Jenk

No apology necessary Celine.  I agree that some folk need to take a reality check and it really is a shame if Britain is portrayed abroad in such a way.

:"ils viennent en France à la recherche d’une meilleure qualité de vie, loin des violences et du rythme excessif des villes. Pour eux, l’Angleterre a perdu ses repères sociaux et humains au profit des seules valeurs du travail et de la rentabilité' Well, whats's so wrong with this, anyway? I'm moving to France next year and am certainly not an embittered ex pat, but I'd agree with some of these statements, otherwise why would I be moving?  I'll always be English and proud of that, and there are aspects of England that I love. I don't constantly criticise the country that I come from because it's been good to me.  However, I've got the chance to move abroad now - have chosen France because I speak the language, am familiar with the culture and the people and their general attitudes to what's important in life and yes, I think I am seeking a better quality of life ....   France has just as many problems as any country and if I was 20 years younger with a young family and no money and no prospects, I would not be contemplating a move as I would not be naieve enough to think that everything would be idyllic in France.  I agree that England isn't such a bad place to be but still, I don't think (generally) the values are the same now as they were when I was a child and the change is not for the better.

Thanks for all the responses and various opionions. I do like to see a cat living a cat's life and enjoying the outdoors as well as the comforts of home, with easy access through a flap.  I think I'll make some enquiries when I move in, introduce the cats to the neighbours so they know what they look like and then play it by ear

I would be interested to know if cat owners feel they have to keep cats inside at night. Will be moving to a rural spot in Aveyron next March with my two cats.  Somebody has now told me never to let them go out at night as I it's very dangerous for them as there are predators and people around who will shoot cats as they catch the rabbits and spoil the 'chasse.'  I imagine they might think our cats have not been neutered and would therefore roam the fields for miles around.  This is not the case, and I'm sure they would remain within the confines of the garden and outbuildings.  The immediate neighbour does shoot but he would never shoot across the garden and knows how much we love our cats - there are lot's of feral cats around but I don't hear any shooting in the night when I am down there.  One cat is very old and hardly goes out at night anyway - the other one prefers to be in and out at night, but although he is good natured he is very quick, agile and healthy and can look after himself.  Foxes don't go for cats, do fouines attack adult cats?  What other dangers are there other than the dangers at night that occur anywhere.    

Thank you for that suggestion - I think that I may well contact Mme Francoise then.

Many thanks for that information Will.  I would not contemplate starting a chambres d'hotes until my husband arrives.  It will only be a small affair (3 rooms), and given the rural and geographical location of the place, we would not anticipate much business except, hopefully, in the summer months. I don't want to try and cheat the sytem, nor do I want to pay for more than I have to.  Yes, I imagine I should speak to a professional - any suggestions from here? otherwise, I suppose I will have some months to sort myself out in France, where would I get information/advice from? Apologies for asking so many questions.  It is quite hard to be sitting in Hampshire trying to understand a system which is completely new to me.

Thank you very much for your replies and for putting me straight on the procedure. Regarding healthcare, I was aware of the need for the E109 and E121 but  the website is very helpful.  When my husband enters the French State system  with the E121 (he will be 65) then I had understood I would be covered by that too.  Would I need to pay additional cotisations on a chambres d'hotes business? I will need to investigate and perhaps post in the appropriate place.

I would appreciate some help as the information I have read seems to differ and I find it all confusing.  We bought a house in SW France 3 years ago and have been doing it up whilst still being resident in the UK.  Next March I plan to move there permanently and finish things off in preparation for my husband's arrival at the end of Nov 2010.  My husband will be retired then and we plan to run a small 'chambres d'hotes', our main income being from his pension. I am not of pensionable age, although I will receive a small governement pension and intend to live off my savings until my husband comes.   Half the house should be available as a gite next summer season, though I would imagine using it mostly for friends and family and not making much money from it. Do I register myself for tax and other purposes as soon as I arrive in France and do I have to prove I have the means to survive, or do I just wait until my husband arrives and start from there at which point we would hope to be registering a small chambre d'hotes business also. Thanks for any replies