Living in France

Wanderer

Wanderer

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zagatoes30 said:
Agree generally Irish food is better than in the UK, even the sports bars do great steaks and burgers unlike the UK, You are right about chippers though, there must be a good one but I haven't found it yet - might make that the first challenge when we move.

Flights and ferry booked for Sunday 4th, so that will be bye bye UK for a while
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There must be one in Bray (think your said you're in Bray) cos I was at the football ground quizzing this old fella about the seats that they bought from Burnden Park when Bolton moved to the Reebok, and he shared his chips with me and they were lovely!

Bolton is everywhere in this Matrix.....
 
Doctor Houx

Doctor Houx

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Having run a holiday rental Gite near Aix En Provence since 2005 and our latest holiday rental acquistion in La Chartre Sur Le Loir at the end of last year, I would echo many comments on here:

1) The weather is generally better than UK as is the food, but still get **** versions of both now and again.

2) The complexity and antiquated process of buying and selling property is worse than your worst nightmare. Very slow and Notaires are a law unto themselves. Ditto the inheritance laws and the tax system.

3) learn french and integrate with the community, hiring local tradespeople. Otherwise, a bad reputation as a "Rost Beuf" means you will get ripped off for any work done and be always at the back of the queue. Backhanders to all and sundry are common place to get planning approved and work done.

4) Forget shopping around on comparison sites for utilities as it's like the UK back in the 70's in many parts of the country. If you want Electric it means EON, water is Veolia and wi Fi is Orange. Take it or leave it.

5) property values have not increased like they do in the UK. Don't buy it as a capital investment. The UK but to let is still far more lucrative despite the recent tax disincentives.

It's not like you see on TV or in a Peter Mayle novel, but do your research and it's a great place to live and work.
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

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It's really only since the naughties that food in Ireland has improved. It's not that you couldn't find decent restaurants. But they were the exception.
Don't get me started on Kinsale. The so-called gourmet capital of Ireland.
Even ten years ago, outside the towns, vegetarian options if they appeared at all, were often a salad. Or salad sandwiches. But next to the Americans, the Irish are amongst the best ******** artists in the world. They even start to believe their own BS, after convincing everyone else. Kinsale being the gourmet capital of Ireland, proving that point.
 
UlstermanAbroad

UlstermanAbroad

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Doctor Houx said:
Having run a holiday rental Gite near Aix En Provence since 2005 and our latest holiday rental acquistion in La Chartre Sur Le Loir at the end of last year, I would echo many comments on here:

1) The weather is generally better than UK as is the food, but still get **** versions of both now and again.

2) The complexity and antiquated process of buying and selling property is worse than your worst nightmare. Very slow and Notaires are a law unto themselves. Ditto the inheritance laws and the tax system.

3) learn french and integrate with the community, hiring local tradespeople. Otherwise, a bad reputation as a "Rost Beuf" means you will get ripped off for any work done and be always at the back of the queue. Backhanders to all and sundry are common place to get planning approved and work done.

4) Forget shopping around on comparison sites for utilities as it's like the UK back in the 70's in many parts of the country. If you want Electric it means EON, water is Veolia and wi Fi is Orange. Take it or leave it.

5) property values have not increased like they do in the UK. Don't buy it as a capital investment. The UK but to let is still far more lucrative despite the recent tax disincentives.

It's not like you see on TV or in a Peter Mayle novel, but do your research and it's a great place to live and work.
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Was near Aix where I spent most of my year in Provence. Plus a while a bit to the north near Mt Ventoux.
Point 2. This was the main source of angst among the expats I hung out with.
Point 3. Was the other main source of conversation. The swapping of reliable tradespeople's details and the many stories of the locals engaging in the sport of Brit screwing.
But sitting in the afternoon sun. Eating a delicious Provencal salad and sipping ice cold rosé, erases every care you could possibly have in the world.
I've had many firsts in my life in France and one has yet to disappoint ;)
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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2013, sat in the Porterhouse on Nassau st in Dubs, France England on telly, Rugby, France kept going ahead and this fit French lass next to me was giving it large and I'd reached the point the being fit didn't matter cos pride was at stake.

She was all 'Je l'encule' etc as England pressed and won, and I said to her 'I'm English you know' cos she'd been ranting for 80 mins, and she looked at me and said 'I know....'

deflated.com.....
 
Swedish Paul

Swedish Paul

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The idea that food is worse in one country than another is wrong. It’s all about the quality of food to begin with. You want cheap food, you get cheap ****. The basics, onions, tomatoes, fresh herbs etc. make a huge difference. And of course, everyone always expects food to taste better when someone else cooks it. A great Sunday roast will always be that. As will a great pizza. As with a great steak Diane. Southern European foods are often better because the food is ripe when picked. Even McDonald’s is better. But it’s all about the base quality.
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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Swedish Paul said:
The idea that food is worse in one country than another is wrong. It’s all about the quality of food to begin with. You want cheap food, you get cheap ****. The basics, onions, tomatoes, fresh herbs etc. make a huge difference. And of course, everyone always expects food to taste better when someone else cooks it. A great Sunday roast will always be that. As will a great pizza. As with a great steak Diane. Southern European foods are often better because the food is ripe when picked. Even McDonald’s is better. But it’s all about the base quality.
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When I was in Copenhagen the McD's was excellent to be fair, something about the oils used in frying to do with Danish food standards, the Chicken Nuggets were awesome, really good. Mrs been in Milan all week and not had a decent pizza!

On the other hand the food I had in Russia 2000's was amazing, no so now, not sure what they've done.

There's good and bad everywhere but as a visitor or short term resident it's always hit or miss.
 
Wanderer

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At a restaurant near Claude Monet's house I had Toulouse sausages - loved them, except Mrs ate half and denied me, where can I get them from in UK/IRL? I Googled, said Tesco, Morrison's and ASDA had them. None did.
 
Swedish Paul

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There was a butchers at the end of walthamstow high street made them in the 90’s. I suspect any local butchers can make them. Or buy a sausage maker and do them yourself. Great fun, and infinitely better than anything you can buy at Tescos. And you can make any sausage you like.
 
Wanderer

Wanderer

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Swedish Paul said:
There was a butchers at the end of walthamstow high street made them in the 90’s. I suspect any local butchers can make them. Or buy a sausage maker and do them yourself. Great fun, and infinitely better than anything you can buy at Tescos. And you can make any sausage you like.
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Oh no - I didn't know that! Can I make German Käsewurst? Pork sos with cheese strands in - ie not crumbled cheese on top like they tried to fob me off with at Birmingham German Christmas market....
 
Wanderer

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Navcorr said:
There were a lot of good things at the end of Walthamstow high street back then.
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Talking about the past, doing my family tree. Seems one of my relations died at 6 months in Ireland with occupation (cos it's one the form and needs filled in) listed as 'Son of Prostitute......'
 
Swedish Paul

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Wanderer said:
Oh no - I didn't know that! Can I make German Käsewurst? Pork sos with cheese strands in - ie not crumbled cheese on top like they tried to fob me off with at Birmingham German Christmas market....
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That’s maybe different. If you extrude long strands of cheese into a skin like that, then maybe it’s like producing hotdogs. But if you want real sausages, I use a Kitchen Aid with a sausage maker attachment and mince my own meat so you can get the consistency you want. An Englishman abroad if you will. Cumberland, Lincolnshire, beef, elk.
 
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