Richard and Maria reflect on their move to France, sharing candid thoughts about the highs and lows of life in the Lot Valley after two years. With humor, honesty, and heart, they discuss leaving the UK adapting to a new way of life, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
This time after a spate of interviews with friends, Richard and Maria turn the lens on themselves, opening up about their journey to the Lot Valley. After conducting interviews with others who’ve moved to France, it’s their turn to answer the big question: Do they have any regrets? Maria interviews Richard as they share memories of leaving their home in Jersey and adapting to a new lifestyle along the tranquil River Lot.
Richard recalls his biggest fear—leaving behind the sea he’s loved all his life—and how the river has unexpectedly filled that void. They reflect on the challenges of integrating into French culture, the frustrations of navigating bureaucracy, and their struggles to learn the language. Despite those difficulties, they celebrate the joys of river life, vibrant local markets, and building a strong sense of community.
The couple also opens up about what they miss from the UK—including traditional pubs and a pint of Guinness—but admit that they’ve found almost everything they need in their new home. With 40 episodes and over 9,000 subscribers under their belt, they express gratitude for the support they’ve received from viewers and share encouragement for others considering the move to France.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction: A Peaceful Saturday1:15 – Looking Back on Previous Interviews2:30 – Maria’s Interview with Richard Begins4:20 – Biggest Worry: Leaving the Sea Behind6:10 – Falling in Love with River Life8:00 – How We Found Our Home10:00 – House Hunting During COVID12:00 – Navigating Bureaucracy and Visas14:10 – Adapting to Life in France16:00 – Improving Our French Skills18:00 – What We Miss About the UK20:00 – French Markets and Fresh Produce21:30 – Reflections: Are We Happy with Our Lot?
This episode is packed with personal stories, heartfelt reflections, and practical insights for anyone curious about life in rural France. Whether you’re thinking of making the move yourself or simply want a glimpse into expat life, join us for an honest conversation about the realities of starting over in a new country.
32 Comments
Love your videos. Applying for my Irish passport (Nana was born in Northern Ireland) this week now I have the necessary paperwork! Will be in France when things allow. All the best
Congratulations on 40 episodes 🤩 I have really enjoyed each and every one of them. I am looking forward to the next 40 (00000) episodes too. 🐶😊🇦🇺
Are you worried about storms and flooding since you are next to a lake? Congrats on #40. Also which area do you live in?
Can you hire someone to do all that paper work for interviews etc?
You know I really enjoyed this video. It was so down to earth and helpful. I enjoyed so much more than your music background ones. I know you work so hard on the videos with music but I just find it annoying. Thank you. I look forward to more great content from you guys.
You guys are so right, don’t pontificate, do it, the place you are moving from will still be there if it turns out, not for you. We did a move 18 yrs ago, at 57, for NZ and here we will end our days!!! It’s not perfect, and I must say having watched endless YouTube channels during lockdown from people living in France it’s the place to be or Italy or Portugal 😂 Cheers and thank you 🙏👍☺️
As a francophile, I have a great admiration for French culture and the French way of life.
Je suis chanceux d apprendre le francais a l'ecole..
Great video!
Merci
Clean cheap nuclear generated electricity 😊😊.
Your videos are always fantastic. So natural, and fun. See you next year when I move. Stu
How’s it all going with setting up the yacht club Richard? Thanks for this lovely video.
Franchement … De tous les endroits possibles où s'installer, il me semble que vous avez fait un choix pertinent . Vous descendez sur votre ponton, dans votre jardin, et vous montez sur votre bateau …. Ailleurs, il aurait fallu quitter votre propriété pour rejoindre votre bateau … Payer (cher) pour un anneau dans un port, et à condition d'en trouver un, car la demande est forte !! Et je suis sans doute chauvin, mais l'Espagne, le portugal, ou l'Italie … Je n'échangerais certainement pas contre ce bord de lot où vous êtes !! 😄😄👌
Hi both, a lovely interesting video. Thank you.
Making me feel “homesick “. We’ll have to wait until Easter before we get back.
Your comments, experiences and concerns are all the same as ours. Thank you for a very honest and informative video.
Hi I’m getting through your back catalogue – makes the ironing more enjoyable.! It’s wonderful to hear the positivity from you both. I ‘m chomping at the bit to come over but having to wait until business sold, house sold etc etc. but love watching you both it give me a little look at what our life could be. Love your doggie we will be bringing- our two with us and agree our home is not a home without our dogs.
Hi both ! ..thoroughly enjoyed this instalment .our inspiration for a move to the lot has only increased while feasting on your vids .cant wait to get down for a reconnaissance mission! .. your vids are an inspiration for sure . ❤
Really enjoying your interviews. For us, water, electricity, wood for heating, property tax , car insurance, home insurance is all less than we paid for a tiny terraced house in Cornwall that we left in 2018.
So long that you learn the language and try to integrate to French society you're welcome.
We absolutely don't want Brits who are just here to live a vacation without putting any effort, it's already annoying enough that foreigners make the housing market more expensive.
.. again, another wonderfully choreographed and well presented vlog…. One of the things I have noticed, (in my continued search for a retirement life in France), with respect to price comparisons, is what they call in France as ‘taxe foncière’…. The UK is perhaps around 5 times that of France…. Diabolical…. Anyway, well done Mr & Mrs Hall…👏👏👏
Can you talk about taxes in one video? I heard for us US citizens they dont tax social security or 401K investment accounts. Because of the tax treaty.
Thank you for your most recent "self interview". It was an honest account of where you guy are at. I am in the same boat with a big mortgage and wanting to sell downsize and move back to France after being away for 37 years. Thank you so much for giving me the kick in the rear to get it done.
We are at the stage where we are assessing different areas within France. When meeting with French Connections HCB we were told to avoid the southwest (too windy) and rivers (too many mosquitos) — lol. How are the winds and bugs in the LOT ? PS. Just watched your Stepping Out in the Caymans episode where we spent many years when our kids were younger. It brought back lots of great memories (e.g., old Turtle Farm, Rum Point and the submarine)
i'm french and i want to leave France because of insecurity …
What a wonderful episode, as per other subscriber’s comments, it’s defineley my favourite one yet! I appreciate your insight, honesty and enthusiasm! It definitely motivates me to make the big move from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 to Le Gers where we already have a holiday house. I’ve bought my husband and I one way tickets for mid March, so who knows! 😂 We’ve got 2 dogs 🐶 🐶 and a cat 🐈 in Hong Kong so it’s also working out the right time to bring them other. I think that ultimately what is holding my husband back is the French taxes on pretty much everything, so I’m going to have to my research. I must say that’s it’s comforting to hear from you and other YouTubers in France that the French medical system is so good. Any enough from me! Merci et à très bientôt! Catherine
Salut Maria & Richard 👋
You reminded me how lucky we are to be mortgage free and to recognise that very occasionally costs do remarkably go down, ie electricity. I am curious about your top up health that you mentioned. I have never heard of a mutuelle being only 300€ per year. Mine is 70€ per month and that is competitive according to many on the numerous Facebook groups where this subject crops up regularly. May I ask where you get yours from?
And congratulations on your 40th 🎉 from Found in France further down South 😉🙃
Frenchman who lives in Canada over here. To improve my English, I did start a YouTube channel (French Vinyl Addict) about collecting vinyl records which leads me to perfect myself constantly as A) I want my videos to be qualitative and B) I get to share my passion with other English speaking videomakers from our so-called ''vinyl community'' on live streams I occasionally host or participate in. How about including French-language content every once in a while? It'll be hard at first, but trust me, the experience would allow you guys to gain greater fluency and spontaneity. Cheers,
Same here,we miss the atmosphere of a pub…we live near la Rochelle.but the quality of life is better here.
I love listening to you two. Your videos are also very well done with lots of clips of the area and seamless transitions to the scenery. It's nice to hear the honest and transparent experiences you have had in France. I may retire there myself, checking into things now.
I love that you mentioned Aldi stores. Did you know we have them in the U.S.? Unfortunately I'm now in a state that does NOT have them and I miss my Aldi deals! 😅 Enjoyed the conversation as always and I totally agree that every home needs a dog ❤
congrats to live a life like this 😊
Really enjoying your content fantastic
Stop advertising. We are fed up with the English who come to us and steal our heritage in addition to bringing back their bad taste and who, what's more, after 5 years here do not speak a word of French… are we coming to you? It doesn't seem to me.