And here’s part two ! I’m continuing the conversation with superstar chef Lucy about the challenge of cooking French recipes for a French clientele. I loved recording this episode and hope you enjoy it as much as I did! You can get in touch with Lucy via her website http://www.simperskitchen.co.uk/ and follow her on instagram - @simperskitchen

In this first episode which is part of a two part interview, I catch up with British chef Lucy Simper who is managing to wow the French with her cooking. No mean achievement I think you’ll agree!Lucy caters for groups, weddings, dinner parties and just about anything else you can think of. You can check out her website here http://www.simperskitchen.co.uk/ or find her on instagram where she’s @simperskitchen. 

One of the things that comes up time and time again when I’m chatting to people about moving to France or even just visiting, is speaking the language.

You can’t really make the most of everything that France has to offer unless you speak French but becoming fluent can be a challenge. Immersion is one of the best ways to develop your confidence and your vocabulary - fast!

But finding well run and interesting courses isn’t easy. So I’m delighted to be chatting to Patricia who has come up with a great solution.

The all inclusive three week program is a very reasonably priced and for a limited time she’s offering a promotional rate of just 1850€.

There’s even an extra 10% discount if you mention the podcast- valid for 30 days! Enjoy or as we say here, Profitez bien!

3-weeks-program-2026Bienvenue à Rennes – Support for International Students

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In this episode I’m talking about 5 reasons why you need to move to France. Although I actually ended up with seven - without even trying too hard!If you are thinking about moving to France or even just planning a holiday here, hopefully, this short episode will enthuse and inspire you.As always please keep your suggestions and comments coming. I love getting your feedback!

In this episode I’m talking to Paul Robson, a France based UK chartered accountant who understands both systems. And…can explain what to do and not what to do in an idiot proof manner. Which is exactly what I need when it comes to anything related to money and finances!Hopefully it will prove helpful to lots of you lot too.

You can get in touch with Paul directly via email [email protected] or take a look at his site www.houxservices.eu and if you contact him within the next 30 days and mention the podcast, you’ll get a 10% discount off the first set of any fees should you go ahead and use his services!

I hope you enjoy this short episode. It’s by popular request so to speak…!Plus, I thought it was probably about time that I gave you, my lovely listeners, a bit of background and explain why I podcast about life in France.I really hope that you all enjoy listening and do keep sending your questions in. I absolutely love getting them.Have a lovely weekend everybody!Cat x

In this episode we’re talking about how to go about your French tax return. And honestly, it’s really not that bad!First off - here’s the link to the FREE tickets for the French Property show this weekend
Then here are the useful links I mention in the show :Here’s the link that shows WHEN you need to file - https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/simulateur/calcul/DeclarationImpotsHere’s the simulator - https://www.impots.gouv.fr/simulateursHere’s the tax information hotline number - 0809 401 401

Buying a property in France can be a minefield and stressful to boot. Apart from anything else, the system is simply not the same and this can be hugely frustrating. This is especially true if you come to it from a North American perspective and trying to persuade a seller to accept your hard earned cash can seem like an uphill battle. And that’s if you’ve even got past the “incompetent agent” stage!But never fear, this week we’re talking to a property finder, Paul Simper who specialises in tracking down the perfect property for you AND making the process as stress free as possible. If you are even thinking about buying in France, you should definitely give this one a listen and if you’d like to know more you can get in touch directly :www.luxurybuyersagentfrance.com

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In this episode we’re looking at all the different options you have when eating out in France. From the humble ‘menu du jour’ to Michelin starred restaurants, France has something for everyone and every budget!Listen in and make sure you get the most out of your French dining experience.Here are the sites I mention in the podcast:Les Routiers https://www.relais-routiers.com/Flunch https://www.flunch.fr/Crescendo https://www.crescendo-restauration.fr/Michelin https://guide.michelin.com/fr/enAnd don’t forget you can get your free tickets for the French property show here :

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-french-property-exhibition-london-2026-tickets-1590912625489?aff=survivefrance

I thought it would be nice to start the New Year with a bit of positivity! This mini episode is my personal take on what you need to do to get the most out of your time in France.The advice applies whether you’ve been here for ages, have recently landed or are simply toying with the idea. And actually it applies even if you have no intention of moving to France! 😂And… I’m also talking about the amazing French Property exhibition held in London at the end of January.You can get your get your FREE tickets here :https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-french-property-exhibition-london-2026-tickets-1590912625489