Grand Bois is one of the Peugeot cognoscenti around here - if he'd steering you away from French bikes, disregard his sage advice at your own risk. FWIW, I agree with him - start with a non-French complete bike, or at least a complete frame set.

No good can come from you trying to make the one you have work for you. That path is fraught with peril, and is guaranteed to bite you in the ass many, many times.