14.04 - Moving to France: Lifelong Dreams & First Glimpses – Introducing La Ravanelle
A family story about moving to France -dreams to reality. Introducing new Contributor Jacinta Bayard who now lives near Grasse + a fabulously fascinating mini-series about Great Women of France + more
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Merci. Judy - 3.2.24
Who’s today’s featured MyFrenchLife Magazine Contributor? New Contributor Jacinta Bayard
I’m thrilled to introduce yet another new MyFrenchLife™ Magazine Contributor who lives in France. Jacinta moved to a superb area near Grasse. These are delightful stories about the decision-making, the move, the negotiation, the family settling in and so much more. Lots to learn from her experience. Here’s how Jacinta describes herself:
I grew up with a deep curiosity about my surname, its French origins and history. I've always loved France and dreamed of living there one day. In 2022 a business opportunity allowed my family to move to the South of France. Recently I started writing about this experience.”
1. Moving to France: Lifelong Dreams & First Glimpses – Introducing La Ravanelle
Moving to France from Australia with family in your late forties is not simple, let alone the prospect of becoming the custodians of an 18th-century bastide, the former summer home of a famous French writer. Our family, myself Australian and my husband, Franco Australian made the decision in late 2021 to move to France.
Were we dreaming about moving to France?
We discovered this magnificent home in the commune of Le Tignet, near Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, online during lockdown. Looking at the glossy pictures we could only dream about what it would be like to visit let alone live there. My husband had suggested that if we liked the property in winter, it would be even better in summer.
So, it was decided, we would take the family to France to inspect the property in January. It was the perfect opportunity for my husband and me to explore a business opportunity, and for our girls to learn French. And for me, it was the realisation of a lifelong dream.
Moving to France: The reality test
When we arrived on that cold, bright winter day in January, we couldn’t quite believe what unfolded before our eyes. ‘La Ravanelle’ the name of the property was a coup de coeur (love at first sight). Hidden behind a large stone wall, the grand portail (gate) creaked open to reveal another driveway lined with olive trees. This led to yet another gate, an intricately woven black iron piece. As the second gate opened, we caught a glimpse of our new home, perched beneath the small village of Cabris.
It was everything I’d imagined of a typical French bastide, creamy pale stone walls, shutters the muted shade of olives surrounded by an expansive garden, and an assortment of trees – oak, palms, cypress, and olive. An oasis of calm. A melange of flowers bordering the internal driveway and the far side of the garden. Bumble bees hovering above the jasmine-covered tonnelle de jardin (arbor) in an orchestrated dance. Multi-colored butterflies danced across the manicured lawns and played cache cache in the flowers.
Buying a property – French style
That same day we were meeting for the first time the agent and the owner of the property who had just driven five hours from Switzerland to meet us. It is not easy when you have flown 28 hours from the other side of the world to meet new people. It was also unheard of that we had secured a three-month lease of this prestigious property from the other side of the world as it had never been leased. Life in the time of Covid does present some opportunities and this was one of them. The property was for sale and after three months there was an option to buy.
Our girls instantly loved the garden, a 5000 square meter park, and took off to explore. Being hulled up in the plane for so long, no one could blame them. I was worried that they might break something. Everywhere I looked there were beautiful things, vases, urns, glass jars full of lollies, and champagne glasses. The girls were darting everywhere and I was finding it hard to focus with my head in a jet lag fog. I wanted to get to know the agent as well as ensure nothing was broken. My husband was speaking with the Swiss owner in French and I was grateful as I was not up to practicing my French yet. Importantly we wanted to make a good impression.
The sale of real estate in France is not like in Australia, where prices, by comparison, are very high and people just sell to the highest bidder. In France, money is not always the primary motivator, often consideration is given to selling the property to what the vendor believes to be the right fit. We had reviewed clauses in French sale contracts which stated that the sale of the property is at the discretion of the owner or when translated words to that effect.
I went back outside into the garden to see what the girls were doing and tried to take in its enormity. This was a garden that reflected the changing tides of time, transporting me to a bygone era, one where there was time to think, ponder, and reflect.
Discovering rich history and old stone benches
Featured prominently among the olive trees and adding to this sense of history and charm is an old stone bench. Slightly weathered by moss and lichen, the soft, mottled grey hues of the stone add a touch of natural elegance to the weathered facade. On each gracefully curved leg are decorative flowers carved into the stone. I imagine the countless conversations, whispered secrets, and shared moments that may have taken place on the cool sturdy seat.
Focusing back to our welcoming party, I discovered that the bench I was admiring was the original bench of the famous writer Henri Troyat, who used to sit on this weathered, time-worn stone and ponder his writings.
In fact, our prospective new home had been the summer home of Troyat, a famous French author who left Russia to come to France after the revolution. He is not widely known to the younger generation, but he wrote over 100 books and was invited into the Academie Française.
A perfect day
By 4.00 p.m. that afternoon we were now starting to fade and it was time to say our goodbyes. As the Swiss owner was leaving, he took me aside and in French commented what a lovely family we had and gave me a kiss on each cheek, three times. Despite the warmth of the sun, the champagne, and my tired brain I knew this was a good sign.
I recounted this later to my husband and he agreed. Later that evening we both said at the same time:
We are not leaving this house”.
It was the perfect place for the next chapter of our lives, we just needed to work out how to secure it.
Merci mille fois Jacinta, I welcome you to our expanding Contributor team as together we dig deeper and have richer experiences whilst gaining an understanding of France beyond the cliché and offering an immersive experience for our loyal readers.
2. Other recent MyFrenchLife™ Magazine articles
Keep up to date with the new articles published on our Magazine.
a) Great Women of France: 17th and 18th centuries – Part 2 by Keith Van Sickle
What a fabulously fascinating mini-series this is. I’m not necessarily a historian, but I’m fascinated by strong women and these women are extraordinary! So far we’ve published Part 1: up to the end of end of the 16th Century & this one Part 2: the 17th and 18th centuries profiling 8 great women, and there are more to come…
3. MyFrenchLife™ French Book Club #bookclub
It’s wonderful that the number of you reading the first 2024 book with us continues to grow! Welcome to all new readers.
Discussion is running through until late February with an ONLINE EVENT in the last week of February. The date will be determined by your preference, but it will probably be held on 26, 27 or 28th of February 2024.
Here’s an invitation to join, with what you need to know.
Prefer to read in French or English?
This book was written in English, [‘The Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.’ ] however it is available in French translation if you’d prefer. I know that some of you like to read in French whenever possible. The French title is: ‘Vies et Secrets de Joséphine B.’
Note: Take Care as there are other similar titles also by author Sanda GullandHere’s where you can get the French translation:
- USA - ‘Vies et Secrets de Joséphine B.’ paperback available
- France - ‘Vies et Secrets de Joséphine B.’ available via FNAC and eBay
How would I stay abreast of disparate discussions?
Once you join you’ll have access to a document our Founding French Book Club Facilitator Jacqueline Dubois Pasquier continuously compiles. It is the one document that captures all comments to date, no matter in which discussion channel it occurs.
This document will bring you up to date at any time.
If you’d like to read this book with us or join our #bookclub, then leave us a message or send me an email, whichever you prefer.
4. Merci mille fois
We’re into February already and January seems to have slipped by so quickly but much has been achieved. I believe that 2024 is going to be a year where MyFrenchLife™ Magazine offers a deeper richer experience for all - that’s my objective! I’m always open to your thoughts or suggestions…
You’re all very welcome here!
You’ll find le Bulletin for paying subscribers with a preview here.
A copy will be in your inbox in a few moments with the subject: 14.04.a - Striving to Understand French Cultural Differences: The Thinking Francophile
Merci
Judy
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I can hardly believe that this brought tears to my eyes! Thanks for sharing!