The owners of Cle France, Sharon & David Evans, met Fraser Blake in late 1998 after 6 months of property searching. They cannot quite get to the bottom of whether it was the house or the man who sold it to them, but they ended up buying the house and spent 12 years in France buying, selling and renovating property all over the North-West regions.

Fraser had spent most of the previous 20 years involved in the property market in the Mayenne department of the Pays de la Loire region and so when Cle France started, he was the obvious choice to be their first agent on the ground in France. Together they  have been involved with countless sellers, buyers, notaires, problems and of course solutions.  But more importantly Sharon and David have enjoyed many happy 'soirées' together with Fraser and his wife Annie, who are both great fun and an endless source of great stories and advice for ex-pats looking for a taste of 'la vie française''.

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 retirement he writes, blogs, cooks, drinks wine, and hosts to dinner unlimited numbers of ex-pats, and is an all round 'good sort'!

Over the coming weeks Fraser is going to share his views on France, the French and the British; we think his blog will provide some light relief from trawling through the internet looking at property details, as well as tell you a thing or to about life in France from an insiders point of view.

If you want more? then follow the links where you can buy Fraser's published books 'A Rant Too Far?' and 'Dear Chips'.