Every month, we introduce you to an interesting woman living in Languedoc. Curious as we are, we like to find out why she lives in this beautiful region, what she does for a living, and some of her Languedoc favourites. This month, we would like you to meet writer Sara Verrall. She left her hometown in England to start a new adventure in the Southern French countryside and wrote a book about it: Dream It, Do It… Why Not?
Introduction
Coming from Brighton, UK, where I had lived all my life, I decided to have a gap year from my office job at the age of 38. It brought me from Bali to Australia and New Zealand and back to the UK via Thailand. It was a great experience. However, returning home I had to pick up my life again. I didn’t want to go back to my old job, so I studied and got a Building Constructions diploma. It allowed me to work in an architect’s office where I could combine making architectural designs with my administration skills. Having set up my own business in architectural-style drawings, I then decided to take on less responsible roles. I was perfectly happy doing reception and administration work until I expressed my long-held wish to live in France to a friend. He simply told me to go after my dream instead of talking about it.
First time visiting the region
My friend’s remark made me think (after I was slightly annoyed by it, in fairness). As I needed a break from work, I planned a holiday to the South of France to start the process. Initially, I wanted to try the new train line between London and Marseille. However, as I couldn’t manage to buy an online ticket, I bought a flight to Montpellier (1) instead. I had been to this part of France in my twenties, on the back of my ex-boyfriend’s motorcycle. We had only crossed it though, seeing the beautiful landscapes flash by. My solo trip was the first time I would actually stay in the region for a couple of days in a row. I booked an Airbnb in Montpellier, and- as I had not much else to do- I also contacted a real estate agent.
Settling in Languedoc
My first meeting with this real estate agent made it clear that finding a little house with an attached garden within my budget would be a long quest. However, he happened to have a place in a village that might suit my requirements and that we could visit immediately. The house was located in Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez (2), a village inland from Béziers, not far from Roquebrun. The minute we entered the house, I fell in love. This place was beyond my wildest dreams! Everything was perfect in my eyes, and the garden was even bigger than I could have imagined.
In a moment of madness, I agreed to buy the house, keeping in mind that house buyers in France are entitled to a ten-day cooling-off period to withdraw the purchase without a penalty. After endless reflections, I thought I would gratefully use this cooling-off period to withdraw. However, after some more reflections, putting my Brighton house on the market and getting together the deposit, I took the leap. I bought the house. My new life started in January 2015 when I received the keys to my French home.
After six weeks, I felt terribly homesick. I had never been to France in winter, and I quickly learned that it can rain in France and get cold too, even in the South. Houses in the South of France are built differently to English ones, and I had to learn the best way to heat thick stone walls. Eventually, my homesickness diminished. Having experienced all the seasons for the first time, I knew what to expect for the second year, and everything started to feel familiar.
Author and storyteller
Everybody has a story to tell, and encouraged by my new love Janne, a Swede I met in France, I decided to put one of mine on paper. If I could relocate to France leaving my comfortable life behind, everyone can do it. I wanted to show that the reasons for doing something can be the same ones for not doing it. Despite my fears, I kept going to see what would happen. And it worked out great!
Like my move, I tackled the writing of “Dream It, Do It… Why Not?” step by step. Some valuable advice from a fellow writer helped a lot, telling me to just get it all written down on paper, then do the editing later. From the first “Why Not” moment (pointed out by my AirBnB host), the words flew from my pen until the time when I found myself at a new crossroad four years later. Via my struggles with the language and observations of French everyday life seen through my English eyes, my book takes you through the ups and downs I encountered on my way to following my dream. And hopefully, my story will inspire other people to chase their dreams.
Since writing “Dream It, Do It… Why Not?” I have recorded the audio version of it, too. And I’ve also written “How to Create a Great B&B”, which tells the story of my partner Janne Larsson’s escapades when starting his Bed and Breakfast Rue Galilée in Marseillan. A new book about my Mexican travels and adventures will be released in 2024.
Living in the South of France
Of course, there is the weather. But another reason why I moved to France was because of the French life values. I love the way they actually spend time with family and friends. Politeness is a big deal, which shows in little things like making eye contact when you are out walking in the street and say hi to somebody. Also, food is such an essential part of life. Lunch takes two hours, and businesses close during this time, no matter what. Coming from Northern Europe, where people tend to eat a quick sandwich behind their desks, I had to get used to this two-hour break and other French customs.
In the beginning, I felt like a silhouette of myself, though. Mainly because I didn’t speak the language, and that really motivated me to make an effort. I recall the first time I made a Frenchman laugh, such a rewarding feeling! Of course, I know I’ll always be ‘l’étranger’, the stranger, but that’s ok. I still have so many things to learn. But after nearly ten years of living in France, first in Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez and now in Marseillan, I have adapted rather well. I cannot imagine moving back to England!
Best Languedoc wine
I like the wines from where I first lived in France. Château Bousquette for example, who make great organic wines. I particularly love their red wine, called Pruneyrac.
The red wine ‘Face à la Mer’, meaning facing the sea, from Château Chênaie is another one of my favourites. The great thing about living in a wine-producing region is that you actually know where the grapes are growing. The grapes of the Face à la Mer wine come from vineyards literally overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
My rosé comes from Domaine La Lauzeta. Tom Hills, an Englishman, founded this wine estate in 2015. Every year, he produces an exceptional rosé in limited edition, so you have to be quick to buy a couple of bottles. It isn’t cheap, but these wines are clearly about quality instead of quantity.
Favourite restaurant
La Pacheline in Marseillan’s port (5) is nice. And I love eating the freshest mussels anywhere along the Étang de Thau, the lagoon between Marseillan and the sea. Coqui Thau serves a fantastic brasucade: mussels prepared on an open fire and drizzled with a secret sauce. Côté Jardin (6), located on the inland side of the road, is owned and run by the same Marseillan-based family. It is a great place for a night out combined with tapas and paëlla.
Perfect day out in Languedoc
I would go on a posh sailing ship to have lunch and a swim with a bunch of my international friends. Being with a sailor, I wanted to learn sailing myself. And now I have joined ‘A Tout Vent‘, an association run by locals who teach the ins and outs of sailing techniques. It’s not formal training, but you learn the skills from professionals who are passionate about the Étang de Thau and love to share their sailing knowledge. As a bonus, they also tell you a lot about the region.
© Sara Verrall (picture on the right)
