Where are the French PH Massive?

Where are the French PH Massive?

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Caractacus

Original Poster:

2,604 posts

224 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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Welcome along and thanks for the advice smile

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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Johno said:
Le Vesinet, west Paris . . . 78
wavey I grew up in Fourqeux and Le Pecq smile


Live in England now, but have a longere on the southern borders of Sarthe (72), not far from Tours.

Johno

8,401 posts

281 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Puggit said:
Johno said:
Le Vesinet, west Paris . . . 78
wavey I grew up in Fourqeux and Le Pecq smile


Live in England now, but have a longere on the southern borders of Sarthe (72), not far from Tours.
Le Pecq is our stop for the RER, although we're closer to the edge of Montesson. 5 min walk from Charmettes. Great part of Paris, tree lined leafy suburb, very quiet, double length garage for the toys and I work just on Pont Chatou, so absolutely ideal.

A longère in Sarthe sounds ideal as well, just closer to get to easy from the UK, good wine, close to LM and easy access to other parts of France . .. would certainly consider this ourselves.

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Well it's not on the market, but I'm sure we could come to an agreement hehe

Chris_

483 posts

205 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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If you do plenty of research and planning, moving to France can be hugely rewarding. There are many things to consider, but a few key ones are;

-Money. Will you need to work? Retirees generally fair better as they have a guaranteed income, albeit possibly subject to exchange rate changes. France is not a particularly cheap place to live. Fuel and energy costs are just as high, if not higher than the UK, as are many day-to-day needs. Rural France is littered with half finished projects where people have run out of cash. You will be very lucky to survive on renting out a gite, growing your own veg. and foraging for firewood.

-Working; if you are hoping to find work in France, it can be incredibly hard. Rural unemployment is roughly double that of the major towns (which is already high). Many UK professional qualifications will not be recognised, and there seems to be a certificate needed for just about every occupation in France. Even with these, you will be competing with locals whose language skills are likely to be far superior to yours. The ex-pat small ads are full of highly qualified and talented Brits, desperate to do the most basic, minimum wage jobs, just to get by. Being self-employed or starting up your own business is also more difficult than in the UK.

-Relationships; Around one in four couples or families that move to France with the intention of making it permanent, return within three years, often apart. Moving to France for a "new start" will be difficult if there are existing cracks or strains in a relationship. The pressures of moving are likely to expose these, not least because you are going to be spending far more time together. Children can find it hard to settle, and grandparents will be upset about losing contact.

-Attitude. Personally, I think that it is important to move to France with the intention of becoming part of the local community, wanting to embrace the culture and people, tolerant of the foibles and frustrations. A reasonable grasp of the language is vital, and can make a big difference to how you are received.

When I have a bit of time after the Summer, I would be happy to do a "French House Renovation" thread, if anyone is interested in seeing some of the things involved. There is a great thread by Pvapour in "Homes, Gardens & DIY" which is great inspiration for those wanting to get stuck in themselves.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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Very wise words

Dick le Dog

21 posts

140 months

Friday 27th July 2012
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Back in '93 I bought detailed IGN maps to see where the water courses, power lines and roads etc were located. Now we have satelite images ; excellent . Have used them many times to see which beaches are fine sand or volcanic on Sardinia for example . Quite alarming to look at South East England sometimes ...... how many houses ?

Dick le Dog

21 posts

140 months

emss

82 posts

147 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Hi,

smegmore said:
I also live in the Vendée, started in La Roche Sur Yon and then moved to Aizenay early last year.
Do you sometimes go to the meeting in Les Flaneries @La Roche sur Yon ? (Next takes place this sunday)

Éric Masson

emss

82 posts

147 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Hi,

Chris_ said:
-Attitude. Personally, I think that it is important to move to France with the intention of becoming part of the local community, wanting to embrace the culture and people, tolerant of the foibles and frustrations. A reasonable grasp of the language is vital, and can make a big difference to how you are received.
Mastering french language is a huge advantage as most French people have very weak skills in foreign languages (*), trying to speak a basic french will be appreciated in day to day life.

Éric Masson
  • : Foreign language courses are very academic and emphasis is barely placed on oral language practice...

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Hi Eric, do you do any trackdays with LoT - like Le Mans this weekend?

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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mogv8 said:
Perik Omo said:
We're in the Limousin not far from Limoges and 10 mins from the Dordogne border in the Limousin-Perigord Natural Park.
You must be within a few minutes from our holiday home (Cussac).

Great area for a petrol heads, although saturated with speed traps at the moment.
Ah, let me join the gang...kind of!

My parents are in the Limousin, about 40mins North of Limoges. Junction 21 on the A20 is their closest and most interesting way-point wink

If you see a French reg' transit with a giant PH sticker on the back - make sure you wave!

Lovely lovely area. I am very jealous of them smile

Edit- and you chaps too! biggrin

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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rdjohn said:
Hi Eric, do you do any trackdays with LoT - like Le Mans this weekend?
What's on this weekend then? I'm only six miles from the circuit.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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lowdrag said:
What's on this weekend then? I'm only six miles from the circuit.
Just seen your profile. Would you mind if Next time I was driving through I get a brew at yours? biggrin

magooagain

9,909 posts

169 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Nice to see this thread still going well, i am curently stuck in the UK working until the end of August and i am missing the Charente roads and my coupe badly.

lowdrag

12,869 posts

212 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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Stedman said:
lowdrag said:
What's on this weekend then? I'm only six miles from the circuit.
Just seen your profile. Would you mind if Next time I was driving through I get a brew at yours? biggrin
Open house here. If you bring a bottle, you can even stay - if it ain't the main race time that is! wink

Give me a bit of notice though if possible.

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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lowdrag said:
Open house here. If you bring a bottle, you can even stay - if it ain't the main race time that is! wink

Give me a bit of notice though if possible.
DING DONG whistle

Of course, anything other than that would be ridiculously rude!

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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lowdrag said:
rdjohn said:
Hi Eric, do you do any trackdays with LoT - like Le Mans this weekend?
What's on this weekend then? I'm only six miles from the circuit.
Hello from Southern Sarthe smile. - well, the house is, we're not!

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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lowdrag said:
What's on this weekend then? I'm only six miles from the circuit.
There are two sets of trackdays organised by Delta Racing from the channel isles and Lotus on Track.

LoT are MB today and Bugatti tomorrow. The main entrance is not manned, so you will have to tailgate someone to get inside.

emss

82 posts

147 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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Hi John,

rdjohn said:
Hi Eric, do you do any trackdays with LoT - like Le Mans this weekend?
Never been on track with LoT, and I never really checked diary as it seemed to me that tracks were mostly located in north of France.

Le Mans Maison Blanche would really fit my expectations (the Bugatti is way too fast).
Seems I'll have to check the diary for next season, then.

In the meantime, I'll try to plan a session in Fontenay le Comte or Val de Vienne.

Eric