| Welcome
to the final newsletter from us for 2003. I thought that it is worth
looking at a question that we get asked by most of the French people
that we now have as friends and colleagues.
Why France?
Last year, over 71 million foreign visitors chose France for a holiday...
and with good reason. The French version of the Good Life 'la vie
française' is an experience to be savoured.
The French enjoy an enviable lifestyle. But quality usually comes
at a cost, so the next question you may want to ask is: can we afford
to live in France on a permanent basis especially those on fixed
incomes? Yes, is the answer as, of course, France isn't as expensive
as you may have been lead to believe.
Gas/electricity costs vary seasonally but they're not outrageous.
Most village houses get bills in the region of £20 monthly
in spring and summer, and around £50 monthly in winter. Property
taxes? Unlikely to be over £750 a year unless you're the owner
of a luxury property that you would never afford in the UK.
First class healthcare, excellent roads and public transportation...
and some very affordable properties. France makes lots of sense
if you're seeking a European home. Or indeed, as a place for extended
vacations... and I cannot think of anywhere better for a second
home.
If you've read anything about longevity, you may recognize the name
Jeanne Calment. Jeanne passed away in 1997 at the age of 122, then
holding the record for the oldest documented human being in the
world. She smoked cigarettes, ate foie gras and chocolate cake...
in short, she did all the things that so called health professionals
warn against. But how many pensioners do you know who take up fencing
at the age of 85... or who continue to ride a bicycle until they
reach their centenary?
According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, France
provides the best overall healthcare system in the world.
Life in France is life as it's supposed to be lived. Is it the wonderful
food and the long dinners that linger on for three hours at a stretch?
The best wines and aperitifs in the world? It's all these things,
of course, and more. It's a wonderful feeling.
Champs-Elysées
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A very Happy Christmas to all of our clients
old and new - Bridget & Peter |
