Ups and downs of Living in France

There are things you take for granted here, such as fresh fruit – which has not been irradiated like most UK fruit, you can chose exactly what items you want rather than face a prepackaged selection, you can get a doctors appointment the same day and treatment for just about anything really quickly (the french health system is the best in the world), but boy do they love paperwork!  I believe 1/3 of the workforce is employed to push paper around….but the bad thing is the price you have to pay for those English delicacies such as Branston Pickle or Salad Cream.  I know the french have mayonaise but its not the same, it doesnt have the bite.  We are lucky enough to have a British store called, rather imaginatively Brittains in Valbonne where you can get all those UK treats, but at a price!

The french are also famously anti entrepreneurial, which is strange as it is a french word, but people engaged in trying to set up a business English style are accused of trying the “Anglo Saxon Experiment” which is said with such distaste and usually accompanied by some gallic grimacing, so I have decided to retire and play more golf and tennis.  My life was just getting too busy for work, in fact work began to affect my leisure time, so thats it, I thought when I moved here 5 years ago, finished.  Well that is what I had hoped but commercial reality soon dawns, and with the exchange rates of £1 = 1.45 euros a distant memory, I have had to perfect working at such an intensity I do not need to work a full day.  There is also of course the art of delegation.  I have just employed a young Thornton-Allen to mow my lawn, now thats delegation.  Of course he thinks he is getting paid but, as I will loftily inform him once he is finished, that would be against the law.  I find it works once then they dont come back…My picture today shows the gals hard at work, drinking into my rose stock by the pool and discussing matters of great import such as which eyeliner is the best value…at the rate they consume I may need counselling, which is handy as I have just received word from fellow British Riviera Club member Anne Pilling of her counselling sessions she is running in Nice.  A note from Lucy at Red Radish who is running more secret supper club events, thoroughly recommended.  so final preparation for golf tomorrow.  A full report on Sunday!

Chris France

Gals, hoovering up my rose

buying a house in France, moving money? www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance

Latest local news? www.fr2day.com

Best Esate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/

Best French Riviera Property Agent?  

http://www.afa-international.com

http://frenchriviera-properties.com

rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514

Best on line resource in Valbonne? www.valbonneonline.com