Dave

Hello, I am planning a cycling holiday of the Nantes to Brest canal path. Can anyone please tell me if there's a train service from Roscoff to Nantes on which I'll be able to take a bicycle? Thanks.

Thanks, but can anyone recommend an English company (my French is not that good!!)

Hi, following an advert in Living France we currently have our house in Mayenne insured with Hiscox, but have just been informed that they are no longer insuring French properties unless they are also insuring the main UK home, and as we live in a tied property that is not possible. Can anyone please recommend a good insurance company for our French property? Thanks, Dave.

Has anyone had problems accessing the Moneybookers site recently? My browser will not open the site, and I need urgently to transfer some funds. Is it just my PC playing up? Thanks.

   I was (still am!) hoping to book a trip to France in late November but unfortunately the Winter timetable won't be released for another month. Speaking from experience, can anyone advise me how different the Roscoff & Caen winter timetables are likely to be? Thanks, Dave.

Greetings, We have a holiday home in Champgeneteux nr Bais, and I travel down when possible on the CB750. Hope to meet up this year sometime. Happy New Year! Dave.

Many thanks for your help, guys.

No - I had no idea. Can you (or anyone else) explain more? Thanks.

Hi Bob, came across a posting from you with a picture from your microlight. I used to fly weightshift microlight until about 5 years ago when we bought our holiday cottage in Mayenne (then something had to go!). I'm keen to start flying again - what is the microlight scene like in France (esp Mayenne, if you know)? I'd have to renew my licence, should I do that in France or here? Best wishes, Dave

My wife and I live in the Isle of Man, but have a house in Mayenne which we visit as often as possible, and hope to spend much more time there when we retire. Our problem is that as the IOM is not part of the UK or the EU we have been told that we are not eligible for reciprocal health care in France as we would be if we lived in England (where we were both born). Is this correct, and apart from comprehensive health insurance, is there any way in which we can protect our health needs when visiting our holiday home? Thanks.

We have recently travelled to and from France with LD lines taking our boxer dog, and had no problems at all. On the return trip we arrived at le Havre and were taken straight through and onto the boat. Both crossings were full. It will be interesting to see how (or if) BF responds to the competition from LD. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did ours. Dave.

On the sale of a house in France, how much of the expenditure on renovation can be set against Capital Gains Tax (we unfortunately have an incomplete record of receipts), and how is the assessment of tax affected by the time that the property has been owned? Thanks. Dave.

We have owned a property in Mayenne for a couple of years and have been shocked by the electricity bills we've received for the few weeks that we are there. Having read the article in LF March it seems almost certain that we'll be better off switching from the "option heures pleines/creuses" to "option tempo". Are there any drawbacks to such a switch? Thanks.

Are BF trying to price themselves out of the market, or are they having a laugh at us? I've just looked for some prices for next August. BF are quoting £650, or £470 with owners club membership, whilst speedferries are quoting £50 & Eurotunnel £98! Boulogne or Calais may be less convenient than Caen, but £400+ buys a lot of inconvenience!! Dave

We'll be visiting our house near Villaines la Juhel in Mayenne 1st week in December & would like to know if there are any Christmas markets or fairs in the area during that time. Can anyone inform me, please? Thanks, Dave

I have been told that it is necessary to carry driving documents (licence, insurance, log book) at all times when driving - even when popping out to the shops, but is it not sufficient to have them available to produce them at your local gendarmerie? I drive a m/cycle & they're going to get very crumpled if I do have to carry them!

Does anyone please have a recipe for snail pate?

Can anyone please give any other venues for religious retreats in France (preferably near Mayenne where we have a house) other than the one quoted on page 16?