What were you doing before you decided to move to France?
We had a pizza and sandwich delivery business in Aberdeen, Scotland. We started this when we left hotel school and ran it successfully for nine years, but it was time to either expand it dramatically or do something else.
We now had three little boys, all under the age of six and decided that a change of lifestyle and country would be a great life experience as well as an adventure – well you do when you are 30 don’t you!
France seemed the best option as we had very basic French (my French teacher from school would probably have said I didn’t have a hope!) but we hadn’t ever spent time in France apart from a school trip to Paris.
What attracted you to Gironde?
Friends with a bit more knowledge of France told us to look south of the Loire as the weather would be better. Mark spent a couple of weeks researching properties in Charente and Lot-et-Garonne. We chose Gironde because we were close to Bordeaux and everyone has heard of Bordeaux wines. We also fell in love with our first property – Château de Sanse in Ste-Radegonde. Château de Sanse was a ruin when we bought it and we spent two years renovating it into a 15-bedroom hotel and restaurant. We sold this in 2004.
What were you looking for in your second property?
When we sold Château de Sanse, the boys were all at school in the area so it was important not to move too far away. I was keen to find something that didn’t need complete restoration.
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Living France.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Living France.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history
