The Daily Mail newspaper printed an article yesterday (Friday 27th October) about my involvement in the region and the work I do.
Due to the influx of e-mails in the past 24hrs. I would just like to point out that the journalist interviewed me in May 2006, the Mail then edited the piece and despite my best efforts to re-edit it; they've made me sound like an immobilier or estate agent. I am not an estate agent, but assist people with moving to France due to the language difficulties whether it's re-registering your car or interpreting for building needs. I do have estate agent friends who I can put you in touch with in the Limoux area, namely Ludovic at Adret Immobilier. Do mention my blog when contacting him!
The modern house in the article (European edition) is not through VEF but via the owner (who's also contacted me regarding a mix-up) and can be contacted direct: LFeay@wanadoo.fr - that house is considerably LESS THAN HALF the price tag the Mail has put on it even if it was in euros!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Welcome!
To this little corner of French paradise!
Sandwiched between the Pyrenees, the 'Montagne Noire' and the Corbieres (with the Mediterranean not much further on) ... this little area of France is very special. The culture here is steeped in history, the ratio of work:life is fairly well-balanced and the pace is generally slow, affectionately known as Aude Mode.
The regions within Aude are very diverse; from the southern slopes of the Montagne Noire, the rolling countryside of the Razes in comparison to the wilderness of the Corbieres; the plains of the Valley between Castlenaudary and Narbonne with the Canal du Midi running through. The lower foothills of the Pyrenees, with the Haute Vallee of the Aude river and the higher plains of Plateau de Sault. It's a ever changing landscape throughout the four seasons and an area of great natural beauty.
Sandwiched between the Pyrenees, the 'Montagne Noire' and the Corbieres (with the Mediterranean not much further on) ... this little area of France is very special. The culture here is steeped in history, the ratio of work:life is fairly well-balanced and the pace is generally slow, affectionately known as Aude Mode.
The regions within Aude are very diverse; from the southern slopes of the Montagne Noire, the rolling countryside of the Razes in comparison to the wilderness of the Corbieres; the plains of the Valley between Castlenaudary and Narbonne with the Canal du Midi running through. The lower foothills of the Pyrenees, with the Haute Vallee of the Aude river and the higher plains of Plateau de Sault. It's a ever changing landscape throughout the four seasons and an area of great natural beauty.
Just arrived?
Feeling lost and desperate to grow roots and have the normality of your life back to somewhere near how it was when you left your last home?
It's a tough transition. Certain areas of the Aude are more remote than others.
You may have done your homework beforehand, you may be reading this trying to do your homework on the region.
The Aude is full of suprises, the remoteness can seem wonderful in summer but then living in the High Corbieres can be difficult in winter. The valley from Carcassonne to Narbonne flanked by the Minervois region is very sunny, temperate but also has flooding 'hotspots' and certainly more than it's fair share of wind (hence all the wind farms!). The Plateau de Sault is a forgotten backwater, reminds me of scenes from 'The House on the Prairie', very beautiful boasting the only skifield in Aude; Camurac. The Haute Vallee is dramatic in parts, with some gorgeous villages and the Limoux area is renowned for it's Blanquette and winter Carnival. To the north-west of the Haute Vallee is the Razes region with wonderful Malpere wine.
So where amongst all this do you go to do your shopping? banking? prefectural (council) matters? find artisans to help you with your DIY needs? register with French health care?
E-mail: aude-relocation@aliceadsl.fr
It's a tough transition. Certain areas of the Aude are more remote than others.
You may have done your homework beforehand, you may be reading this trying to do your homework on the region.
The Aude is full of suprises, the remoteness can seem wonderful in summer but then living in the High Corbieres can be difficult in winter. The valley from Carcassonne to Narbonne flanked by the Minervois region is very sunny, temperate but also has flooding 'hotspots' and certainly more than it's fair share of wind (hence all the wind farms!). The Plateau de Sault is a forgotten backwater, reminds me of scenes from 'The House on the Prairie', very beautiful boasting the only skifield in Aude; Camurac. The Haute Vallee is dramatic in parts, with some gorgeous villages and the Limoux area is renowned for it's Blanquette and winter Carnival. To the north-west of the Haute Vallee is the Razes region with wonderful Malpere wine.
So where amongst all this do you go to do your shopping? banking? prefectural (council) matters? find artisans to help you with your DIY needs? register with French health care?
E-mail: aude-relocation@aliceadsl.fr
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
How does it all work?
It's a tangled web to do quite a few 'straightforward' things in France.
Don't ever expect it to happen tomorrow or the day that someone has promised you ... if it does, it's a bonus, if not, c'est la vie ...
This is where we can help. We do our utmost to get things moving for you as quickly as we can. Basic daily living needs such as:
Bank accounts, insurance etc.
French government health care, do you have problems as you slip between the E106 and E121 as you've retired early?
French Driving licence (needed if you intend to be here more than 12months permanently) do you realise the difference between a basic English licence and it's French counterpart? Do you want to 'hold onto' your permit to tow a trailer or caravan?
Organising furniture deliveries.
Registering your imported vehicle, whether imported from the UK or other EU country or even those LHD's that you bought in the UK/Ireland but were originally registered elsewhere.
Again, for those not here on a permanent basis but have a second home here we are able to assist you with:
Key holding
House airing prior to arrival
Rental bookings
Summer changeovers
Maintenance
aude-relocation@aliceadsl.fr
Cracking up?!
Buying a property here is a little nerve racking.
The legal process is fairly straightforward if your family situation in regard to French inheritance laws is given some thought.
However, in France, unlike many other corners of the world, the houses are not usually surveyed prior to buying. Seeing a crack in the walls can be quite worrying to those who've fallen in love with a particular property. Indeed, having once bought, it suddenly dawns on you how much work there is to do!!!
We work with a team of registered local French builders who know the construction methods of the old properties of the region. Based in the Haute Vallee, near Limoux; they can be found via this link http://limoux-renovations.blogspot.com
Alternatively, e-mail the team via: limoux-renovations@tiscali.fr English e-mails are fine!
The legal process is fairly straightforward if your family situation in regard to French inheritance laws is given some thought.
However, in France, unlike many other corners of the world, the houses are not usually surveyed prior to buying. Seeing a crack in the walls can be quite worrying to those who've fallen in love with a particular property. Indeed, having once bought, it suddenly dawns on you how much work there is to do!!!
We work with a team of registered local French builders who know the construction methods of the old properties of the region. Based in the Haute Vallee, near Limoux; they can be found via this link http://limoux-renovations.blogspot.com
Alternatively, e-mail the team via: limoux-renovations@tiscali.fr English e-mails are fine!
Friday, April 21, 2006
Work in Progress
Over the past few months a lot has happened; new people moving to the area, others further afield looking for local help here.
Clients who are in the Far East keeps in regular contact by e-mail and the occasional call. They have a lovely house near Chalabre with a pool. I've obtained the services of an excellent pool man who has his own small company and immediately solved the 'leak' situation, replaced their pump and has the pool up and running for their first visitors in May.
My most 'difficult' clients are in Tanzania; they're lovely people but contact with them depends on their internet connection working! Luckily I know what needs doing at various intervals and contact a variety of tradespeople to get it done. I've just got them connected to the phone in France and an internet connection for their house outside Limoux should be online anyday soon!
I've had a sudden arrival of a couple from Herefordshire with their horses, dogs & a parrot. An interesting menagerie, they're slowly getting through the red tape here whilst they settle in. Visits to insurance agents (I use a mutuelle as it's a lot cheaper - no shareholders to think about!), CPAM to organise their Carte Vitale, bank accounts have been set up and I've also pointed them in the direction of doctors & vets to ensure a healthy start to their life here!
There have been lots of bits & pieces to sort out, mostly assistance with bank accounts, health matters and 'where do I find ...'? My French friends laugh at me with my phones ringing madly and tell me I should rename this site 'Call Chloe' ...
But it keeps me on my toes and with the sun shining at the moment, life's not too bad!
Clients who are in the Far East keeps in regular contact by e-mail and the occasional call. They have a lovely house near Chalabre with a pool. I've obtained the services of an excellent pool man who has his own small company and immediately solved the 'leak' situation, replaced their pump and has the pool up and running for their first visitors in May.
My most 'difficult' clients are in Tanzania; they're lovely people but contact with them depends on their internet connection working! Luckily I know what needs doing at various intervals and contact a variety of tradespeople to get it done. I've just got them connected to the phone in France and an internet connection for their house outside Limoux should be online anyday soon!
I've had a sudden arrival of a couple from Herefordshire with their horses, dogs & a parrot. An interesting menagerie, they're slowly getting through the red tape here whilst they settle in. Visits to insurance agents (I use a mutuelle as it's a lot cheaper - no shareholders to think about!), CPAM to organise their Carte Vitale, bank accounts have been set up and I've also pointed them in the direction of doctors & vets to ensure a healthy start to their life here!
There have been lots of bits & pieces to sort out, mostly assistance with bank accounts, health matters and 'where do I find ...'? My French friends laugh at me with my phones ringing madly and tell me I should rename this site 'Call Chloe' ...
But it keeps me on my toes and with the sun shining at the moment, life's not too bad!
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