Suzie Jackson has always had an affinity to France.  She deliberately didn't make her first trip to Paris until her 30s as she was concerned she would be let down by the reality not living up to the dream. But there was nothing to fear, as Suzie's first French experience had her feeling like she had come home. For years then she dreamed of owning a property in France and spent hours Googling châteaux for sale.  In 2014 she decided with her then husband, that it was time to get serious and booked a trip to France to view a number of different châteaux of various sizes and condition in the Loire Valley to get a better sense of what they could or should buy. The first couple of days were a huge learning curve with crumbling ruins, discovering the frightening cost of slate roof repairs, replacement electrics and regulations for historical monuments. Finding that quintessentially dream French property was not going to be easy. Then Château de la Carrière popped up and from the moment she drove up the driveway, Suzie knew they had found their French country home. Château de la Carrière sounds like the kind of place that would be a wonderful stop in the middle of a European holiday. After travelling on a 6-7 week trip with my family and kids when they were quite young, a few days or a week to recharge is an important tip to consider. I love a break in the middle of a vacation when I can slow down, play cards or croquet, dip in the pool, potter in a potager or sit in a beautiful salon and read a book. Connecting to the building and the place at a leisurely pace sounds perfect to me.Suzie loves to experiment with the produce from her garden. Nothing makes her happier than making dinner from the potager and bringing big buckets of flowers from the garden into the château.  She also makes aperitifs when she has a houseful of people. I'd love to try her cocktails with her home-made tulip syrup, dandelion honey, rhubarb syrup or elderflower cordial... whatever is thriving in the garden when eventually I visit! I also now have a hankering to visit the local broccante markets that she described to me.Suzie says that a château project is not for the fainthearted, but she also feels that the life she is living is her dream life. I think she's living my dream as well!**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Paris is a place filled with myriad cultures, religions, languages and nationalities. We tend to view France through the quintessentially French perspective of "chateaux, champagne et croissants", but there is so much more to discover with just a little scratch of the surface.**I spoke recently to Pakistani woman Fiza about her move with her family from Pakistan to Paris. She has family already living there which prompted France to be the country of choice for their emigration, but initially even with family support she found it difficult having no French when she arrived. Fiza moved to France as a young adult a few years ago and not long after, COVID hit and the country went into lockdown. Fiza then taught herself French through YouTube and watching French movies or television whilst she had to stay at home. *I discussed with Fiza the differences of her Parisian life from when she was in Pakistan. The way Fiza describes her French world is so different from many other people living in Paris I have spoken to. There is a significant difference in the worlds inside and outside the périphérique, as there is also between the "leafier" arrondissements to the more working class areas. As foreigners we often don't connect with any part of Paris beyond the tourist sites. *I was inspired by Fiza to try and view a different Paris on occasion in the future. She mentioned to me that her dream had always been to have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. She has now got to turn this dream into a reality.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

The Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast is hosted by Louise Prichard.*Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website* Guest: Tom Munro - The Other Bordeaux* Tom Munro spent 20 years working for vineyards and wineries both in Australia and France. He now imports French wine straight from the château to our door! I know in my house everyone gets very excited when a delivery of a box arrives from The Other Bordeaux! Tom's knowledge of wine is incredible. It is clearly a passion for him as he started making wine at home when he was only 9 years old! Tom has been fortunate to live in France for quite a time and I loved hearing of his experiences during that time: the way each year's harvest had a song that connects him to it; the history he was immersed in; the way he finds the suppliers for his wines who have sometimes become life-long friends. In this episode we chat about the evolution of French wine, the negative impact and surprise positive side-effect of climate change, suggestions for food and wine pairings and how to taste all 365 wine growing regions in France! For now though, just pour one glass as you listen and drift off, dreaming of escaping to France as you sip!** Special offer for Loulabelle's FrancoFiles listeners! All subscribers to the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles newsletter will go into a draw to win a $400 voucher for The Other Bordeaux. To subscribe to the LFF newsletter simply email the word "SUBSCRIBE" to [email protected]  All subscribers registered for the LFF newsletter by Friday 10 March 2023 will be eligible to win.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.** Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website**Guest: Emily Gaudichon**I love checking in with my lovely friend Emily Gaudichon (@therealemilyinparis) who lives in Paris's 6th arrondissement. She has her finger on the pulse of everything going on and always has some terrific tips for me to pop into my itinerary for my next visit to the French capital!In this podcast chat Emily and I discuss the café culture in Paris, the rituals for chocolat chaud and where to find coffee that passes for us Melbourne coffee snobs! Emily told me of some Australians now bringing our coffee culture to Paris!There's a little of the fascinating history behind both of my fave non-alcoholic bevvys, chocolat chaud and coffee, as well as loads of our recommendations for where to go and how to get the most out of a chocolat chaud ritual in Paris.Head to the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website for a more comprehensive list of all our favourites.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.*Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website*Guest: Shannon Pratuch *Over ten years ago, a client flew Shannon Pratuch to Paris from the US for a project she was working on. Over the few days she was there she wandered throughout Paris, losing herself in the nooks and crannies of the city ultimately falling in love with Paris and then with all of France. Every time after that when she returned she stayed longer, eventually making the move to live there. Shannon says she finds it hard now to even consider leaving France. She could spend 20 life-times in Paris and France and it would still not be enough for her to experience all she wants to about her adopted country! Shannon now works and lives in France full-time, owning a house, a car, a business, two petite French bulldogs (Rose and Pearl) and has a multi-year residency card. Shannon believes that France is the most incredible country in the world! She is absolutely in love with this dream she's living every day.  I think I'd be in love with such a life too!*I have dreamed of a life such as Shannon's. After talking to her, it now weirdly feels both further away and simultaneously more possible than ever! The amount that she knows, the work she has now found in France... that seems out of reach for most of us. But Shannon talks with such conviction about following that dream of a French life, I feel like if she can do it, maybe any of us can if we try hard enough. What I do know is that for any of us who want to try to make a French life a reality, even on a short-term basis, having Shannon as a resource will be invaluable.*Shannon shares many tips with us in this wonderfully warm chat, but my only tip for travelling in France is one she also shares: take time to be a flaneur... engage in the art of strolling and taking in your surroundings.Come and escape momentarily to France with us.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.*Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website*Guest: Jane Hiscock*Jane Hiscock and her husband Steve have both always loved France. They originally travelled there every couple of years before starting their family many years ago. Then in 2010 they went to Paris to start a search for a Paris apartment, but before commencing that task, they travelled to stay with friends in Normandy who invited them to a party at a place they called the "chocolate box château". It was a beautiful place renovated by a New York interior designer who threw wonderful parties. They went to a luncheon that continued through into the night and by the end of the evening it became apparent that the château was for sale and that was it! They were both sold! From that point Château Jonquay became a significant part of Jane's and her family's life.  *Built in 1635 we hear in this chat the fascinating history as well as the ways the château has evolved for a modern world. Jane tells of the château's secrets uncovered including a possible WW2  mystery. *At one point through the many renovation projects, Jane realised she was going to be there doing the work on her own. None of the family was available to join her so she put out a message to her networks and 10 girlfriends came to stay and assist! Jane's request stated that if they wanted to come and experience French food, French wine, French men and were happy to pick up a paintbrush then this was the (working) holiday for them!*Jane has recently made a scented candle of the smell she feels wraps her up when at the château. Lighting that when she's back in Melbourne takes her right back there. Perhaps Château Jonquay never really leaves her anyway and is always in her heart.*Come and escape to France momentarily with us.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles websiteGuest: Lisa AnselmoLisa Anselmo is the author of My (Part-Time) Paris Life and has spent most of her professional career in magazine publishing, working on such iconic brands as Allure, Mademoiselle, InStyle, and People. She started to head over to Paris more and more and was following the fashion trends she saw there. She would write to her friends about her experiences and created an early form of a blog, pre-social media. It was picked up by Bonjour Paris and she became their fashion editor!  Lisa fell in love with the European lifestyle and especially Paris. Her transition eventually from New York to Paris felt seamless. Like me Lisa's best friend was her mother who passed away some years ago. In this chat Lisa and I spoke frankly about our mothers and their impact on the way we live our lives now, especially in relation to France. Lisa spoke about lots of signs that popped up which helped her feel that her mother was with her and guiding her during her move to Paris. I know just how she feels. The little moments when I recognise my mum shining through in French are very precious.  Tune in for practical tips and insights for moving to Paris or France, how to navigate challenges and some things to be aware of. Lisa actually recommends a shorter stay before taking the leap to move to France as a visa isn't required for stays shorter than 3 months.Lisa Anselmo shares so much of herself in my chat with her. I actually learned a lot about myself through listening to her. Lisa shares my passion for history, architecture, French culture and connecting to the past, the present and in some ways the future. As she spoke about the lessons she has learned about herself since moving to Paris, sparks of recognition of my own life flashed in my head. Lisa has a refreshing perspective and sees the world in a way I hadn't considered. As she stated her thoughts on happiness, that it is a state of mind and a choice and that she has now learnt to love herself flaws and all, I thought of how hard we all can be on ourselves. Perhaps embracing what we have and who we really are deep inside as Lisa does, is a lesson for us all.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

The Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast is hosted by Louise Prichard.Other Loulabelle's links: FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles website*Episode 91 guest: Nicole RessNicole Ress is Melbourne's go-to Frenchie for language and travel! Nicole grew up in a French speaking household with her mother who had come to Australia from Paris in the 1950s, met Nicole's dad and settled here. It was a wonderful and unusual childhood not just because of the French influence. Nicole's father and grandfather were in the hotel business and owned the Ress Oriental Hotel in Collins Street Melbourne. When her mother saw the hotel she exclaimed to Nicole's father, with the plane trees and the architecture it looked like Paris, all it was missing were the tables and chairs on the terrasse on the street. So Nicole's father applied for a permit to have the outdoor tables and he then coined the phrase, "the Paris end of Collins Street" which has stuck to that part of Melbourne to this day!In this podcast chat we hear of Nicole's extraordinary life with two cultures and two countries in her heart. I was fascinated to hear of her experiences living in the city hotel in Melbourne with the Treasury Gardens as her back yard. As she grew up in this environment with guests like Maurice Chevalier staying at the hotel, she felt both French and Australian.  I loved her stories of times she visited Paris and France with her family. Especially the times she had experiences with extraordinary chefs and famous wine houses that most of us can only dream about! My favourite part of this podcast chat with Nicole is how she described her perfect French day. I have asked that question 90 times before, but this is the first time that a guest has taken me on a tour for the day where I could close my eyes and actually imagine myself there as Nicole walked me through one exquisite experience after another. She picked me as a cassis sorbet lover as we sat virtually under the orange trees in a Provence village looking out over the countryside to the Mediterranean in the distance. Bliss!Close your eyes as you listen and you can join us there too.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles websiteGuest: Jennifer GrecoJennifer Greco has tasted over 460 French cheeses! I looooooved chatting to her so much as fromage is one of my favourite foods. She says there is a cheese for every mood and she eats cheese every day.  After moving to France with her husband 20 years ago, Jennifer discovered a love for fromage and took on the challenge to try every French cheese there is! The current number of French cheeses is between 1600-1800 so she has a few to go! For the last 18 years Jennifer has explored French food, culture, wine and cheese through her blog.  She also wrote a ten-part series about her journey to become a French citizen.In this chat with Jennifer I tap into her amazing knowledge of fromage. Listening to her talk about different cheeses, the notes in their flavours, the complexity of the layers that reveal themselves during the eating of a cheese, I began to have a newfound respect for fromage. I've always loved cheese, but now after talking to Jennifer I want to learn more about the different cheeses, how they're made, how to serve them, how to ask in the country markets for particular important things that should be considered when buying cheeses.  I learned a lot just in this chat with Jennifer, such as that the Comté cheese makers in France have got together and created a flavour wheel identifying 83 notes and flavours in that cheese. Everything from grasses, herbs, nuts, salt... but 83 of them! Incredible!Jennifer is now not just a French cheese lover but also an educator. She spends her days eating and writing about fromage for various publications, also offering gourmet food tours and French cheese workshops. Tune in to escape to France momentarily with us.**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website

Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTube Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist  Loulabelle's FrancoFiles Instagram Loulabelle's FrancoFiles websiteNatalie Mueller always had a love for France which intensified during her early 20s when she worked in hospitality and had experience with a Michelin starred chef. He would only speak to her in French! So with that and the daily immersion in French food she was hooked! Since then she has built her own thriving and successful business "Olive Catering" in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. But Natalie is now ready for the next phase of her life and is embarking on a fabulous adventure. She has sold her home in Queensland and is moving to France! I absolutely loved chatting to Natalie about her plans for the future, dreaming about wonderful times in France in the past as well as imagining what is yet to come. I place a huge amount of importance on dreaming and making time to stop daily to ponder the possibilities of the future. It is often our dreams that keep our hopes alive through tough times. Hearing about how someone else just like me has achieved her dream, gives me hope that it could happen to any of us if we want it enough and are willing to try to make our dreams a reality.Tune in to hear Natalie's story and momentarily escape to France with us!**Louise Prichard is the host of the Loulabelle's FrancoFiles podcast.**Other Loulabelle's links:FrancoFile Fix on YouTubeLoulabelle's FrancoFiles Spotify Playlist Loulabelle's FrancoFiles InstagramLoulabelle's FrancoFiles website