Mr Piglet and I wish to thank you all for your kind words and support following my post yesterday. We are overwhelmed by the number of messages of support and advice that we have received here, on twitter and via email. Really, it is wonderful to know that you are all there and that good people exist in this world. Thank you so much everyone, you’ve helped us get through the weekend and find some positive energy.
This morning we started off with much higher spirits, determined to find a rental property quickly so that as soon as we got confirmation from the SAFER later this week that the sale is blocked, we could move in and get on with our lives hopefully before Little Miss Piglet makes her grand appearance.
Alas, as I’m beginning to expect now, things are not so simple.
I wish I could just go back here for the next few weeks whilst everything sorts itself out.
First of all, we still can’t find out when the meeting with the SAFER people is. Our notary does not know and the vendor’s notary is closed today. We tried to call the SAFER directly but no luck either. So no further advanced there.
We then started calling the rental properties I’d found on the internet. There are only a handful available so it didn’t take long. Because the size of house we are looking to rent is large and the area rural, they are few and far between so we only had five on the list. The first two places we called were no longer available and then the third place was still available but the guy was totally booked up for visits today and tomorrow and was expecting it to be let within the next few days. He proposed a slot this pm at 4 and Mr Piglet and I were all set to jump in the car and go up and visit but then we spoke to the notary again.
I wanted to check the financial and legal aspect as to where to stood with regards to the sale now that the SAFER are involved and the notary was calling us back to explain. In our panic on Friday we had overlooked this and didn’t really know exactly what our position was but before committing to a rental property I wanted to be sure as we can ill afford to lose our deposit money or pay for two removals right now.
I should have guessed that it was time for another BOMBSHELL! The SAFER have until May 15th to decide what to do reference the sale, so whatever the outcome of the meeting this week, it could be a month before they make a final decision and we get official confirmation whether or not we can still buy. Until we know that, we’re not really at liberty to commit to a rental place so we’re stuck in limbo.
We have loosely considered getting a gite with internet access this morning which we could move into immediately, but right now I don’t think I could stomach a move to another “temporary” place with furniture that isn’t mine. What’s more, with the Easter school holidays, a two bedroom gite is well over 1500 Euros per month sometimes far more, if we can find something available…
So, for the time being, at least for the next two weeks we’ve decided to stay put, I’m going to concentrate on keeping calm and we’re going to go to a nearby spa for a few days to relax.
Hopefully things will become clearer in before Little Miss Piglet is born, but right now, we’re stuck “living in limbo”.
Under the circumstances, what happens if you decide to withdraw from the sale? If you can do so without penalty, at least you would be in control of the situation, and not all these shady and elusive characters.
Hi Merewoman, unfortunately we’re stuck until the SAFER give a formal decision – either to stop the purchase in which case we’re free to move on (which is the most likely option) or to say that we can still purchase (very unlikely according to the notaires).
It’s such a blinking mess and disgusting how buyers can be treated in such a way…
You need to write a book when this episode is done.
Good luck as always Piglet
Peter (aka Falcomille)
I’m certainly considering it but I’d think if it were published no-body would want to buy in France ever again!
Thankfully I know that my situation is rare and that most transactions go through a lot smoother even if personally I’m really put off France right now.
You need to write a book when this episode is finished!
Good luck as always!
Peter (aka Falcomille)
Unbelievable, Piglet! It gets worse and worse. I wish I could suggest something helpful, but my small experience of French house-buying doesn’t include anything like this. I hope more knowledgeable people come along to advise, but meanwhile my sympathy and best wishes for the safe arrival of Mlle Piglette.
Thank you:) As you say, it gets worse and worse… I can’t even begin to imagine what could possibly happen next!
One can’t even suggest that the worst is over.
I’m horrified by what you’re going through, Piglet. I hope you enjoy your few days in the spa to relax.
Thanks Sarah, I didn’t even get to a spa, there was no way I was spending 1000 Euros on a spa break! There were no inexpensive spa’s around here that didn’t cost and arm and a leg, obviously only reserved for the rich here!
Oh Piglet!!!!!! What a mess! Enjoy the spa … you SO deserve it xx
Instead of the spa I got my hair done, nails done and went shopping :)
I think the whole situation is awful and must be even more so with Little Miss P due very soon. I’m keeping my everythings crossed and think the spa idea sounds a really good one. I hope you get to do a bit of relaxing there. Keep calm.
Thank you!
Since you have done everything you can do , the best thing to do now is to just relax (as much as possible) and let things happen. Happily you have Mr Piglet with you, go to a spa, stay calm, let the Other people do what they have to do and you just stay in a calm little bubble.. you and little Miss Piglet .
The one thing that is in your control is being calm and relaxed … let the little flurry of this and that happen Around you, keep yourself in a bubble that allows you and Miss Piglet to Not be upset and tense.
A spa with your husband sounds perfect .. just float along with him during these days, let things happen, hopefully there will be a happy conclusion soon.
Thank you Candice. I have been in my little bubble world for a while now, there is me, my ice creams, my cats, knitting and some of my fave TV shows, my blackberry with my twitter account :) Not even my PC is in my bubble world as it has WORK on it that nags be to be done! LOL!
I have become a master of calm since this whole thing started, it takes a lot to get me going now!
France is truly beyond belief…your money in limbo through no fault of your own and down to the incompetence of notaires…
I’m writing (slowly) the book and the response of people taking a look at it is to say they don’t believe me!
But everything I’ve written about has happened, either to us, or to people we know well. And some of them are French!
As the notice on a friend’s loo (linked to a septic tank) read
?Nothing in here which has not been passed personally’.
Go off to the spa…enjoy yourself…what else can you do at the moment?
My very best wishes.
Oh Fly, I’m so glad that you’re writing the book although I’m not surprised that some people don’t believe some of the experiences you’ve had. You truly do know what rural France is like and must have experienced things that no-one believes possible (didn’t you blog once about sugar and it being hidden in the villagers houses?). I will certainly look forward to reading it one day!
oh honey…I am sending you so many good thoughts. Bless your heart, I just cannot even imagine! You are really hanging in there amazingly well, given all of your external drama!!!
I hope this will be solved as quickly as possible so you and and the little piglet and Mr. Piglet can actually have your lives back. I’m so angry on your behalf — I feel like you’ve been hijacked. GRRR.
Thank you! Honestly I don’t have any choice other than to face the situation and live in limbo… sometimes are easier than others that’s for sure.
I don’t have much longer to wait now thank goodness until Little Miss Piglet is here and she will then keep me very occupied!
A similar thing happened to us over ten years ago – our purchase was vetoed by the Maire in favour of a local family. It was absolutely gutting at the time, but if it hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t be living happily where we are now – only ten miles away in a better place. I really hope things work out the way you hope. I am certainly familiar with the flexible attitude to land change of use in France – we have promised ourselves an exclusion zone of an acre on all sides next time we purchase.
Mya x
wow, that must have been gutting, I would have been very upset! I can at least understand why the SAFER would like to protect the land (kind of anyway) but if it was just because I wasn’t local I would be very angry indeed especially as I would be making it my home.
You sound like the perfect example of everything happening for a reason! I’m glad you stopped by, I can keep you example in mind and remind myself of you if things don’t work out :) Thank you!