Tottie Limejuice on the top of La Banne d'Ordanche in les Monts Dores
What is your name?
Tottie Limejuice
Where do you live?
France
How old are you?
60 in July
Where do you originally come from?
Cheshire, UK
When did you leave home?
2007
Why did you leave home?
My brother and I brought our nearly 90 year old mother to France hoping for better health care for her remaining years having been extremely disillusioned with what was available in UK.
What did you do before you left home?
Journalist, freelance copywriter
What are you doing now?
Freelance copywriter, writer of Sell the Pig, what happens when dementia, depressed dipsomania and downright dottiness decide to uproot from the UK and move to France together.
Do you regret your move?
Not in the slightest
What do you miss?
Thorton’s brazil nut toffee!
Will you come back?
I have no plans to return to UK and am in fact planning to apply for French citizenship
The little "grottage" where I now live
Where did you live before you settled where you are now?
Pretty sure I’ve already answered this! I was actually living in Lincolnshire before moving to France and working as a freelance copywriter.
Did you plan your emigration on a long run?
It took time from decision to implementation for a variety of reasons.
What languages do you speak?
French, some Spanish, German and Welsh
What is the biggest problem when being an expat?
I have yet to encounter anything I would truly call a problem but there are, of course, a number of things in daily life which can form a bit of a steep learning curve.
Worst thing that ever happened to you as an expat?
Still waiting for anything bad enough to report here linked to the status of expat.
View west to the Puy de Dome from the raised deck in my garden
Best thing that ever happened to you as an expat?
People not knowing from my accent that I was born in UK, although knowing that I am not a native French speaker.
Weirdest thing that ever happened to you as an expat?
People often thinking I’m Dutch – I’m about a foot too short, for one thing
What are your plans for the future?
Stay where I am and explore more of this beautiful region
Favorite local idiom?
“C’est normal” Whenever you thank someone who’s really gone out of their way to help you, they always say this “it’s quite natural” which I find really heart-warming
Recommendations for people who think about becoming an expat?
Learn enough of the language not to appear rude when you arrive, and don’t expect everyone to speak your language – it’s their country, why should they?
More of you?
http://tottiesbookblog.blogspot.fr/
