic south of France you're most definitely mistaken...
Stephen Leitch concludes his cautionary tale of getting a new house built in the Lot. Having waited over a year to get started on the building, the actual construction of the house goes quite smoothly and is actually completed ahead of schedule. Ready to move into? Well not quite, as EDF haven’t yet connected the electricity...
We recently caught up with Nicole Killick at Books and Company in Gourdon and she told us about their popular and expanding reading groups and the Christmas social event in the shop which has the added bonus of a 5% discount on any books purchased.
At the end of December we had a budget review and came to the conclusion that we would really need to tighten our belts if we wanted to get the project finished to the standard we hoped. We haven’t gone too far over budget ...
November and December have been really busy months both work wise and at the barn, so much progress has been made and we are finally starting to see a home emerge!
Another month of good progress in September! Last month you’ll remember we were putting in all the joists for the first floor which was brilliant. The not so brilliant bit ...
By early October the remaining holes for the windows were chopped out and this was one of those times when you really see things pulling together. The added light at ...
All Saint’s Day, November 1st, a public holiday in France, is the eve of All Soul’s Day, a time when our dead are remembered. In the past, a wake was held all night, prayers were said and chestnuts were roasted in the fire then eaten, the belief being that for each one a soul was saved from purgatory...
Grahame Martin, Wine Writer, explains...
"Put simply, Vins de Pays wines are a step up from Vin de Table, and a step down from Vin Délimité de Qualite Supérieure, which, in turn is just..."
If you’re looking for property close to skiing and winter sports facilities, but with summer potential too, then you should focus your search in the eastern Pyrenees mountain area of the Languedoc-Roussillon. Located in the Pyrenees Orientales bordering Spain and Andorra - the Capcir and Cerdagne plateaux are an outdoor pursuits paradise. "Pyrenees Property"
Get organised with our check-list of things to do...
Lot resident Tim Atkins shares some of his research and experiences of trying to decide the best and cheapest way to heat his French home. With tax credits of 50% now being offered on wood burning stoves, together with reduced TVA rates of 5.5% instead of the normal 19.6%, they could be an attractive option…
The recent currency exchange rate fluctuations have reduced the buying power of people moving from the UK to France. But French property is still outstanding value compared to the UK. Sell your detached four-bedroom house in Sussex for £425,000 and see what you could buy in the Lot and Quercy region of southwest France...
Artist and chef Tessa Baker has led a seriously eventful life - from the time she spilled to wine on Lauren Bacall to sailing around the world. Here she describes what brought her to France and how she has found happiness here
You love bringing your dog to France but as soon at he or she sees the car they start to fret and the journey becomes fraught with problems. What can you do? Vet Arielle Griffiths gives some advice...
What do you need to do to integrate and enjoy your new Gallic life? Maggi de Rozario, a Brit who has lived in France since 2002, and who has become so at home here that she has been invited by her local mayor to join in planning her village's future, gives
some advice
Hi again everyone and sorry it‘s been so long since the last update! As anticipated we didn’t actually do anything to the barn through all of July. August however has been a good month.
With two new baby Alpacas (Crias), things seemed to be going well for Deborah and her smallholding. But then there was the mass breakout by the animals and the latest set back is a bad case of "fly-strike"...
A new year and a new start – just what do you do in the garden in January? The answer is probably not a lot, certainly when it is wet underfoot. That’s the time for reviewing what went on last year, what worked and what didn’t...