Peter and Jane, while new to the region, have
already fallen in love with their second home. They
spoke to Carol Cormack about how they found their
way here, what made them buy, and how they are
adjusting to life in their new ìpart-timeî
paradise.
Personal Perspectives: A view to die for
The most important thing anyone looking to buy a property in France learns is that the more specific the brief, the longer it takes to find the perfect match. Peter knew what he was looking for but had spent ten years viewing property which either exceeded his budget, or didn’t look like the picture he had in his head of his ideal home. Eventually he gave up looking, until, he happened to pass by St Ambroix.
“I chose France a long time ago over Italy. I thought France would be less bureaucratic and I was better at the language. I like the restaurants in France, they are cheaper and more laid back. Also, booze is cheap and the sun shines.”
“I started my search, many years ago, in the Dordogne but never seemed to find what I was looking for at a price I could afford. Then a friend moved to Provence about ten years ago and I would look at a few expensive, unappealing bungalows every time I was there. The houses I liked were three to four times my budget.”
Peter started researching the Languedoc coast but found there was too much new-build. He was looking for something with character. “We found a house near Toulouse, which was very beautiful with wonderful views, but had no neighbours, which I didn’t think was great for a second home. In the end we didn’t even put in an offer. I was glad we hadn’t when I found out that it rains over there more than in the South East of England.”
The most important thing anyone looking to buy a property in France learns is that the more specific the brief, the longer it takes to find the perfect match. Peter knew what he was looking for but had spent ten years viewing property which either exceeded his budget, or didn’t look like the picture he had in his head of his ideal home. Eventually he gave up looking, until, he happened to pass by St Ambroix.
“I chose France a long time ago over Italy. I thought France would be less bureaucratic and I was better at the language. I like the restaurants in France, they are cheaper and more laid back. Also, booze is cheap and the sun shines.”
“I started my search, many years ago, in the Dordogne but never seemed to find what I was looking for at a price I could afford. Then a friend moved to Provence about ten years ago and I would look at a few expensive, unappealing bungalows every time I was there. The houses I liked were three to four times my budget.”
Peter started researching the Languedoc coast but found there was too much new-build. He was looking for something with character. “We found a house near Toulouse, which was very beautiful with wonderful views, but had no neighbours, which I didn’t think was great for a second home. In the end we didn’t even put in an offer. I was glad we hadn’t when I found out that it rains over there more than in the South East of England.”
Jane found the Gard when she spent a holiday in
Uzès one year. Uzès itself was also outside their
price range but they visited a few estate agents
and there seemed to be cheaper and nicer property
towards the Cevennes. “St Ambroix kept coming up
and on the last day of our holiday we had a look
round this area. We saw a couple of houses in the
mountains, which fitted our remit.”
“We saw the house we eventually bought on the internet but dismissed it as too remote. When the agent brought us up here we thought we were going to the ends of the earth. First, a narrow lane, then a narrower one then a rocky path until we arrived in a little hamlet with four houses perched on top of the hill. We fell in love with it immediately. It was a beautiful clear February day, there was no sound of traffic, and when we saw the house and the views that was it. “
Now they visit as often as they can but as Jane works hard running a busy company it is limited to long weekends. “We come in all seasons, but I love the winter; it is so crisp and light. We are on the very edge of that Mediterranean belt with a very specific micro climate, the mountains behind us and the garrigue in front, but it is much drier than I expected. We hope to organise our lives so that we can come for longer periods. My ideal would be to be here for three months to relax, dream, watch the grass grow, and have friends and family come and go. We have six children between us, all grown up, so we needed somewhere big enough to fit everyone in. When I finish working I want this to be a base from which to travel. This area is great for connections to Spain and Italy, or Paris even, but what I really want is just to be rather than to do. With a working life in the UK you don’t get much time for that.”
“We saw the house we eventually bought on the internet but dismissed it as too remote. When the agent brought us up here we thought we were going to the ends of the earth. First, a narrow lane, then a narrower one then a rocky path until we arrived in a little hamlet with four houses perched on top of the hill. We fell in love with it immediately. It was a beautiful clear February day, there was no sound of traffic, and when we saw the house and the views that was it. “
Now they visit as often as they can but as Jane works hard running a busy company it is limited to long weekends. “We come in all seasons, but I love the winter; it is so crisp and light. We are on the very edge of that Mediterranean belt with a very specific micro climate, the mountains behind us and the garrigue in front, but it is much drier than I expected. We hope to organise our lives so that we can come for longer periods. My ideal would be to be here for three months to relax, dream, watch the grass grow, and have friends and family come and go. We have six children between us, all grown up, so we needed somewhere big enough to fit everyone in. When I finish working I want this to be a base from which to travel. This area is great for connections to Spain and Italy, or Paris even, but what I really want is just to be rather than to do. With a working life in the UK you don’t get much time for that.”
As they are still new to the area they find they
have a lot to learn. Shopping can be frustrating
and they miss Sunday opening. “Another beef is that
the restaurants don’t serve enough fresh
vegetables. Also, we would like someone to open a
tea shop; somewhere we could get a sandwich at
lunchtime, or tea and cakes. It is easy to get a
coffee but the bars are too smokey.”
“We find the commuting a bit of a fag as Ryanair is so complicated now. The other thing is that we are remote enough up here that we need a car to leave the place but then it wouldn’t be so quiet if we were nearer the village.”
The neighbours have been hugely friendly and very encouraging with Peter’s bad French. “We worried that they would not welcome us, but it has worked out very well.“
“We have no mains water, which doesn’t bother me at all, it rather adds to the charm. We do get power cuts but usually only when there is a storm. We are still trying to establish an internet base here but this is proving problematic.” Problematic indeed. They have been paying their ISP since Christmas but haven’t yet been connected to the internet. This is very frustrating for Jane who needs to work when she is here.
Peter ponders a (hopefully distant) scenario: “When I die, I would like to have my ashes scattered in the corner of the terrace which has the best view. Jane pointed out that I would wash away through the drain hole, but that’s ok.”
“We find the commuting a bit of a fag as Ryanair is so complicated now. The other thing is that we are remote enough up here that we need a car to leave the place but then it wouldn’t be so quiet if we were nearer the village.”
The neighbours have been hugely friendly and very encouraging with Peter’s bad French. “We worried that they would not welcome us, but it has worked out very well.“
“We have no mains water, which doesn’t bother me at all, it rather adds to the charm. We do get power cuts but usually only when there is a storm. We are still trying to establish an internet base here but this is proving problematic.” Problematic indeed. They have been paying their ISP since Christmas but haven’t yet been connected to the internet. This is very frustrating for Jane who needs to work when she is here.
Peter ponders a (hopefully distant) scenario: “When I die, I would like to have my ashes scattered in the corner of the terrace which has the best view. Jane pointed out that I would wash away through the drain hole, but that’s ok.”
