Going round in circles!

Which way to go?

Cross, don't cross!

That's real life isn't it?

Life's path isn't always clear and certainly isn't linear that's for sure!

Yes, we keep sitting on the 'going back to France permanently thing' and we are also now rather sat on the fence of it ever being full time, well until retirement looms anyway. It has to make sense and also be the right time in our lives.

There's lots happening in the back ground influencing our decision making but also, there is currently no real rush for a 'lock stock and two smoking barrels' approach. However, we do need to return soon in order to keep the CDS.

We are currently favouriting, going back several times a year to make the house look and feel more lived in. Maybe asking the Mayor if we can airbnb it 90 days a year?

Does this all sound indecisive?

Possibly but we are just thinking outloud and adapting to the way the world is turning.

The current world order has certainly made us think twice about any big move right now. Most of us have seen a very sharp rise in our cost of living. It was to be a self move in our own lorry but we would need at least two maybe three loads and with today's fuel prices, yes we could but no we won't! We are also looking into a hybrid car as our beloved Vogue drinks diesel!

I think, if anything we will take it slow and steady from this point. We also need the first year's books in place to move from here but we may also decide to stay until we can buy, in around another two years. It just means putting some pressure on the Landlord to sort the maintenance out. That I can do!

I'm also not rushing into a floral business premises until the summer. It needs a lot of thought in this climate and needs to be the right premises. This all takes time and that’s okay, we remain fluid. The retail world isn't in fine fettle at the moment and I don't want to add in unnecessary costs. Instead I may look to having a studio shed built, to tide me over. Something I can move at somestage in the future.

To be honest, it's all to play for right now. The best bet is not to rush into anything we may live to regret. P is not far off completing his first year of business here in the Uk. He needs to build on that now. A permanent move to France would make that difficult and also we don't need more tax complications.

The housing market isn't great for houses like ours in France and the French company remains open as long as the house remains unsold. It would clearly be better if the house earned its keep? Plus it will be nice for us to go back and forth. The half life we tried to avoid may well be the solution in the end, who knows? I can see why many commit to the half and half thing as difficult as it is to maintain.

To make this all work, we need to put a little effort into making this place feel more homely and do the same for France. This we can live with. Easy decision really. We need to get round to emptying the lorry and going through what we need here and what can return to France.

However, we are still planning to return to France long term in the next five years or so. We are not scared of trying again, contary to some of the comments I received. Yes our experience was probably over publicised, negative and rather different to the experience of the many. We have to take some responsibility for that and letting many bad un's into our lives. Also, we could never have known that the lorry debacle would ever be a thing or that P would find it too difficult to build his business there. We were hit with way too many challenges all at once but we did accomplish so much and put a lot of ourselves into that former French Wreck!

Long term, we will sell when the market allows but it won't be a fire sale and it will be for us to buy again.

So, I think in the short term we will build here and there. Making no bold moves at all. This settles our nervous systems as we've been in flight or fight mode for a while now. We didn't really look at this house as longer term until now. Whilst I don't want to experience another winter here in its current condition, the new laws will help us put pressure on the Landlord to sort it all out.

Him and I need not to be so 'gun ho' I guess and sail our ship steadily into calmer waters. H is definitely not on the 'return to France boat' at all. I get it. Even though she's living her best life in London, she likes to come home and would rather not be travelling to France to do so.

We are heading towards our late 50's and still have enough time left to correct our course but the economy is pretty dire isn't it? We do have to be terribly sensible, as there's a retirement to plan for and so we can't be as free and loose with our moves now really!

So thats our little catch up but for now we have an anniversary to celebrate, 37 years no less! Those years are certainly rushing by and we owe it to ourselves, to make sure we get the best out of this little life we've built ourselves eh?

Love, gumption & lots of flowers.....!

D x