Research and Preparation - December 2003

Over the coming weeks, like many before us we embarked upon the journey to acquire information. We researched the internet, subscribed to numerous magazines and most importantly discussed a criteria for what we would look to buy and where.

We determined that:
· We wanted to be able to drive to the location within 12 hours of our home in the England
· We did not want to be dependant upon a low cost flight
· We wanted to be in the countryside and were not particularly interested in being near the coast
· We only needed a small and manageable home, with a small garden.
· The home should be within or on the edge of a village
· We had a modest budget in mind and expect to do some DiY to get the home as we expect.
Having been to France on holidays before, Linda and I were drawn to the inland Loire Atlantique area, but our desk research quickly indicated that there was a limited choice of property for sale, and even more limited homes within our budget.

As can often happen, our discussions with other people led to a chance conversation with a property consultant who said, “have you thought of the Limousin area” which lead us on the road to a new discovering, but not after some sceptical doubt.

I looked at the map of France and couldn’t believe it conformed to our first criteria element. The map seemed to defy logic. The area was actually within 12 hours of home and the AA Route Finder confirmed that Limoges was only 50km further than Nantes by the fastest route distance.

Still skeptical our research took a turn and became detailed and focused upon the Limousin Area made up of Le Creuse, Haute Vienne and Correze. The more we investigated over the following few weeks the more we became enthralled and intrigued by this part of France.

Gem of an Idea! - November 2003

Our adventure and the very early steps that would lead to us to successfully build a home in France really started during a damp November in 2003, as I faced up to the prospect of reaching my 50 years milestone and contemplated what the future would hold and how I wanted to shape the next phase of our life.

Linda, Joshua and I lived in a great part of England and life was good. We were about to start some building work on our home that would lead to us being even more settled and had no intention of moving, before or even after retirement, which I knew was some time away, but planning for the future rather than let life drift seemed important at that stage in my life.

Our holidays in recent years had been spent in the UK, other than visits to relations abroad. None of us are ‘sun worshippers’ who wish to spend multiple days on a beach. This coupled with the difficulties presented by Joshua’s food allergies restricted the appeal of the normal two week break in the sun.

So, one day we discussed the prospect of us being able to find a ‘little place’ in France that we could use as a family holiday retreat and somewhere we could spend time together, and enjoy local food and encourage Joshua to learn to cook.