Number 89 - June 8 2004

1. It Aint All Roses
2. Don't Compromise in the Compromis
3. The Sword of Damocles
4. Owners, is Your Property Good Value?
5. Rhymes with - "Merchant Bankers"

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1. It Aint All Roses

This is a recent mail exchange which is typical of the many I get about living and working in France. I try to reply to all mails like this in an honest and open way, but often when I read them I feel I have been over-negative as we do have a good life. But, when I try to edit the letters I know I would be misleading many people by telling them to - "come on in the water's fine".

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Hello

I am an American who will be visiting Aix-en-Provence in September of this year, I am also possibly thinking of moving to France permanently. I am currently in the automotive business (service advisor in a dealership for 10 years) and I am wondering about the realities of an American actually finding work and being able to survive in France. I would like to stay in Provence somewhere. What do you think? Thanks for your help.
Jackie

Read the whole story.
It Aint All Roses

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2. Don't Compromise in the Compromis

I read this week in another newsletter from an American lady living not far from us that she has been severely inconvenienced by a sale of her house which did not go through as the buyer enforced a clause in the agreement to purchase - the "compromis de vente" - where if they could not get a loan at certain terms, the purchase would be cancelled and the contract invalidated.

She complains this is unreasonable and that she had incurred costs due to having another purchase.

read the whole story.
The Compromising Compromis

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3. The Sword of Damocles

Life for us in France, for the last few years, has been in many ways like the story of Damocles and King Dionysius. We have tried to create a business in France yet when we looked up we saw a dreadful threat hanging over us, secured only by a slender thread.

Our problems have stemmed from a lack of knowledge of French administrative systems and the assumption that our professional advisors would help us avoid making serious mistakes. A lot poorer, we are beginning to see our way clear to survive.

read the whole story.
The Sword of Damocles

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4. Owners, is Your Property Good Value?

Tourism to France is down 20% this year, this is the second year in a row that the world's favorite venue has had a decline in visitors.

Officially France is still number one for overall visitor totals, but London is the most visited city in the World and has more visitors than Paris for the first time in a generation and more is spent by tourists in Spain than in France.

Read the whole story.
Get Your Property Rented

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5. Rhymes with - "Merchant Bankers"

I have always found that the aim of banks seems to be to sell you an umbrella when the sun is shining, and to demand you give it back to them when it starts to rain.

read the whole story.
A Load of Bankers