South West for the last 11 years. Very much wine country. And fresh fruit & veg. And armagnac. And free range meats. And open spaces with little or no restrictions on roaming.
Perhaps that helps keep me young.
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Nice area. How well do you get along with the French?
The locals are great. Of course there are a few reticent or grumpy people but mostly very welcoming, open and friendly. I have tried to avoid the things that can cause resentment or anger. I made sure I got to know the local hunt and let them know I was happy for them to shoot on my land. If its hunting season and they are nearby I make sure my dogs are on lead or shut in the garden. I help out in the preparation, the serving and the tidying up of the village fetes. I buy wine from local domaines, the local food producers, local markets and use the local village shops, the local restaurants & bars (of course I go to the supermarket too). I avoid being part of the big groups of Brits that can take over a local event or restaurant. I take an active interest in rugby - it is close to a religion round here. I have mostly used local French trades people for work on the house unless a very good (and properly qualified) British tradesperson comes in with a better price.
It is very easy to find British (and Dutch or Belgian) residents in the area who mostly do none of the above. They may have a slightly different view of the local welcome.
I have had issues with French officials a number of times when I was going over to France by car. I had my own specialist electrical equipment that they refused travel with so they stuck it their shed. Interestingly it was kit for The Orient Express. Apart from that others were just fine.
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What keeps me young …A little of what you fancy does you good .
I truly believe that 
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I suppose they tickle your fancy .
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Silk boxers for me.
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Commando !
Nah my big girl pants keep me young
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On reflection
I’m sticking with the commando option! 
Blimey.
Is that a banana in your pocket or you just happy to see me?
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Officials? Everyone has issues with French officials, even the French.
I know. Is it just us Brit they don’t like? Or it those French officials?
It is not just the British - to think that is simply one example of British exceptionalism. To experience a French being unhelpful or rude does not mean they are picking on you or your nationality. They are being officious which is something they are very good at.
So applications for many things in France, when it was all paper based, must be completed in black ink. A perfectly completed very legible form in blue ink will be rejected out of hand. The local tax office will close precisely on the hour. The allocation of responsibilities in the tax office is such that a simple request (can you change that address please or change that to a maiden name) may well be deflected by “madam x does that, not me”. Madam X it turns out most likely sits right next to this official.
I’ve witnessed a queue of travellers (a flight from the UK but over a third of passengers were French) build up in front of passport control booths. After ten minutes one official entered one of the three booths. He then took another 5 minutes to get himself and his computer ready, and to chat to a colleague who stuck his head round the door). Interestingly the Brits in the queue were getting very frustrated. The French in the queue just shrugged.
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Yes, I pretty much agree with you. For me it just the French officials and them removing my kit, that special oscilloscope. As it happens I carried on to where main equipment was located (South of Paris) and guys there gave me their various items and pieces so that we do the job I intended.
I had 2 birthdays when I was young.
. My cousin was 6 months to the day older than me. We celebrated our “half birthdays”
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Did you get birthday presents on both days Murphy?
Two things keeps this 86 yr old feeling young and those are my splendid cardiology team and running my home, Scally’s Manor, with its plethora of occupants.
Although my wife is somewhat younger than me, she became disabled following a disastrous fall, so now I care for her; that too needs and agile mind and a fully responsive physical body.
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Sadly no, we weren’t really a present giving family apart from Christmas 
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Still being able to chuckle at childish things!
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