Real Lives
CONTENTS
Real Life Stories of France
Welcome to 'Real Lives' - the section of FrenchEntrée that's packed with stories from people who have made the move to France.
If you want to set up a business and have a child going in to school, we also have first-hand accounts in our Business and Education zones. For health stories see our Health zone.
Would you like to tell others what your new life is like? We always like to receive real life stories. Go on, get in touch!
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Editor's picks
How the Brubaker family turned an ancient communal oven or four banal into an enchanting holiday haven. more...
It's all in the family
A renovation project in Paris
The Paris apartment had great bones, but needed a top-to-bottom overhaul. How would they manage the renovation remotely? more...
Liz invites us to reconnect with the arts
It's never too late for 'late starters and re-starters' who love art, writing and music. Learning new skills in an idyllic setting is rejuvenating.
more...
We Arrived By Accident! ...seven years later...
We had spoken to Pat seven years ago about his move to France...where is he now?
more...
Becoming A French Citizen
A tale of three continents
There are many things that Yetunde loves about France: the countryside, the Mediterranean, the grandeur of Paris, the traditions and the language. One thing she didn’t love so much was standing in line at the Préfecture.
more...
A penthouse in Nice
Franklin and Don fell in love with France for the language, the food, the art, the history and the sunshine in the Riviera.
more...
The House of the Vineyard
Sunkissed days on the hills along rows of vines and sunflowers. Balmy evenings cradling a glass of Côtes de Duras under the shimmering moonlight. Who could resist? more...
We run a gite business in Provence
David and Karen Taylor live in Saint Saturnin Les Apt in Provence, where they run a gite business and are lucky enough to have their own olive grove. Here they speak to FrenchEntrée about why they left the UK to start afresh in France. more...
From Texas to the Dordogne • Jeff and Liz find a home
Jeff and Liz were dismayed to be shown a house that was different from their specifications, not in the small hamlet they had envisioned, not stone construction, and was very formal in style. It was also substantially over budget. In short, it was perfect.more...
From Australia to Agen
The story of an antipodean property search
Ange and Bruce intended to move to Finland. After four years in France, one beautiful daughter and a baby on the way, they share the story of the road that led them to Agen –an acronym of Ange... coincidence?.more...
A stylish cottage renovation in the Dordogne
La Maisonnette
"Renovating and owning a house in France has been an incredible adventure that allowed us to feel like we’re a small part of a village and opened up a whole new way to experience France." meet the Brubaker's
Our boys have grown up in the vineyards
In 2009 Paul and Isla Gordon moved from New Zealand to Languedoc-Roussillon where they set up Domaine La Sarabande. FrenchEntrée finds out why they came to France, the challenges involved and what advice they would give others. more...
We bought a restaurant in Normandy
French cuisine with an English accent
In 2002 Patrick and Nicky Hilyer swapped a settled family life in Saffron Walden, North Essex for an exciting but unpredictable future: running a restaurant in Lower Normandy. Patrick explains how they became restaurateurs.
more...
The Paris Pod
A humorous podcast on life in France
British expats James Simpson and Matt Adams started The Paris Pod in May 2011 as a way of sharing their views and experiences on a variety of subjects, from bureauocracy to fashion via l'andouillette and la bise. more...
My dress agency in Poitou-Charentes
Get the 'je ne sais quoi'
In the three years since Terry Warren opened Je Ne Sais Quoi in La Rochefoucauld, she has seen everything from old knickers to vintage Chanel come through the doors of her dress agency. FrenchEntrée asks her how she - and her two teenage children - came to be in the Charente and what she hopes to achieve with the business.
more...
In the dog house!
Eleanor Fullalove meets Rick and Tracey Harwood, a couple living the good life in France. They run luxury kennels in Normandy. Here they reveal why they made the move and how they make it work for them.
more...
Designing jewellery in the Languedoc
Seven years ago, Gee Backhouse gave up her job in computing and moved from the Cotswolds to the Minervois where she set up as a jewellery designer. Here, Gee tells how she and her husband realised their dream of settling in France...
more...
Running an online shop from Alsace
Hayley Flurer from South Africa moved to Strasbourg in November 2009 and discovered a novel way of earning a living (and meeting new people) even before she had mastered the language. The best bit is that anyone can join in, anywhere in France.
more...
Holiday home owners who care
Jane and Ron Bennett have a property in the Gers that they rent out to holidaymakers. They intend to spend more time there once Ron has retired, but their investment has already brought with it a career change for Jane.more...
From New Zealand to new French home
In anticipation of their first child, Charlize, Andy McKenna and Rachael Hale left New Zealand to set up a new home in France. Like many people before them, the plan was to buy a place that required minimal work, although it didn’t quite work out like that says Andy...
more...
Holiday home to permanent home
Charlie and Jules Thackway bought a property in the Dordogne with the intention of using it for holidays. However, the couple found that “the more time we spent here the harder it was to leave..."
more...
Home chic home - A home in the Gers
Amy de Leusse fell for France while working there as a teenage au pair. Little did she know then that it would make the dream of owning a French property pretty much inevitable.
more...
Classic car business in France
In January 2005, Cara and Greg Samways moved from Lincolnshire to the Limousin in hope of a new life. Here, Cara explains how they came to the decision and have now established a home abroad and a new means of supporting themselves through classic cars...
more...
A blind date led to our new life in Burgundy
When Steve and I were introduced on a blind date nearly 8 years ago, we discovered that we both harboured a dream to live in France. After 2 years spent hunting for the “perfect property” we found plenty of properties we didn't want but none that we did...more...
Life as a wine and beer producer in France
David Meakin left England for France in 1994. A farming background has helped him make a success of his vineyard, which has produced a number of award winning wines. It might not be the easiest job in the world, but David still finds the opportunity to enjoy himself in rural France.
more...
FrenchEntrée Magazine out now!
The new issue of FrenchEntrée is out now! It's packed with articles on French holidays (Nice in winter, skiing in the Pyrénées, Christmas markets, Hotel Le Bristol in Paris, Marne in Champagne and more), Provence recipes and St-Emilion wine tips, plus advice on buying and living in France from property finders and tax and law experts. Click here for a sample or consider our latest subscriptions offer.
Financial advice & solutions for people relocating to France
Download Siddalls help sheets for "your new life in France" by clicking here.British Corner Shop
We are the online supermarket for British Expats, selling over 8,000 of your most loved British products delivered to your door. Visit our website to begin your British Food Shopping.
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