What Living In France Means To An English Expat
Moving from a comfy English farmhouse in Devon to an old stone barn that needed major repair deep in the French countryside is a big move that could’ve ended badly. But for English expat couple Helen and Merv, it has given them the quiet, rural life they dreamed of and much more.
When I catch up with Helen and Merv on my trips to France, I am always in awe of the beautiful way they describe the benefits they’ve experienced since moving to rural France.
Not only have they created an original and delightful home and garden for themselves, they have surrounded themselves with new friends. The French way of life suits them and they’ve embraced the people, customs and cuisine of their new country.
You’ll love reading this guest post by Helen who describes the goodness and amazing honesty of her elderly French neighbour, John Baptist, and counts it as one of her great experiences of living in France.
A Short Reflection on Life
‘Some incidents in life give us a jolt to reassess our values and I’m sure that had I stayed in my comfy Devon farmhouse I would never have witnessed this situation.
We moved to rural France and found our hermit neighbour was a timid figure who scurried about, hiding behind his tumbledown property hedge. Conversation was difficult and rare but I persevered because of the need to improve my French.
Time moved on and little by little he became a good, if needy, friend who came round almost every day for a warm-up coffee in winter and a glass of something on the terrace in summer. Unfortunately the day dawned when he had to go to hospital for an operation and then to a maison de retraite (retirement home) for convalescing. His home was condemned as uninhabitable so it was advised that he stay where he was lodged, a place however that he hated. He mentioned his wish to live with us and voila (there you go) it worked well but his former little nest, now empty, was rapidly invaded with ivy and took on an abandoned look.
Eventually some people came asking to buy the cottage with visions of restoring its faded glory. We decided on a price which was fair and the sale seemed all set to go.
However the facteur (postman) suggested he would be foolish not to ask a notair (public legal specialist) for a valuation because maybe it was worth more! Good thinking, maybe he could get a little more, however this process revealed the property was worth at least 5,000 Euro less than the agreed price! Quoi faire? (What to do?)
Our dear neighbour asked for a meeting with the purchasers to suggest they reduce their offer! He would be happy to accept less for the purchase of his home. I ask you, who has ever heard of that before? He was serious, he wouldn’t accept more than it was worth according to the notair, Bless him. The purchasers and John Baptist did eventually settle on a middle price, him getting slightly more than it’s suggested value and the purchasers paying slightly less than they had offered originally!
Everyone was happy and I was left with a warm glow for human nature at its best!
What a heart warming story from Helen about her neighbour showing such a generous and honest spirit. I usually catch up with John Baptist on my visits to Merv and Helen’s house and whilst my French is not good enough to converse with John, we sit mutually side by side as he chats away, me listening and Helen translating every now and again.
Helen, being a generous soul herself, does John’s food and clothes shopping, ensures he eats well and includes him in her church Sunday dinner each week.
Thanks Helen for sharing your short reflection on life in France.
We love spending time with our friends when in France and have never looked back on our decision to buy a home and live part of the year in France. Our articles A Dream Come True and Living in Rural France share a little of our experiences.
