Lehaut

I will try to be succinct! We came to Nantes in our camping car quite often when our children were younger staying at a campsite in the north of Nantes. We were impressed by the transport links, and the "feel" of the place. Our eldest also did 2 years at prepa in Nantes, so he got to know it too. (our other one did 5 years in Caen so we know it too). When they both went to Uni, we decided to downsize and chose Nantes. My wife said we should have to have a view of the Loire from our new place. We saw three places and settled on this one as it had a direct view of the Loire from the 5th floor, had not been touched since it was built so we could refit it to our taste. (and it was cheaper as it needed so much work) Its also in its own private park, so no one can build in front and take away the view (since we have bought it, multiple new block have been build on the south side of the island which ruins the building behind them. We are not in the city itself, but on the south bank. Nantes boundary is 200 m away. It is true that in the morning/evening the traffic is pretty bad as people commute. We don't have to so its not a problem. Our doctor/dentist are within walking distance, as are several supermarkets, bakers etc. The hospitals have been very reactive to the few medical problems we have had so far, not problem with specialists. All a bus ride away. We only use the car once a week for a big shop. The rest we walk, bike or take the bus (reduced bus prices for people over a certain age, all transport (bus, tram, ferry) free over the weekends). There are 100s of kilometres of bike trails, hikes etc in the vicinity. For me, this is as far south as I could live. It got to 40°C last year and will only get worse in the future. The flat is a transversal, living room faces North, the bedrooms south. Shut those down when the sun shines and sleep with everything open at night keeps the place cool, no need for air con to sleep. Downsides - it is a city with all the problems that come with it. We have been gassed (my fault as I wanted to see what a riot was like), there is crime (a ground floor flat in our complex was robbed through an open window recently) We walk through a ROM camp and known drug distribution area each Monday on our walk (they normally smile and say hello!) Rarely do we go out at night and not though the very centre. I miss my workshop and fruit garden. Our holidays have had us stay in many cities in France, Strasbourg was great - expensive, Bordeaux too hot, Grenoble, fab views, very cold in winter. I could go on, grass is always greener etc. We are just back from a 4000km motorbike trip through Northern Europe. Enchanted by Malmo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Rouen where we stayed, not so much by Bremen or Sassnitz. Usual thing on return, see what the ups and downs are of moving there. To duplicate what we have here is ruinously expensive in all but Rouen. That has the one thing I wish the Loire had and that is commercial boat traffic - so who knows. PM if you want more.

Each year in Nantes there are new attractions that appear to entertain the locals and the tourists. We amuse ourselves by tracking them down. This year they have, in our opinion, excelled themselves. There are several famous statues around the city which they have copied and put them in unexpected poses; The last one we found particularly amusing, though how long the first ones will remain intact/un-tagged in the current climate is debatable.

We have seen a lot of damage over the past few months in Nantes, many shop windows broken etc. I suppose the down stream effects on insurance for these people will be increased i costs, leading to more closures. For individuals there is also the incomprehension as to why centres that actually help people on a daily basis have been destroyed. Another very unwelcome effect is on those who insure their cars for the minimum (tiers). As this chap has found out, fire was not covered. https://www.francelive.fr/article/france-live/sa-voiture-a-ete-incendiee-pendant-les-emeutes-son-assurance-ne-prendra-rien-en-charge-8092748/ At least these people have insurance, even if it is the minimum.

This adds an extra drop of fuel to the fire; https://www.lindependant.fr/2023/07/01/mort-de-nahel-la-cagnotte-de-soutien-au-policier-qui-a-tire-sur-le-jeune-de-17-ans-recolte-largement-plus-de-dons-que-celle-pour-la-famille-de-ladolescent-11314767.php 60,000€ support raised for the mother of the boy killed 250,000€ support for the policeman who did the deed

The Lumpenproletariat have been at it here in Nantes too. Heard fireworks last two nights, Malacoff is not to far away. The estate agent who showed us our current flat told us, then, arguments there are settled with an AK 47.

Just an update to my case of paying voluntary contributions. HMRC sent me a letter acknowledging my contributions paid on 17 April (electronically). Their letter dated 16 May arrived with me on 7 June - one month in transit, a month after I made to transfer. They also wanted to know if I had actually sent any money, and if so for what! Still no pension increase, will be interesting to see, when it does arrive, if it is backdate to when I paid the contributions.

😁

Lost me on that one, the urban dictionary is not my strong point; Which one is it? BSBB Big Sister Big Brother BSBB Big Sisters and Big Brothers BSBB Biophysics, Structural Biology and Biomathematics BSBB Burns School of Black Belts (UK) BSBB Broad Street Boogie Band BSBB Branch to Subroutine Byte (VAX) BSBB Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Business BSBB Bond Street Blues Band BSBB Bahraini Saudi Bank Bahrain BSBB Blue Spruce Bed and Breakfast (Oregon) BSBB Bread Soup and Beer Bar BSBB Before Stress, Before Babies BSBB Blue Streak Blues Band BSBB Brass Swan Bed and Breakfast (Branson, Missouri) BSBB Badger Short Bus Brigade (UW-Madison student football fans)

Try this site, this is the same company my wife used many years ago (she still has the swatch!). For my part, I only remember the woman who did the consultation - I had taught her to dive when she lived in Scotland. If Doctors can diagnose you on line, why not these people! https://www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk/services-for-women/online-services/ ps I have no pecuniary interest in this company.

You go to a colour consultant (Colour me Beautiful in this case) and they do an interview with you. They look at your natural hair and skin colour, your body etc. After deep deliberation (and payment of cash) you get a little booklet made up of swatches of coloured material. These are the colour you should be wearing to best complement yourself. When you are buying stuff, you consult your personalised colour swatch to check its right for you. 😁

I was very interested to read about the running noses. I too have encountered the same effect, especially over the winter months. When we stop during our walks/bike rides and I lean my head forward to pick up my drink, it just pours out (the nose not the drink!) Makes a change from the stuffy nose I usually suffered from.

Thanks menthe, he got his result - passed no corrections. The hobnob was delicious! Puts a bit of pressure on his younger brother who has his to do next.

Here in Nantes and most of LA we are OK at the moment. The Loire level in town is down a bit. Further up there appear to be the massive sand banks you see in the photos, but not in the main channel. That said, we have not had any rain for a month and the trees are starting to shed their leaves already to reduce water loss.

My pleasure. I will indulge in a chocolate Hobnob. Our eldest brought back a packet this week from his PhD viva in London.

From memory, NI number DOB, address, post code here and my last post code (both in France). Don't know if it makes any difference, but we both are registered on the UK Government gateway site. It is a bit involved, you have to download software onto your phone which allows you to scan the NFC chip on the front of your passport to do a comparison of the info there (a very clear photo) and an uploaded photo from your phone using the approved government software. Once you are registered there, it allows you to track any forms you have sent in too. We have rung so many numbers recently trying to sort out both mine and my wife's pension (public and private). One chap actually asked me the date of my marriage. We were having a bit of banter and I asked him if was joking (I cannot remember the date for the life of me). He assured me he was not, so I was in the embarrassing position of having to ask my wife, sitting next to me, what it was.

In my case I rang the International Pension Centre 00 44 191 218 7777 on 17 March. After a relatively short wait and pressing buttons I got through OK. Even when I rang other numbers, they put me through to the relevant section. I did have the same problems you site, but on another number (which I don't have a record of)

I doubt this consideration is very high on the agenda of the French Government, given the attitude of the authorities the last time they tried to reverse the health cover for "ressortissants britanniques" . If you are worried about it, the solution is relatively simple thought time consuming.

This topic was also on the French news at lunch time 30 May. I think there is going to be a move to copy Belgium - incorporating the Carte Vitale into the ID card chip. This should reduce the fraud aspect of it. It can be scanned at the pharmacy and Drs/Hospital with new equipment.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/le-vrai-du-faux/y-a-t-il-vraiment-des-millions-de-cartes-vitales-en-trop-qui-circulent-en-france_5231911.html Might be something they have seized on in an attempt to digitalise, linked to the ID card and introduce a new system? From the article there may be more floating about than there are people. Like you say (if it indeed you and not the other Ken!) there does not seem to be massive financial fraud. I can be used in cases of false ID too. Cartes en surnombre ne veut pas nécessairement dire fraude Avoir une carte vitale ne signifie pas nécessairement avoir des droits ouverts qui permettent une prise en charge. Ce donc n’est pas parce qu’il existe un reliquat de cartes vitale en surnombre que celles-ci sont utilisées à des fins frauduleuses. Deux principaux mécanismes de fraude à la carte vitale peuvent se rencontrer, précise par ailleurs la Direction de la sécurité sociale: le détournement de la carte vitale ou la fausse carte vitale. Or, les cas d’usurpation d’identité par l’utilisation d’une carte vitale par un tiers ne concernent qu’un nombre réduit de situations du fait de la couverture très large de la population par l’assurance maladie obligatoire. Concernant l’existence de fausses cartes Vitale, la Sécurité sociale précise qu'elle "est en réalité très limitée, les caisses gestionnaires d’un régime d’assurance maladie ayant mené de manière continue depuis 2019, un important travail de fiabilisation du parc de cartes Vitale ". Invité jeudi 4 août, sur RTL, à donner des chiffres précis sur le nombre de cartes en surnombre qui circulent et la fraude potentielle associée, le ministre de l'Economie Bruno Le Maire a répondu que "même s'il y avait une seule une carte conduisant à une fraude cela justifierait qu'on mette en place des mesures de contrôle plus strictes".

She looks suspiciously like the women who want to be my friend on Facebook or WhatsApp. Wonder if she is any relation to Debbie, who also had Dallas in the film title?

Nice story. I heard a noise one night when I lived in Scotland. The next morning, perfectly imprinted on one of the big windows was, in the dust, the complete outline of an owl, wings outstretched No sign of it in the garden. Like you, I hoped it was alright. In our last house in Normandy, in the "arrow slit" window in the barn we had kestrels (I think) who nested there for several years. Took this picture of two of the three chicks fledgling as far as the hedge in the garden. Sadly found one dead a couple of days later, not always a happy outcome.

As little as possible for a big trip. A week walking in the Alps in January we booked a chalet for a week. A 4 week motor bike 10,000km trip to the Arctic circle, Russian frontier and back, most we booked ahead was two days. That included external and internal ferry trips, the joy of having a euro card. Last year we did a 4 week, 5000 km Land End to John O'Groats motor bike trip including the Scottish NC 500. We again booked two days ahead. Bit of a panic on the NC as accommodation is very limited. Ferries to Ireland and back to France again at short notice. Everything done on our mobile phones. We have taken to carrying dried fruit and biscuits as emergency breakfast an AeroPress coffee maker as we have had some dreadful instant coffee offered in F1s etc. The most planning is done by my wife as to what she can possibly cram into the one side pannier she has to get 4 weeks worth of clothing in 😉

We tried to contact the CPAM about a missing "feuille de soins". Unusually the electronic one from the specialist disappeared into the ether. We physically put the paper duplicate the in the office post box but so far no money. After eventually finding the email section on our espace client, we wrote our question then went through the questionnaire and pressed send. Only to be told the service was momentarily unavailable. Of course it does not save any of the info you put in so you have to start all over again. Same result! We also bought a Nantes Museum pass, great price to go into all the museums for a year. Downloaded the museum pass digital version onto our phones. The first museum we went to had never seen it before and had no method of verifying the QR code. Went to see the hyper-realistic display yesterday. The museum waved the scanner over the phone then just waved us through. Told us the scanning machine has never worked!! Technology.

Don't hold your breath. My wife checked up on the government gateway for her claim made in March. Expect a reply in October is the current estimate. It also takes 8 weeks from receiving your extra contributions to HMRC acting on them. This is according to a conversation I had with them this week. They also, annoyingly, don't acknowledge receipt of electronic payments.

An excellent idea CeeJay. We have both the car and the motorbike in my wife and my names. She does not have a licence to drive the bike, but means she can sell it without the agreement of our children should I not be here. If its not done its not too onerous in families that get along. Can be very difficult in other cases.