Bethany is currently studying for an arts degree by correspondence, and Jake is training to be an equestrian stunt man. Both are completely involved with their family’s equestrian shows around France and Britain, making costumes and working out the choreography, as well as training the horses. They have lived in North Charente for 13 years.

“Riders here are sloppier in the saddle, but much more liberated in mannerisms.”

Jake: “Our education experience was better than it would have been in England. We were homeschooled by our mum. For a year we had lessons from a French retired teacher, once a week, but she declared us ‘unteachable’ because we didn’t know any nursery rhymes. We used to get her talking in English so that we didn’t have to work. We have more freedom here to enjoy being in the countryside. Our lifestyle involves horses, and we have had more opportunities here for learning and for doing shows. In Britain we would have gone to riding school and got fed up with all the snooty people, and gone hacking. Riders here are sloppier in the saddle, but much more liberated in mannerisms. I don’t like the English, but I am definitely English. Yet I’ve spent most of my life in France.”

“Some of the worst things about being here are the inability of the French to recognise vegetarianism as an option, and the regular poor treatment of animals”

Beth: “I don’t remember having feelings about coming to France. I was too young, but I do know I didn’t want to leave our house in Scotland. Some of the worst things about being here are the inability of the French to recognise vegetarianism as an option, and the regular poor treatment of animals. I can’t really remember what it’s like to live in Britain full time. It’s a bit ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ish. Wherever I am I look fondly at the other country.”

Bethany is currently studying for an arts degree by correspondence, and Jake is training to be an equestrian stunt man. Both are completely involved with their family’s equestrian shows around France and Britain, making costumes and working out the choreography, as well as training the horses. They have lived in North Charente for 13 years.

“Riders here are sloppier in the saddle, but much more liberated in mannerisms.”

Jake: “Our education experience was better than it would have been in England. We were homeschooled by our mum. For a year we had lessons from a French retired teacher, once a week, but she declared us ‘unteachable’ because we didn’t know any nursery rhymes. We used to get her talking in English so that we didn’t have to work. We have more freedom here to enjoy being in the countryside. Our lifestyle involves horses, and we have had more opportunities here for learning and for doing shows. In Britain we would have gone to riding school and got fed up with all the snooty people, and gone hacking. Riders here are sloppier in the saddle, but much more liberated in mannerisms. I don’t like the English, but I am definitely English. Yet I’ve spent most of my life in France.”

“Some of the worst things about being here are the inability of the French to recognise vegetarianism as an option, and the regular poor treatment of animals”

Beth: “I don’t remember having feelings about coming to France. I was too young, but I do know I didn’t want to leave our house in Scotland. Some of the worst things about being here are the inability of the French to recognise vegetarianism as an option, and the regular poor treatment of animals. I can’t really remember what it’s like to live in Britain full time. It’s a bit ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ish. Wherever I am I look fondly at the other country.”

“My parents moved here in search of a better life in the sun, and better environment for me to grow up in. I am much better integrated than my parents. I speak and write French as if it were my first language. My parents find it hard to fit in with the French, as there are many English people in our town.

“My parents moved here in search of a better life in the sun, and better environment for me to grow up in. I am much better integrated than my parents. I speak and write French as if it were my first language. My parents find it hard to fit in with the French, as there are many English people in our town.