[Language requirements for those over 60 seeking nationality]

I'm sure I have seen ALBF & idun going on about this before. You don't want French citizenship - no problem, you don't have to apply. Those who do, they have all sorts of reasons, some of which surely never occurred to you.

Me, although a pacifist who would not go near the armed forces, I'm following in the footsteps of one of my ancestors who acquired French nationality in the 1770s (Louis XIV, shortly before his death brought in a law that foreigners spending 10 years+ in the French army acquired nationality). He had a great career, albeit unsuccessful in the siege of Gibraltar, he played an important role in kicking the English out of Menorca by succeeding with the siege of Mahon and rose to the rank of general. For him, that was nationality #2, for me it will be #3.

[Language requirements for those over 60 seeking nationality]

Yes, we're almost half way through the average wait for SDANF to complete. If I'm not mistaken, congratulations are due on your new status, finally!

[Language requirements for those over 60 seeking nationality]

Yes, my interview lasted almost 1.5 hours and I was talking for about 2/3 of that time. Not convinced that B1 level would have cut it.

There was a décret that crept out at the very end of last year : Décret n° 2019-1507 du 30 décembre 2019 publié au JORF n°0303 du 31 décembre 2019. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000039696962&fastPos=1&fastReqId=1725525361&categorieLien=id&oldAction=rechTexte

Relevant quotes:

(1) rehaussement du niveau de langue exigé pour les personnes souhaitant acquérir la nationalité française par naturalisation ...

(2) le décret entre en vigueur au 1er janvier 2020, à l'exception des dispositions relatives au rehaussement du niveau de langue, qui entrent en vigueur au 1er avril 2020.

(3) Il modifie les articles 14 et 37 du décret du 30 décembre 1993, afin de rehausser, au niveau B1 tant oral qu'écrit, le niveau de langue exigé des personnes souhaitant acquérir la nationalité française par naturalisation, ... Il supprime également les dispenses autres que celles prévues par la loi (...) pour ne laisser subsister qu'une seule dispense pour les personnes dont l'état de santé déficient chronique ou le handicap rend toute évaluation linguistique impossible. Cette incompatibilité sera constatée par un certificat médical.

So it seems that (from 1 April 2020) 'il supprime' la 'dispense' for those 'âgées d'au moins soixante ans'.

[Changes to the collection of social charges on foreign earned income and pensions]

No, the system didn't give me any figure for tax payable - probably didn't want to frighten me (by my reckoning, all the changes combined will, in our case, result in a tax bill of more than the total of my pension next year!). I forget the excuse - something along the lines of 'because of the particular nature of your return, we can't immediately do a tax calc).

The 'Resumé' does, though have a large number adjacent to a line that starts 8TV (immediately above that for 8TL).

Also, I remember that last year, when the system did tell me what the tax bill would be, it did not include anything for CSG - that only turned up later on the Avis for Prélèvements Sociaux (about a week after the Avis for Taxe d'Hab.and a couple of days before the Avis for the delightfully named "cotisation foncière des entreprises, taxe pour frais de chambres de commerce et d'industrie, taxe pour frais de chambres de métiers et de l'artisanat et imposition forfaitaire sur les entreprises de réseaux' which seems to cover most things!).

The combination of the 'extra' 6.6%, plus going into a higher tax band (thanks to the French health service, I am now working full time again), means that the next time I do a comparative of what it costs us to live here and what it would be in the UK, it may show a large enough difference to make us think ...

[Tax declaration online]

Greyman is correct. The letter, with the télédéclarant number in a blue outline box top left (some of which have been discarded - I trust they went in the yellow sac!), says:

L'an dernier, vous avez déclaré vos revenus en ligne. Comme plus d'un million d'usagers, vous avez également choisi de ne plus recevoir l'exemplaire papier de votre déclaration ...

... vous trouverez dans le cadre en haut à gauche de ce courrier vos identifiants: CONSERVEZ-LES PRECIEUSEMENT. [my emphasis :-)]

[Changes to the collection of social charges on foreign earned income and pensions]

Wasn't that fun... NOT! I think we will be filling a large chunk of the deficit this year

If you want to, you can find the dreaded box (8TV) on the SECOND 'Divers' page - you tick the box at the bottom of the 'Divers' page (just below the box 8UU for foreign bank accounts). Then up pops the new page. Not so simple!

I had to go back and correct my return, having submitted it earlier in the afternoon, after I read the proper 2041GG notice (I had somehow downloaded an old version of 2041GG).

Just log in again to the impôts site and you can make changes and re-submit (as I just did).

[Takeaway curry delivered to France]

Another solution for those with a craving for some Indian food (aside from DIY) is Picard. You probably have one near(ish) to you and they do several frozen dishes that we find quite acceptable. The naan are excellent, as are the vegetable samosas, the rest ok to good (we were less impressed by the Agneau Rogan Josh, but it was ok).

http://www.picard.fr/

[Qui veut "chatter" en français ?]

Il me semble que ce fil, grâce aux filles, est devenu quelque chose d'"élévation immorale"!!

[The € in your pocket]

If you are going to check the prefix on your banknotes, take special care that you don't get any with a "J" because they are guaranteed to be forgeries.

You can probably guess, but if not the national identification codes are here:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billets_de_banque_en_euro#Identification_des_pays_.C3.A9metteurs_de_billets

- click on "3" and then scroll down (if necessary)

[UK food and wine in France?]

I don't think it counts as advertising if I mention that you can order Laguiole by mail order:

http://www.aubrac-artizana.com/Cooperative_Jeune_Montagne-c-272_1.html

or from the magnificent cheese shop in Toulouse:

http://www.fromages-xavier.com/index.php

The first link have a greater variety of Laguiole, including both the vieux and the Grand Aubrac (made from milk exclusively during the spring and summer months, when the Aubrac is covered with flowers - the resulting cheese has an exquisite flavour, but the vieux is sharper and may appeal most to cheddar lovers).

[Retirement in France and healthcare]

"Why not just use search" [NormanH]

The trouble is that the search function is so terrible (English not French meaning).

Just try doing a search for "retirement AND healthcare" author "NormanH" and see what you get - I got absolutely nothing, not even this post of yours that I am replying to.

[UK food and wine in France?]

We don't really get anything from the UK (although we do ask family coming to stay to bring some bacon and we also had some friends bring a Bramley apple tree which is now flourishing in our garden).

As for cheese, a few comments.

I agree that emmental/emmenthal should come from Switzerland, which is certainly where the best stuff is produced. However, if you can find a Grand Cru from this side of the border, it is perfectly edible and sometimes even quite good.

If you are looking for a cheddar look-alike (although the real thing is available here from the better cheese shops and even from some of our local supermarkets, although the quality of their cheddar is miserable), I think you should try Laguiole ("Lie-oll"), which comes in four basic kinds (best are the sharp "vieux" - which is perhaps the most cheddar-like - and the smooth, flowery but well matured "Grand Aubrac").

Gruyère - bland? That's like saying that cheddar is bland.

I remember, many years ago, being delighted to find "Roquefort" on the cheese board of a US hotel ... until I tasted it ... it was the US pasteurized mass-produced rubbish ... YUCK! We now live in a village which has half-a-dozen flocks of brébis, the milk from which goes daily to Roquefort-sur-Soulzon ... YUM!

When we moved here, I did bring over a case of English "champagne" - it was the Ridgeview cuvée Merret from Sussex. It was Christopher Merret who presented an early paper to the Royal Society (1662, two years after its foundation), describing how to make the stuff about six years before a certain Pierre Pérignon produced anything (could Pierre read English? did the French steal the idea?*).

*edit - PS. I do know about Limoux - they apparently began producing in 1531 and Sieur d'Arques do some smart marketing with their "Première Bulle" (it's ok but doesn't compare with the best stuff from England or Champagne).

2nd edit. PPS. If you like baked beans (or even if not), you should try some "Haricots blancs cuisinés à l'Auvergnate". They are just so yummy. Instead of sugar (à la Heinz), they are flavoured with duck fat.

[Is it a sign of French national immaturity or control freakery that.......]

The thing is that they have, by their actions (never mind their performance), let down the tricolour. That matters on this side of la Manche.

Remember, also, that Chirac and Jospin all of a sudden gained 15% in the popularity polls in 1998.

Then there are the undercurrents of racism. This quote from an article in today's Libération gives the flavour:

"Le multirécidiviste Alain Finkielkraut - déjà pourfendeur d'une équipe de France «black-black-black» - avait ouvert le bal, dimanche sur Europe 1. «L'équipe de France est une bande de voyous qui ne connaît qu'une seule morale, celle de la mafia (...). Aujourd'hui on a envie de vomir avec la génération caillera.» Plusieurs députés UMP ont eux fustigé une bande de «racailles» et de «petits merdeux», alors que la ministre des Sports Roselyne Bachelot s'en est violemment prise mercredi dans l'hémicycle à une équipe de «caïds immatures qui commandent à des gamins apeurés»."

[NB "caillera" = verlan for "racaille" & "caïd" = ace/star/bigshot but "kaid" = North African state employee (or petty bureaucrat).

Anyway, they should think themselves lucky that they are not shoot-from-the-hip burger-eaters. If they were they would probably find themselves faced with a House Committee almost as friendly and impartial as that which BP's CEO Tony Hayward recently faced.

[Nationwide Internet Banking Problems]

"my screen was suddenly taken over and in english the following appeared;

'Livebox Software Update' "

How very, very odd. Do you have any clue why the message was in English?

cf, happily banking with Nationwide & internetting with Orange (via Livebox) but accustomed to seeing exclusively French on Orange/livebox pages (English on NW).

[Re: Pride not Embarrassment]

Speaks volumes about the French.

[Very un-PC advert on BBC News site]

That's easy:

A. It is God's will.

[Handy site for government resources]

If your French is not up to it, the English language e-Govt link has certain drawbacks. The French portal (linked by Norman) has obvious and direct links for items of huge importance, all of which have specific timetables which absolutely have to be met and which are very well laid out on the web page. Depending upon age (and sex), I thought the most important were:

J'attends un enfant - some things have to be done during the pregnancy, then within 3 days, 15 days, 4 months and 6 months of the birth.

Je me marie - is it a sign of the times that this appears in the list after J'attends un enfant?

J'ai un décès dans ma famille - must do's within 24 hours, 6 days, 1 month, 6 months, 2 years.

['Informations' ou 'Renseignements'?]

NB I'm not a native speaker (I'm sure one will be along soon), but ...

Les renseignements is almost certainly what you want.

My understanding is that, if not hard and fast (and it gets muddy in the middle with something like "for your information") 'renseignements' for most cases of ENG 'information', while 'informations' would be The News or maybe a public information broadcast, that sort of thing.

The sex of the noun refers to nothing more or less than the noun itself. That's why I (male) have "ma femme" and she has "mon mari" (or "son mari" if it's someone other than her speaking) and not "mon femme" and "ma mari" which feel right to many/most native English speakers (you could think of it as going forward to the object rather than backwards to the subject).

[edit: NormanH posted while I was typing]

PS. It has just occurred to me that, subsequent to certain changes in the law, "mon mari" could also be said by some males in some countries.

[Pronoun-sea-ay-shun]

I have just watched the fascinating Richard Hammond programme (BBC2) about our (more-or-less) local big bridge at Millau.

I recall that (years ago) the BBC used to have a pronunciation unit to provide guidance (very strong guidance) on proper nouns, especially foreign place names.

I was somewhat disheartened when the programme was introduced as being about the MEAL-OW bridge and still more so when that pronunciation was used throughout the (very good) programme itself.

Regrettably, ME-YO was beyond them. [same in the language of the place itself - Occitan - Milhau = ME-YO].

However, I'm sure you can provide an even worse example ... if you try ... please ...

[best buy course]

I nearly always think that free stuff is the best value, especially when it's good stuff!

Firstly, don't miss TV5Monde's "Learn French" website:

http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/accueil_apprendre.php

Lots of audio and video, all of it free, much of it topical, for all levels. Yes, really. They have beginner's and intermediate stuff. While I find the advanced topical stuff (and Le Monde*) great for adding to my vocabulary, e.g. "à bout portant" and "le bachage" that I encountered yesterday.

* Le Monde (also free) has no structured material, but is great reading practice:

http://www.lemonde.fr/

Don't forget the good old Beeb. They have a wealth of material, including structured courses for beginners and intermediates:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/

Finally,I have found Laura Lawless at About. to be very useful, especially for clarifying grammar questions, but they also have something for everyone.

http://french.about.com/

[UK ("Low") tax v. France ("High") tax]

Ah yes, Cooperlola, I should have made allowance for our mutuelle payments as well, which changes our figures to:

France = 1

UK = 1.5

Had I read Parsnips' post 11 years ago, we would have arranged things rather differently and our ratio would be truly spectacular! But I'm certainly not complaining; as far as I can see we are paying substantially less in total costs here than we would in Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, USA, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine ... (to name only those I have tried to find comparisons for).

[UK ("Low") tax v. France ("High") tax]

Obviously, all circumstances will be different, but I was not expecting such a huge gulf.

Yes, Cotis can make a big difference, although not for those who are retired (or semi-retired/semi-working) but surely TVA is no big deal (19.6% v 17.5%).

If I apply the TVA difference to all our expenditure (and include the rather small Cotis that I now pay - health issues having reduced my activity), then the ratio is still about:

France = 1

UK = 2.1

[UK ("Low") tax v. France ("High") tax]

Working on my tax return (to be filled on-line, so I still have a few days to the deadline), I was interested to compare our predicted tax payment for next year with what we are shelling out this year. Then I thought, why not do a comparison with what it would be if we were still in the UK. The result (for this year), including all French taxes (impôts, habitation, redevance audiovisuelle, assainissement, professionnelle, etc) v. UK (Income tax & Council Tax), astonished me:

France = 1

UK = 2.9

I am slightly amazed by, and distinctly smug about the result.

[Very un-PC advert on BBC News site]

This evening I saw on the Business page of the BBC News site what could be the single most un-PC advert I have seen in a long time.

It was a simple four word ad:

"Korean free economic zones"

[There's another, even more un-PC, joke - I had to edit my first bit of typing when I noticed that I had accidentally put "Koran free economic zones."]

Amazing how much trouble simple language can get you into (not to mention keyboard typos).

[French lessons for grown ups?]

Gardengirl mentioned AVF - they often have French classes and, even if they don't, they often have English classes, which may be useful for you (I mean as a kind of exchange).

In any event, they are designed to help newcomers (whether French or immigrant) settle in to their new area.

There are 8 AVF in Nord Pas de Calais; see:

http://www.avf.asso.fr/minisites/Website/site/nordpasdecalais_accueil.php

and

http://www.avf.asso.fr/minisites/Website/site/nordpasdecalais_accueil_liensavflocaux.php

etc.

Also, ask at your local Mairie (and at that of the nearest large town if different) - they should know of the other Associations which provide courses (usually free or extremely cheap) for immigrants. It was this procedure which put me in touch with a local Association here in Midi-Pyrenées. Their language instruction wasn't that useful for me (my initial level was already at their upper limit) but it was useful for connections (and explanations of how things work) and fascinating for the insights I gained from the others attending - from Algeria, Austria, Colombia, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Macedonia, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine among others!