Malestroit & Rochefort-en-Terre
28 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Slightly like a beauty pagent, both villages have been previous winners in the 'plus beau village de France' - they are both very beautiful. Malestroit though, has gone for the authentic liveableЧитать далее
Buying a house in France
28 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The 'actual' reason for our trip to France, was not to eat and drink way too much, but to fulfill the lifelong ambition of buying a little house as a base for annual francophile excursions.
AmongstЧитать далее
ПутешественникLet me know when you close on the house. I have my tool belt and powers tools ready to travel!!! Congratulations on the house. I know it was tough to eat and drink your way to finding a new home, but I know you two were up to the challenge!!!
ПутешественникCongratulations guys - looks amazing! So pleased your offer was accepted! 😘
Which House ??
28 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Mais bien sûr,..ça devait toujours être Fontgombault! We immediately loved the house, village and wider Le Blanc, Indre area. Situated in the parc naturel régional de la Brenne on the banks of theЧитать далее
Menhirs, Dolmens, Obelix & Alex
29 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Remains of ancient civilizations visible all across Brittany. Arrived in Quimper in the pouring rain so we hunkered down in our little apartment. Alex tried to entice a furry friend in for a visit heЧитать далее
Concarneau, Bretange
30 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Beautiful little fortified fishing village. The Breton Blue and White flies more prominently than le tricolor in these parts!
Breton history
30 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
The 'Oust' of France (the West) is so staunchly proud of all things Breton, dress, culture, the gloomy weather! They build'em tough here, kind of like west coasters back in NZ.
Alex felt right at homeЧитать далее
La Toussaint (Halloween)
31 октября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Quimper is afloat with gouls and ghosts tonight. Not a traditional celebration, but combined with All Saints Day here in France. Our window is open and the light on indicating we are here for trickЧитать далее
Weekend in Quimper
1 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Late get up, shopping at the market, coffee and quiz in the town square, a drive out to seaside village of Bénodet (cute Akaroa vibe), baguettes at the beach, and then chased home by a thunderstorm.
Binic - Etables sur Mer
2 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 12 °C
Staying in a tiny wee Gite on a cliff top overlooking the Baie de Saint Brieuc looking out towards Jersey. Very cute village with loads of qaui side bars and restaurants looking out onto the HarbourЧитать далее
Plat du Jour
3 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
A long lunch at a seaside Bistro. Bonvent in Binic is relaxed, has great food, and even pulled up an online tutorial to try and find out about the ubiquitous flat white ( mysteriously absent inЧитать далее
Rennes
4 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Cute accomodation, if not a little long-in-the-tooth. Built in 1778, so a wee bit wibbly wobbly!
We are staying in the Centre Ville historic area, most buildings here are 17th C, so cool to walk outЧитать далее
Mont Saint Michel, Normandie
5 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Visited the iconic MSM today. Opted to walk the 3km causeway to access this tourist magnet. This tiny island 'cite' receives 3 million tourists a year. It's beautiful but very touristy. Fortunately,Читать далее
Fougeres, Normandie
5 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
I've developed a bit of a crush on castles with 'witch hat' towers. Definitely got my fill of fantasy rapunzel vibes from Châteaux de Fougeres.
Saint Malo
6 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Seaside promanading. Heading to Jersey tomorrow for a game of darts and an English pint of Beer.
Vitré
6 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
On the boarder of Brittany and Normandie, the architecture is a real mix of Breton and the half-timbered Normandie buildings, fascinating walking the streets of this ancient town.
Jersey, UK
8 ноября 2025 г., Джерси ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
An overnight excursion to St Helier, staying in a Greek Taverna, go figure! Went to sleep to the sound of crashing waves, just like Ngawi! Pie 🥧 Mash, and mushy peas for lunch. Visited the WIIЧитать далее
Back home,... in the Loire Valley.
9 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Sampling the realities of Châteaux life. We are staying at the magnificent Châteaux de Saint Loup, near the village of Airvault. It is a lifetime of work for Sophie the owner. The Châteaux aloneЧитать далее
ПутешественникYou should be here with us! You will absolutely have to come and join us when we are back in France May 2026.
Châteaux Saint-Loup-Lamaire
10 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Today we explored the Châteaux with owner Sophie. Sophie's husband (who is sadly very ill at the moment) has a saying, which is something like," Owning a Châteaux,..the worries are great, but theЧитать далее
French Admin
14 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Feeling really French with our Credit Agricole bank account ( the farmers bank). Only took a truckload of documents and two appointments - the French sure like a bit of red tape and hoop jumping!Читать далее
House update.
15 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Long-story, short,.. we withdrew our offer for Fontgombault. Today we have progressed an offer on a very different property. The house (Barn) is ancient (circa 1475) built into the town ramparts,Читать далее
ПутешественникTool belt is ready to travel and help with the project. Look amazing!!
Lost Cat
16 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Turns out our cat that went missing from Shooting Butts Road in Martinborough actually just went on holiday to France and decided to stay.
Dead ringer for Durpy firmly installed on our bed!
DurpyЧитать далее
Morning Walk, Airvault
18 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
Brisk this morning! A heavy frost coating the village, but quickly disappearing now the sun has poked its head over the hills.
Airvault is located in a valley with surrounding hills, so lots of stairsЧитать далее
The first step
18 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Signing the 'Compromis de Vente', and then Acte de Vente.
Today we met with the vendor and Immobilier to sign the offer for Airvault. A great experience. Alex was awesome with his french, lots ofЧитать далее
Châteaux de Oiron, Airvault
19 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
If you want to keep favour with the King, build a swanky house, commission paintings depicting victory, and cover his rooms in gold, and invite him for parties. Châteaux Oiron is very impressive,Читать далее
ПутешественникI thought it was your wee barn. Yeah right! Not quite! When will you start work on your wee barn? The bach in Ngawi is amazing. We've had such a relaxing afternoon. xx
ПутешественникWork will start May 2026. Will try to coordinate tradies ( plumber/electrician) via current owner when we are back in NZ.
Tours
20 ноября 2025 г., Франция ⋅ 🌙 2 °C
Visited Tours today. Large university campus and lots of young people makes for an ancient city that is still vibrant and lived in. 'Karen' our navigation system took us the scenic route, so spent aЧитать далее