Living in Poitou Charentes
Here's where people who have realised their dream of living in the Poitou Charentes share their stories with you. We’re always looking for more contributors so if you've a story to tell of your experiences of living in either the Charente, Charente Maritime, Deux Sevres or Vienne departements of Poitou Charentes, then we'd be delighted to hear from you.
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Education
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Tech Corner
Employment
Finance
Financial Planning
Healthcare
Language
Legal & Tax
Mortgage Advice
Practical Tips
Tech Corner
Get in touch
FrenchEntrée welcomes contributions from people with an interest in the Poitou Charentes. If you have a tale to tell or some useful information to share, we'd love to hear from you! Contact the editor of this zone.Emergency Numbers & Related Services
A website with more info about European Emergency ServicesEmergency numbers...
CPAM - Health & Sickness
Hospitals in the Charente
Doctors & Dentists
Gendarmeries
When renovators become residents
'I couldn't bear to leave our our holiday home'
Val Walmsley tells the story of how she snapped up a renovation project as a second home. But once work had begun to transform the two C18 farmhouses (one habitable, the other in a sorry state) she couldn't bear to leave and soon persuaded her other half to make France their permanent place of residence.
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"A little drop of Cognac" - Regular blog postings
France tops "quality of life" survey
It's official - France offers the highest quality of life within Europe according to Uswitch.com. Over here we enjoy one of the lowest retirement ages, the longest life expectancy and the best healthcare.
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Almost 13,000 British nationals live in Poitou-Charentes
The British represent nearly a third of all foreigners living in Poitou-Charentes according to a recent report by the French National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) conducted from tax d’habitation surveys. Most have arrived in the last 20 years and settled mainly in rural areas
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Working for Vie Cosmetics in Deux-Sèvres
When Suzanne and her son moved to France on a whim, they didn't realise how difficult it would be to find
work. After years of trying different jobs and even
returning to the UK to work, Suzanne has found a
position with Vie Cosmetics, which she loves, and is
looking for new recruits. While her son has founded
Poitou-Charentes Business Group to help other
expats work in France. Here's their story.... more...
Living the Dream in Deux-Sevres
Gordon & Jocelyn Simms tell their story
Gordon and Jocelyn Simms are writers and poets and, when they decided to retire to France, it was important that they found the perfect place in which to 'live their dream'. Gordon tells the tale of how they found their mill home by the river.
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Shopping in Poitou-Charentes
(Picture 36941tl)Whether you are just visiting Poitou-Charentes for a holiday, or living here permanently, the cities and towns of the region offer a wonderful choice of shops, as well as shopping on-line for supplies from the UK. Sunday shopping has now arrived too, with many supermarkets open from 10-1pm. more...
Running a property management company in Deux-Sèvres
Penny and Ken Smith have been running their property management company Complete Property Care for the last six years. Situated in a small village called Neuvy Bouin roughly 20 minutes from Parthenay, in Deux Sèvres, they look after properties within a 50 minute radius, and are currently managing 10 properties...
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Tel Turnbull - Potter
Creating Pots in Poitou Charentes
Tel Turnbull was born in the industrial Midlands and some of his first recollections were of the smoking bottle kilns. Since he and his wife Katie moved to France in 2007 he has created a centre where visitors can enjoy the experience of creating their own pots.
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Box of Brits - Bringing British Goods to You
A Van Service bringing British Goods to You (Picture 37675tl)Much as we like shopping in the French supermarkets and stores, there are some things we still prefer to get from the UK. Specific items from Tesco or Waitrose, clothes, even furniture, may be on your shopping list but, unless you drive back yourself to Blighty, then logistically it can be a problem. Box of Brits could be the answer...more...Inspirational Cookery Courses for Jaded Cooks
Join Mary Cadogan on a voyage of food discovery
Fed up with preparing the same old meals? How about spending a day with a professional cook and food writer; could be just the tonic to stimulate your enthusiasm. Beryl Brennan spent a day with Mary Cadogan, ex Food Director of the BBC Good Food Guide, getting some tips on vegetarian cookery.
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Why not learn French and enjoy your holiday too?
French for all at Manoir La Betoulle
After two successful years at Manoir La Betoulle, John and Penny Hitchings are adding a new service to their list of comforts for their guests – English & French language courses for families and corporate groups ...
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Surviving in France with the weak pound
As Sterling continues to trade at record low levels against the Euro, British exporters to France are overjoyed but for those of you living in or owning property in France, times have never been so tough.more...
Running a Hotel Restaurant business
Gill & Neil Elsom reveal all…
I went to speak to Gill & Neil Elsom about their life as Hotel Restaurant owners in the Charente. They bought La Paloma as an existing business although it wasn’t a successful one when they bought it! ...
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AVF - Help when moving to your new town
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AVF (Acceuil des Villes Francaises) is a national association (registered under French law) with 350 local branches throughout France including 3 in Deux-Sevres. It is a non-political organisation, run by trained volunteers. There are plenty of events and also French conversation groups.
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Wheels in Charente
By Fiona Shaw
In July 2003 we began our search for a place in France. After several months of looking for a holiday cottage we changed our minds and decided to look for a permenant home ...
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Open Door – Living With Illness
Support for families & individuals facing the challenge of living with long term illness Lynn Beaumont & Tony Webster started ‘Open Door’ in Civray – or Association La Porte Ouverte to give it its official name – almost two years ago as a Drop-in Centre to support people affected by long-term illness, either as a sufferer or carer ... more...Starting a Gite Business
We talk to Gite owners, Sharon & Aaron Vogel…
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s feasible to start a gite business in France, you’re not alone. Many people now say that the industry is ‘saturated’ and that it ...
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Education in the Charente
Quick reference guide, points to note, hints and tips
We've put together some key points on the education system, lists of schools in the Charente, what information you need to prepare, what you'll need to buy, etc. This is not a definite list but is a good starting point.
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What is Bulletin 16/24?
Anne Archibald and Wynford Hicks explain…
Integrating into local communities is a difficult and time-consuming business; getting to know your neighbours, making friends, understanding cultural differences ...
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My first year as a caretaker
A learning experience
After a year in which I stopped taking bookings due to the poor standard of caretaking, I moved to France to manage my own property and that of a friend who had also had unsatisfactory help. Fortunately our changeovers were on different days, as the houses are 25kms apart.
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A Fishy Story: Trout fishing in Charente
Together with two good friends, Paul and Jess, I decided to go and fish La Mordorée, an old quarry now totally transformed into a magnificent stillwater trout fishery in the heart of the Charente, just 30 mins drive from us....
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French Property Database Search
Over 12,000 properties for sale throughout France.....
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