Some reflections from an Audlem ex-pat living in France

John Kennerley, who moved from Audlem two years ago to France, has sent Audlem Online some thoughts on life in his new home:

"A one-time resident of Audlem, I have now been living in France for a little over two years. My home is in Western France, in a small rural village, which has certain parallels with Audlem. It has won the coveted title of being the most floral village in Europe. Winning such a prize requires a huge community effort – a corps d'esprit which resonates strongly with Audlem. Additionally, there exists a well-developed tradition of volunteering, which has drawn me into such activities as working in the local library, and helping to teach the children English in a small primary school."

"There are, of course, differences. I no longer go out to the 'Shroppie' at 9pm – the Bar des Sportifs, on the Place de l'Eglise closes at 8pm! There again, it opens at 7.00am! A leisurely (minimum two-hour) lunch in a restaurant is increasingly more attractive than 'going out for a meal' in the evening. And, dare I say that a 33cl bottle of 'fizzy' beer seems more de rigeur than a pint of bitter!"

"Many of the Brits who have come to live in France (is England empty now?), have a tendency to 'knock' England. I have a love for both countries, and delight in their differences. Vive la difference! The French say that they can always pick out the English people shopping in the supermarkets because they are so loud! The English are always to be found in the DIY stores as they labour to improve their houses resplendent with exposed beams and open fireplaces. They have been known to buy wood preservative for those beams, but if they ask for the product in French, one small mistake leads them to seeking a wooden condom! (as preservatif means condom)."

"Do the French welcome the British invasion? Obviously, some do and some don't, but the fact that we tend to buy isolated houses in the country which they do not want themselves, endears us to them. However, we are commonly criticised for pushing up the house prices. But we do contribute positively to the French economy, and many French people find the cultural diversity beneficial."

"What do I particularly notice when I come back to England? Without doubt the very, very busy roads; the lack of a feeling of space and the absence of day-to-day common civility – other than that, of course, which is always to be found in Audlem!"

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