Living in France

[philw696]

I know a few of you think I'm nuts leaving the UK to go to NZ and now putting myself here in France especially in the current World state of affairs.
Having been here since the end of October I have respect for the French and they certainly like me.
In the UK you can set yourself up in business in anything you want and that often causes chaos to many.
Here I'm trying to set myself up as self employed mechanic and I have to prove my self with my qualification's and letters of reference.
It takes time and numerous appointments but it means only genuine people out there working.
I couldn't decide to be a Plumber as I have no papers.
If the UK adopted that it would get rid of cowboys and you stand a chance of earning a decent living and not be undercut by the kerbside clowns.
Plus the food and drink here is superb.
I will keep you posted.

 

[2b1ask1]

Well if the kayak adventure happens next year, Dan, Benny and I will be getting 'immersed' in rural French culture over many weeks! I'm not sure that Benny will be ready for it but we'll figure it out as we go along I'm sure...

Sounds like it is going better than hoped Phil, you do have the advantage of Mrs French to coach you!

 

[iainw]

Agree with you on all counts.
I don’t think you are mad. Variety is the spice of life and to keep challenging yourself in different environments is something to be proud of. I loved spending time working in France - although it was much tougher than here, it was a great experience.
It’s far too easy to get semi skilled jobs in the U.K. (they should be very skilled if you ask me!)- they seem to be able to charge what they want and take what work they want. I don’t understand it.
If anyone can recommend any good builders, plumbers, Tiler’s in the South Wales area I would be willing to have a lot of work done. I have just been left so unimpressed with them so far.
Good luck in your new adventures and post photos and updates!

 

[Corranga]

Sounds great.

On the papers / training / education etc front, I can only begin to imagine the backlash if the UK Government attempted to implement such a system!

 

[philw696]

There is no way I could have done this without Ms French for sure.
It was something we felt was right for us.
Some of the systems at first seem to be daunting but when you understand its mainly to stop fraudulent activity going on and safe guard all I'm for it.
Nothing happens quickly but you get there.
I will keep you all posted.

 

[safrane]

Live the dream Phil... only one life and all that.

Most are frightened by the 'risks' but if we all took no risks we would still be in caves.

 

[CatmanV2]

Good stuff Phil. I envy you in many respects

Cheers

C

 

[philw696]

Good stuff Phil. I envy you in many respects

Cheers

C

What my Good Looks Chris

 

[CatmanV2]

What my Good Looks Chris

If that makes you happy to believe, then crack on

Given my druthers, I'd be in KL like a shot.

C

 

[philw696]

If that makes you happy to believe, then crack on

Given my druthers, I'd be in KL like a shot.

C

Interesting that Chris as stopping there on our way over we felt the same.
I have my twin brother there and in the time there it was obvious I could get something there now.
France is for my later years.

 

[zagatoes30]

I can think of worse places to live but I think given the opportunity i would have stayed in NZ

 

[philw696]

I'm a permanent resident of NZ so I can come and go as I please work and live there.
My partner still has the house there.
But for all the positives there its too far away from everywhere else.

 

[mjheathcote]

My late French father in law lived in the UK until about 25 years ago, and then took the family back to France.
The stories he told me about the French way, for business especially, certainly makes it much harder in France than the UK.
Sorting out his estate after his death late '17, is still very problematic for the family. For example as part of his estate are rental properties, and as soon as he died, all the tenants just stopped paying rent. Approaching winter you can't evict them, so they get free rent, power, water etc until the summer. Still didn't manage to evict them in the summer, now back to winter... they know the game, and take advantage. That is just one example.
Still have the mother in law, one sister and brother in law living over there.
Employment law, that is something else!
We enjoy visiting and holiday in France, but couldn't live there, certainly if working.

 

[BennyD]

Well if the kayak adventure happens next year, Dan, Benny and I will be getting 'immersed' in rural French culture over many weeks! I'm not sure that Benny will be ready for it but we'll figure it out as we go along I'm sure...

Sounds like it is going better than hoped Phil, you do have the advantage of Mrs French to coach you!

They have McDonalds, so I’ll be OK. I certainly won’t be eating a lot of the sh!t the indigenous natives eat, that’s for sure.

 

[BennyD]

My late French father in law lived in the UK until about 25 years ago, and then took the family back to France.
The stories he told me about the French way, for business especially, certainly makes it much harder in France than the UK.
Sorting out his estate after his death late '17, is still very problematic for the family. For example as part of his estate are rental properties, and as soon as he died, all the tenants just stopped paying rent. Approaching winter you can't evict them, so they get free rent, power, water etc until the summer. Still didn't manage to evict them in the summer, now back to winter... they know the game, and take advantage. That is just one example.
Still have the mother in law, one sister and brother in law living over there.
Employment law, that is something else!
We enjoy visiting and holiday in France, but couldn't live there, certainly if working.

That seems really decent of them; not paying what they owe to the estate of their deceased landlord. F*cking peasants.

 

[mjheathcote]

That seems really decent of them; not paying what they owe to the estate of their deceased landlord. F*cking peasants.

It this particular instance, the tenants, are now peasant squatters.

 

[BennyD]

Just about sums up the whole nation.

 

[CatmanV2]

Interesting that Chris as stopping there on our way over we felt the same.
I have my twin brother there and in the time there it was obvious I could get something there now.
France is for my later years.

I'm fortunate enough to travel there reasonably frequently (We had the longest distance SM meet with Newton) I love the place. Nice lifestyle, cost of living (apart from Maseratis!) great food, friendly people and lovely bloody weather

C

 

[philw696]

I'm fortunate enough to travel there reasonably frequently (We had the longest distance SM meet with Newton) I love the place. Nice lifestyle, cost of living (apart from Maseratis!) great food, friendly people and lovely bloody weather

C

Couldn't agree with you more.
My father lived there over 25 years till the end of his days and apart from my twin brother there I have a step mother and a half brother too.

 

[Wack61]

I know a few of you think I'm nuts leaving the UK to go to NZ and now putting myself here in France especially in the current World state of affairs.
Having been here since the end of October I have respect for the French and they certainly like me.
In the UK you can set yourself up in business in anything you want and that often causes chaos to many.
Here I'm trying to set myself up as self employed mechanic and I have to prove my self with my qualification's and letters of reference.
It takes time and numerous appointments but it means only genuine people out there working.
I couldn't decide to be a Plumber as I have no papers.
If the UK adopted that it would get rid of cowboys and you stand a chance of earning a decent living and not be undercut by the kerbside clowns.
Plus the food and drink here is superb.
I will keep you posted.

The French must enforce it , you're supposed to be gas safe registered to work on gas in the UK but watchdog never has much trouble finding somebody with the stickers but not the paperwork.

I doubt my mechanic has a CSE but I watched him strip 2 V8 jaguar engines on a wooden box and put one back together .

At the time I thought **** me this is never going to go again , how wrong was I, fired up on the key and ran like a swiss watch in the 2 years I owned it