I worked on a research project with the Environment Agency science division, part of which was 3D modelling of flooding. 2D flood maps assume a steady rise in water levels without waves or surges, and are to that extent simplistic. They also do not predict forward the likely effects of climate change. It is particularly high risk to move somewhere within a flood plain, because with climate change that situation is likely to get worse. We have had such a wet year that the ground in our garden is saturated and when it rains really heavily we have water entering a porch, fortunately not the house itself. It is also necessary to consider that some flooding occurs because of backed up drains or blocked culverts, in areas not otherwise known to flood. So nothing beats a careful assessment on and near the site.
Although it didnât occur to us at the time, living on the side of a hill with no water courses nearby, was perhaps a good move. Mind you, friends who live in the valley next to the river have never been seriously troubled. 
Unfortunately the Hellâs Angels rescinded her membership when she could no longer do wheelies.
Regarding being on a hill, be aware of how water runs down from the neighbours. Our UK home was flooded in 2020 due to changes in landscaping causing water to flow in new ways, filling a soak away that we constructed 25 years before, then coming through a stone wall.
There is nobody living directly above us between here and the top, all forest. There was a time when the only thing I thought lacking with our place was a stream running through the garden, I do love the sound of running water (to the extent that I used to pump water from the bottom pond to the top which then ran back down again via a narrow channel), but I see now that I should be grateful.
She was only thinking of you, worried that you might slide back off the pillion. A motherâs love knows no sacrifice too great. 
BTW does she still appreciate a joke? If so I would love it if she reads this thread.
Yes. Been thanked for it more than once by people being let go, who got more as a result of bringing it up with HR.
Letâs face it if youâve sweated and sacrificed for a company to the extent of having significant amounts of untaken leave, and then for whatever reason especiaÄșly involuntary, are leaving, then you should get everything youâre due.
Particularly as the company may turn around and force you to use up any days of leave outstanding as part of a notice period theyâd have to pay you for anyway.
As a rule of thumb try to avoid having days of holiday not used, owed to you if you might be leaving.
Oh I see, but that wasnât my position, I was always up to date with my holidays. We used to take frequent 5 day returns to come down here.
What happened with me was that they had called for volunteers for redundancy and, as I was long disillusioned with the way things were going I applied. I was accepted in August with a leaving date of 30th of September. I already had a due holiday booked for the last week in September so I simply went on holiday knowing that I wouldnât be back. As I was salaried my salary should have run till the end of September, my official leaving date, but they reduced the payment for that month on the grounds that I hadnât worked it. That is what I successfully protested about.
Donât forgot to check how much tax you will be liable for if you are working while resident in France.
We came here as âinactifsâ (early retirees) but still checked the tax rules as we pay tax here.
Some people donât check, arrive and then have a bad surprise after a year or so.
Everyoneâs situation is different. So only you guys know if the tax here will not be a problem for you, or not.
Ditto re entitlement to a state pension.
Ditto re inheritance tax/capital gains tax.
Moving targets in both UK and France but good to know what rules are current.
Exactly why I bought a Reno Trafic - not so much a camper but at least a bedroom on wheels and storage. âShore facilitiesâ does for the rest.
But the blasted thing turned out to have injectors in a terminal state and I had to give it back and get a refund. But getting another one is Plan B.
The FR are so brilliant with the âairesâ available to park up on, from the full monty sites to the car park of a church [arr Dieppe 4am, 5 mins to aire, 5 hrs kip] or the car parks of salles polyvalentes.
You might consider hiring a camper.
Thats a brilliant idea!! I wonder what the cost of hiring a camper is compared to renting gites? Although might be tricky to work in a camper, and to fit the dog in! Ill definitely look into it thank you
Well, factor in flights from [probably] Newcastle to some where near your target area if you leave the dog with someone. Then you are free to move on, anytime you want, anywhere you want.
I met a Brit on the ferry the other week who was scoping for properties in a camper - his own.
Even if the cost is +/- the same, the convenience/freedom of movement is worth a gt deal.
Ha, Iâm quite amazed - firstly I thought the lake was pretty empty, and then if the barrage burst wouldnât the water just run down the Tet smashing the bridges in Perpignan? I imagine it could overflow onto the plain, but itâs a big plain, and itâs a small lake. Would it seriously flood Argeles? Canet yes, but all the other coastal resorts?
Now, the Lac du Caramany - that looks like it could cause some serious stuff if that
burst!
It may be lower than normal currently, I will ask the family as they will start the ski season soon but when winter/spring comes, it does begin to fill up but the drill is carried out reguarly to keep people aware, we have all seen Valencia and how quick they were under water so best be forewarned than drowned! Canet Village is actually higher up than Canet Plage which is obviously sea level. I live between the Tet and the Agly so have it both sides here on the plain of Roussillon but the house being new is 1.5m built above ground level with a vide sanitaire so that helps a bit.
Howâs everyoneâsâ French? Is that the next thing to work on, or is it already OK?
Je parle français comme une vache espagnole 
Vachement?
To be 100% accurate I think that phrase probably overestimates my ability to speak French
I once watched a video on YouTube about a couple from the UK who were travelling across Europe in a campervan with their dog and a cat. I think I watched it because they drove close to where we live (or maybe it was because they went where I used to live)âŠ
Anyway, after that, YouTube thought Iâd be interested in the whole campervan lifestyle and kept showing me loads of different videos about the subject. Iâm not, so I didnât watch many more of their videos, but I saw that they eventually returned to live in the UK⊠but only because theyâd not fully prepared their van for the harsh continental winters.
From what I remember, travelling and living out of a campervan with their animals wasnât really an issue - which is contrary to what I would have expected. Not sure what breed your dog is or how old it is, but it may be worth considering.
Edit: I found their channel again⊠Looks like theyâve given up the camper life and are instead restoring a cottage though.
I was ordering a complicated meal in a restaurant in Arcachon in my very best French (heavily affected with a Del boy accent) but struggled to be understood.
I apologised âJe parle français comme une vache espagnoleâ
The food arrived and the plates were slammed down on the table and the waitress stormed off.
A diner at the next table leaned across and said in a rather loud voice âElle est espagnolâ
Espagnole, to be pedantic. (Think of those extra eâs like extra grams to make the recipe work 
)