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The French Property Network

Apr 30

WHY MAYENNE IS MAGNIFIQUE

Mayenne is a picturesque little market town that gives it's name to the river that runs smack through its centre. It also gives its name to the Department it sits in, though Laval, also on the river, is much larger and is the administrative centre. It is one of the lesser known Departments in France and on my travels from Paris to Nice I have found few French people who have even heard of it.

The town has been built on both banks of the river which rise steeply for about 50 metres on both sides. At the top of the right bank there is what remains of a once imposing 14th century castle that belonged to the lords of Mayenne. It has now been excavated, restored and turned into a museum of the towns history.

In the town centre, Place Clemonceau, next to the old château, are held the markets. The one on Monday is for general goods, clothes, hats, and hardware and Saturday is full of stalls selling fish and such local produce as fresh cream, locally made breads, vegetables along with travelling butcheries and charcuteries. There are a number of good restaurants and brasseries dotted about the town and the centre is a very pleasant little shopping area.

The chateau side of the town is the older part with steep narrow streets, some old half timbered houses and the huge 16th century Basilica of Notre Dame. The left bank has the newer buildings on it mainly due to Second World War damage. However, overall you can still find little cobblers shops where shoes are made by hand. Wonderful charcuteries that make all their own products and even spit roasted chickens on the pavements sending wonderful smells wafting down the streets. These mingle with freshly roasted coffee being made in a mall off the main Place or the whiff of chocolate being manufactured in a little chocolatier's shop and of course, the beautiful odor of baking bread and patisserie from the boulongeries.

There are, naturally, quite a few bars all of which seem to vie with each other by putting tables and chairs onto as much of the pavement as they can possibly get away with without actually causing traffic jams.

Mayenne and its depatment are host, throughout the year, to many of Frances top cultural and arts occasions. Plays, concerts, son et lumieres, historical spectacles, art exhibitions all form the many and varied attractions Mayenne has to offer. Mayenne, town and department are one of the hidden gems of France and that is why Mayenne is Magnifique.

Fraser Blake at home in France  A Rant to Far Book cover  Dear Chips book cover 

If you want more? then follow the links above, in the images, where you can buy Fraser's published books.

Fraser Blake, 70, author of 'Dear Chips' and 'A Rant Too Far?' grew up in Africa, was at school in Scotland, and worked for the British South Africa Police in Southern Rhodesia. He has taught English in Saudi Arabia and sold and renovated hundreds of properties in Northern France.

In 1998 Fraser was selling houses in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so was the obvious choice, when Cle France was started, to be their first agent on the ground in France. In retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats.

Always on hand with a viewpoint, Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British, and other people who buy in France. Sometimes informative, sometimes funny, painfully true, outrageously opinionated but always entertaining so we hope it adds a slightly different dimension to the usual normality of searching through the fantastic properties for sale on the Cle France website.

Watch out for more rants and opinion next week or buy the book today for a rollicking good read.

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Apr 18

Pound jumps to 1-month high against Euro - 18.04.2024

A quick summary of what’s happening

Pound jumps to 1-month high against Euro

The Pound is having a good run against the Euro, Aussie and Kiwi, but is struggling against the US Dollar.

The US Dollar is exceptionally strong against other major currencies at the moment.

We attribute a lot of that to geopolitical fear as things are kicking off in the Middle East. It’s known as a ‘risk-off’ market.

The other key factor is that opinion on interest rates is changing rapidly.

The reason is inflation is proving to be sticky.

Today’s UK inflation reading is a case in point. Once against, inflation has come in above expectations.

Core inflation is still sitting above 4% - more than double the Bank of England’s 2% target.

Hard to see any rate cuts happening without a big drop in inflation.

The US Fed has come to the same sort of conclusion, pushing back expectations of cuts until later this year.

The Europeans are less clear but you would think they are largely in the same boat.

Moreover, there’s a fair bit of volatility in exchange rates right now.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

Get in touch so we can help you take advantage of any favourable moves.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, click below.

Get a Quick Quote

  1. Great exchange rates
  2. Quick and easy transfers
  3. No transfer fees
  4. Expert help and guidance
  5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Thursday 18th April 2024 at 15:00

£1.00 GBP = 1.1705 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2455 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.9355 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.1050 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7040 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.1340 CHF

  • Want to Learn More?

  • We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.
  • Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

    Brexit Guide Download

  • Need to Send Money Abroad?

    • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
    • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
    • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

Cle France Currency Guide link

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

  • Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
  • Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
  • All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Add CommentViews: 376
Apr 11

Currency Market Update - 11th April 2024

Pound drops to 4-month lows against Dollar

The US Dollar has shot up after a shock inflation reading. Inflation increased from 3.2% in February to 3.5% in March.

It might not sound like a big deal, but it’s a major plot twist.

We’re in a world where inflation is expected to be falling (fast), not going back up again.

Now it seems the US Federal Reserve has the luxury of sitting back and putting their feet up for while (markets were expecting a June cut).

As a result of Dollar strength, the GBP/USD rate has dropped to 4-month lows.

Hey, things can always be worse. The Japanese Yen just hit 34-year lows against the US Dollar! Ouch.

The tug of war between the Pound and Euro continues.

The Pound made some good ground early this week with a powerful surge on Monday and Tuesday.

But a retreat yesterday suggests the Euro team is fighting back (Heave!).

There’s plenty of volatility in exchange rates at the moment.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

Please make sure you get in touch so we can discuss market trends and target rates.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out the latest rates, click below.

Get a Quick Quote

Kind regards, 
David Evans 
Co-Founder of Cle France.

Cle France / Key Currency

Key Currency is the currency exchange department of Cle France Ltd, 'Cle' being the French word for 'Key', did you see what we did there?

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Add CommentViews: 460
Apr 4

Interest Rate cuts are coming - 4th April 2024

Buckle in - Interest Rate cuts are coming

The first quarter of the year has passed already.

As we head into Q2, it’s all about interest rate cuts.

Who will be the first to act?

Futures markets indicate the US and EU will see their first rate cut in June. In the UK, expectations suggest a cut some time over the summer.

Rate cuts can have a big impact on exchange rates, so buckle in.

At the moment, Pound to Euro is in a bit of a holding pattern.

There looks to be opportunities for buyers and sellers right now, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on the daily swings.

The uptrend in Pound to Dollar seems to have stalled.

Again, I suspect investors are awaiting news on rate cuts.

So what next, what should you do?

Get ahead of the game and read our Guide to Foreign Currency Exchange.

Download the Guide Here - with no obligation of course.

If you have a currency requirement, best to get in touch to discuss current exchange rates, market strategies and upcoming events.

You can speak to a member of our team on 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, click below.

Get a Quick Quote

  1. Great exchange rates
  2. Quick and easy transfers
  3. No transfer fees
  4. Expert help and guidance
  5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Thursday 4th April 2024 at 11:30

£1.00 GBP = 1.1665 EURO

£1.00 GBP = 1.2660 USD

£1.00 GBP = 1.9360 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.0955 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.7095 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.1475 CHF

  • Want to Learn More?

  • We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.
  • Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

    Brexit Guide Download

  • Need to Send Money Abroad?

    • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
    • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
    • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

Cle France Currency Guide link

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

  • Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
  • Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
  • All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Add CommentViews: 626
Apr 1

In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril

In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril - April Fish. That's why David & Sharon, the founders of Cle France, pictured in the postcard below are holding a fish!

In all regions of France there will be a lot more Fish available and being bought for celebratory lunches, a bit like Pancake Day BUT with Fish!

The first year my son played an April Fools joke on me I was confused as to why he kept shouting "Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril", the calming influence of my wife explaining why he was repeatedly shouting this phrase thankfully avoided me having him see a costly psychiatrist and as it turns out, he is fine. 

This postcard was originally sent in 1908 and the words on the bottom translate as:

'When you receive our nice fish, you'll know we're always thinking of you.'

To be honest if you opened the door at these two characters were standing there you would have a right to be scared! but they are no doubt charming friendly neighbours as is the norm in France.

The 'rules' of April Fool's and Poisson d'Avril are more or less the same thing, other than the French have a Fascination for Fish! The tradition in France is that along with practical jokes and bogus news stories, putting paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting victims is thought as hilarious, those crazy French japes eh! 

Here's a little April 1st film trivia for you: What gritty and stylish 1970's police movie takes place in Marseille where the opening scene is on April 1st?

See Below for the answer.

April Fools Day in France

Pictured above: David & Sharon earlier today!

ANSWER IS: the French Connection II. In the opening scenes of the movie, Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle (played by Gene Hackman) meets Henri Barthélémy (played by Bernard Fresson), in front of the gendarmarie in Marseille. Barthélémy is looking for drugs, where else but in a fish of course, based on a tip. He doesn't find any, as it's a Poisson d'Avril it is a joke played on the police, get it?

Anybody played any good "Poisson d'Avril" jokes or had one played on them?

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Thanks for the website 'Americans in France' for the original French Postcard image.

Add CommentViews: 5131

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