When we were house hunting we came across loads of people who’d bought a lovely place out in the sticks and just couldn’t wait to be rid of it. They were desperate to move nearer to town!

For some it was the isolation. No one to chat to. Yes, there might be a French neighbour, and yes they might be very friendly, but unless you’re up to speed on your French it’s hard work, and made harder by the fact that some of the rural French speak with a strong dialect. We came across one couple where she had lost all confidence and had become virtually housebound. They’d spent a small fortune renovating their house, and it was lovely, but they were desperate to leave.

Then there was the gent living alone in a small village. He hated it with a vengance! He’d spent a couple of years doing the place up, he’d done a fantastic job, but with his project finished he’d become bored. There was just nothing to do, no bar, no shop, just the bread van once a day. Nearest town 40 minutes away.

Yep, that lovely drive down those leafy country lanes with the dappled sunlight playing on your eyes can turn into a nightmare in the winter when you’re cut off with trees down, or snow. No joke! Some friends of ours up in the Creuse were cut off for a week last winter. Not for the first time either.

A recent visitor whose never been to the Limousin before asked me where all the people were. I used to wonder that myself when I first came here, but I’ve become used to a lower population density. “Did you see anyone on your bike ride darling?”….