A Dream of a Peaceful Life in France
Ben Pearson, 40, and his husband Nathan, 32, from Hull, have embarked on an exciting journey to escape the fast-paced life in England. Their dream of moving to France led them to purchase an abandoned farmhouse in Sainte-Segros, near Dijon, for €80,000 (£69,125). This property, which includes five outbuildings and two hectares of land, was initially seen as the perfect setting for their future retirement.
The couple started seriously looking for a property two years ago, hoping to find a place where they could enjoy a more tranquil lifestyle. When this ‘village’ came on the market, they were quick to act, believing it would be an ideal home for them. However, their initial budget of £100,000 has already been completely spent, with the couple having to invest heavily in essential renovations such as rewiring, plumbing, and installing a septic tank.
Ben, who is retired from his job as an RAF aircraft engineer, is handling the renovation work himself. The couple spent the first four months in France living in a caravan in their barn, finally moving into the property in October 2025. They have managed to complete a living room and bedroom, and they are hopeful that the kitchen will be fully functional by June. Ben is also working on creating a semi-temporary bathroom, while they plan to tackle the upstairs section by the end of 2027.
Nathan, an English tutor, shared his thoughts on the challenges they’ve faced: “It’s been really great, but there are challenges that have come our way we’ve really had to overcome.” He mentioned the administrative hurdles due to Brexit and the difficulties of daily living in a very rural area, where communication with people and services has been a test of their limited French skills.
They focused on the right-hand side of the house, where two rooms needed less work, allowing them to create a liveable space. For them, the main goal was to escape the busy, chaotic life in England and embrace a new way of living in France. They have achieved this, and both are actively learning French, with Nathan recently passing his B1 certificate exam. They also attend a local art class every Wednesday.
Ben’s mother, Karen Pearson, 62, moved to France 10 years ago, and the couple discovered the farmhouse in her village seven years ago. They loved the house but weren’t ready to move at the time. Three years ago, they began searching for their dream retirement home, and when the farmhouse came back on the market, they couldn’t believe their luck.
Ben reflected on their previous routine: “For us personally, we thought we were stuck in a rut of coming to work, coming home, and watching TV and going to bed. We were doing that most days and weekends and were so tired we didn’t think we were getting the most out of life.”
He continued: “We thought if we get over here, we can stop working so much and enjoy life a bit more. It’s not easy as we don’t have any money, but that’s the goal. We’ve actually really enjoyed it; it’s the best thing we’ve ever done and we wouldn’t change a thing. Our little village is lovely.”
The couple has had family visit who have helped with the renovation work. Nathan added: “We’re in the phase now of looking at what I earn in a month, and if we don’t have the money for something, we can’t do it and put it on the back burner. I do try and grab bargain old furniture. For me, I’m trying to keep in line with the proper traditional French farmhouse.”
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a rustic look, incorporating modern elements like USBs and plugs. They are fortunate to have items like beautiful armoires that they can repurpose. Nathan added, “We’re putting in a new kitchen, but I don’t want it to look like a show kitchen.”
