Journal Mon 15th September 2025

Morning all. It was our 7th anniversary of moving to France over the weekend. It’s absolutely flown!. It’s hard to recall what happened in those chaotic days because they went past in a blur, so it’s been fun to read my blog from back then, and thanks to those of you that read it too. The very kind people of Threads embraced my post, I really must remember to cross post on Threads and Bluesky and I rarely do.

I look around Insta sometimes, and I lament the loss of so many people that were also living this life. So many accounts not updated since 2022 or with a Bio now saying house for sale. I know Brexit has played a huge factor in that for many, it’s still do-able but not as easy as it once was. It’s certainly much more difficult and expensive to have a 2nd home here because of the 90 days in 180 rule and you get absolutely booted by tax. Makes me so angry still. I’m watching Waxy Lemon and his delightful little bunch of cronies like Laurence Fox and Hatey Kopkins inciting people to violence in London over the weekend and it just makes me feel dreadful. You’re going to vote Reform aren’t you, you’ve learnt nowt.

Politics aside, and apologies for the rant, we’ve been busy.

First of all our fosse man has popped round and we need to get everything emptied and he’ll do the remedial work FOC given the amount we spent just 5 months ago. This is a bit of a weight off the old mind because I could’ve cried last week.

We went to do a bit of a pre beer-fest shop on Saturday, bought a new under counter fridge which is going in the cellar, a load of different beers to try, some of which we’ve been quietly trying and reviewing over the last few weeks. Still got loads to do before our first guest arrives on Wednesday, with everyone else arriving on Friday. We’re hopeful the planned ATC strike might not cause as much disruption as first thought with one of the main unions postponing action until October. Until unsettlingly close to our London trip as it happens, but fingers crossed.

I’ve booked tickets for the Tower of London (£34 eywatering quid each), and Westminster Abbey (£31 eyewatering quid each), but hoping to carbon offset with the delightfully free National Gallery and the V&A. I’ve got some other bits and bobs to slot into gaps in our schedule but we’re seeing Operation Mincemeat and then Elis, John & Dave (UK podcast royalty if you are not familiar with their work), so evenings are filling up. Might be nice to slot in something else theatre wise if the old half price on the day tickets are still a thing, but I feel like I’m pushing my luck a little.

Enough for now. Loads to crack on with.

TTFN,

V x

Pointless asking because I know you CBA but here’s the subscribe box regardless.

Create a featured image for a blog post titled “Navigating Life in France: Brexit Impact and Personal Updates”. The image should prominently feature a charming French village scene, evoking a sense of nostalgia and warmth. The composition should highlight quaint houses, perhaps with rustic shutters and blooming flowers, set against a clear blue sky. Soft morning light should gently illuminate the scene, creating a serene atmosphere. Ensure the details like cobblestone streets and vibrant accents are highly detailed and sharp. Please use high resolution to produce a crystal-clear image that captures the essence of life in France, reflecting both the joys and challenges mentioned in the blog post.