redwine

http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/les-retraites-britanniques-de-combiers-ronges-par-l-incertitude-29-06-2016-5923241.php Le Parisien 29/6/16 Brexit les retraites britanniques de Dordogne rongés par l'incertitude. Brexit The retired British in the Dordogne are worried sick because of the uncertainty. Quote Over the last four days everything has toppled over in Combiers. We only sleep five hours a night i am worried for us and everybody over there. This Brexit is completely mad idiot and not democratic !. Having re-gained self control in between anger and stupefaction Kate and her friend Alison are sitting in front of a glass of apple juice. At first sight no cataclysm has yet reached there houses nor the 12th century church or the pleasant streets of this hamlet of a 129 souls out of which 25% are British. But for theses fevrent defenders of the E.U the Scots Kate and Alison the English Anne,Peter,Iris and Steve. All of the little British community with grey hairs who have had a nice easy going life-style since the 1990,s but today life seems to be on ' suspense'. Its a jump into the unknown we can imagine everything but we know nothing resumes well this bewilded group of friends who landed one day in this... "fantastic little village where the locals welcomed them from the bottom of there hearts (sic)". We follow hour by hour the value of the pound and it hasn't stopped falling 1.25 last night and 1.19 a few hours ago. Kate a retired school teacher risks losing 10% of her pension of 1,900 euros. "I don't know if i can continue to maintain my house" said the sixty year old. Steve says to make some savings he's going to spend six months in the South of England and six months in the village. Our health ? what about our E111 health card will it still be valid questions Kate. Iris is above all worried about her two cats will they be put into six months quarantine when they want to step over the Channel. In the village he does not mix with the small retired British community. Robert 50 years old from Cornwall is one of the rare British who is openly 'leave' especially as his fellow countrymen are pro EU and anti-Brexit. "The anti-Brexit are more worried about there pensions than Europe".

http://www.charentelibre.fr/2015/12/30/pougne-trop-mechants-pour-le-pere-noel,3008922.php Charente Libre 31/12/15 Pougné Trop mechants pour le pere noel. Too nasty for father christmas. Quote Two families in the village were not invited to the christmas party that was organized by the festival commitee. These new arrivals talk about exculsion and discrimination. A storm warning in Pougne. They hardly know each other but the two families 'Coucharriere' and 'Arnoult' have a few things in common. They both moved to Pougne last August. They both have a high number of children nine for the first and six for the second. Both families were also excluded from the franco-english afternoon party which was organized by the party committee where presents were given out to children of less than ten years old. The invitations were put into all of the letter boxes in the village except theres. The reason is straight forward Christian who is head of the party committee said" they are shite-stirrer's why on earth would we want to invite people like them"... and even then he is being polite. The battle lines have already been drawn between the new arrivals and those who have always lived there. The war has already been declared in this tiny little village. Here it is complaint after complaint , insults , anonymous letters , eggs thrown at cars.... yes we are here in this tiny little village with a population of just over 90 ! Another point that these two families have in common .They are both in conflict with one or several neighbours and the local council. "Our children were not allowed to go and see father christmas" said Mrs Arnault. "People have stuck a sticker on us and it says that we are trouble"; "Even those who don't know us are against us" said Mr Coucharrieres.He estimates that to have not been invited is 'discrimination' It was billed as a public event he did not go but the father and daughter of the Arnaults went and were turned away. "we don't want the likes of you here your nothing but trouble makers" you can hear this on the video that they made . No Christmas Party Next Year. The party committee insists that the franco-english party was a private event; "The room was hired and the presents were bought by the committee ....but seeing its like that there won't be any christmas party next year and there won't be a festival committee and they will have won". This is not what the two families want they only want to live there lives in the village. "We invested in a house and we cannot sell it within ten years and we have taken out a credit for the next 25 years this means that we can't do nothing for the next 25 years and we will never be invited anywhere" A debate that raises the question of the intergration of new arrivals in small villages like this one..

http://www.lepopulaire.fr/limousin/actualite/departement/creuse/2016/01/29/maisons-a-moins-de-45-000-euros-l-operation-menee-en-creuse-devrait-etre-reconduite_11759360.html Le populaire 29/1/16 Limousin Creuse Maisons à moins de 45,000 euros. Houses for less than 45,000 euros. Quote Attracted by the low cost of property and life in the open air the new arrivals will settle in the North Creuse in 2016. Out of 11 houses that were on sale at the start 4 in all likelihood have been sold. If two of the houses managed to sell before the open day the two others succeded in selling thanks to it . Joiner living in Grenoble Robin and his wife wanted to leave the city to go and live in the countryside. "We wanted land an orchard hens and not further away than half an hour from a town or a hospital". For less than 30,000 euros the couple bought an old farm and are hoping to move in before this summer. "We are really impatient" said the young man. It was on internet that the couple found there farmhouse just like Roslyne a worker in Besancon who wants to change her lifestyle and buy a house. "In our area we could never afford to buy a house". Conquered by the landscape the forests and the rivers she bought a 60m2 two floor house with a big plot of land also without hardly any renovation work to do. The house sold for less than 45,000 euros to the great despair of the vendor regrets Christian. "I re-did the electricity the painting and the plumbing and the sale does not even cover my expenses". With his wife Nicole they live in Vichy and both of them are nearly 70 years old they could no longer keep the family home. "Its been in my family now for the last five generations it was a difficult decision to make". "But the property market is so low i am glad to of sold it".

http://www.lemonde.fr/logement/article/2016/03/22/saint-gaudens-paye-cher-sa-fievre-immobiliere_4887792_1653445.html Le Monde 22/3/16 Saint Gaudens paye cher sa fievre immobilier. Saint Gaudens pays a high price for its property fever. Quote In Saint Gaudens the view of the snow covered Pyrénées mountains is majestic despite the clouds of smoke that is rising out of the nasty paper mill. The population of 11,200 put up with it because it is one of the rare employers in this town in the Haute-Garonne that has been eaten away by unemployment 17% of the active population are unemployed a record in the county. Between 2002 to 2008 this peaceful town was seized by a property frenzy with the creation of 15 residences called 'Robiens' after the name of the housing minister who created a tax reduction scheme aimed at the future buyers of newly built property with an engagement to rent them out for 9 years. 1143 properties were built in six years although the normal rate is not in excess of 20 homes a year. Eight years later the town has still not digested this over full amount of property and has ended up by being even poorer. Nearly 1,000 properties are empty the amount of vacant property between 1999 to 2013 has climbed from 8% to 14%. "In Saint Go its simple there is no property market" regrets Martin of Century 21. "Houses are selling in drips and drabs at deflated prices a freefall of -50% and the rents have fallen by 30% to 50% with a high turnover of tenants". Alot of them recieve benefits they are sent here by the social services in Toulouse and even further away. The property websites are overflowing with adverts. On the 22 of March the website Se Loger proposed 353 flats for sale and 90 to rent.

http://www.magcentre.fr/92577-le-marche-immobilier-rural-pas-tres-clerc/ Mag centre Center magazine 5/3/16 Le marché immobilier rural. The rural property market. Quote But what are the solicitors doing at the annual farming exhibition ? Every year they occupy a stall that is visited and is also highly appreciated the rural solicitors come from all of the regions and give out advice to those who ask them. The solicitors are worried this year due to changes in the law that lowers there fees. The rural solicitors just like rural doctors are both facing the same problems. "We are having a hard time trying to find successors and even clerks" They go on to explain that one after another they are also victims of the rural desertification. "65% of the french dream of living in the countryside but only 33% live there". They underline the growing decline in the rural property market. "The rural property market is at a total standstill" With significant price diffrences between the countryside and the towns. In the Lozere in the Puy-de Dome the Cher and the Ardeche it takes a long time for a house to find a buyer even with a very low price. This situation is notably linked to the fact that holiday homes who are situated two hours away from the big towns are no longer popular.

Fear is the word a short list of articles in the press. Brexit The english in the Vienne are against.. La Nouvelle Republique 22/2/16 Brexit ? So shocking for the english in Montreuil....La Voix du Nord. 2/3/16. Brexit Worries the english in the Indre ... La Nouvelle Republique 3/3/16. The Brexit worries the english in the Limousin .....Le Populaire 1/3/16. In case of a Brexit i will take the necessary steps to obtain french nationality ....Bfmtv 3/3/16 What will become of the British living in France..... Le Parisien 5/2/16. In the South West the British community are worried about the Brexit ( an interview in the village of Condom and i liked the photo of Churchill's the english grocer in the Gers) France 3 21/2/16

http://www.letelegramme.fr/bretagne/brexit-les-anglais-de-bretagne-contre-07-03-2016-10982258.php Le Telegramme 7/3/16 Brexit Les Anglais de Bretagne contre Brexit The English in Brittany are against it. Quote On the 23rd of June the British will vote to decide if the UK will remain in the EU an overwhelming majority of the english who live in the center of Brittany are against there country leaving Europe so we went to meet them. When you push open the door of the english grocer's shop 'the little Brittany' in the heart of the tiny village of Gouarec we had the impression of having been tele transported over the English Channel in the space of three seconds. Here everybody speaks english jokes in english and buys english. On the shelves there is marmelade,scones and pickles in short there is everything that makes up the variety but also the originality of english cooking. This well stocked shop attracts hundreds of British residents who live in the center of Brittany. Inside the owner who would rather speak in english explains that she is rather worried. "Its quite stressing for us we keep well informed everyday but up until now we prefer to talk to our customers about the weather." "We avoid the subject and hope that in the future our life here will not be turned upside down". 20,000 British. Its difficult to know exactley just how many people have followed the same path. The British community is strong with its 20,000 persons who in our region live mainly in the center of Brittany. Amongst them John and Flora who have just finished there shopping this retired couple who have been living here for the past four years are well informed about what is going on over the Channel. A few seconds later after having put there shopping basket in the boot of there english GB registered car. The pair of them push open the door of the local community center. In a small room on the second floor John and Flora join a group of around ten expats.Who have all come to take an integration lesson. "My aim is to encourage them to speak french" explains Maryline a language teacher who is in charge of the group. "Its not easy for some of them even though they have been living in France for a number of years". Fears about our social security. The risks of a Brexit is straight into the heart of the discussion "i fear about what will happen to our social security". Says Bob.

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2016/01/15/2256269-une-annee-2015-en-berne-pour-l-immobilier-villeneuvois.html La Depeche Lot et Garonne 15/1/2016 Un anneé 2015 en berne pour l'immobilier villeneuvois. 2015 a down year for property in Villeneuve sur Lot. Quote The property market in Villeneuve has known a 'tense' 2015. The increase in property tax and the evolution of the mentalities of the buyers and the over abondance of the offers when compared to the demand are the main causes. 2016 has just begun an opportunity for the property stakeholders to the accounts. The results seem to be rather 'morose' according to some of the estate agents even though others point out an increase in transactions. The main problem resides in a "very high property tax" this pushes the buyers away to the nearby towns and small villages because property is cheaper and the buyers keep an eye on there budget. The market is also suffering from vendors who are having a difficult time estimating the real price of there property when compared to the market price. Today the stock is 4 to 5 times higher than the demand. To sell you have to be at the market price and the sellers don't seem to understand this. Villeneuve is also suffering from a lack of business and the exodus of the British customers explains Frank an estate agent. Nicolas an estate agent says... Its a good time to invest the average price of a house is 117,000 euros a fall of 6,7% when compred to 2014. An example a house 'cube' with three bedrooms can sell for between 60,000 to 90,000 euros. A readers comment "it will be the same in 2016 and 2017 in this town there is nothing left". There is also an article in South West and it said that there are 2,000 houses for sale in Villeneuve ,Bias and Pujois and Le Ledat

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/02/19/les-expatries-britanniques-dans-l-angoisse-d-un-brexit_4868460_3214.html Le Monde 19/2/2016 Les expatries britanniques dans l'angoisse d'un Brexit. British expats in anguish of a Brexit. Quote This week and more than usual Nick searches the newspapers looking for the slightest information about the referendum about staying in the EU that was promised by David Cameron. "Up until now i said to myself that it would never happen but the more i look for information the more i start to worry about my business". This englishman who owns a castle in the Gers and runs a special events business with two friends can only note the bitter rise of the no vote in the opinion polls. Just like Nick the British expats can only observe worried. Retirement worries. Out of the 200,000 or so British who live in France a high majority in the order of 69,000 are retired and are mainly living in the South West. This is the case of Brian Cave a retired teacher from Gloucestershire. He arrived in the Lot 17 years ago and he writes about his experiences on his blog "Pensioners Stand Up". He is also worried about his future in France. "All of our health expenses here are sent to London and are paid for by the UK if we leave Europe there is a risk that this cooperation will come to an end this would be a catastrophe for pensioners living abroad." For the moment the retired British are covered by the National Health Service who pay there health care expeses in the EU. "If the UK leaves France could impose any laws that they want and we will be no longer protected by European treaties" fears Brian Cave.

http://www.leparisien.fr/espace-premium/actu/au-village-des-anglais-on-refuse-d-y-croire-06-02-2016-5519149.php#xtref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.fr Le Parisien 6/2/16 Brexit au village des anglais on refuse d'y croire. Brexit in the english village we refuse to believe it. Quote In Eymet in the middle of the Perigord its impossible not to mention the subject of the Brexit seeing as the english colony is so considerable. The subject is at the heart of the conversations in the British owned establishments in the center of the historical fortified town of 2,600 habitants. Thats been nicknamed the Dordogneshire by the english media. "The Brexit is a real stupidity" Terri Simpson 52 years old speaks bluntly about the threat of her native country leaving Europe. Originally from Manchester she has been living for the last 14 years in Eymet where she runs an estate agency. "The majority of us believe that leaving Europe will be a catastrophe for England". Terri knows a high number of the 260 British residents who live in Eymet. "The arguements that have been advanced by those who want a Brexit are totally caricatural" she continues "we are giving far too much power of speech to those who critic the immigrants and they are trying to make people believe that they will bring ruin to the UK". "This is unacceptable". She was the first english resident to be elected onto the local council in 2008. If we leave Europe what will become of the English who live in France ? Will we need to have a residents permit? Will we be able to recieve social benefits I really can't believe it. Only two readers comments one said....... "If we leave Europe what will become of the English who live in France ? They are english and will remain english they are migrants just like all of the others.

If you fancy watching some comedy on tv' les camèras cachées de Francois l'embrouille' is being shown on the channel Paris Premiere tonight at 20.45 or in english the hidden cameras of Francois Damien. You can watch him on the TNT channel 41 or on orange channel 34 if your on free its channel 26 well worth watching for a laugh.

http://www.sudouest.fr/2015/07/03/dordogne-une-dispute-a-l-anglaise-avec-un-couteau-a-pain-1985833-1980.php Sud Ouest South West 3/7/15 Dordogne une dispute à l'anglaise avec un couteau à pain. Dordogne an English style dispute with a bread knife. Quote A sixty year old British couple had a violent dispute Wednesday after-noon in a village in the Dordogne. Wednesday at the end of the after-noon in Javerlhac in the Dordogne a couple of sixty year old English had a violent dispute. The police were first called out to there home because the husband who was drunk hastily attacked his wife punching her later in the evening the situation once again degraded. The 63 year old woman resisted by grabbing a bread knife to escape the violence of her furious husband. She slightly injured him on his arm to escape from his blows. The police were called out for the second time and intervened to prevent the couple them from killing each other. The couple who are unknown to the police were finally placed under police custody. The man finished by been taken to the hospital in Perigueux. No decision has yet been made but there maybe a case for self-defence for the British woman. English style.....

http://www.lepopulaire.fr/limousin/actualite/2015/09/16/il-agresse-un-automobiliste-ayant-le-volant-a-droite-car-il-n-aime-pas-les-anglais_11586848.html Le Populaire 16/9/15 Limousin il agresse un automobiliste ayant le volant à droite car il n'aime pas les anglais. He attacks a motorist with a right hand drive because he doesn't like the English. Quote The police are still investigating an attack the victim is from New Zealand he lives in 'la Porcherie in la haute-Vienne. The event goes back to last July the 28th of July on this day Mr Carrick was driving his Land Rover in the village of Croisille-sur-Briance. He stopped his car and a village local appeared next to his car door he then attacked his Land Rover with a baton. "You have a right hand drive car and i hate the English" reports the victim. The motorist gets out of his car and is attacked by the man and his son. The kicks the punches and the baton blows rain down on him. Mr Carrick asks for help from a person that he knows in the village. "I saw him coming he was sweating and his face was covered in blood i gave him the police telephone number" said this person who was surprised that the attacker was not taken in to be questioned by the police. The victim made a formal complaint at the police station but since then he has not recieved any information. Today the case is on stand -by. "Its a person who hits first and thinks after everybody in the village knows him" said the same person. "I prefer to remain anonymous as i don't want to go through the same thing".

We are staying in Lot for a couple of months, house hunting. http://www.laviequercynoise.fr/marche-de-l%E2%80%99immobilier%E2%80%89-une-reprise-fragile-s%E2%80%99amorce-cet-ete_6129/ La Vie Quercynoise 20/8/15 Life in Quercy. Ou en est le marché de l'immobilier dans le Lot ? Where is the property market in the Lot ? Quote Stephane estate agent in Prayssac has remarked an up turn when compared to last summer. "Its a little better than in 2014 there's a slight increase in demands up to 150,000 euros". Although the market remains calm for property over a 150,000 euros and more. Globally prices are falling and the buyers are in a position of strength. Property priced at a 150,000 euros an offer for 120,000 euros will be studied with serious attention. As for the clients they are old.. " Its always the old who buy its a problem in the Lot since there is hardly any work the young leave". There's lots of pensioners who have left the urban zones ( Paris and the center of France) Prayssac attracts them because there's lots of shops. " A few English are coming back into the county but its nothing when compared to what we have known in the past". Stephane remembers the crisis in 2007 when the situation became very difficult. The crisis was more marked in the Lot because there is no economic activity the politicians have tourist projects not projects to develop industry and business like in the county of the Aveyron. Its night and day when compared to last summer said Alain of Occitan property in Gramat. We have never known anything like this since 2008 an increase in clients there's more buyers but they have less cash but they buy low priced small property. Last summer they stayed away there was no demand... Just like everywhere else in the county its property up to a 150,000 euros that finds a buyer above this price the buyers are just not there.. Our clients are the locals of Gramat and the French who come from elsewhere its shared. We haven't got any foreign buyers its finished. The English have sold up and they lost everything when compared to the price that they bought for. The aim of the buyer is to buy for the lowest price. Prices are still low therefore there is still away to negociate the sellers have understood this they have to negociate if they want to sell! Actually the market is calm in Cahors a few vists and a few demands says Chantal an independant agent. Since 2008 prices have not stopped falling by 8 to 10% on average but they have stablized these last two years but this does not mean that they sales have increased. Property for less than a 150,000 euros accounts for the majority of our sales. Its different for the foreign buyers the majority of them come from Belgium Holland and Switzerland they are fond of old stones and property with character. These buyers are ready to put there hands into there pockets for the sums of over 300,000 euros. Here the market is better for low price property at least these are the ones that we deal with the most declares Jacqueline of the agency LCI in Figeac. The town center still remains popular with old aged pensioners and the young go rural because house prices are cheaper and the council taxes are lower than in Figeac. Conclusion even if we can't talk about a euphoria the period is favourable for bargains.

http://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Indre/Actualite/Economie-social/n/Contenus/Articles/2015/07/02/4.-A-Argenton-on-en-saura-plus-apres-l-ete-2388661 La Nouvelle Republique 2/7/15 Argenton-sur-Creuse A Argenton on en saura plus apres l'ete. In Argenton we will know more after the summer. Quote A small tremble it seems that the property market that has been morose these last few years has started up in the sector of Argenton-sur-Creuse. "A slight up turn since the start of 2015" according to Christine of Adil (county property information agency). "Without adoubt due to the low prices and interest rates". Although this has to be confirmed you have to be very careful so its too early to make any conclusions even though 'Argenton is the most dynamic sector in the county' "The market is lethargic " says Chantal of Center Property. 2014 was for us an exceptional year with 26 sales but above all high profits since the beginning of this year the agency has concluded 4 sales "terrifying" Vincent agent at Guignard Property says "in Argenton and its close urban area the market works well. We have more offers than demands for town houses and detached houses". On the other hand its more complicated in the countryside. " We have houses for sale between 40,000 to 50,000 euros in abundance". "The problem is that nobody wants to go to live in the countryside " regrets Chantal. "The market is flooded". The prices in the town despite a fall of 20% since 2009 are still not attractive. Today our clients are mainly locals notes Janet of Center Property. They have a lending power that is lower than the foreigners. The cooling off of the banks are also to blame. "For the first time i saw a bank send an expert to verify that a house was worth its sales price and they have warned us that from now on this will be systematic" said Janet Fear inside no mention of the Brits and the Parisiens on this second article and its good to see that the banks are doing some checking up when only a few years ago they were selling wrecks to the Brits for a 150,000 euros.