Vive La Renovation: Building a Life in France - Softcover

Morris, Trevor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0955633702 ISBN 13: 9780955633706

Publisher: Trevor Morris, 2007

Synopsis

Trevor Morris a self-employed builder, his wife & their 3 cats
move to south-west France to create a new life & business. This collection
of articles features fascinating characters & bizarre situations that
highlight the differences & similarities between the 2 nations. They are
carefully observed, sharp, fast paced & guaranteed to make you smile.

About this title

Review

Ever wondered what your builder is thinking about you?
At last you can find out. Step into a strange world - your builders mind. -- Orlando Murrin, Le Manoir de Raynaudes & BBC Good Food Guide

The most entertaining account I have read yet of British ex-pat
life in the south of France. Quirky, literate and well-observed and
invaluable if you are even considering a move to deepest France. -- Dave Murdock, Editor, Dorset Echo

Trevor writes with such humour that even simple stories are hugely
entertaining but best of all true! However, beware as no-one is safe,
nobody more so that his fellow contrymen as he gives us a unique insight
into life in rural south west France.
-- Nathalie Bolton, Editor, French Entre Tarn & Aveyron

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

We had just hit that point, as we approached forty, when for the first time
in our lives we were not struggling to keep our heads above water. I had
got my one-man building business established, Sue was on a good grade at
the local authority and we were set up in a lovely apartment in the Dorset
countryside...

So what did we decide to do? Well, give it all up and move to France
to start a new life. It was decided. I would wind up the business, Sue
would give in her notice, and we would let the apartment out. On the vague
promise of some work and the loan of a holiday gîte from a friend of a
friend, we would head off into the unknown - south west France, to be
precise - with a small amount of money in the bank, in the middle of
winter.
Everything was meticulously planned, down to the last detail. I was to look
after the bills, the new tenants, the transport, the money, the contacts
for work etc. Sue was to pack the clothes and sort out the cats. I throw in
the word cats, as if cats are an incidental. Unfortunately, they are not,
at least not in our house. I am approximately fifth in the pecking order
(behind three cats, in order of seniority) and liable to slip to a lower
point at any time.
A date was set, a van was hired, tickets for the channel tunnel booked.
Tenants were helped to move in and we were off........

About this edition

• Publisher: Trevor Morris
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0955633702
• ISBN 13: 9780955633706
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 348
• Illustrator: Lewis Patrick