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stumbling self sufficiency in a small space
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10:15 am
Senior Class
New members
Sun 20-Feb-11
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Hi all,
I've just joined and will try to tell you a little bit about myself.
I currently work as a theatre Sister in an NHS hospital in West Yorkshire, my other half is a self employed joiner/ shopfitter and we have a 31/2 year old daughter who was a pleasant surprise, being that I am now 43 and OH is 47!
Before sproglet came along we were dedicated bikers, touring europe once a year and enjoying bkie rallies etc. We still have one motorbike which OH is reluctant to part with but he has not ridden it for 18months!
Abour 2 1/2 years ago a friend in Brittany put us on to a lady from England who was selling her property in France for a bargain price ( one of the few bargains left i think). So we bought it with the intention of moving out to Brittany this year about Junish. I have handed my notice in at work and will be finishing early June (can't wait, the NHS is NOT what it used to be let me tell you).
I am not fluent in French in any way shape or form so have dismissed the idea of nursing there and to tell you the truth am so disillusioned with it (nursing that is) that I want a complete change of lifestyle, as we both do.
The property is a longere comprising of 3 maisons ( or what will one day be 3 maisons). The first house has a roof and that is about it the other 2 are just shells. We have just bought and installed a 3 bedroomed 34 ft static caravan all in for 790 euros (another bargain, definately dropped lucky on that one). The house is on .8 of an acre of land which has it's own little wood so is not massive but certainly big enough for us.
I'm intending to grow loads of stuff, have chickens, maybe a pig or 2 and do cleaning jobs and such like while we do the renovating ourselves. We will be renting our house out here in England, and have no mortgage and by the time we get there will be completely debt free (but that's another tale!!) So that will be part of our income, OH has work in the dordogne renovating somebody elses place so some more income there.
Iwas brought up in the country, my dad was agamekeeper so am not daunted by the thought of living in a remote place, infact I cannot wait to go,
Soooo I will post more later but aforementioned sprog is pestering for me to play so will have to oblige.
speak soon
bettyg xx
just thought I'd try it:
http://quinquis2011.blogspot.com/
11:24 am
Enthusiast
New members
Thu 30-Sep-10
Offline
Well that was quick and most interesting, yes indeed you were lucky with the caravan, plenty of things for hubby to get working on and you will be busy working the land and looking after little lady. Yes and plenty of room for her to run about in. I am still sticking my stones together.
So welcome to this crazy forum, we had a couple from Hull living near us but her husband died this year and we don't know if she is coming back.
Carol you have met of course the others will come very soon to greet you I am sure.
Our children reap what we sow
11:34 am
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
Offline
Hi Liz. Welcome to the Forum. It sounds like you are looking forward to your new life. You'll get lots of tips on all manner of topics here and meet lots of friendly people ( some of them quite mad. 
) We shall all love to hear of your progress. Best of luck. 
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
12:25 pm
Enthusiast
New members
Thu 30-Sep-10
Offline
If they are not mad after a few months in France they will be after a year.
Our children reap what we sow
12:37 pm
Supreme Being
New members
Sun 30-Jan-11
Offline
Hello and welcome. You'll love it here, I do (i'm new too). Everyone's so friendly (if a trifle bonkers! 
) and are more than happy to pass on loads of their really useful help and knowledge. I've learnt loads already in the 3 weeks or so since I've been here. 
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
1:41 pm
Supreme Being
New members
Mon 7-Jun-10
Offline
Welcome from Bulgaria....I have three houses here, two in one garden and one 'up with the eagles' that I haven't seen for a while but need new tyres on the jeep before I venture there...
My two in one garden...one had a roof of sorts and I stayed in an hotel until it was fixed and now it is admired by all of the neighbours and I do conducted tours every Wednesday and Friday (that's a joke by the way) or on demand. My other in the same garden is still requiring a roof. Visitors from England notice it the first day, the second day it's not so prominent and after the third they regard it like me.....it will get finished (or pulled down) one day. I'm in just over an acre on to open hillside and love it to bits...My sprogs all gone and into the serious world while mother is 'doing what they know not' out in Bulgaria....
I keep a diary which you can access from this site but that's not an advert by the way....but can I say good luck with your dream.....it's fun to dream....and as for working....forget it if you can afford it...you'll have lots to do and that sprog needs such a lot of attention....and shouldn't be denied...go on this website when the little one is in bed.....
Anyway, as I said welcome...just be careful what you write on here...there is always someone that picks holes in it and spots an open goal if I don't do it first.....
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
2:26 pm
Councillor
New members
Tue 20-Apr-10
Offline
Hi Liz, welcome. There are plenty of very helpful people here who will gladly help with advice when sought. Please tell Hubby to get that motorbike out fast and get riding especially as drivers are so friendly towards bikes in France.
Also some here have blogs of their own, have a read of some of those they may well inspire and we will look forward to hearing more of your adventures as you get into your plan.
Take care and have fun...
I have reached an age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me...
2:31 pm
Supreme Being
New members
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
Hello and nice to meet you, good luck in your endeavours and keep us updated on progress, we love to hear about people with more work to do than us.
3:05 pm
Senior Class
New members
Sun 20-Feb-11
Offline
Thanks all for the lovely warm welcome,
I'm still catching up with scarecrows antics, I'm on page 21 so halfway through. I'm not normally on here so much but L's at her grandmas this aft and tonight as I'm developing a rip roaring chest infection and feeling cack so she kindly offered to have her stay so I could get some rest, which was really nice. I'll try to get in to the docs first thing tomorrow. OH's mum and dad are also buying a place near us over there ( signing for it this coming Friday) and are intending to move over once they sell their house here , so we'll have some help with stuff.
I shall post some more later probably after my tea that Grandma is cooking! ( I'm not normally this well looked after)
OH is at our place in France at the mo and has been there for the past 5 weeks, installing caravan and building and such things, that's one advantage of being self employed, although no wages while he is there but we are managing.
Anyway not long to go now, 5 months then that's it: au revoir Angleterre et bonjour France way hey!!
love
xxLiz xx
just thought I'd try it:
http://quinquis2011.blogspot.com/
5:47 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
Offline
Hello and welcome Liz, all the best on your adventures and we look forward to hearing more as time goes on. My hubby left the NHS nearly nine years ago now but he was a lab technician in one of the Sheffield hospitals, we now live in Latvia but have lived in Denmark and Colorado before we landed here. It's nice your in-laws are moving out to help, it's great when you all get on.
6:05 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Hi Liz! Welcome to the mad house. Looking forward to reading all about your adventures. Good Luck.
I'll try that again!
11:28 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
Offline
Liz, where is your place in France?
We have a place near Cognac in Aquitaine (Charente-Maritime, more accurately!).
Looking forward to hearing about your exploits!
Welcome to the fold
11:33 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
Offline
Oops, should read all the posts before I ask daft questions - I see your place is in Brittany!
Good Luck!
6:00 am
Supreme Being
New members
Mon 7-Jun-10
Offline
brightspark said:
Oops, should read all the posts before I ask daft questions - I see your place is in Brittany!
Good Luck!
Is that 'Good Luck' because they have chosen Brittany? You've not been and done it again have you BS !!!!! 
Who lives long sees much : The diary of my life in Bulgaria
2:49 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
Offline
That must be my trademark, Elsa.......
Actually, I meant good luck with the move, etc...... 
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