Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz make noisy, colourful and confusing arrival in France

Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz have made their entrance into France’s rural heartland as noisy, colourful and confusing as possible. For a couple wanting to escape the limelight, they are surprisingly vocal about their intentions. Where have we heard that before?

Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz depart Brisbane for France. Picture: Backgrid / news.com.au

Christmas at the French estate of Brittany Higgins and David ­Sharaz will involve an upheaval of sorts, as the couple attempt to ­“restart” their lives in near isolation in this rural idyll.

But for a couple fleeing scrutiny and the public eye at home, they have made their entrance into France’s rural heartland as noisy, colourful and confusing as possible.

Wearing matching outfits, ­paparazzi ready at the airport, dotting their journey out with social media. This escape plan is very Sussex-like indeed.

Brittany Higgins and David ­Sharaz’s escape plan is very Sussex-like indeed. Picture: Getty

And the biggest question of all – why leave Australia in the peak week of family?

No wonder Ms Higgins was clutching her beloved cavoodle Kingston to her chest, hardly daring to breathe between big smiles on Thursday when she picked him and cat Clover up from the quarantine facility in Bordeaux.

For a couple wanting to escape the limelight, they are surprisingly vocal about their intentions. Where have we heard that before?

And who would have known they were Paris-bound on Monday except for a carefully curated farewell posted on social media?

Then, knowing the departure time and destination, paparazzi were at Charles de Gaulle Airport to greet the couple, who were once again sending a message having changed into matching black ­outfits.

The performative disconnect is more than black and white.

Mr Sharaz had slipped that their new residence, La Forge, was in Lunas in a Facebook post when he advertised for a gardener for the vast grounds some weeks ago.

The 30-year-old former journalist revealed the reason he and his 29-year-old fiancee had moved to Lunas was to escape the spotlight of nearly five years of intense pressure and use the anonymity in the Dordogne region to find some calm in their lives.

He said they decided on France as it was close to some of his relatives in England. He said moving to Lunas was a chance to be close to them and to start afresh after “being through the mill”.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz arrive in Paris in matching black outfits. Picture: KCS Presse/MEGA

There are two Lunas towns in France, one in the Pyrenees and one in the Dordogyne region, and early reporting out of Australia blended the two together in a Google-driven mishmash, creating yet more craziness about the move. The scrutiny on the couple’s movements and spending comes because the timing of their departure clashes with big question marks about Ms Higgin’s $2.445m government compensation payout.

It is unclear if they purchased the centuries-old La Forge, complete with lake and pool, from some of those taxpayer funds, or are leasing it.

Ms Higgins said this week about Lunas’ sleepy calm: “It’s what we’ve been aiming for – a fresh start, a new life in France after leaving Australia behind.”

Their first task is to learn French and also “learning to mow” the grounds.

Mr Sharaz will find plenty of landcare advice from Lunas’ 400 farmers who are intrigued by their new neighbours. Some thought they were English, some thought they were 10 years older, and some couldn’t fathom why a young, ­energetic couple wanted a “retirement” life in a big statement house.

Again, the choice of their haven is curious. While the house is utterly charming and Lunas is immaculate, the small town means every neighbour knows everyone’s business. But then again, the French don’t need to gossip over the back fences, they only need to look at Instagram.