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tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 8:05 am Post subject:

madmonk wrote:

it was very reassuring to find out how good the French health service is

I can vouch for the Spanish one too, on hols in Spain a couple of years ago my 3 yr old nephew broke his arm, we took him into the nearest hospital, he'd been x-rayed, plastered and out in less than 45 mins, try that at your local NHS trust....

Follow up appointments never took more than 20 mins either (including x-ray).

tigger

Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 725
Location: Bologna (Italy)

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 12:55 pm Post subject:

Don't be embarrassed to try to speak the language even if you hardly know any, people generally appreciate that you've made the effort. Another good way to learn is to swap conversation lessons. The fact that you're English is a great advantage and you'd be surprised how many people even in small villages want to practice their spoken English. You don't need to be able to teach grammar, just be prepared to chat and listen.

monsieurpoule

Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 56
Location: The more exclusive Northern end of France

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 7:43 pm Post subject:

Learn the language before you arrive. The idea that 'I'll pick it up when I arrive' is stupid. If you can't communicate with people then you're stuffed - and rightly so.
Try to learn about he culture.

My own method was a bit like HWH - I arrived here and eventually found a French partner. Does wonders for the language skills! Obviously it's not a method that applies to everyone but it worked a treat for me.

tigger

Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 725
Location: Bologna (Italy)

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 7:59 pm Post subject:

monsieurpoule wrote:

My own method was a bit like HWH - I arrived here and eventually found a French partner. Does wonders for the language skills! Obviously it's not a method that applies to everyone but it worked a treat for me.

Me too! you learn quickly when someone cries with laughter everytime you make a mistake!

My most embarassing moment was when i had a chat with a very respected hospital consultant I was teaching English to, about preservatives in food, and then discovered that "preservativo" in Italian means durex

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun May 14, 06 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Moving to Brittany as soon as possible ..

moules and frites wrote:

Eventually settled on Brittany as loads more to do.

Welcome to the site. I'm certainly keen on Brittany as well, anything I should know that's not in the guide books?

Thanks for all the info everyone I shall pass it on to my friend who is currently on holiday in France!

Rather than spending 2 weeks in a French 'ospital can I just spend 2 weeks with a couple of French nurses.

I agree about learning the lanuage, I'm not good at picking them up but if you ever live somewhere then you really must make the effort IMHO.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon May 15, 06 7:49 am Post subject: Re: Moving to Brittany as soon as possible ..

Treacodactyl wrote:

Rather than spending 2 weeks in a French 'ospital can I just spend 2 weeks with a couple of French nurses.

Bet you got a clip round the ear for that

moules and frites

Joined: 13 May 2006
Posts: 21

Posted: Tue May 16, 06 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Brittany Update

Treacodactyl wrote:

anything I should know that's not in the guide books?

About the only bad thing about Brittany and the west of France is the lack of choice and the surprisingly high costs of ferry travel . Brittany Ferries are the only option and price accordingly.
Swimming is not really an option

and flying with a budget airline is good for visitors but not an option for taking tools/ building materials/ tradespeople .
You can save around 33% with the BF property owners club but you do feel that they added on 50% first !

monsieurpoule

Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 56
Location: The more exclusive Northern end of France

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 10:08 am Post subject:
I'd suggest the Pas de Calais or Somme - cheap crossings from tunnel, speedferries, p&o or seafrance. Nice part of the world

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: Brittany Update

moules and frites wrote:

You can save around 33% with the BF property owners club but you do feel that they added on 50% first !

We were members of the BFOC too. I kicked them in to touch when they billed me a hundred and fifty quid for a ferry crossing that was on offer as a �25 day return. Apparently because I didn't use the "return" part of the booking (I was only going one way) I was in default of their terms and conditions and so I was expected to pay the full listed price.

How on earth a company can get away with having a list price of �175 for a single, six hour journey and then advertise offers of �25 day returns for twice the same journey (in effect) is beyond me.

Needless to say .....

madmonk

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 835

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 12:38 pm Post subject:
I use Norfolk line, Dover to Dunkirk it is about 1/2 hr longer and the mileage to Limoges area is actually 1 mile less, but less motorway. I drive a toyota hi-ace van and if you travel at the right time it normally around �50 return . Hope this helps

thos

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 1139
Location: Jauche, Duchy of Brabant (Bourgogne-ci) and Charolles, Duchy of Burgundy (Bourgogne-�a)

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Brittany Update

simon wrote:

How on earth a company can get away with having a list price of �175 for a single, six hour journey and then advertise offers of �25 day returns for twice the same journey (in effect) is beyond me.

Needless to say .....

Its called differential pricing. The bulk of the trade is provided by the beer and fags day trippers who get the cheap day returns. Those on longer holidays are a more captive market and will still travel for a higher fare. Those coming from France are even more captive, and will pay even more.

That is why we have a ten-trip voucher from Speedferries.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 1:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks Madmonk

�50 sounds very good. I havn't used the ferries for nigh on 2 years as I don't go far these days but I'm sure the info will be very helpful to others.

Just out of interest, you say it is a shorter journey from Dunkerque to Limoges but I don't see how this is so. Where in France did you used to ferry to?

We used to take Portsmouth to Caen which would take us about 8 hours down to Limoges (Slow van & including stops). The Calais run took at least an hour longer in the same vehicle. I suppose Paris (spit) could have alot to do with that???

S

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: Brittany Update

thos wrote:

Its called differential pricing ....

Yeah, I know how it works. It is that they can get away with it that annoys me.

The ten trip voucher sounds OK. I have heard that speed ferries are very reasonable in any case.

Cheers

S

thos

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 1139
Location: Jauche, Duchy of Brabant (Bourgogne-ci) and Charolles, Duchy of Burgundy (Bourgogne-�a)

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 1:30 pm Post subject:
I find Speedferries excellent. I paid GBP210 for ten singles. They are now charging GBP250. The tickets can be crystallised for any crossing that's not full. However, on my last trip across I could have travelled for GBP19 each way. I used to use the shuttle through fear of being delayed by bad weather, but the shuttle is now too dear. If the weather's bad, we'll just cancel the trip.

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Fri May 19, 06 5:15 pm Post subject:

We always knew we wanted a house in the country with land for loads of veg, fruit trees and chicks and looked in the UK 1st. We found we couldn't afford anything we liked, well not and give up work (or at least mad, full-time, stressful work) so that house hunting really helped us hone what we were looking for. The idea of warmer weather and cheaper house prices attracted us to France (now there's other thing's that attract us/ keep us here).

Each year we've added more trees (fruit or for future firewood) and veg plots and continue to make improvements to allow us to live off our land as much as possible...don't suppose I can grow chocolate bars though! Good job the french want to learn english!

We bought 6 years ago but only made the full-time downsizer move 2 years ago. We worked on our french before arriving. It's not easy 'just to pick it up' it takes time and effort. Learn as much as you can before the move and once in the country get out and meet people - even though we came here to hide from the world a bit we've made the effort to join in various (=lots) of things to improve our french as quickly as possible. It's working / worked! But don't ever think it'll be easy.
Karen

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