Settling in....

Newsletter Issued 21 May 2025

It has been just over two months now and we are starting to feel settled, and not just on holiday, here in France. We are getting to know our local shop keepers and produce sellers, neighbours, and of course the brothers who run our local cafe/bar/pizza place. We are also getting to know our way around, can (mostly) remember which day places are open, or closed, and even remembering that the shops all close at lunchtime on Sunday, so to make sure we have stocked up!

We have had amazing support and friendly assistance, and even with broken English and French our two sided conversations have all been a pleasure, and the French people we have dealt with have been absolutely delightful.

Life here is well paced, and we are taking our time to ease into things. We have had our first house guests, and hosted our first apero and barbecue. The bringing of seasonal produce or something made in the home by guests is delightful, and we are embracing the tradition.

We are meeting new people every day, and enjoying feeling more a part of this area. We had a long Sunday lunch with French friends a couple of weeks ago in their beautiful home nearby (we baked a cake, and have shared the recipe), followed by a digestive walk along the river, a perfect day. We are exploring new areas and villages, finding brocantes and shops, and marvelling at the beauty of landscape and ancient buildings around every corner.  

It is such a delight to be more exposed to seasonal produce, and see fields being ploughed and prepared, planted and harvested. We have passed many apple orchards, still in blossom, and the tomatoes are to die for - gorgeous heirloom tomatoes are the norm at the markets, large and meaty and delicious. But the biggest stars of the moment are strawberries and asparagus, available at every roadside stall. We have found a secret local supplier, and the strawberries are the best we have ever tasted! Cherries are just coming in to season now, a favourite for us both.

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It’s also brocante season and we are in heaven! Every roundabout has at least one vide grenier sign for a local village, some are annual, and some are weekly, and often hit and miss but always great fun. A vide grenier (literally empty the attic, or attic sale) is like a car boot market or grouped garage sale, with a mix of things to browse, and great for second hand clothes shoppers like us!

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Mostly we are rummaging in boxes and baskets for treasure, and we have found some tea towels, tablecloths, napkins and garments, as well as pieces of fabric, which are slowly being added to the website as we soak, wash, and iron them. The sellers are a mix of locals clearing their homes, with some professional dealers thrown in to the mix. There is always a food stand, often run by a local community group, selling hot chips, sandwiches, burgers, pizza slices, as well as coffee and beer and wine. We have had some of our best sandwiches and frites in these markets, and some days we might even have a glass of rosé!

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Brocantes are more specialised with antiques and collectibles, where all of the dealers are professional and have higher quality (and higher priced!) items to sell. We are getting to know some of the dealers, who are always friendly and helpful, and importantly getting better at speaking with them in French to understand the history of the pieces we find.

Brocantes are an amazing opportunity for the dealers to get together, and especially over lunch you will see groups around a table sharing food and wine, and shouting out prices as you hold things up from their stall. There is a strong camaraderie, love of life and what they do, which is infectious and makes every market special. 

We love what we do too!