Whether you just finished church, decided to go for a jog or just want to sleep in, no Sunday morning is complete without the perfect brunch. Some people prefer to prepare their food at home, or go on a picnic. But for those of you who prefer the luxury of a well-made café brunch (and who happen to find yourselves in Johannesburg, South Africa), there is definitely a nice spot catering just for you. In fact, this café is so nice that it has been named Nice.

This café is situated on the bustling 4th Avenue, Parkhurst. It is in the middle of a delightfully leafy suburb which has its own library, gymnastics hall, surrounding schools and rows of boutique stores and unique restaurants. Nothing short of a scene perfect for an episode of Desperate Housewives.

Then, of course, you have those who are not part of the neighborhood but who are familiar with this restaurant; those who come here religiously to be part of the area’s lifestyle and aura, even if just for a while. The only downside to this area is parking. As any popular site for shopping and dining, parking is essential. And, sadly, the cafes, restaurants and shops of Parkhurst have not yet found a solution to the rather demanding influx of cars competing for a very limited amount of parking spots.

Nice offers a range of traditional breakfasts and lunches, presented in a rather delightful way. Its crumpets are an old favorite. The menu features a platter of ‘minis’: a range of small portions of the cakes and pastries on display, for those who just cannot decide which item seems more tempting. Its egg baskets are a must-have for breakfasts and brunches.

The salmon egg basket, for example, features two ‘toast baskets’ – slices of toast shaped into baskets or what looks like flowers. These baskets are then filled with creamy scrambled eggs and salmon, and topped with roasted cherry tomatoes and cream cheese. Add to this a cup of tea, served in huge alice-in-wonderland-looking teapots, and your brunch is complete.

For those who feel a little sleepy after finishing a rather satisfying Sunday brunch, it might be worth your while to wander over to the bookstore next door. Inside, the smell of old books and wood mingles with the next door smell of breakfast being made and coffee being roasted. It’s easy to lose yourself for a couple of hours amongst these books, forgetting about time (or even era) while enjoying mental and sensual pleasure.

And, of course, for those who need to walk off a Nice brunch treat, a walk through the streets and suburbs is always rewarding. The boutique stores are unique and interesting, and can satisfy even the most restless Sunday morning minds. The blue skies, leafy suburbs and peaceful surroundings are enough to put the stresses of the workweek and bustling lifestyle aside for a while.

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Slowly, but surely, the tide has been turning in favor of sterling over the past few months, with the euro now significantly weaker against the pound than it has been for many months. In fact, the last time sterling was at its current level of approximately EUR1.20 to the pound was in the summer of 2010 and, before that, in December 2008.

While the UK economy is not yet showing any significant signs of recovery, it seems the weakness which has affected sterling may finally have bottomed out, with currency markets now punishing the euro, which has weakened against both sterling and the U.S. dollar.

For the UK buyer who has been searching for a new home in France, this is significant. The effect of the exchange rate changes over the past few months has been to effectively reduce property prices by around 10 percent, according to Offshoreonline.org. Add to this the aggressive pricing by developers in areas of the Cote D’Azur, such as Nice and Cannes, and the scene is set for UK buyers to at last be able to take advantage of what has been one of France’s stronger property sectors.

Exchange rate movements are important for buyers from the UK. Put simply, around six months ago, one pound sterling would have bought EUR1.10, but now for the same pound sterling, the UK buyer can expect to receive over EUR1.20. The net effect is to make any purchase of euros around 10 percent cheaper, saving GBP 20,000 on a GBP 200,000 house purchase, for example.

Buyers looking at high end new launches, such as Parc Eugenie in Cannes, should immediately see an enhancement to any rental returns, as with lower upfront purchase cost, the real yield they can expect will rise accordingly.

Commenting on the improved outlook for UK buyers in France, Offshoreonline.org managing director, Tim Harvey, said, “Exchange rates are a vital part of the mix for most UK buyers operating in France, but now it seems the tide may be moving slowly in favor of the UK buyer, with the weakening euro opening up some very attractive options for UK buyers.

With mortgage rates available from 3.45 percent, we have noticed a slow, but steady, increase in enquiries since before Christmas which has continued into the New Year.”

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