A French companion - Helen Caradon

Are you planning to move to France, or have you just done so? Would you like some help with understanding what's going on, with finding a place to stay or to buy, with choosing a reliable builder, with changing the gas bottle, with meeting and talking to French people in the language they actually speak? This handbook has been written specially for people who travel to France regularly, and for those who are planning to move here or have recently done so. It's packed with inside information and tips on lots of practical matters, PLUS vocabulary lists and model conversations in real everyday French for situations you are likely to find yourself in. Just a few of the topics covered: polite greetings, asking for help and directions; local shopping, using a French bank account; staying safe on the roads, getting your car fixed; inviting and visiting French friends, talking about the family; making the most of the phone and post systems; describing a malaise to the doctor, getting proper health care; choosing and renovating a property, avoiding potential pitfalls; dealing with officialdom and understanding officialese; planning and managing a garden in a warmer climate. Above all "A French Companion" is designed to add to the pleasures of living in this weird and wonderful country, and to pass on the insights and tips that will help those who come here, either as visitors or for the longer term, to enjoy and to become part of the local scene.