Just Droning

A tongue-in-cheek look at... Life in rural SW France

by the editor

One for sorrow, two for joy! Well, that didn’t ring true last week. After three hours searching for car keys, and blaming one of the dogs for taking them into the garden and not bringing them back, I gave up. Later that evening my daughter called to say she had seen my keys on a social media site and that they had been found outside a property 700m away! It was either the Easter bunny having a laugh or the two magpies that had been in the garden earlier that day. Only in France! Mind you, I am surprised they could see them. Stupidly, I exchanged my (I thought unlucky) tractor for one that might not try to kill me, I kid you not. Now it takes three times as long to mow a smaller area of grass but at least my family have lessened the restrictions on the mowing kit. By that I mean the stuff I have to carry with me in case I have yet another tractor accident (at least two ditch “whoopsies” and one episode where I was trapped under it and had to chew my cardigan off)! Having recently moved house, my new garden is flat with no ditches or hidden bumps, apart from the mounds of mole hills and, in a grassy ruin, a very large snake that doesn’t seem at all bothered by my shiny red mower. It’s a bit like the daisies, pops its head back up as soon as I’ve gone past! Yes, I am now the proud owner of a ruin but, having carried out three renovations in France already, I have to say that I have never experienced such difficulties in finding a builder! Alongside horrendous price hikes for materials, they are all booked up for around a year thanks to the rush to buy in France pre-Brexit and, perhaps surprisingly, Covid. It seems that city dwellers have been seeking a less populated life in the countryside and have bought up almost everything in sight. They should beware though. I ventured out for the first time in two years without a mask and, two days later, the signs were there and the test was positive! The good news is that work on the offices, in the ruin, has started and it won’t be long before I can quit my kitchen workspace (at least it’s near the kettle). The mason had best evict that snake first though! Until next time …

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN TRUST

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EXCLUSIVE Reduced!

Dordogne €305,000

Ref: A06812 - Lovely 4 bedroom house with pool, in a quiet area with view of the countryside and close to amenities.

8% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: E

EXCLUSIVE Great Buy

Lot-et-Garonne €30,000

Ref: A12909 - One bedroom apartment in the centre of a busy village.

Agency fees paid by seller. DPE: No data

EXCLUSIVE Château Chic

Lot-et-Garonne €997,500

Ref: A04300 - Magnifi cent restored 13th century 7 bedroom château, close to Agen.

5% agency fees included paid by the buyer. DPE: No data

Dordogne €114,450

Ref: 114108 - 3 Bedroom village house with garage and garden.

9% agency fees included paid by the buyer. DPE: Not required

Gironde €300,000

Ref: A10402 - Exceptional 3 bedroom apartment in a 17th-century château.

Dordogne €169,000

Ref: A08434 - Charming 2 bedroom village house with a 1 bedroom annexe and lovely garden.

Agency fees paid by seller. Energy class: E Climate class: D

Lot €374,000

Ref: 117476 - B&B with 8 bedrooms, terrace, apartment and pool.

Agency fees paid by seller. Energy class: E Climate class: E

6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. DPE: No data EXCLUSIVE Gorgeous Interior

Dordogne €199,800

Ref: A07599 - 2 Bedroom, renovated house in a popular village.

9% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: B

EXCLUSIVE

Good Investment

Lot-et-Garonne €35,000

Ref: A12929 - Studio apartment 45m², in a shared building, good town centre location.

Agency fees paid by seller. DPE: No data

EXCLUSIVE Panoramic Views

Lot-et-Garonne €661,000

Ref: A12520 - 4 Bedroom stone farmhouse with guest cottage, pool and views.

Agency fees paid by seller. Energy class: D Climate class: C

EXCLUSIVE

Lovely Setting

Gers €615,000

Ref: A12356 - 4/5 Bedroom house with adaptable living space, 4Ha and outbuildings.

Agency fees paid by seller. DPE: Ongoing

EXCLUSIVE Sitting Pretty

Dordogne €203,300

Ref: A09810 - 3 Bedroom cosy house with above ground pool, near Libourne.

7% agency fees included paid by the buyer. DPE: Ongoing

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