Hi everyone,

My husband (who is french) and myself are buying a house in a small village called Vieillevile which I am told is in Vieillevile Mourioux. We are hoping to complete the sale by mid June and will moving there permeanently along with our 18 year old and 2 younger ones (7 & 8 yrs old). My eldest and myself have appalling french - but are trying to learn... hubby (obviously) and the little ones are fluent.

We currently live just outside of Paris, having moved from the UK last year.

We don't know the Creuse very well at all... but what we have seen on our very short house hunting visit (was there for 2 days and made an offer on the very last house we saw) we think is great.

I am expecting the move to be a life-changing experience and can't wait, as someone already said, to be living the dream

I joined this site a few weeks back and think it's great - very very useful for someone like me - the tips and advice are enourmously helpful and the stories have me phoning our Notaire (in my very bad french) to try and speed things up!!

Maria

Welcome to the Creuse! The chap we bought our house from came from there and owned at least three houses in the village! When he also inherited ours near Chenerailles I think he needed another house like a hole in the head. He died a few years ago but his widow kept on their main maison secondaire. There is a good brocante there every year which we try to go to. Also we bought a book of old photographs of Vieilleville with a title which has something to do with the Dusts of Time (in French, obviously). I would think you would find that very interesting.

We wish you the best of luck.

Handyjack

Thanks When is the brocante - I hope we haven't missed it and get the house sale completed by then!

It is on July 5th this year. Have fun!

Annik

Hi, I'm new here, in April we bought what's left of a pair of semi's in Les Chezeaux, just north of Pionnat. Pretty place, getting things together now, electrics next week and the fosse septique in July. Do 'couvreurs' always quote for the whole roof when you just want a bit done?
We have owned in Normandy for 12 years (renovation project) so we are not totally green!
Still living in UK, it will be next year before we will be able 'to camp' in our new project. Never seen such beautiful birds as you have down (t)here.
Patrick
Skype - PatrickSussex

Hi Fieldp,

Welcome to the Creuse. It is very different from Normandy but I'm sure you'll love the unspoilt scenery, the granite houses and the wonderful peace. Pionnat is not very far from us and it's a very attractive area. I don't know about your couvreurs question - we have a couple of couvreurs here from Bonaventure in Gouzon at the moment repairing storm damage but the boss's quote was only for the actual work that needed doing to the barn roof. Perhaps yours didn't quite understand what was required.

With all good wishes for the future,

Annik

Pionnat is not far from us either and there are some other English there - perhaps you know them already.

This is a lovely part of France and we hope that you will be happily settled in soon.

Goose

Hi Annik and Goose, great to have some contacts! We are about 750m south of the N145, so only about 12km from Gouzon, perhaps I could have your roofers phone no?
I did see a post from someone else at Pionnat so must track them down and meet. We would like to learn a bit more about this lovely area.
Patrick

Hi Patrick,

The roofer is Michel Bonaventure at 8 avenue de la Marche, 23230 Gouzon, telephone 05 55 62 91 51. I should warn you that he is incredibly busy dealing with storm damage - we were on a list of 70 jobs for him to do! He is very nice and honest, too, and his chaps work to a high standard. He is not, however, cheap and we are pleased that the insurance company will be footing most of the bill.

Best wishes

Annik

Hi Annik
Belated thanks for info but managed to sort matters out with a roofer in Jarnages (3km). The work is fairly urgent but the roofer is not, 'avant l'hiver' is about as close as we can get.
We now have electrics and, usefully, an opening inside so we can get into the other side of the house!
Cleared loads of debris outside and had mega bonfires.
Looking forward to our next visit early Sept to start work on floors and windows.
Anybody want to contact me from Pionnat area for a meet?
Patrick

Hi guys,

First post on here!!! We're looking at a property in a small hamlet called Piodon which is just outside Lourdoueix-St-Pierre. My question is, what's the best way to integrate with the neighbours?

Kev

They'll be dying of curiosity to meet you anyway, so I would recommend an open door policy whereby when the neighbours accidentally-on-purpose happen to be walking past (and having a quick look), you leap out and invite them in for a little drink and a chat. Our house fronts onto the street and it worked for us!

Greet everyone you meet in the village and introduce yourselves.

Introduce yourself at the Mairie and, if you get the chance, join one of the local associations.

Use local labour and try to chat to people when they serve you in the shops.

Don't be shy about your lack of French. If you try your best, people will respect you for that.

Have fun!

Annik

Welcome to the Forum!

Good luck with your new property. Is it a holiday home or are you relocating permanently?

There is lots of knowledge (and experience) amongst the members of PN. Don't hesitate to post any questions 'cos someone will have an answer .. or at least an opinion!

BTW An interesting line of work you're in!

LDsP a lovely village, close to Aigurande - the couple that own JJ's Bar are Brits but the clientèle is 50/50 with a great atmosphere. Also have a small library a good meeting place, Aigurande has a market every Friday, a nice palce you have chosen to buy, if we can be of any further help just PM me

Best wishes james

We plucked up the courage to go to a local(Anzême) fundraiser when we arrived last year. We expected people to be milling about, but they were all sitting down to a meal, and they stopped talking and looked at us when we went in! But in a moment someone had come up to ask us where we lived, and before long we had been introduced to a couple of people from the same hamlet. One year on and we're sadly packing up to go back to the UK, but last week our 'friends' threw a surprise party to see us off! They are all so friendly even though none of them speak English (or claim to) and our French isn't great, but a little courage at the start paid off in spades!

Thanks guys, that's really helpful! So far we've smiled and said bonjour to the neighbours who seem to pass by whilst we're there and, up to now, have had positive responses. We're back in the Creuse this Friday until Sunday, letting some good friends of ours who are builders, have a look at the property before we make a final decision...fingers crossed!!!

Kev

Hello, Our first post too! We're buying a little cottage in Bonnat, but at present are still in Chennai, India. I'm a Brit but haven't lived in the UK since 1994. Looking forward to coming 'home' (having lived near Bordeaux previously). Never knew you could miss somewhere so bad and feel like it was your spiritual home - and that's how France feels to me.

Anyone in the Bonnat area? I'd be pleased to 'meet' you!

I do believe that Bonnat is not far from Aigurande (could be wrong mind!)

Very close approx 15 mins by car , lovely town, good doctors, shop post office, vets etc any questions just us a line

Thank you James, very kind of you to respond. I wonder if I might ask you if you know of any primary schools - private or otherwise, sorry I didn't reply sooner - I'm having terrible trouble with this blimmin laptop!~