Archive for category: podcast

Debbie Nijland discussing starting over in France with Jane on Sunflower Stories

S01E11 Starting Over in France: Debbie’s Amazing Art Journey

Starting over in France gave artist Debbie Nijland the chance to turn a long-held dream into everyday life. But the journey to that home on a hill began decades earlier, with a little girl in Amsterdam whose ambitions had little room to grow. In this episode of Sunflowers Stories, Jane sits down with Debbie for an honest, warm and often funny conversation about creativity, divorce, finding confidence and building a life that feels like your own. Together, they explore what it means to claim your voice after years of putting other things first, and the joys and compromises of making a home in another country.
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S01E10 Moving to France: Claire’s Remarkable Life as a Hot Air Balloon Pilot

Moving to France, Following a Dream and Taking to the Skies — Claire’s Story Moving to France is often described as following a dream, but behind every move there is a real story of decisions, uncertainty, courage and finding your feet in a completely different country. In this episode of Sunflowers Stories, Jane talks to Claire about moving to France, building a new life with her husband Craig and an extraordinary passion that has quite literally taken her into the skies. Originally from Wales before moving to Yorkshire for university, Claire's love affair with France developed gradually through family holidays. What began with nervous trips abroad eventually grew into something much bigger, particularly when Claire and Craig became involved with hot air ballooning.
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S01E09 Moving to France With Children: Jem’s Inspiring 15-Year Journey

Moving to France with children sounds like the beginning of an idyllic adventure, but behind every new life are moments of courage, uncertainty, loneliness and determination. In this episode of the Sunflowers Podcast, Jane talks to her friend Jem about the reality of leaving Britain with three young boys and building an entirely new life beneath the French sun.
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S01E08 Rural France: 5 Inspiring Lessons from Jackie’s Journey

Birmingham to rural France sounded like an adventure—until Jackie mistook a bat for a late-night bird and announced, on her very first day, “I can’t do this.” What followed is a warm, funny and deeply honest journey of faith, friendship and finding the confidence to build a new life in an unfamiliar place.
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S01E06 Moving to France from the Netherlands: Kim Houben’s Inspiring story

Why Kim chose to Move to France from the Netherlands Leaving a familiar life behind is never just about changing countries. For Kim and her husband, it meant leaving successful businesses, a thriving videography company and years of hard work…
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S01E06 A New Life in France: Taking the Leap of Faith

What happens when you move to France with a plan… and France has other ideas? In this episode of Sunflowers Stories, I chat with Cat, who has called France home for more than 15 years. What started with buying and renovating an old French property eventually became something much bigger — a completely new life in France.
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S01E05 Life-changing stroke just days before starting a new life in France

Imagine having a life-changing stroke just days before you're due to sign the papers on a new life in France. Most people would have walked away. Sharon and her husband made a different decision. They came anyway.
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S01E04 Would You Leave Everything Behind for a Dream in France?

Like many people who dream of a life in France, Shelley and her family spent years searching for the right property, wondering if the move would ever happen. Then lockdown changed everything. What had once felt like a distant dream suddenly became a catalyst for action, prompting them to take the leap and begin a completely new chapter.
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S01E03 From Wales to Words: Building a New Life in France

After relocating from Wales to France, Vicky embraced a series of new adventures. From opening a bar and becoming part of her local community to launching Novice to Novelist, she has helped countless aspiring writers find the confidence to share their stories.
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S01E02 She Left Northern Ireland to Start a Tea Room in France

"If life is too short, why wait? Just do it." In this second episode of the Sunflowers Podcast, Jane sits down with Sacha, the entrepreneur behind the charming Rêveries Tea Room in Boussac. Sacha shares her incredible journey from Northern Ireland to the heart of France, reflecting on how her past experiences shaped the woman she is today.