One day at the age of 33 I shocked many people (including myself) when I suddenly quit my job as a BBC journalist and moved to a country where I don’t speak the language, with a man I’d been going out with for five months and no job except some vague ideas about freelance writing. Within the space of 10 days I went from breaking news to breaking out in a sweat doing rustic manual labour – and so earning my tongue-in-cheek nickname RustiKatie. Since then I’ve been getting under the skin of France – settling into rural life in the Dordogne, travelling the country, meeting the people, setting up a publishing business, moving to the Alps, learning to ski and organising my wedding here! I’m constantly surprised by France and the things I get up to here, so I thought I’d share some of my observations on life and the places I’ve visited in this blog. I hope you enjoy it.
Our lovely hideaway in Monpazier, SW France, is available for holiday lets. Read about the cottage and see the pics here. Book your trip on our Air BnB page here.
rustikatie 
Love to read about you Katie. Thank you for stopping by and giving me a FOLLOW. I returned the favour. I also made my blog since I knew I was moving to France. Great, my packing up is made up in London, and just cannot wait for that August month of 2017 to happen. Hoping to reading from you soon!
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Saw your comments on LIFT. Have been in the Vendee (85) for 10 years. Waited till kids grew up so left East Anglia when a lot older than you. No regrets. Its a great experience no matter your age. All the best to you and hope it goes well. Make the most of every experience in life, you can’t do this unless you take a few chances along the way. I have many friends in the UK who say they wished they had done what we have done, but they wanted to remain safe and not take that initial risky step.
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What sort of journalist were you? Is your boyfriend french? Did you travel the world before settling in sw france? Did you know that english people are found digging in france in l very large numbers for over 20 yrs now since you were 13? But well done on making a change to your life. I am surprised you don’t speak french so i will enjoy reading your blog. Many books have been written by english people settling in france but now we have blogs. France is not far from ukraine so you could do some freelance articles on the situation there if you are a political journalist.
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Hi Katie great blog…. I moved to France (sunny charente maritime) from London and everyone thought I was mad too…. Was only 29 at the time and did it alone but don’t regret it for a minute!
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Hi Katie, love the blog, which area are you in? I moved here two years ago from London after having spent a total of 3 weeks with my French boyfriend so I can empathise totally 🙂 we’re in a village in the Marais Poitevin and its very *rural* too 🙂
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Thanks Ceris, wow 3 weeks that’s brave and now 2 happy years! brilliant! We’re near Bergerac, the boyfriend has lived here on and off for 10 years. We’re off to spend the summer in the Alps soon so that will be a completely different view of France again!
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I too saw your post on lift, we have lived in Northern France Pays de la loire for 5 years and we love it, I have joined your site, would you please take a look at my blog and perhaps join
http://france-ourlifeinfrance.blogspot.fr/
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Hello – saw your post on LIFT.
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Hi Louise, what a great group LIFT is, so friendly and so many people with similar stories! Any English ladies in France, take a look here https://www.facebook.com/groups/LadiesInFranceTogether/
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Inspirational
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