Haven't posted for a while because I've been bogged down at work trying to work things out with my current employer - but without success. They simply haven't wanted to give me an idea of the package they're willing to provide except to tell me over and over again that I've been exceedingly well paid (!?!) her in the UK and can't expect that in France. We're now less than 2 months to the move date and still no package - so I did what I told them back in early October I would - I'd applied for another similar job with a competitir company - and this morning I've accepted their offer. It's not what Im earning in the UK - but is a fair wage and it's a permenant job with all that that entails. I'm actually quite excited by the new challenge and having met some of the people I'll be working with - know that I'll be happy. We can know forge ahead with our plans in the confident knowledge that we have a budget to work with.
Now I just have the dubious pleasure of telling HR - who will no doubt express extreme surprize at my decision and ask they we negotiiate on the 3 month notice Im meant to give. There's a pretty high chance I'll get stuck on garden leave - since they won't want me to have coninued access to all their plans etc - so may even have rather more time to pack etc than had originally planned. But just to cover everything - I got my holidays over our move all safely signed off last week - so garden leave or not we're set to go.....
Will try and post again sooner rather than later......