Same problems moving from Devon to the Midlands Different language, culture, values it was as if you were in a different country Wish I hadn't bothered. Getting back now is impossible due to house values and unable to sell

Mag, West Midlands, UK

Why go to France to run a B&B business? My experience is the Aberdeen B&Bs are always full because of the Oil business, often found it difficult to get more than a night's accommodation.

norman, LONDON,

In France for years, speak English not French and not willing to integrate? Then why Brits and the government here
dish out pep talk to foreigners to learn English and integrate, moan about non-English -speaking immigrants.. I have seen very few Brits abroad speak the local language and integrate

Simon, Manchester,

We moved to the Pyrenees just over 2 years ago now - we worked hard to create 2 gites in the top of our old barn. Times have been hard but the business is going well. Having just returned from a few days in the UK I am suprised that they should long to go back - why?
Think they started too big!

Astrid & Barrie Watkiss, Pyrenees, France

So, the guy is setting himself up in business to act as an adviser to buy/renovate property in France, and he doesn't speak any French! Obviously not thought this new venture through either.

John Hamilton, Manchester, UK

I wonder what research they did before starting out. Current Ministry of Tourist regulations limit the number of rooms to 5 for a B&B. "otherwise you will be treated as a professional - (ie an hotel). Like it or not, that's the law. Why assume anything goes for us, when it doesn't for the French?

Ian Hoare, Forgès, France

It can be pretty tough even if one has no difficulty with the language, perhaps it was too big a project to start off with. Understanding the language does not necessarily mean understanding the people. Or being understood by them.

sarah, france, france

What's this "cultural gulf between Britain and other places"? As a Briton living in Italy I haven't noticed it. There are differences, interesting differences, positive differences, puzzling differences and annoying differences, but a "cultural gulf"?

Christine, Lecco, Italy

How much free time do you expect trying to run such an enormous place?.Frankly they jumped into the deep end and found it far too deep.

David Vinter,, Louth, Lincs,, UK.

What did they expect? They moved to another country without knowing the culture or mastering the language.

HH, La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France

Even if you speak the the language fluently, work in French and socialise in French it doesn't mean that you'll come to terms with the cultural differences. Home is home and sometimes you can just miss peoples sense of humour, the way people queue up for bus, a, excuse me on the tube or even a smile

ED, Paris,

When will people realise that to fit in with another culture you must learn the language? Surely is one of the basics.

DC, London,

They opened a business for passing visitors in a closed, elderly village in the country expecting to make deep friendships. It's always a "culture clash" problem for those returning to the UK. The language and customs are different but people are the same. Why go back? Try something else in France.

Peter Lea, Grasse, France

Most of the Brits who live in my area will not go to the trouble of learning French. One chap who has been here for 20 years said, "Why should I speak French?, I'm English!" Most Brits
think they will be fully understood if they speak English slowly and precisely.

brian keating, agde, france

Three years in France and one of them still doesn't speak French. Therein lies the problem. Too many Brits come here and try to live in a "little Britain". Brits should not move here unless they are prepared to fully integrate. This is France!

I do wish them the very best of luck back in the U.K

Marc, Paris, France

This isn't really a French issue more of a change necessitated by a change in their own lives!

If you had over 800,000 euros just buy a nice house for 200K and live on 600K whilst you learn the language, about the area and what you want to do!

It's a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle here!

Terry, Bagneres, France

Aimed too high and not representative of the majority who have made a success of things, by that I mean with their life and lifestyle. For many living here and enjoying a decent lifestyle and decent services a return to the UK with it's present problems ,not only econimical, fills us with gloom.

Bryn Davies, St.Malo, France

Why try and write a 'culture clash' into it?
They tried something they wanted to, were successful and now want something else. Best of luck to them, but not really anything to do with France. I too have lived and worked in France for eight years and wouldn't want to return to the UK.

HT, Paris, France

It sounds as though business wise they have been far more successful than most Brits who try the same thing.
But the phrase "we can't get to know people the same way as we can in Britain" says it all.

R.Bouchier, Doue la Fontiane, France

Not really sure this is anything to do with France : they bought a large B&B - now they have a family and don't want a large B&B - so they're moving!

I've been in France for over 8 years now - have my own business - and wouldn't dream of coming back to the UK.

Robert, Combourg, France