This is how it all began:
I first got to know Picardy when I met two very nice guys (that later changed) who were selling houses in Picardy to English clients. It was a great time and sales were easy.
I was living in a small but expensive rented flat in Hampstead following my separation. I soon saw the potential and bought a third share of the company. For a year all went well. We sold about 90 properties and then the bombshell was dropped. Pierre Perrot was keeping most of the deposits we sent over instead of giving them to the bank and the result was a £100k hole. Malcolm Kirsh, the other partner denied all knowledge but I soon found out that he knew.
So, with the excuse that it was cheaper for me to live in the flat over our French office, I moved to Rue in Picardy with the intention of getting my money back.
I gave myself six months but then I met Anne-Marie at a riding stables near the small fishing port of Le Crotoy and fell in love.
Yes I got my money back. Pierre and Malcolm didn't know what hit them. I even got our UK bank to go after Malcolm and not me. I asked the bank for a meeting where Malcolm told lie after lie to the bank director and after we left I made an excuse and returned to the meeting as arranged and gave them the proof of all the lies in black and white.
I also managed to take over two small but profitable developments in France.
Then as I said Anne-Marie came into my life. We had been horse trekking several times in the Pyrenees near Perpignan and we decided to move to the area and look for a home. Eventually in 1992 we found the house in St Marsal and settled down.
The house was 400 years old and we lovingly renovated it. We got married in 1993 with a huge party in the little village square just outside the house. Manon came along three years later and our neighbour, Maguy became godmother to Manon.
Life in the village was idyllic. The village welcomed us and we took part in village life. We were befriended by the village post-lady Francoise and her husband Guy. We made many friends including some St Marsal English couples.
I don't think I have ever known of so many crazy stories or happenings in any other village. The first was the Entertainment committee scandal!
Francoise and her two sons invited me to be the accountant for the committee and all went well for a couple of years then all of a sudden they asked me to resign. OK I said but first the accounts will be put in order and approved. Something they did not want to do but had no choice. I found a receipt for 500 euros and thanked the Mayor for the village's subvention? "Not ours" he said. Then he investigated and the truth came out. Francoise had for some time been writing the cheques for some elderly people and then putting the committee's name on the cheque. She needed me out in order to cash the cheque. She was not sacked until on the 1st of April the locks on the post office were glued. The Gendarmes arrived fearing a robbery and when they got inside, Francoise told the Gendarmes that her work wallet with all the funds in it were missing. The Gendarmes found it under the bed of her youngest son, Joel. Francoise was sacked.
Then came the local elections. I learnt a thing or two with this event.
