maude

further to my query some weeks ago about a medical examination every 2 years for the over 60,s.I have sorted this out at my local sous prefecture.Yes I do have to have one,cost 24euros (currently, with no reimbursement) to be arranged by myself with the 3 doctors acceptable in our town.One of them is my own doctor anyway.This is required every 2 years to enable me to continue towing our caravan.Not a great big thing,just1150 kilos laiden max. Now the thing that puzzles as usual,is that on a very recent caravan holiday and chatting to the few French on holiday at this time-usually self restricted to August.I did show them my driving license (French) and mentioned the medical exam limitation.No one had ever heard or been informed of this and none of the French had this 60 years medical limitaion on their licenses,which realyy worried them!!!Is this new,or is it for the Brits only.Just curious-not worried by the medical-honest!!!!Maude

Registered my 1992 Lunar last year,after some considerable headaches caused mainly by lack of info obtainable from the makers .they dont want to know.Basically you will have to obtain from the individual makers,i.e Alko or Knott or a.n.other the engineering specifications of the axle,the brakes,and then the chassis.DRIRE will also want tow head specifications-look for numbers stamped on the head.I also had to have the gas system "tested",and the electrics "tested".Cost 180euros for 5 minutes by the inspector which I had to arrange myself.Quite painless really apart from the hassle.I finally then had to take the ,van to Drire for their inspection-10 minutes max.Eventually after 8 months got the Carte Gris.Gentle persistance coupled with extreme politeness helps the flow!Prepare for some frustration.THEY ARE STILL BETTER THAN A FRENCH CARAVAN.Good luck---Maude

I have a loose (shallow) gravel parking area which does not like our caravan to move very easily on it where we have to manoevre it to hitch up.Has anyone any cheap ideas to allow us to "bind" the loose surface so we dont run the risk of rupture?I dont want a sqeaky voice before we go away in the ,van.I understand it may be possible to add sharp sand and or grit.Any suggestions short of asphalt/concrete?Maude

I notice in my exchanged French  driving license,a restriction until 04/006 under the caravan towing part.I understand that for the over 60,s a two yearly medical is required.Can someone please throw some light on this re,who does the medical,what does it consist of,do we get reminders from the prefecture etc.Seems a load of cobblers to me -but hey ho we must conform.My new licens also shows me licensed to drive HGV,s which I have never been allowed before!No time limit on this.Alors what confusion they love to instigate.Any help/advice apreciated.Maude

We have had the problem,but only in the garage-auvent de caravane  fini!!!!we had immediate success with the pink envelopes which smell of almonds,bought in a sealed tin from Mr.Bricolage.The mice dont seem to move more than a few inches and -legs in the air!No smell either from rotting carcasses.Mothballs also seems to repel the varmints.Maude

i understand that,after reading the recent article in French News,and checking the restrictions in my French driving license,that if over 60,medicals every 2 years are required to continue the caravan towing category.Does anyone know what the medical consists of and does one visit the usual doctor medecin?How does one get the cert. and is it then presented to the prefecture?Alors! Cannot lose the towing ability-need to travel much more of France etc whilst able!!!!!Any help much apreciated-Maude

I too have had the same response from the southern Depot d,Impot,and would really apreciate the earlier response regarding the translated guide.Perhaps the forum admin could kindly follow this one up.Thanks for all responses-maude

I also came to an average of 1.41 euros to the £.Actually taken over the 2004 rates I got from my uk bank.Maude

Hi folks,does anyone know of an English transated French tax form 2042 that can be downloaded.Just to try and make sure I do not too many problems for myself or the depot D,Impot!!!!

Is it me,why is the delightfull countryside in France,and towns,plagued by mindless graffitti?No where seems to be safe from isolated farm building to car parks and town houses from this blight!Is it due to absolute boredom of the youngers,and how with the price of paint in France can they manage to perpetuate this terrible spoil of a beautifull country.Perhaps if the older generation of French openned their shutters before june,july,and august,they may spot this crime and do something about it!What a pity!!!                        Despairing Maude

Any member like to share experiences in using/installing woodburners with integral heat exchanger,for central heating supply to 3 radiators.Trying to formulate an action plan in view of the v.cold winters in the past 3 years.I have a chimney stack not in use.If Iwish to install oil fired heating,due to house layout  will have to construct an external flue and install the boiler in an attached garden store.Woodburner would be easier.Thanks for any info,Maude

Any member like to share experiences in using/installing woodburners with integral heat exchanger,for central heating supply to 3 radiators.Trying to formulate an action plan in view of the v.cold winters in the past 3 years.I have a chimney stack not in use.If Iwish to install oil fired heating,due to house layout  will have to construct an external flue and install the boiler in an attached garden store.Woosburner would be easier.Thanks for any info,Maude

As the locals say-Mais wee!!!!  Our next door neighbours(S.E Vendeean) have regular visitors i.e another early old aged couple.After the initial greeting and the multiple cheek kissing,the old man is accompanied to the garage where he promptly pee-pees.After the round of moules,mojettes etc,on leaving the same custom is adhered to,before they drive off.Must be one hell of good friend saving them from the water metered w.c supply!!!!!!        Maude

I also cannot obtain this.The local Supermarkets sell standard French size mountboard,already with the windows cut out.However the inner windows are the same sizes of the watercolour pad,so about as much use as a candfloss door knocker!I have tried the google search - no luck.Soi if anyone does know,please post us a reply.Thanks in anticipation Maude

The safety would be improved immensley by simple actions-1)stop  the French from tailgateing.Especially when it is safe to overtake if desired.Stop the French from then overtaking on blindhills,junctions and villages,after tailgateing for miles.    2) install either cats eyes or even the occasional centre white line.     3) Try and teach the French to stay on their side of the road.  Other than these it would be much safer and even more pleasurable.      Maude

[quote]We are thinking of finally making the move to France and taking early retirement(59+55). I (55) currently get free prescriptions in the UK as I have to take thyroid tablets forever. Does anyone know...[/quote] Sorry but no such thing in France for hypothyroidism,and youwill have to pay,at about1.5 euros per monthly prescription,plus the 20euros per consultation to the doc.every 2 months(13 back aprox if in French system)You will also have much more frequent blood tests which have to be paid for with again a 60% reimbursment,than in UK.There is no exemption for this,unless someone knows better hopefully.My wifes prescription seems to vary after every blood test.Best wishes-Maude

Can someone kindly give me the French/uk clothing size comparisons as we cant find it anywhere in our literary bumpf! Many thanks to the respndents!Maude  

Yes but this will not load onto the computer if not on Windows 2000 or better.I tried for weeks,before I re- read the requirements,after buying head set and registering 25 euros credit.Now I dont seem able to get a refund-always busy!Dum dum that I am!Maude

with the new French system of registering with a GP,does this mean a personal doctor or the practice/cabinet?What happens if the registered doctor is on a day off or holiday,or if one doctor in the practise is more sympatheic for personal problems,i.e. problems of an intimate nature where possibly a lady doctor would be preferable for the lady patients.Sounds like yet more admin-lets hope it doesnt deteriorate into another pecking order of practise managers,and receptionist "bouncers" as we had in our last UK practise.We could only make appointments within the week ahead-if there was a vacant slot.If no slot for the coming 7days,we had to run the gauntlet of phoning again the next day and so on until a slot was available.This obviously jammed the switchboard but no one noticed this -but the story goes on and on.C,est la vie-back to the red!Maude

We agree after 2 years here in the Vendee with the previous comments.We bought this house in good condition,commpared to what we had been shown,especially by the anglified web based agents.However after selling up in the uk in the north,we had very little capital left over.Renovation is certainly not cheap as the time and distance sourcing materials add to the costs somewhat and delivery is also expensive.We also find the water charges higher than uk,and electricity due to their charging structure.Humidity can also be another drawback,which we never had east of the Pennines.A basic knowledge of French vocab from schooldays (long time ago) plus a little effort has enabled us to get everything we need including dealing with the French health system and re-registering of vehicles and a caravan - that took a whole year of dogged perseverance . We do find a whole different attitude is necessary as the wheels sometimes turn slower but efficiently, I say this but still get very frustrated at times.  We have friends who are taking quite intensive language lessons at a price but are still not fluent, having the skill to speak socially to the French bearing in mind the culturel differences and humour will take anyone a long time, but we have always been dealt with politely and with a great deal of patience generally speaking. Having just had our 3rd Christmas with no hassle and appalling traffic to spoil it I must say there are many compensations.  We are living on a modest pension and must conserve savings which have also been eroded for whatever may happen in the future.  Hope you make a success if you do it but would not advise anyone to do what we did and sell up first without coming over here and getting real - come in the winter, spend time, France closes down in  September, if your wife loves shopping  forget rural France, be near a city or she will be heading back to M & S . Good luck-Maude 

My current model of 6years old.Windows 98 is now on the way to the great processor in the sky!Is it best to buy uk side(they seem to be cheaper) or a French one.Will the French bought Windows XP be easy to use and understand,or will the language setting cope with the change fro Frrancais to Anglais?Any tips would help.Visiting uk April so no panic-yet.need ,puter for contact with family in Singapore. Thanks for any tips, Maude.

Since the last 2 years of living in w.France i.e s.e Vendee,we have both started to suffer from arthritis and joint aches.Is this just advancing years-we are just 60,or is it the moist climate.We notice that this must be one of  the highest sales areas of absorbers,and refills plus also the sales of anti moississure treatments are astronomic.We did used to live in the Eastern side of the U.K. Pennines,where the climate was drier.Anyone else having the same problems?Would be interesting to know!Many thanks-Maude.  

[quote]What a shock yesterday. At long last saw our opthalmo and duly got a new and necessary prescription. Found a new pair of specs at the opticians immediately which was amazing really and I was feeling r...[/quote] Sacre Bleu,mais oui etc!!!! Just had a quote of 215euros PER lense for varifocal lenses,of equal strength.At this rate it will be cheaper to pay for a ferry and visit uk,than buy local,especially as we have had to wait 8 months for an eye test.Will try and get more quotes,from independents who have lower overheads,but am not optimistic.Ive heard they are cheaper in India,does anyone know the ferry timetable?         ooh la la--Maude

Not too hopefull hereabouts.A close neighbour keeps a goat and 3 sheep together.The goat has alarge wooden triangle of 2x1/2 around its neck,a collar,attached to the collar is a piece of chain and in tow with it a log 3" diam and 24" long.No locals seem to show any concern,only amusement.A French aquaintence has phoned twice the Eqivalent,but as they are very thin on the ground so to speak,no action has been followes up.The goat has been like this for 18 months!Cannot possibly intervene ourselves,as the offending neighbour(on a smallholding) has a son in mid teens, who just happenned to have intruded into our house on two occasions past,gendarmerie involved,but no conclusive proof except my wife,s quick visual.She was in bed at the time,I was out early morning,using my wifes car hence the **** thought no one was in! Cannot run the risk of another 100 years war by intervening personally!!But his CARD is MARKED.  Dennis  

[quote]La Villecharault (86) Are we the only LF's in the Vienne? Paul http://www.unique-crafts-from-france.com/[/quote] Puy De Serre 85,since sept 2002.Still settling!!!! Maude and wife!: