First viewing day (Monday)

As we had no appointments on the Monday morning we used the time to roam the beautiful town of Huelgoat, our base for the next few days, and try to get a feel for the way a French town operated. We soon discovered how, very slowly.

Huelgoat

Huelgoat it'self is famous in the area both for a very large and attractive lake, and a beautiful walk through a boulder strewn small valley, heavily wooded with a good deal of wildlife to be seen and heard. The stream comes out from the lake via a pretty waterfall before disappearing from view beneath piles of huge boulders which mark the route of the invisible stream. As you follow the path you can just hear the water, but it doesn't reappear until you are about two thirds through the length of the path.

After a morning of relaxation it was time to get on with the reason we were here. So it was into the car for the short drive to Pleyben to meet the "immobilier"  who was to show us today's properties. Of course when we arrived it was lunch time, so we had a little wait but hey ho, we've got to get into the French way of thinking.

 The first house to visit was this very imposing farm house boasting no less than six bedrooms two bathrooms  and two huge reception rooms. Strangely all the furniture was in  with price which included two massive French style Dresser come sideboards which I thought were stunning.
The back garden was barely discernible beneath a tangle of brambles, which meant we couldn't get near the "cottage for renovation",Four walls nothing else.

  The next was one added by the immobilier at the last minute so we had no prior knowledge, but by now we were in the swing of things so why not.
This place had be run as a B&B before but had been empty for four years. The house it'self was not bad, but it's location being miles from anywhere and the fact it had no garden to speak of rather put us off, but it did have a monkey puzzle tree, impressive.
The previous owners choice of decor was novel, no  neutral shades for these people.

The final property of the day was a town house in a place called Plonevez-du-faou, and I'm afraid to say both the house and the town were not up to much. We had a good look round and made positive noises but we both knew straight away we wouldn't be back.
So it was back to Huelgoat to re stock with food and beer ready for a full day tomorrow.

Fact Finding

Our journey began very, very early on Sunday 24th March. The shuttle crossing was a mix of emotions for the adventure ahead and the fear of spending the next four days on the wrong side of the road.

 
As it transpired these fears were totally unfounded as most French roads seemed devoid of traffic and we arrived in Finistere , some 700 miles only having to negotiate one very small roundabout and two or three junctions.
Now after the best pizza I've eaten outside Italy, a few beers, and a good nights sleep we would be ready to look for the house we need to make a new life.

Next Sunday, in the early hours, myself Kevin, and my wife Karen, are taking the shuttle across to France on a fact finding mission to look at properties with a view to start a B&B business. Our chosen area is Finistere a beautiful and unspoiled part of the country that hopefully one day we could call home.

It's both an exciting and worrying time for us both but with a fair wind and a sat nav  we hope to have a positive  trip and come back with a better idea of what we will be up against. Then it'll be off the the estate agents and put our beloved family home on the market and see what happens.