Sophie's Occitania

13/07/2024

Other authors in the Aude

08/07/2024

Thank you folks for birthday wishes.
DM me for 60th plans. It's going to be a bone shaker with an intellectual interlude.

01/07/2024

That was an interesting night at a charity boxing match with the cousin hood.

I was impressed by the rules and safeguarding after a bout in the family court.

28/06/2024

Next Saturday in Oxford

Children’s events are taking place in the gazebo on the lawn behind the festival Hall. Music and Poetry Slam throughout the day at the Festival Hub.

18/06/2024

https://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/castlesforsale/st-ferriol/st-ferriol.htm

If you are interested please meet Emmanuel
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087247612665

17/06/2024

Interesting edition of Hello French's learn French with Olympic News.

Polemics around the election! Lots of very French issues.

Some of it is rather shocking. Public transport has almost doubled in price.

The orgnisers have reached goal of 45,000 volunteers who must commit for 10 days, find their own lodging, don't get a freebie entry ticket for anything and should be prepared to work 10 hour days and 48 hour weeks..

However they are having trouble recruiting the 7000 security staff they have decided they need. That's curious.

This is a great channel and if your French isn't up to much yet there are also English subtitles. It a good way to practice Frech in a bite size if it's not bad..

https://www.youtube.com/

Don't just visit Paris. Travel beyond and check out my own book Beyond Paris

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554821768247

After 22 years renovating a Medieval castle in rural France I wrote this informative guide.

12/06/2024

Thinking about moving to France but want to see what it's like first.

Rent a furnished holiday home.

Our beautiful house in the Aude has become available for rent.

With lime finishes and Chestnut and cedar woodwork, granite work tops and a bathroom for each bedroom - all nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenean foothills with vibrant market towns nearby it's a good start for your French adventure.

https://www.st-ferriol.info/_photos.htm

Obviously cheaper rent applies for longer term rental.

Please DM me if interested.

Property to let in the Languedoc. Suitable for Holidays and Vacations. Ideally situated in an attractive market town in Cathar Country. The cottage (Gite) is also rented off-season by the week to people looking for properties to buy.

11/06/2024

Escape from the chateau

I have started a new article on my Medium account about the story of selling our Chateau in St Ferriol. We bought it in 1997. It’s a sad and we have lovingly lavished it with noble woods and traditional lime. Avoiding cheap shortcuts and lavising it with hand crafted details.

It is our hope that it will find somebody who loved it as much as we do. And with courage and a team as there is no doubt chateau rescuing needs those two ingredients, with a sprinkling of madness… and as any architect would hope a fat bank account.

The piece follows the step by step trials and tribulations and the learning curves in real time. Learning curves and conversations with different sorts of estate agents.

I think it will be informative and entertaining. I hope you enjoy it and that it helps you on your own house selling and house buying journey.

https://chateausurvivor.medium.com/escape-from-the-chateau-a252bce71438?sk=42588340b8f3e01be8012ef6b9ffc3be

I hope that you enjoy! I am looking for beta readers for my next actual printed book. It will be about the experience on Escape to the Chateau DIY. Please DM me if you would like to know more.

18/04/2024

What are good French words for nick name. Pseudo ... but there is a much nicer one...

14/04/2024

https://chateausurvivor.medium.com/couples-in-wanderlust-the-first-two-years-in-france-955f572abbde?sk=f9b6b8ddebb25b36a4c9923381dd2302

We moved to France, as a newly married couple, to renovate a ruined castle in a tiny hilltop village south of Carcassonne, over twenty…

29/03/2024

Roll up to the Oxford History Shop

Thank you Norm Chung for fabulous illustration.

https://www.oxfordhistorytours.com/oxford-history-shop





https://www.oxfordhistorytours.com/oxford-history-shop

23/02/2024

A neighbour in France has changed his ideas about Dick.

Sophie said hello to the Facebook fan club page 3rd May 2017. Talking about experts on Catharism and the Albigensian crusade of 12th century Languedoc. ...

23/02/2024

Ha ha this seems like a long time ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVGLFoT661c

The day before our first episode came out

Sophie said hello to the Facebook fan club page 3rd May 2017. Talking about experts on Catharism and the Albigensian crusade of 12th century Languedoc. ...

20/02/2024

A little few reviews on Good Reads...

Seen the programme? Watched the vlogs? Now read the boo…

15/02/2024

Beyond Paris has arrived in Connecticut...and another heartening review on amazon UK...

"This is a great book for people who already have a love of the French countryside, as well as those who would like to explore it some more or even dream of putting down roots there. It captures the atmosphere of rural France very well, conveying its flavour while also providing a lot of practical information. Highly recommended!"

09/02/2024

Beyond Paris arrived in South Africa

An extra special review today.

Dear Sophie Duncan

I have just finished to read and enjoy your lovely book Beyond Paris.

Congratulations on being factual and yet entertaining, encouraging the dreams with a touch of caution and all of it bathed in your love for my country.

I wish you every success in your writing career.
Love
Isabelle

From the amazing Isabelle Jarvis who was a big part of making it possible. Thank you!

23/01/2024

Love

Granny and grandad are in the bath
Granny and grandad are trying a new recipe
Grandad has found a feather and is tickling Granny’s back
Granny and grandad are chatting to a tramp in the village.
Granny and grandad are skipping a meal and going to the movies
Granny and grandad love all the children

20/01/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZmtmYgtRPE

I just saw about the depardieu scandal.

Sounds abit like he considers him on the same par as a lover as a horse saddle. Probably accurate... If a horse saddle could have a drink.

d'enquête dévoile des images inédites d'un voyage de Gérard Depardieu en ...

01/01/2024

Beyond Paris, An insider's Guide to Rural France has arrived in Winsconsin

26/12/2023

My new book
Beyond Paris, An Insiders Guide to Rural France is getting great reviews.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910779032?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_DVTQZ617789DJCCRVKVJ&language=en_US

Selling all around the English speaking worlds.

24/12/2023

Hooray Beyond Paris has arrived in Chipping Norton.

22/12/2023

Robert let loose on the castle with his drone.

I was wondering if there was a swarm of bees heading my way!

Parrot Bebop Drone 2

22/12/2023

Around St Ferriol
Drone by Robert Nalewajko

Parrot Bebop Drone 2

20/12/2023

I gave a copy of Beyond Paris to my fantastique Oxford dentist yesterday.

Finding him inspired this story about dentistry that I wrote on my Medium blog a while ago.

Thank you Ravi. Again.

https://chateausurvivor.medium.com/the-whole-tooth-finding-your-dentist-in-france-9ae5764306ea?sk=a773802775dcf7640e9cd42dbef76620

17/12/2023

Hooray, Beyond Paris now available at Thrift Books
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/beyond-paris-an-insiders-guide-to-rural-france_sophie-duncan/51623404/?resultid=29b051f5-cb45-4a02-a469-4e0dee3a9284 =70447845&idiq=62449152

24/11/2023

Published Beyond Paris.
Launching this week at Oxford Indi Book fair

Beyond Paris: An insider's guide to Rural France

15/09/2023

23/05/2021

Working with volunteers in the Aude.

Three good leads and a personal story.

And three great leads...

Volunteers were a benefit James a​​nd I we were not anticipating when we embarked on our castle rescue dream. We moved from Elephant and Castle in London to a tiny village South of Carcassonne, in…