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by Rosy Thornton

This book appealed to me because of its expat theme and its vaguely foodie nature.  I don’t usually read books in the romance genre, but I made an exception for this one – and I’m glad I did!  It was a cracking good read!

Here’s the blurb from the back of the book:

A rural idyll: that’s what Catherine is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and her dream is to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you’re no longer just here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather, and the reserve of her neighbours, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol. And that’s before the arrival of Catherine’s sister, Bryony…

The main character, Catherine Parkstone, sets off to make a new life for herself in a tiny French hamlet. Naturally it takes time to fit in, but the neighbours are mostly welcoming and supportive. She goes on to make good friends with them, and when her business plans get snarled up by French bureaucratic red tape, the villagers stand side by side with her in the “us against them” situation which develops.

I feel sure that many of you will also have encountered the Catch-22 situation which Catherine found herself in when trying to establish her business overseas in a country such as France. You can’t submit your business accounts without a seal. OK, so apply for a seal. Nope, it’s not that easy. Almost every document you’re required to submit during that process isn’t valid unless it carries… your business seal. You get the picture.

Mostly the neighbours are kind and fairly elderly, but there is also the enigmatic Patrick Castagnol, a Frenchman who speaks perfect English and lives in a secluded house in the mountainside woods. Naturally Catherine and Patrick become friends and Patrick, who is an excellent cook, teaches Catherine about the food of the area – wild boar, chestnuts, mushrooms, and all manner of things freely available to the hunter or forager.

Despite the difficulties, life is laid back and relatively idyllic for the independent Catherine. And then Bryony comes to stay. Bryony is Catherine’s city-slicker sister, beautiful, outgoing, clever, successful, thoroughly selfish and mostly a complete pain in the bum. But, as is the case everywhere she goes, everyone loves her. And she has her sights set on snaring Patrick.

In the background of the story the French neighbours become like real people to the reader and you feel real sorrow when there is a death in the hamlet. There are also Catherine’s two grown-up children who make the occasional appearance in the novel – the very likeable Tom, and Lexie, who is a bit of an air-head.

All in all the characters seem very real and the plot unfolds at a good pace. It’s a fairly gentle novel but is packed with excellent descriptions of life in rural France as seen by an English woman on her own. This is the sort of book that would make ideal holiday reading – especially if you’re visiting France, though that’s by no means essential to enjoy the read.

One thing I particularly liked about this book was that it wasn’t swamped with French phrases which I couldn’t understand.  Some authors seem to spend a little time in France and then assume that every reader is also expanding their French vocabulary every day, which in my opinion can be annoying for the non-French-speaking reader.

I also enjoyed the obvious love of food of the rural French people, who were mostly self-sufficient and producing everything from honey to goat’s cheese. I almost felt I knew the characters well enough to call them friends and felt that I would love to go and stay in their community for a while but, alas, they and their community are fiction and a product of Rosy Thornton’s inventive mind.

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story and who has any interest in France and/or cooking.

By the way, if you would like a free recipe booklet which contains recipes based on food cooked and served by characters in the novel, then pop over to our sister site Not Delia where you are welcome to download the recipes in PDF format.

The Tapestry of Love

Rosy Thornton
Paperback, 406 pages
2010, Headline Review
ISBN 978-0-7553-4557-1
RRP: £7.99

Win a copy of The Tapestry of Love!

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a copy of this highly readable novel is to comment on either this book review, or on Rosy’s recipe booklet (available on Not Delia). You can even comment on both if you feel like it – why not double your winning chances?!

But the competition closes at 2359 GMT on Tuesday 30 November, so don’t delay – do it now!

Author: Kay McMahon

Kay has been an expat for over 20 years. She set up the British Expat website more than 10 years ago, whilst living in London and missing the expat life. These days she spends much of her time lugging computers and cameras around the world. (Dave gets to deal with all the really heavy stuff.)

The price of the property depends on location as well. While Paris is among the most expensive capitals in the world for buying property, you will find that in the rest of France prices are quite reasonable, and in many cases more affordable than similar properties in the UK.

Another thing to bear in mind is whether you have your own means of transport, or you depend on public transport to get around. You might want to choose an easily accessible location if you travel a lot. France has an excellent network of roads and railways throughout the country, so in general you would never experience any difficulty getting to and from your property.

But if you travel a lot throughout the year, on business for example, you might want to consider living in the vicinity of an airport or train station. Air France offers a domestic network covering the entire country from its hubs in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseilles, and it’s easy to connect to other flights when arriving from the UK or any other country. Various airlines are also offering more and more direct flights between smaller airports, making reaching your final destination even easier.

Then of course there is also the TGV, the French high-speed train, which in many cases is as fast as or even faster than air travel for journeys within France.

On a more local level, you’ll have to decide whether you need to be close to a town or village. You may have friends in a certain location. Generally speaking, the closer to a town a property is, the more it will cost. On the other hand, if you prefer to have more land around the house, it is more likely you will find it farther away from the towns.

So basically deciding where you would like to live is a combination of many different factors, and a matter of weighing pros and cons. Of course when searching for French property for sale, the single most important factor is your budget. When searching for a suitable French property, particularly in the south west of France, you are likely to conclude that for the money you’d spend on a property in the UK, in France you will be able to buy much more.

Author: David Seymour

David Seymour lives in South West France and is the managing director of Adept Marketing SARL, a company specialising in property for sale in France

It is not only the weather which attracts expats. If you choose the south of France to be your new home and buy a property there, you’ll find yourself in a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. But many people also opt for other parts of the country, such as the South West, which are less pricey and less crowded. Property for sale in south-western France represents some of the best bargains available, and the region has much to commend it.

Many people who relocate to France want to trade in a life of drudgery in the grim, cold and frantic North for a relaxed and easy-going sunny French lifestyle. It is a surprise for many to find that it is possible to live a good life in France for much less than it would cost you in the UK.

Many things are said about the relationship between the British and the French, and a lot of it is based on historical issues. Often Britons and Frenchmen have a distaste for each other, but they do not know exactly why. This outdated attitude, based mostly on history, should not influence you.

France is a wonderful country, and you will find that its inhabitants are among the friendliest people in Europe. Of course, friendship grows with mutual understanding and you should do your share in building a good relationship, such as learning to speak French. Especially in more remote areas you will find that being able to speak the language, or even just knowing the most important words and phrases, will take you a long way and make life much easier.

Mingle with the locals, don’t isolate yourself. In other areas which are popular among British expats, such as the Costa Blanca in Spain, they’re known to form their own communities and very often have little or nothing to do with the local inhabitants. This is not a good situation and will certainly not help to integrate foreigners into the local community.

France truly is a country with many opportunities. In fact, it’s more like a few countries in one. If you are still at the stage of checking out which area of this vast country would suit you best, you would be well advised to check out property for sale in the South West of France. This region has much to offer. If you decide to buy a property in France, relocating to the South West will allow you to live the good life to its very fullest.

Author: David Seymour

David Seymour lives in South West France and is the managing director of Adept Marketing SARL, a company specialising in property for sale in France

If you speak a little French, things will go easier than if you don’t, although in a big city it should be less of a problem. I live in a small town (8,000 people), so things could be a bit different in a big city.

Utilities

Q Electricity/Gas/Oil/Water – which companies do people use? Cost more or less than UK?

A I guess most people go with EDF, Electricité de France (who also do gas, and own several power companies in the UK). Supposed to be a bit cheaper than the UK, since a bigger proportion is nuclear and not subject to prices hikes as with oil. There is also an environmental tax of about 5% levied on the bill, so the more power you use the more tax you pay. Your immobilier may well set up the transfer of electricity in your name for you. EDF will then send you confirmation of your account, which can be used for proof of address until you get the first bill. Bills are usually monthly, and you can opt for automatic direct debit. Many people will want to see a utility bill as proof of address, though you can use a bank statement or rental agreement. That’s why the confirmation of account from EDF is a good idea. Several companies supply heating oil, including the big supermarkets. Water is taken care of by the mairie, to whom you will pay the bills.

Many people use bottled gas for cooking, at least in the sticks, and dual electric/gas cookers are common for town or country. Most petrol stations carry bottled gas. They don’t refill, they exchange an empty cylinder for a full one.

Q Broadband – Which companies do people use? Cost more or less than UK?

A Uptake and service is generally better than the UK, though the price wars are levelling out at around €30 a month, but usually includes telephone too. See Wikipedia’s guide . France was the first country in Europe to introduce ADSL2 in 2004. Orange, owned by France Télécom and previously known as Wanadoo, has about half the market.

Q Mobile Phones – Which companies do people use? Cost more or less than UK?

A Three main mobile operators in France: Orange, SFR and Bouyges Télécom. Many plans exist, probably a bit pricier than the UK, but like there, it is very difficult to work out which is actually cheaper unless you happen to fit in with one of their examples. You can either have a contract (abonnement) or pay as you go, but if you don’t top up the latter before the deadline you lose your unused credit. Mobile numbers in France begin with 06, and French numbers are 10 digits rather than the 11 in the UK.

Q TV Licence – How much?

A TV Licence was €116 in 2004. Don’t have a TV myself.

Q Sky – which companies do people use? Cost more or less than UK?

A If you want British programmes, a Sky subscription is for you. French programming is on either Canal+ or TPS, but these are on a different satellite to Sky’s Astra.

Motoring

Q Buying a car – cost more or less than UK?

A Car prices are more similar than they used to be, but probably still cheaper than the UK. Automatics are a rarity in France, and are more difficult to get fixed and retain their value less. There are an awful lot fewer used car places than the UK. Most people prefer to sell privately, and you will see cars parked all over the place with notices in the window with the details and A Vendre (often just AV).

Q Car registration/Insurance/Road Tax etc – what do I have to do?

A Car registration and licences are dealt with by the Préfecture or Sous-Préfecture (in cities it may have its own building). You have a week in which to change your registration. Note that on official documents and requests they refer to within huit jours (eight days) or quinze jours (15 days), but note that this really means seven days (a week) and 14 days (a fortnight – quinzaine) respectively, ie by 8/15 days it has to have already been done.

At the moment, the last two numbers on the number plate indicate the département you live in (useful for knowing whether the idiot in front is a faffing tourist or a local) but that system is changing soon. If you buy a car with an out-of-département number then you also have to get a new numberplate as well as changing your reg details.

You do not have to change your licence to a French one unless you commit an offence for which a penalty such as points or suspension is imposed, when it is obligatory to change it.

The French version of the MOT is the Contrôle Technique (CT), which is done every 2 years. They will sometimes flag minor things to be done for the next time.

You can get car insurance (and other insurance) from the many companies that do assurance. Most are big global companies. As with medical insurance, if you have a problem finding a company willing to insure you there is an ombudsman who will appoint one.

For the insurance, you will need registration, Contrôle Technique, your licence, garage receipt if the reg is not in your name and evidence of no claims. The latter is not so generous in France.

There is no longer any road tax in France.

Q Driving in France – what do I need to know?

National speed limit is 90km/h on normal roads, 130km/h on motorways (unless it’s raining, when it’s 110, or the overhead signs restrict you because of pollution, when it’s 100). In towns the limit is 50, but this is often unsigned. You are in the town when you come across the town name sign, black lettering on white with a red border, and are still in it until you see the same sign with a red diagonal line through it. Not as many speed cameras as the UK, but there are about 1,000, going up to 3,000. Note also to keep in a bit on right-hand bends, as the French often cut the corner a bit on left-handers.

The police or Gendarmerie can stop you at any time without reason to look at your papers or breathalyse you. By law you have to carry all your paperwork with you when driving ie licence (permis), registration, CT, insurance. The Gendarmerie can put you in jail until you produce it (a bit difficult) but if you’re local they may drive you to your house to get it. Spot checks for documents are frequent. One reason why French guys carry little handbags!