This Old (French) House, Part 2 Your enthusiasm for my house purchase has been overwhelming and so encouraging. Not that I needed approval but still, it is very cool to feel a certain group of people celebrating your moves (literally!) and cheering you on. It makes me think of a few years ago, 10 ish …
Life in France
Home buying- France
Yup! It has happened! I bought a house!! It was actually, probably almost 2 months ago but these things take time here so I just kept it under wraps until I knew more. But I just learned this week that we have a closing date (Oct 24th!) so time to bring you up to speed! …
The Long Stay Visa Process
The Long Stay Visa I feel like I have PTSD on some level from this whole process. And I know this isn’t a topic that will interest everyone but for those of you who want to know, here goes! First off, it is pretty simple to come to Europe and stay for 90 days. You …
Year 1 in France
Year one in France I am sitting writing this on my couch (okay, so not really mine as the apartment came furnished but I guess it is mine in that I am renting it!), the Olympics on the small tv (that also came with the apartment), cheering first for Canada (of course!) and in the …
The French Lunch.
Last Tuesday was a holiday here and I was invited to join Em and Co for lunch at their home. Also invited were Francois’ parents. Perfect. Some catch up time. Although they don’t speak much English between my ‘its coming along French’, Denis and Annie’s efforts to plug in some English words, some enthusiastic pantomiming …
Life in France, Part 2.
It’s pretty much 24 hours since I wrote my last post, and I am happy to say that I am less blue tonight. But lest you think I managed to just pull my socks up and ordered myself into happiness, stop right there; I think it has more to do with the fact that today …
Settling in France, Part 1.
Part 1, Life in France. And just like that, I have been in France, my new home, for over three weeks. You know what they say about time flying when you are having fun! It has been a bit of an unusual time because Emily and Francois have been on vacation for the past two …
A bientot
I know, I know! I said there’d be no post today but isn’t it always the way that when you can sleep in (until 7) these are the days you wake up even earlier (6). Put this post in the “under promise, over delivery” category. After Baby Nina tucked in last night I joined Em …
Silver Linings
The first time I came to France for 3 months I went home to work. That was super easy; it got me back into the swing of life at home, I was moving into a new role with all sorts of learnings and I was closing in on retirement. The 2nd time, last mid-Aug to …
Visas
Some of you have asked me to explain how the visa process works for long stay access to France so here goes. Perhaps you too have your own European adventure being dreamed about……Bear in mind I have been figuring this out as I go, and there’s been some stumbles, including the fact that I somehow …