Where do I start?
I was working and living in beautiful Ireland. I had lived there on and off since I was 14 years old. Born to Irish parents, my dad’s dream had always been to return to Ireland and buy a dairy farm. He achieved that dream, and we all moved to Ireland. The little ones quickly learnt that milk doesn’t come from the milkman!
But enough of that—back to France.
I had been dreaming of life on a Greek island, researching which island I might prefer, when photos of a beautiful house in France popped up on my screen. Goodness knows how—it wasn’t even what I was looking for! Somehow the algorithm must have had a little meltdown, and there it was: this house.
I kept returning to those images, assuming I would eventually get bored and move on, but something about this house kept calling to me. In the work that I do, I rely heavily on my intuition, and I know very well what happens when I follow it… and when I don’t.
So, I booked a flight to Bergerac, arranging to pick up my childhood friend, Natasha from Muswell Hill at Stansted en route, and off we went on the 14th of December to view a house in a region of France I had never before visited.
Robert Wheeler, the co‑creator of Wheeler Property alongside his wife Carol Ann, was there to welcome us and show us around. Such a fun viewing and I fell in love with the house even more.
https://wheeler-property.com/about-wheeler-property-france/
By Christmas, my offer was accepted. By the 30th of March, I had sold my house and car and packed my belongings into a part‑load van and booked my one way flight.
Today is the 19th of July. This marks my fourth month of living here in my lovely home in France. My energy and coaching sessions are held in the treatment room—which used to be the old pharmacy—here in Beauville.
I’ve joined the local Bon Cœur Charity Committee. I attend monthly cinema and poetry clubs, and there’s also a choir, theatre, and dance on offer.
During July and August, Beauville is famous for its Friday night markets. Delicious food stalls set up around the perimeter of the town square, tables and chairs are laid out, and a band plays. It’s such fun and truly suitable for all ages, a real community event.
I couldn’t have wished for a warmer, more welcoming community to join. Arriving solo could have been a challenge—not that it really bothers me—but instead, I’ve found a beautiful unfolding of opportunities and a life that feels completely aligned with me.
Among these opportunities was working with a fantastic group of community carers, Helping Hands, for two months. And most recently, I’ve added another role to my eclectic list: working with Wheelers as a freelance estate agent here in Beauville. So, if you’d like to view some French properties, let me know!
In gratitude—until I feel inspired to write again.
Helen