Living in France! How come so many grapes do?

It's obviously a vine place to put down roots, Newton !

Where can I begin?
Cheaper houses
Better climate
cheaper restaurants
cheaper wine
better lifestyle
no ferry bills (except to get back to England occasionally)
more space (same population but 2.5 times the size)
I could go on. I love Britain but I don't want to live there. I came here 21 years ago and don't regret a day. There's no way I could have afforded a house like I have here in the same type of location. And, I met Mr P here so that's the best reason to stay. hahaha.

All the above ( apart from the French hubby bit...and yes- is rather yummy!)

Also lots of ridiculously cheap land attached to period houses ( in my case 17/18th Century )on which to be self sufficient if you want that.

Both countries have an awful lot to offer- but this place just seems so much calmer.

Why so many French Grapes??? Well I think there are about 20 of us , half of whom post on a regular basis- but I imagine we came across the Vine whilst researching info about our GYO needs!!

Cut me in half and I read "England" like a stick of rock. I'm English and very very proud of it, but.....

All of the above and much more besides meant that a move to France was a real step forward.

I drove into my local supermarket a few months ago, to get some petrol. I noticed a group of "yoofs" but only in passing. As I filled up the car I became aware of someone walking vaguely in my direction, had a quick look, didnt recognise the young man, so carried on filling the car.
"Bonjour Bob" was the next thing I heard. Had another look and the young man was in fact the son of a friend of mine, that I probably hadnt seen for about a year. This young man of about 14/15 years old had detached himself from his friends, walked about 60 yards or so, to come across and shake my hand and say hello, quite simply because thats how things are done in France.
At risk of unleashing a hell storm, I would suggest that perhaps if I was back in England and the same scenario occured, I would be lucky to get a shouted "orright".

Its not a paradise here, the current situation with my mrs trying to sell her house is one example of the French mentality that does your nut, its expensive to live day to day here, the paperwork has to be seen to be believed, but for a way of life that is calm, unhurried and just better (imho) than the English way of life, this is the place for me.

Well, I'd agree with all of the above. For me, the pace of life is slower here. My father once remarked that here (Auvergne) is like Devon and Cornwall was in the 50's. The shops are still closed on Sunday which you might think is a nuisance but on Sunday, all our neighbours' families (and extended families) come for a very long lunch and have time together.

I do miss my family but, luckily, my parents are both fit enough to make the journey here once every couple of years and I can afford to go back occasionally.

As Bob said, the grass isn't greener but it's different. I know it's not for everyone but it certainly suits me. I do miss UK sometimes but they are just superficial things. I really do love the UK, don't get me wrong and there are some places there that are like France in terms of pace of life etc. and it is a beautiful place but, I couldn't have the same lifestyle there as I do here.

As to why I'm on this forum - When I was in UK I lived in a house with a fairly small garden and I didn't even think of veggie gardening, there was probably enough room but I was working all hours just to keep that house and garden and didn't have much time for anything but working and keeping house. I now live in a beautiful part of the world with about an acre of land and I don't have to work. Naturally, the first thing I wanted was a veggie patch and I came here after a google search and stayed

we came for holidays and stayed.................we lived in London and just grew out of it.........like others we could not have afforded to live somewhere like this in the UK ....altho our house is nothing special, the valley we live in is beautiful and our garden is right on the river.
There is so much space, people are polite and friendly......we have spent the day with 6 other french and english couples, aperos at one house, then lunch in a restaurant and then we visited gardens in town because its open gardens weekend and there was a double base quartet playing in one and in another this weird hippy poetry and odd music, there was an arabic garden...but we didnt find a potager ...i like being a foreigner because you dont really totally understand exactly what is going on like what class people are,or how much money they have,or the nuances of their politics ..............

I'd move just for the bread, cheese and the Tour de France.

I was in Morrisons the other day, looking at a loaf of bread they had the cheek to call "pavé". I felt like telling them "look, you flippin' eejits, pavé means cobblestone, the crust is NOT supposed to be SOFT!"

My SIL and BIL retired to France about 5 years ago now I think. They complain about the price of paint and the fact that they can't buy "proper" fishcakes, but other than that they love it for pretty much the reasons above.

Tell them to make their own blimmin fishcakes! LOL

We'd be over there, given the chance...

I must stop 'liking' all the 'we love France' posts, you'll think I'm obsessed! Or jealous...

Hmmmm - The Jury's out!

If we didn't have to work etc, we'd be down there like a shot!

I read "A year in Provence" when I was about 16 and fell in love with it. I've only ever visited France twice, and I'd still move there!