Cerise

What makes you think people want to bicker with you, Miss Twinkle? [:P]

I would second what Will said.  No-one mentioned this forum and we all wish Sunday Driver and his wife a speedy recovery.  SW's comment is unkind and uncalled for.  No-one is obliged to be a member of any forum - playing one off against the other is childish and unpleasant.  And for the record I've said that several times on the other forum too.

I'd like to think so - but you have to set up an association and have qualifications, and and .... .  The equivalent of exemption shows (or whatever they have renamed them) doesn't exist.  I would like to be able to do something like that.  My nearest dog training club is 45 km away.  Nearer a big town it would probably take off.  Not trying to put you off - just that the distances are the killers.  Ringcraft doesn't exist either and I've always thought I'd like to do that here, but the problem is numbers as people would have to travel so far.

You certainly can rent with dogs.  Showing here is no where near the same as UK.  Expensive, no open shows, long long travelling involved and much less competition.  Average Ch show entries about 2000 all breeds instead of the 12000ish we are used to.  The French don't have culture of large dogs as pets so breeding can be problematic in terms of finding decent homes for puppies.  I have given up showing and breeding here but still maintain interest by acting as ring secretary for localish (up to 4 hours drive away!) shows.  You cannot become a confirmation judge unless you are a French national.  Judges are paid and are rarely breeders of the breed in question.  As I say very, very different.  If you want a really good show scene would suggest you look in the north of France as you can easily get to Belgium, Holland and Germany all of whom have excellent shows with good competition. Rather than bore the rest of the forum to death with details of showing, if you want to know more about this aspect please pm me.  If you wish to breed more than the very occasional litter and you have more than 4 dogs you need to have a Certifcate de Capacité from your local veterinary department.

So sorry to hear this and wish them both a complete and swift recovery.  I too hadn't read before as I assumed that it was yet another poster wishing to tap SD's copious knowledge.  We need people like him.

What are your hobbies and will you be able to persue them here?  If you live in deepest rural France it may not be easy, so if you decide to go ahead and if that is important to you then do plenty of research into the area.  If you can only 'manage', then hobbies may be too expensive.  Travelling 40 or 50 km to persue your interest is very difficult in these times of high fuel prices especially if you are on a limited income. I agree with John about 'manage'.  So many people seem to say that they just 'get by'.  Fine, if that is OK for them but I personally want a bit more out of life than 'get by'.  Clothes, books, holidays spring to mind.  Yes people will tell you that their French neighbours live without those things, but they have never perhaps had those luxuries so don't miss them.  I do and  I don't enjoy scrimping and saving. If you have the possibility of working part time in UK why not do that for a while and come to France for maybe a month at a time (you can rent holiday homes quite cheaply out of season) to see if the area provides the things you will need to make your life happier.  Could you also perhaps downsize in UK to get rid of the mortgage?    

Chateau Bouscaillous in Noailles sent me a flyer today saying they are having an open day on June 1st.  It's a small place so that could be the one mentioned above. We like Chateau Bourget near Vindrac, Domaine Labarthe and Mas D'Aurel.  

In this area the unregistered and uncaring seem to outnumber the poor saps like us who are legal.  We have some folk down the road from us - been here for 8 years, work on the black use European Health Cards (even for very serious illness - saying they lived half of year with sister in UK).  No one seems to care and their standard of living seems higher than ours - we can't afford a nice new quad bike ot the big flat screen TV.  They aren't the only ones.  My husband has twice had 'job offers' on the black for twice what he is earning legally.  Sometimes I think we are the fools.  For all people tell me of the alleged terrible sanctions I've yet to see anything happen.  The authorities do know - even the maire said to me the other day 'Tu sais de qui je parle, ces anglais là qui travaille au noir' - but they don't seem to care. Like sweet17 I cna't get worked up enough to do anything about it and anyway if I did wouldn't I be obliged to shop all my French neighbours who work on the black too???

The secret is to ask your UK company to give you a letter expressing your NCB in percentage not years.  Worked for me anyway.

Opas - if you actually know your local insurance person, try ringing them at home.  I know it is not the sort of thing you would normally do but being locked up is a bit of an emergency!  Our own insurance agent was great help to friends in big emergency (fire) and didn't mind being disturbed on a Sunday - they can usully get hold of the appropriate emergency person.  Good luck - you lust be worried.  

Not sure it has changed much Jill.  Most of our French friends and clients are panicked even by having aperos in the sitting room instead of at the table.  Eating anything whilst not at the table seems to be alien.  We prefer to have our coffee away from the dirty dishes too - but have to explain that moving doesn't mean we want them to go home!  Even when out walking they prefer to find a picnic table rather than sitting on a wall or perching on a fallen tree as I often do.  I find the french habit of picnicking in laybys with traffic rushing by too weird for words - but each to their own!

Can't agree John.  I don't want dead people on the spiked railings in front of my house whether  they are legitimate or black workers.  Neither add anything to the decoration and I think it would put me off living there!!

I wish they would be about more.  My husband often works on sites which are positively dangerous.  If he says anything he is mocked for being 'anglais' and a softie.  I had personal row with artisans who wished to go on my roof (4 floors high) without safety equipment.  When I refused to allow it they became very sulky. I don't care if it is at their own risk I don't want them falling off when I'm in residence - death is not an attractive option!

Hi Helen If you really want to move to France then seize any possible employment opportunity.  If your present company will employ you then I would do that until you get the rest of life sorted out.  For anything else think diploma, diploma, diploma.  The French are super keen on qualifications so for teaching anything you need to make sure you have the right qualifications - try to find out about the things you might want to do before you come and see what qualifications are needed and whether there is a Britich equivalent (not all UK qualifications are recognised).  Try to get a French CV sorted out.  Moving about is not considered 'flexible' as in the UK but often 'unstable' so if you have had a lot of jobs you might want to 'lose' a few.  This is not being negative.  We have been here for 6 years and the biggest disappointment for me has been the inflexibility for working.  I could not imagine being unemployed in UK (and I've moved house, region and career several times) - I'd say that in UK if you want to work you can.  That is just not so here and I know several very well qualified French folk who have been searching for jobs for ages.  Aged 47 on arrival, companies wouldn't even take my CV as I'm too old, live too far away etc etc.  There is also a peculiar mindset which says that if someone highly qualified takes a lowly job they are damaging their future prospects. I sincerely wish you well, but would advise anyone with a family to support to think employment prospects first and other aspects second.  I've seen several families run out of money and it doesn't look much fun! 

I think it would be difficult for your husband to work unless you worked together.  Architects have to deal with issues like planning and all the relevant bodies speak French.  It is not impossible, but difficult for even those who are fluent in French to find work unless you are in a big city - which may not fit in with your ideas of a more relaxed life style.  My advice would be to allow enough money to live on for at least 2 years to get settled and to realise that you are likely to have a much lower standard of living for some time.  French wages are generally lower than comparable UK ones and expenses are about the same. Setting up anything here is quite complicated and it can be very frustrating not being able to get employment.  If you would not want to be a cleaner or factory worker in UK then you are unlikely to want to do so in France once the novelty has worn off.  I know 2 English architects who have set up in France but they both had excellent French on arrival.  Could your husband work on his French for a while before you make the plunge.  I think it would make your lives easier.  

Limoges - Brive Brive - Caussade on N20,  Caussade - St Antonin - Albi - St Affrique - Montpelier - Avignon.  No mention of GFigec and very pretty. Can see the viaduct at Millau or vosit the Roquefort caves on the way.

Nothing wrong with them - they are wonderful - BUT they are large (30 kg males) very, very, energetic breed who were designed to run 25 miles a day behind a coach.  They don't, therefore, make an ideal pet for those who are out at work all day.  They are super intelligent and so get up to mischief if bored and they drop white hair everywhere all of the time.  They are also the cutest puppies so many people fall for them without taking their physcial needs - lots of space, time and exercise - into consideration.  When the cute 5kg puppy turns into a  28kg hooligan at adolescence because no-one has bothered to train him, then he finds himself unloved and unwanted.  I've worked for Dalmatian Welfare for 30 years - believe me it is very sad.

Hello Rebekah I reckon at this stage of the game you need to worry more about getting the place ready rather than towels!  Your plumber should be able to give you an enormous pile of bathroom catalogues in prices from reasonable to eye watering to find your bathroom suites.  It makes sense to use a proper plumber with a guarantee as when one of the showers leaks in mid-season you want it fixed pronto.  Towels in B & Bs need replacing frequently as, however good the quality, frequent washing and being used for such delights as makeup removing and shoecleaning take their toll.  Upmarket guests can have just as bad manners as downmarket ones!Realistically you can find hundreds of suppliers on the net, plenty of catalogues (La Redoute, 3 Suisses etc) do promotions and probably your local linens shop will do you a deal on a bulk order.

Unless you have several homes lined up already PLEASE, PLEASE think hard about having a litter from your dalmatian.  They often have up to 14 puppies and are very difficult to sell in France.  There are many dalmatians already in welfare and if you want to see what happens to some of them look on the French dalmatian forums.  I'm sorry if I sound preachy but as a lifelong dalmatian owner and former breeder (I don't breed in France precisely for the reason that I couldn't find enought homes) I've seen what happens to these poor dogs when they are not in the right hands.  I'm sure you are a kind and caring owner and if you really feel you want to go ahead please make sure the potential mum and dad are BAER tested (PEA in France) for deafness and that the puppies are tested too.  If you want any info on testing centres feel free to pm. I know it is none of my business but having rescued one of my dalis from this forum (ask Mme Animal about Trevor - that's him in my avatar) and being actively involved in the breed I feel I have to say something as I've seen quite a few people get into a real mess when they can't sell their puppies - and I can only look sadly on at most of the unwanted ones.

They may simply have gone visiting.  Just sent directions to a friend who is visiting us for 2 nights next week whilst she is renting a gite for 10 days near Beziers - better tell her to tell the owner she is going away.  If I wanted to go off for a couple of days in my holiday (with just an overnight bag) I wouldn't necessarily think to let the gite owner know.  Being English I probably would if I saw them, but I do find our French guests much more private.  English guests always tell me where they have been for the day, French ones often don't and sometimes go to their rooms without speaking.  Not rude - just private.  Have you got their car number? If they don't turn up by tomorrow evening you could call the police to check if they have been involved in an accident.  They'll probably come back, perfectly Ok for them to pay for a gite they are not in if they want to.

I can see the headlines in the Depeche now "Welsh wonderwoman terrifies innocent drug crazed lunatic"[6] Hope you and your daughter are both Ok and the criminals of the Tarn consider themselves duly warned!  

Local taxes vary literally from commune to commune.  The budget is set by the maire and conseil municipal.  This can be extraordinarily unfair.  Our village is in effect 2 villages - one on each side of the river, which are in different departments but which share many of the same facilities.  Taxes on 'the other side' are less than a third of that in our commune.  We pay 1600€ a year and friends with BIGGER house and much more land in other commune pay but 450€.  Our commune runs all the facilities, school etc, the other doesn't have one but benefits from ours.  Never chose a house believing you will pay low taxes on the basis that someone else in your area does.

Alternatively take the said payslip into Tax Office and ask them.  They are normally very helpful.

Yes everyone has that much hassle.  But if you want a good excuse and reason why you want cash tell them cross border transactions (paying for your holiday in Spain or something similar).  Fail to see why we should pay for cheques drawn in euros to another euro country.  Shuts them up every time.

Our lot assume that I understand everything.  The French isn't a problem but all the acronyms and the system are.  Many of the systems seem labyrinthine to me with so many layers of responsibility 'Communauté de communes', 'Pays', 'Région'  'Departement' and conseils for this, that and the other.  Sometimes you have to ask so many people's input that it surprising anything gets done at all.  The other élus are a friendly bunch and there are 2 young French folk who seem to need even more explanations than me, plus one old chap who wouldn't be out of place in Dibley!  I guess it will all fall into place one of these days.