0.000000445

We now own 0.000000445% of France! At our current rate of accrual, it will only take us another 7,640,449,438 years to buy the rest of it. This is where the evil Scientist would cackle insanely as the screen faded to black. Our move went amazingly well. We had a brief moment of panic when it seemed that the sellers didn't have all their paperwork in order (and indeed, they did not) but the document they did not have (attestation d'assurance) wasn't critically important and they have promised to send it to us forthwith!

There was another panic attack when it appeared that the Notaires had got the price wrong, but after a furiously fast exchange of French numbers apparently we'd paid enough. So, with our French empire steadily growing, if anyone would fancy a French Alpine holiday... you're more than welcome!

All in all, I have to say that the process of buying a house in France is really good and much better than the UK. Once the seller has verbally accepted the offer, everyone agrees the minutiae up front and no one is allowed to back out - even if they die! The only downside of buying in France is the obscene amount of money given to the French government (9%) as part of the transaction. Whoever you are, please do enjoy my hard-earned cash - i don't begrudge giving it to you at all.

Oh, and despite all the mean things people have said about Orange France, and the mean things I was saying about them this morning when they were deserving all the mean things people usually say about them, they have come through and delivered our broadband only one day late. Hello Internet!