Six summer seasons later, we found ourselves facing change once again. Badefols d’Ans had been the best home for us, a place where our French story began, where we built our holiday rental business from the bottom up.
We made our very own gite Joli Canard into a roaring success, brining return guests from year one! Routines had formed and friendships grown, but it was time for the next step in our journey, which meant moving just a little further along the road — six kilometres, to be precise.
Learn to savour the slower moments just as much as the big milestones. If we can do all that — and catch another glimpse of a firefly along the way — we’ll know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. ✨
The move wasn’t about leaving something behind so much as building something new...
... which in the longterm would give us more time. We found a house in Hautefort with the bones and the potential we were looking for, and for four months our lives revolved around renovation. Let's say our moving plans didn't exactly go according to plan, we ended up renovating during peak season, something we wouldn't recommend! Days blurred into a steady rhythm of dust, decisions and determination/exhaustion. Walls were knocked down, staircases relocated, new floors and a kitchen installed, and more than once we questioned our sanity — but slowly, the house began to reveal itself.
Eight Months Later
Now, fast-forward 8 months (how did that happen?!) we’re living in a light-filled home that feels like a reward for all those months of hard work. Sun pours through the windows, changing character throughout the day, and while the garden is very much a work in progress, it already holds something special. At the bottom stands a wise old oak tree, as if it’s been quietly waiting for us to arrive, because we always wanted one! It feels symbolic somehow — a reminder that good things take time to grow....reminding us that the many jobs outstanding will happen when it's time!
The ease of moving to nearby Hautefort, only 6km from where we lived for 6 years immediately made it feel like home because we already knew it so well. We can walk into the village, to the best boulangerie in France ;) , the restaurants and café-bars. Familiar faces, familiar places — all the comfort, just framed by a new setting. There was no long period of adjustment; instead, it felt like slotting naturally into place which is just what we needed.
Looking ahead, our focus is clearer than ever. This year is firmly centred on our business — building our holiday rental portfolio, putting down deeper roots, and defining our role here for the long term. Hautefort feels like the place where everything we’ve been working towards begins to take shape.
Bien-sûr - life is about balance! Now more than ever! Alongside the practical ambitions and business plans, there’s a quieter, more personal wish-list taking shape too. We hope to travel more throughout France for short breaks but definitely its time to start travelling overseas again, so we hope to say yes to small adventures!
We’re also determined to enjoy the summer season properly, and not have to work, work, work! We too would like to experience it, just like our lucky holiday guests do! We want to go to the lively night markets with nowhere else to be, to linger over food and conversation, and to sit on our terrace as the day cools, stretching evenings well past sunset. Life is richer when it’s lived outdoors, and living in the Dordogne we are in the perfect place to enjoy that...
And then there’s the firefly. We spotted one when we first moved here — a brief, magical flash on a warm evening — and never again since. It’s become something we're always looking for! One evening, sitting a little longer under the stars, we hope to spot that tiny flicker of light once more. A small moment, perhaps, but kind of cool!
So I guess this chapter is about finding a better balance: building our future while taking the time to enjoy it. Putting down roots while staying curious of our surroundings, there's so much to explore. Learn to savour the slower moments just as much as the big milestones. If we can do all that — and catch another glimpse of a firefly along the way — we’ll know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be. ✨
We hope you’ve enjoyed this little update on our lives here in France. It feels good to pause, reflect, and share how far we’ve come — and where we hope to go next.
Bonne journée ! ☀️
