BillN_33

[quote user="Quillan"] p.s. If what one reads is correct I think I would now work on parity for the next year or two and anything over that will pay for the beers [;-)] [/quote] What you read is never correct!

After last weeks advance.........get ready for it to slip back during the next few days as the "speculators" take profits

[quote user="BillN_33"]The way it has fallen http://www.fxware.com/forex-currency/fx_chart.asp?f=GBP&t=EUR&d=p&l=en "not a pretty sight" for many Is it time to buy Sterling? [/quote]

I have sympathy with your sentiment and that is one of the reasons that we have finally moved, (and will become resident), in France, (even with such a weak £). It is very difficult to blame one man - but Mr Brown may turn out to be judged to be the worse PM in living memory, not only for what he and Mr Blair have done but also for what they have not done especially as politicians from the left of the political spectrum.

We are taking about the value of the £ in this thread, if we have such a “good” manufacturing base why has the £ fallen by so much? As has been mentioned, one of the measures that maybe should be considered is the comparisons between the UK and our main EC partners in terms of manufacturing and other industries. I would image that the % of financial service organisations in the UK versus other industries is far greater than say, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The UK financial services sector was praised by Mr Brown for its "sterling" performance a few years ago and then look at what happened...........their performance has been the cause of the recent demise of sterling and maybe, in the past, their performance helped sterling to be stronger. I have been around for some time and worked in "manufacturing industries" from the mid 60s to the mid 80s when their presence was felt in the UK economy, today service industries dominate and "The City" is a unique British institution that the rest of our European neighbours do not have the “luxury” of. My views are that the UK population in general has now a complete lack of confidence in Banks, the financial service sector and our MPs.  They do not trust "The City" at all and Banks are now considered to be risky. There are no incentives to save, (although people will), for small investors to invest, or foreign institutions to trust a Government that now "talks" down it's currency on a daily basis. Confidence in sterling is questionable? The one saving grace is that the BOE and the Government wish to see the £ devalue further BUT judging by their past performance they will not succeed and the market, at the end of the day, will decide what sterling is worth. The sterling currency market has become another " roulette wheel" for the City and their "friends" to spin and this Government will stand by and watch it happen.............but it may not keep going down and any sensible £/Euro investor must now be thinking about "spreading his risk" and buying sterling, (if it is felt that the cancer of certain parts of “The City” has been brought under control). Good work buy our "manufacturing" industries can be quickly destroyed by short term speculation, (currency and other), by our "praised" financial services sector that is neither controlled nor disapproved of by this Government, (or, IMHO, will be by any future Government). But, in my view, the £ is worth more than 1:1 versus the Euro (I do not know why I keep getting all this "mumbo jumbo", (it that expression politically correct these days), at the top of the page

As far as our "manufacturing" industry goes - whatever that is - our "import" costs must be soaring We have always relied on "invisibles" to reduce our visible trade deficit I cannot see that having the £ any weaker will help anything .........but I have never really agreed with the logic or policies of Mr Brown. IMHO - This UK Government has gone the way of the US - i.e. if it needs to spend money it will just print more - this is just dishonest.......... the US get away with it as they own "the World Bank" and their currency is in demand throughout the world...............and they seem to have been able to run huge annual deficits because of this.

Just my simple views:   I have never been a great supporter of the £ as, in my view, it has always been an untrustworthy currency, (a strange word to use – but my feelings).  I have been around since the early 60s and have seen it’s extreme ups and downs.   I would not think that the UK will swop the £ for the Euro “anytime soon”, as the US would say, or “anytime ever” as the majority of the UK population would say.   As for the current value of the £ versus the Euro, the UK link to the US is stronger than any other country in the Euro zone……IF the $ ceases to be “the world” currency, (being replaced by the Euro?), and weakens further, maybe the £ will follow, BUT this is really “crystal ball” territory and a very big IF.   To my mind, the questions are; has negative sentiment towards the £ ceased?, has the UK stopped printing money?, has all the UK “bad” news been revealed?………..has the pendulum swung too far against sterling?   The present UK Government has done little recently to support the £, (not sure whether this was intentional or not), in words or deeds, BUT if it gets to parity with the Euro I would think that they will have review their position.  What has happened to sterling versus the Euro, in such a short period of time, has been one of the biggest devaluations in recent UK history, but the Government has shown very little concern……..Surely this cannot continue?

The way it has fallen http://www.fxware.com/forex-currency/fx_chart.asp?f=GBP&t=EUR&d=p&l=en "not a pretty sight" for many Is it time to buy Sterling?

Thanks a Cardno M2 motorcycle trailer - that is expensive compared with the competitive - does it have something special I think that I will try a Phoenix or Trelgo - fixed, not collapsible trailers But BikeLug and MotoLug seems better value than the Cardno although I would not fancy towing a collapsible over more than a couple of hundred kms Cheers

Thanks nomoss - they seem very reasonable for three Bikes plus Cheers

I have read through what I can on this (very good) Forum Can one of you guys confirm or correct my GENERAL assumptions Towing in France To use a Trailer, (Bike or small remorque), in France with a French registered car it has to be under the 500 kgs pay load otherwise you are into carte grise territory Do you need to inform your French insurance company if you tow a trailer of the 500 kgs variety.........? Driving from the UK to France with a UK Registered Car and Trailer All Trailers are OK - nothing special needed? But if you bring an over 500 kg Trailer from the UK and want to use it with a French Registered vehicle you are into carte grise territory, AND,  unless THAT make of Trailer has been imported into France you wont get a CofC so it will NOT be possible to register it in France, (and therefore use it). Do you need to inform your UK Insurance company if you tow a Trailer in the UK and abroad with a UK registered vehicle. Have any of you guys towed Bikes down from the UK - I would tow two.......up to 250 kgs each.....older BMW airheads and maybe a K1 Any advice on Trailers recomendations, (makes), and Towing 1,000 kms and plus..anyone use the collapsible BikeLug or MotoLug type? Cheers

I have 4 Bikes insured on the same policy in the UK, (BMW). They are "airhead" BMWs from 1973 to 1996 I am bringing them to France and will register them here Are there similar Bike policies in France - if so - who, where, help In the UK I pay about £150 fully comp for all 4 - obviously I can only ride one at once - and mileage on each is restricted to about 3,000 miles pa. I expect France to be more expensive as I have a 1985 BMW R80 here at the present time which costs me Euros 160 - Third Party I am an "old git" and have been riding some time with no accidents - I think that it is expensive - but AXA always are Also, for next year, is there a list of classic Bike meets in depts 33, 24 and surrounding Cheers

Thanks patf and Araucaria A H van man - well - I have thought about it but my 2CV is still lurking!

Could you just clarify this with reference to the following example Couple newly Resident in France and registered to pay French Taxes If house in the UK is rented for say £15,000 pa gross 1). We will pay tax in the UK on the net income we receive - gross income less expenses of letting - it will be deducted by the letting agent? 2). At what rate will tax be deducted in the UK - 25%??? 3). If we fill in a UK Tax form WILL WE GET UK personal allowances and be able to claim back any tax "overpaid" 4). This income should be included on our French Tax Return, but we will not pay any additional Income Tax and NO SOCIAL Charges will be payable on this income I thought that the procedure would have been 1). Declare the GROSS Amount on the French Tax form 2). Get a 50% Reduction 3). Be assess to tax effectively on 50% of the GROSS INCOME 4). RECLAIM any Tax paid in the UK 5). Pay French social charges at 12.10% My first posting and will really appreciate confirmation on what the situation will be Cheers