Obviously there's some work to do! Like I said at the start there's probably a million and one things I haven't thought of but thank you everyone for your thoughts, I'm taking everything in.
Mrs. Torslanda - of the horned helmet and heavy metal breastplate - is supportive and enthusiastic. That's the foundation of the project. I couldn't possibly consider going ahead with this if I didn't have her support.* We both love France and as we have no parents to worry about we are fairly free to move where we want once our boys are settled. Eldest is in an apprenticeship with good prospects, the youngest is 12, so if things go to plan he will be well into his early career (he wants to be a teacher) by the time we're ready to up sticks permanently.
Regarding the smallholding I'm going to need to do some looking. I can troll through estate agents websites until I'm blue in the face but that doesn't put me on the spot IYSWIM. The intention is to contact the local Maires of the communities I'm interested in and locate other campsites and amenities. The last thing I want to do is tread on toes. My belief is that if 'we' can add value to the local community then we have potential to succeed.
Strategy will be to integrate into the community, engage local tradespeople - if they're willing to be paid - for groundwork, construction, refurbishment etc. By contrast the Channel 4 programme with Dick Strawbridge shows him bringing in labour for the construction work around his chateau. Whilst it might make good telly I think, in real life, it's better to get local people on side.
Realistically I can't do much until next June when, hopefully, I'll have a week on my own more or less to tour around with a few bookmarked locations a motorbike and a sat nav. There's a long standing arrangement to meet my best mate in Normandy and take in the 75th anniversary of D-Day. (Google 'Daks over Normandy') All I can do until then is research properties, communities and campsite locations.
Regards our falling headlong out of the EU and into the abyss? I don't know. Truthfully I don't think anyone knows. If I buy a property I have to make it my mission to show the local people that I'm not Tommy Robinson (they'll NEVER see a Union flag outside my place) [I'm actually quite ashamed to be British right now] and the property isn't going to be shuttered 49 weeks out of 52. The website will be in English but I'm not trying to just attract UK visitors. The intention is to promote the area as a cycle touring destination, I'm not looking for sportive types or the testosterone fuelled roadies who go looking for mountains. Clue: There aren't any!
That's enough for now, keep on with your thoughts, criticisms and suggestions.