Life in France.

Saturday night, Rugby semi-finals England v France.

Once again I was reminded how very different life in France is to life in the UK.

I'm back here in my house in the Limousin again for a few weeks and on Saturday night headed down to my local tabac/bar for a few beers and a discreet peek at the Rugby. The place was packed, face paint was flying and horns were blaring. The atmosphere was electric and at the same time so very friendly. We're well enough known to the locals now that there was a chorus of cheers and boo's albeit with happy smiling faces. No sign of the aggressive glares common in my local back 'home'. I use the term home loosely, this delightful region is becoming more my home nowadays.

We had sneaked a few England flags in as a cheeky joke, ready to wave them when/if England scored. It didn't enter our heads that there would be any problem and indeed there wasn't. In fact when England scored in the first few moments of the game some of the nearby French guys came and borrowed our flags to wave.... Big smiles, much wine and good natured banter all night.

When the game was finally over with England the victors there were no fights, arguments or destruction of chairs, glasses etc. Quite the opposite, the French supporters complimented the English team on a game well played and again, much wine was consumed.

I couldn't help picturing a similar scene in my local back in the UK. Not a chance! Had a French person set foot in my local back there they'd have been lynched. The locals there are too keen to fight each other and fall out over a game of sport. Too busy being angry to enjoy themselves or the sport they supposedly support.

Such a different world and separated by not a million miles. How have we grown so differently in our behaviour towards other people? It's getting to the point in my home town that merely making eye contact with someone can earn you a severe beating. I dread to think what waving a French flag in an English bar last Saturday night would have caused.

Each week thousands of Brits are leaving the country to start new lives in France, Spain and Australia.

Why?

Answers on a post card please...

It's getting harder and harder for me to return to the UK, but for now I have to. I still call it going home, but I leave lovely, warm and genuine neighbours here to return to sour faced, small minded and miserable neighbours back in the UK. The only time they ever speak is to moan that the wheely bin was left out or to remind me that the fence is actually my property and can I get it painted soon..... and on.... and on..... The thing that keeps me smiling is that I know very soon I won't be there any more, I'll be here and they'll still be moaning about the wheely bin and fence and other such 'important' things............ How sad.

Not everybody is sure they want to move abroad and taking the gamble of buying a property in France is a big gamble, fraught with dangers. Many people choose to rent long term in France for several months, maybe even a year or two to see if it's really what they want. A long term let is an ideal way of not having to rush into buying the first property you find. I have spoken with several people who came on holiday for a week house-hunting and by the last day had to quickly decide on a property that turned out to be totally unsuitable for them. Renting long term is becoming very popular and if you do decide to buy a place in France the chances are there will be a secondary property you can rent out long term.