French Bureaucracy – a big issue?

May 19, 2013 by
Ah! The French....

As any student of France will know, French bureaucracy is legendary. France has the highest proportion of a population working in what are essentially government-funded jobs of almost any country in the world. Of course, if you are French, then this is as normal as your daily baguette. However, for the rest of us - and for the expat community (actual or potential) in particular - all this bureaucracy is a never-ending source of wonderment. Oh, and frustration, head-bangingly, mind-mashingly, all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Living, Why Not?

Move To France blog – Little England Or The Real France?

November 19, 2012 by
Little England screen

If, like me, you like the idea of a move to France then, on a cold, damp Monday night in November, half an hour of sunny France via your TV is quite a tempting idea. Enter, stage left, ITV’s Little England that, as I write, is now a few episodes into it’s second series (you can catch up via ITV Player (in England) or STV Player (in Scotland)), and that presents a slice of expat life in the Dordogne. Or, as it is often referred to, ‘Dordogneshire’ or ‘Little England’ on account of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Living, Resources, Why Not?, Why? Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Move to France and earn a (French) crust

September 3, 2012 by
Euro notes 1

At number four in my list of ‘top ten why not’ reasons against the idea of a move  to France was the issue of earning a living. As I commented there, I’m currently in transition between being an employee and being self-employed and gradually getting myself to the point where I know I (and my family!) would not starve if I was to go fully self-employed. And as I also commented, the nature of that work is location free; give me access to the internet and I could work from pretty much … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Living, Why Not?, Why?, Working

Move to France with teenagers – Are French teenagers different?

July 13, 2012 by
teenagers online

I'd love to move to France but what about my 14-yr old son? He is keen to on the idea but just how will he cope? Teenagers - love ’em or hate ’em, most of you reading this will have been one. And, if you are also a parent, you might well have experienced your own offspring going through their teenage years with all the associated angst, trials and tribulations, and perhaps even the occasional moment or three of joy, pleasure and pride to even out the balance sheet. In this post, I want to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Living, Why Not?, Why? Tagged With: , , , ,

Je ne mange pas de viande – A vegetarian move to France

May 29, 2012 by
Cusine sign

Let’s see....  how can I make this as hard as possible for myself? I'm English and I think I'd like to move to France. Well, that can't be too hard can it because lot's of people from the U.K. make a similar move every year and live to tell the tale? [and some come back - but I think the flow is still positive in favour of those going south] Indeed, we live in a world where international migration is almost commonplace. O.K., so where was I? Ah yes, an English man wanting to move to France... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Living, Why Not?, Why? Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page»