MUST MEET

Today, we meet one of our own. Part of the France4U team, he moved to the region about eight years ago. Meet Daniel Friedrichs, an agent commercial based in the area around Charolles in the Saône-et-Loire.

Editor: So, Daniel, what brings a Dutchman to this part of the world?

Daniel: From an early age, I was raised with the French language and culture and an eventual emigration was just a matter of time.

Editor: And how did it play out?

Daniel: Well, I took the first step by setting myself a target to have a home in France before my sixtieth birthday. But where? I mean France is big and has a lot to offer, there are plenty of regions to explore. As it was initially going to be a house for holidays and long weekends, the distance to home in Holland and the children played an important factor.

Editor: That’s understandable but what about work, at the time you were still a young man!

Daniel: I’m liking that – thank you! The opportunities for entrepreneurship, building an active social life, and a good balance between peace, space and culture were also things for me to consider for the longer term.

Editor: Burgundy certainly delivers that but how come this was your final choice?

Daniel: After a few years of travelling around during the holidays, I made a stop just south of Charolles in Burgundy… it was quite literally love at first sight!

Editor: OK… give us the tourism narrative!

Daniel: Ha! In all honesty, it was the rolling landscape with its walled-off pastures, the space, the views, and the Charolais beef herds. But above all, the presence of history and culture that permeates everywhere. Six months later, we returned for a few weeks and started looking for a house.

Editor: And you found something quickly?

Daniel: There too, it was love at first sight. A beautiful longère with a lovely garden and fabulous views. We bought it without question and after a quick renovation, we emigrated to France on Friday 13 March 2015.

Editor: And what about work?

Daniel: Well, three days later I made my first calls as a commercial agent for an estate agent.

Editor: We have a great saying in the UK, which is “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” We’ve heard that you do not fall into this category!

Daniel: Music has been my greatest passion all my life. I play guitar and drums. After my studies, a big dream was realised for me. I was able to join a major record company EMI. As a result, I became a seasoned music industry and media professional.

Editor: OK, that’s impressive, we want to hear more!

Daniel: Playing music has always been a big hobby of mine. When I bought my house in France, I could finally devote more time to my hobby and sought out other musicians. At my first fête de la musique, held annually on 21 June, I found a French band looking for a solo guitarist. A week later, I played in this very friendly troupe known as The Burnin' Cows.

Editor: mmm… I see what you did there, linking back to your comments about the Charolais beef herds! Go on, tell us some more of this tale.

Daniel: Well… literally around the corner, I found an Englishman with whom I started a musical duo. You know, when I moved here, I thought it would be hard to find musicians. That was a big mistake! Musicians and instrument makers from all over the world and up to the highest level live locally. A piano tuner who flies to New York ten times a year to maintain and tune Carnegie Hall's grand piano lives in a small village near me. Grand pianos from all over the world are flown in for restoration at this Englishman’s home – who would have thought it?

Editor: Got to admit that is special. So what about the future for you?

Daniel: Since last year, I have had a new band called BReeZe. We started as The Breeze, refreshed it to Ze Breeze and now just BReeZe. It consists of five ‘seasoned’ gentlemen who are a mixture of French, Irish, English, and Dutch ancestry. We regularly perform in bars, at festivals, markets, even brocantes and the big cities like Lyon.

It has been a pleasure talking with Daniel; if you’d like to know more about this fine musician (oh, and property agent) you can learn more about him and his merry men at their facebook page 

Who knows who we’ll come across next?