We were advertising Les Houllins when it was for sale in 1991, fell in love with it ourselves and decided to buy it. After 5 or 6 years of flying visits to dig up floors, chip the decaying crepi off the walls, lay new floors and replace the roof, etc. we had the house in a more or less in habitable state. Then came the second house on the end of the barn which is now the house which we let.
We also fell in love with the area which is easily reached by car or train from the UK, has lovely countryside of meadows, hedgerows, deciduous forest, lakes and rivers (Le bocage Bourbonais). The crime rate is very low, almost no traffic on the roads, a very lively local French community with lots of cultural and sporting events and activities all the year round. Above all, lots of sunshine.