Barging on the Nivernais Canal

via www.Barge Luciole.com

Last night we stayed on board the wonderful Hotel Barge Luciole and shared the wonderful team spirit of the crew, delicious food and fabulous French wines. The Luciole is moored up for the winter at Auxerre, in the shadow of the Cathedral and Abbey.  The lights from the opposite bank sparkled on the water lapping against our porthole.  The experience gave us a taste of what a holiday onboard this historic and rare barge would be like.


Barge Luciole cruises between Auxerre, one of the most beautiful waterfronts in France and the medieval town of Clamecy passing through unspoilt French countryside. La Luciole began her life in 1926 and was converted in 1966 into the first "hotel barge."  Over the years, the roof has been raised, the interior rebuilt and the hull extended to provide luxury accommodation for 14 passengers.  Improvements have continued to be made whilst keeping the personality and atmosphere of this special vessel.

The video link  shows inside La Luciole and some of the stunning Burgundy scenery, medieval villages, markets, chateaux and vineyards.

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The Canal du Nivernais is recognised as one of the most varied and beautiful in France.  It was constructed in 1783 as a means of floating timber, flottage, from the forests of the Morvan to Paris.

Barging the Nivernais Cannal

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Tempted? 
Take a look at the website
http://www.bargeluciole.com/index.php

House Viewing Etiquette

via Pinterest

 

 

 

The viewing.....this could be the first step in making your dream of living in France come true, so it's important to get it right!

Be on time.  Bear in mind that many estate agents are self employed and that if they are meeting you away from their office, they can't do any other business while they are waiting.  And the vendors may have taken the day off to be present for the viewing.

Remember to allow yourself longer travelling time than you think you need. 

The French are pretty formal and there are cetain accepted ways of meeting and greeting.  Shaking hands is the norm.  Don't worry about Faire la Bise... kissing... on this occasion!!  I will cover the kissing minefield in another post.

Whether you can speak the language or not ...smile and be friendly....try and learn a few phrases to say hello and introduce yourselves.

Keep an open mind..you will be putting your own mark on the property so learn to see past the layers and layers of ancient floral wallpaper and the toilet in the garage....I am not joking!!

Don't get carried away by the lower cost of land and be tempted to buy far more than you manage.

Be realistic about the renovations you can do yourselves and what is within your budget. 

Give clear and honest feedback to your estate agent so that they can work with you to find your perfect French home.

And enjoy the experience!

Bon chance!

 

Motivate Monday

This week... it's all about taking a little more risk and making more effort to reach for our goals.  Aim high...aim big...what have we got to lose?

How are we going to reach the stars...if we don't even get our ideas off the
ground?

What are you going to make happen?  And how are you going to make it happen?

Wherever you are in the country or city look out your window tonight ...
.... the stars are nearer than you think.

Shine on...shine on!
 

How To Plan A French House Buying Trip

 

 

 

via Pinterest

 

Viewing an overseas property needs pre-planning.  How are you going to manage the logistics? Can you make yourself understood?  How are you going to get there? 

 

Take a look at the checklist below to ensure that your viewing trip is an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

 

Decide on the area that you would like to explore.  Research, research, research.  Concentrate on one area at a time.

 

Have a list of property must-haves to give your estate agent, immobilier, in advance of your trip.  Do keep an open mind - you don't want to miss out on the perfect property just because it doesn't have one of the features on your check list.

 

Immobiliers generally work on an appointment system and pre-arranged viewings.  There's no use planning to pop into an immobilier on the off chance.  When making appointments be aware of French public holidays and the two hour lunch break is still the norm, so appointments will probably be in the morning or late afternoon.

 

You don't want to fall in love with your dream home and not have your finances in place ready to buy.

Deal with immobliers who can speak both French and English.  You need to understand what you are signing up to.

 

Take off your rose coloured glasses - if a bargain seems too good to be true it probably is. Don't be afraid to ask why a property seem so cheap.

 

Try not to cram too many house viewings in one day.  Four houses in a day are plenty. Take notes and photos of each house.  It is easy for details to blur.

 

Bear in mind that France is a big country and you may need to drive quite a distance in your search area. Give yourself time to take a look around the house and surroundings. 

How far are the shops?  Is there a Doctor nearby?  Where are the schools?

 

Schedule enough time to revisit some of the properties.

 

Most places look beautiful in the sunshine.  Be aware of what the house would look like in the rain and cold.  What facilities are there in the winter?  A lot of tourist towns completely shut down in the winter.

 

Think about renting a house in the area you are interested in.  Then you could really see if the area and lifestyle is for you. Have you thought about home-schooling your kids?  Could you transfer your work to France or commute - maybe work part time from home in France?

 

There's alot to consider, take your time and think it all through...you are about to make a life changing decision for you and your family.

 

 

 



Sex Before Dinner?

via Pinterest

This week we were invited for a delicous lunch with our French friends and neighbours.  It was the first time we had got together since Christmas. During the four hour lunch we ate some great food and had lots of laughs.  As you will see from last year's blog ...please click below to read it...the main topics of conversation were still sex..religion and politics... this year we discussed homosexual marriage in France and the reasons why so many French do not want this to  be made legal and...how they have changed their views on Francois Hollande.  Last year they hated Sarkozy or Sarko ....now it's the turn of Hollande to be the baddie!!

http://moncoeurestdanslacampagne.blogspot.fr/2012/01/sex-before-dinner.html

 

J'Adore....French beds

Rococo inspired French bed via Pinterest

Baby it's cold outside...lots of snow and blizzards across Europe today...it's time to snuggle up in a gorgeous bed.  Antique and Reproduction French beds are desired by those who love shabby-chic, sheer romance and a touch of old fashioned style. 

Upholstered French bed via Pinterest

French beds come in a variety of designs and in different materials often featuring upholstery, rattan and ornate woodcarvings.  Many of the styles date back to the 16th century, when the reigning sovereign dictated the furniture style. As new monarchs came into power, new styles of furniture were created. The most important periods in the history of French furniture are the French Renaissance, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Regency, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Directory and French Empire.

Bateau or Sleigh Bed via Pinterest

One of the things that makes French antique furniture so special is that the type of wood used was easily carved. Densely grained Oak, native to France was often used and equatorial woods, such as rosewood and mahogany were bought back from overseas.  The carvings may feature motifs from nature such as acorns or animals. The Rococo style features scroll like, curved carvings.

Which French bed would be your bedroom heaven?

FREE Book Giveway - The Boon

Le Morvan via Pinterest

 

I am a glass full kind of a girl, generally optimistic and pretty enthusiastic about life.   Of course I get knock backs in life and suffer a temporary slump when I lack energy and feel down.  Believe me I do love a good wallow from time to time but I can usually pull myself out of it by counting my blessings and giving myself the proverbial "kick up the ar*e."

 

But imagine if a deeper depression took such a hold that you doubted your sanity - your whole life would change..

Fellow Ultimate Blog Challenge blogger, Eugene Uttley has written a book called The Boon about his struggles in coping with schizophrenia. 

 

 

This experimental open letter includes original and appropriated prose, poetry, song, prayer... memoir, travelogue, sketches of Uttley's present-day life, and literary exegesis. Its many sources and topics are ranging, but circle always back to the overarching theme of recovery from mental illness through better knowledge of self and becoming more whole, a complex process both mental and spiritual, which entails increasing awareness of connectedness to the greater whole, the infinite.

 

Click on the link below for your chance to win a copy.  http://freereviews.weebly.com/giveaway.html