Packing up and moving away to the south of France is a dream held by many, but author Anna Bibby actually got to live out that experience.

A few years ago, Auckland art dealer Anna Bibby bought a rundown house in a small village while on holiday in France. 

What came next was a journey of renovation, a winter in a falling down house and a quick fire lesson in French language and culture. 

Anna Bibby detailed her story in a new book Learning to Be French (and failing) and called in from the south of France to talk about it.

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