Hi, I've abandoned the UK rat race in favour of a happier, healthier and more peaceful lifestyle here in the Loire and am restoring a village property into a home and gite business. It's always good to make new friends and I'm happy to chat and exchange views and ideas with anyone here. I'll also be looking to improve my mauvais French some time soon as well! All the best and hope to hear from you soon. Bill
Hello Longchap and welcome to EasyExpat.com. It is a big challenge to restaure a house. How do you find working in a building site in France? Easy to get the appropriate help? material? Any problem with regulation and dealing with admin? When is it going to be finished and when are you planning to open your gite? Do you know other expats in the area?
Hi and thanks for the warm welcome. You're right in that is is a big challenge and even more so, as there are three houses to get to grips with! I was a construction project manager before comming to France, so I have a useful background and also a builder friend staying here to help me. Materials are no great problem, although it did take a year to obtain the planning permissions to do the conversion work. We wont be fully operational until next year, although have our first paying guests this August. As for other expats, well I've met just one nearby and we've become friends and I'm looking forward to meeting more new people, both French and British. All the best, Longchap