Berlioz

Debra I asked our GP in the Uk about a BCG for our 11yo (16yo had just had it done in school)  We got a referal form to the chest clinic at the local hospital 10 miles away, had the prick test and the jab 2 days later. No charge.  the following week we got a signed printout of all the vaccinations they had had since birth inc. the bcg.  All free under the NHS and no hassle.  I just explained that it was necessary for French school (bit like typhoid for holidays I suppose...) no problem.  We included the printouts with the school applications and just today the College confirmed the place for our youngest. I just wish the rest of our move was going so smoothly! Donna      

Thank you for your advice, I must say I'm inclined to think that buying locally would be easier and saving a few Euro but having lots of hassle and endless paperwork does not appeal to me at all!  I could not find a large Staffordshire dealer.  For comparison purposes I checked out  1stcarimports.co.uk  who have just sent me a very detailed quotation and the various options regarding collection/delivery/registering/vat etc.  Has anyone any experience of them ?  At least I have a starting point and can look at some dealerships next week on our visit. Also do any of you have good/bad insurance companies? (Speaking English helpfull but not essential) Donna  

Firstly I apologise for asking the question (I can't get the search to work correctly and I'm sure there was a post on the old site) Assuming our planned move to Toulouse actually goes ahead in July/August  we need to either sell or swap or e-bay our Saab and Ka (both manual and about 5 years old) for 2 newish LH drive Automatic cars with aircon, some toys, possible a Focus Focus Ghia type (Ive just swapped mine for my sisters KA), etc for me and something a bit bigger for the other half.. Obviously want value for money & best prices. Don't want the hassle of a private sale.  We had originally planned to pay cash but now have to use this for a rental guarantee so will need finance either through a bank or a dealer. I think we will e-bay our current cars after we leave (a friend will handle this). We will need one to be ready for when we arrive but then can spend a bit more time on the 2nd one. Should we: Buy from a car supermarket (if such a thing exists in France?) Buy from a Web based dealer/importer/supermarket, if so links please to good ones? Buy from a dealer in Toulouse i.e Ford, Reanult, Buy an ex-car rental car from Europcar, hertz etc Any where else I havn't throught of, any pitfals, nightmare french paperwork, I should be aware of? What are our best options for financing? I have only just become 'officer in charge of vehicle research' as my other half is working away 24/7 and apart from watching Top Gear and reading What Car Magazine occasionally I'm not very up on this subject ! We have had such a nightmare with housing that cars have taken a bit of a back seat, but I do need a rough idea of what is a good idea and what isn't.  OH speaks french so can take the project back when I've come up with some options. So anyone who has, been there, done that and got the T-Shirt please point me in the right direction! Thanks, Donna  

Further to the thread below, I am looking for a long term let in the International School area for either the 'off' season until we can find a 18month - 2 year rental locally or for the full  2 years until our daughter has finished the BAC and we can purchase a property.  We were hoping for 4/5 beds and pool (pool not necessary for winter only let). We have 2 well behaved cats. If anyone has such a property, or any other links to agents/web sites please PM me. Also for a furnished let would it be better to store our furniture etc in the UK or France? Thanks, Donna    

Great Ideas HLG, I'll show my daughter tomorrow when we get back from having her elbow set at the fracture clinic (long story). We have a student giving us french lessons and she also said it was very important to watch French TV etc.  We watch DVDs in the french language option (last one was HOCKUS POCKUS(sp?) we try and stick to ones we have seen before in Englaish so know the story, it really helps!  We also have the MIchael Thomas cds in the car, even my GCSE daughter is picking up tips.  

Hi Maggi We will be over again in a couple of weeks and will certainly try putting up some 'wanted' notices and asking around.  The area is NW Toulouse and a lot of moves are company re-locations.     

Thanks Spg, Something will work out and if it not then I am doomed to be cold for ever............. !

We found our little flat through a small agent and had no problems at all with the French lady owner, we are using this as a base during our visits. We spent an entire week visiting every agent, getting the papers etc and only found 3 properties of the right size in the right area (near the 2 schools), 2 of them belong to the same owner and the other was like something out of the Adams Family, complete with french wallpaper syndrome, classy 'built in' brick seating in the sitting room, a musty smelling 'apartment' in the cellar/garage, a pool that is obviously now a wildlife haven and a kitchen that Wilma Flintstone would have been proud of! Due to the schooling issues we cannot look in a very large area.   The President of the ex pats assoc we have joined runs a relocation agency and confirms that there is a huge shortage of family 4/5 bed housing in the area, demand far exceeds supply.  So I'm trawling through the internet again and I'll get Himself to get a local paper later on today.    

An Update: We have just produced, in person, all the wage slips, contract of employment, Tax return, inside leg measurment, promise of first born child, you name it.... etc for 'Good Loc' but been turned down at our branch with no satisfactory reason given other than it was for 'a lot'.  The irony is that we could have got a mortgage but wanted to take the v good advice and rent first before buying. There is a shortage of the type of property we want to rent so the agent can afford to say 'non'.   

Thank you all, We have spoken to Credit Agricole Brit line about 'Good Loc' and managed to get a (not 08) phone number for our branch. The person we need to speak to was not there on Saturday so we will speak to him tomorrow hopefully.  We are in the process of selling/letting our house  in the UK so will have either capital or rental income but neither by the end of the week!

We  found a house yesterday we want to rent, probably for 2/3 years. A new build close to the schools our girls will attend.  We are now back in the UK trying to sort out the paperwork.  The agent has requested that we obtain a bank guarantee for 2 years rent as my OH does not have the simplicity of a french salary.  He has his own UK consultancy business which has been going for 4 years and has accounts showing good turnover but small profits and salaries. He will commute to London 5-10 days per month.  He also has substantial rental income which will continue.  However we presently only have a non-residents' account at Credit Agricole, though which only spending money has passed so far. The chances of getting a bank guarantee from Credit Agricole we're guessing are minimal, unless we held the advanced rent in an account with them that we couldn't touch, which is highly impractical but not impossible.  Also a good (French) friend ought to be willing and able to act as guarantor if needed.  If we had three months' payslips from the local big employer, or from a UK one, it wouldn't be a problem, but... Does anyone have any experience of this or can suggest another route forward? Thanks, Donna    

Does anyone have any reccomended agents in the International School area?  We have looked at Seloger.com and Immostreet. and registered with Horizon and l'address in Pibrac.  We are looking for a 4/5 bed house with pool if possible to rent for 2 years + Thanks D

Thank you all.  I will try and get myself organised in the next week or so as time is flying by at the moment!

Thanks for the tips Ian. Viva I tried a search but could not find your post, have you any idea what the company may have been called??

We are on the suffolk/cambs border. A14, A11.

Hello We are moving to the Toulouse area end June/beg July and have put our house up for sale/or let  and intend to rent for 2 years initially when we arrive.  Does anyone have reccomendations/avoids/anything I should know before I start contacting companies for quotes? Thanks D    

I have TomTom mobile loaded onto my 6600 smart phone. It works really well in France and the UK. currently I have John Cleese as my voice but change to the Queen when my Mum is in the car !!

The links are great, it is very interesting to see how things are done, and areas that will need some prep work before we arrive.  We have started 'French in 10 minutes a day' Bilingual Books Inc. Which has phonics, flash cards, crosswords, stickers for objects in French, so our house will be covered in yellow stickers for a few months.... I would appreciate a book list for maths, I agree it is important to use the methods used in the classroom.  

What a super site HLG: I have printed out some of the worksheets, just what I was looking for!  I could not get the 'Evaluation' links to work, do you happen to know another link to these?  Teachers in French College or parents of 10-12yo: I am interested to see how maths is approached in France.   I'm just trying to explain a subtraction 'number line' in my daughters homework to her which to me (as Bookkeeper) seems very long drawn out and complicated for such a simple sum!  She wants to use the 'old' method that she understands from primary school and is getting confused. She also has been taught to do a diagonal grid for multiplication which she does understand.  Where do these methods come form? Are they in use in French Schools? There are books on Amazon.fr covering maths 6eme that I could order but I need advice please, so I don't get the wrong ones. Thanks Donna    

'Plenty of money for the three days of celebrations including the aperitifs for everyone' I am interested in French Wedding customs (we are hoping to get married in October) and would like to include some French and English customs as the wedding will be the first visit to France for some of the guests. What goes on during the 3 days?  I have heard something about onion soup?  what are traditional foods?  We were thinking of a late morning wedding, 5 course sit down for 50, in Hotel Resturant, break then Evening Reception + buffet in function room of hotel. Or afternoon wedding and sit down only. Also meal the day before (or rehersal dinner) for early arrivals.  Anything else we could/should do? Replies from those 'with the T-Shirt' very welcome! Donna  

thankspenny.I'm checking my e mail but not all iscomming through.I'm on smart phone in france hence typing! donna

HLG I have pm and e-mailed you (in case one did not work).  I am very interested in your views on dyslexia as I am just working my way through a big stack of books on the subject. Thank you for your help. Donna

Hi Penny I have PM and E-mailed you in reply to your message. I miss the old software now! Thanks, Donna

Hi Val I'm hoping that transport won't be an issue as hopfully we will rent fairly close to one of the schools so we have some flexibility.  I will have to do a school run anyway for my elder daughter. Its not a rual area so there are several college to look at.  Thanks for the tip about the mairie.   All I have to do now is find a nice French school that can deal with a dyslexic, coeliac! Donna

Val, your reply did not upset me at all, I would far rather know what I'm going to have to deal with.  I hate the 'don't worry it will be all right' rubbish people tell you when you just KNOW it isn't going to be that easy.  At least I am going into this with my eyes open knowing what I will be up against. Forewarned is forearmed! Our daughter still wans to live in France and is so releived to know why she was having problems. I like this forum because people such as yourself are willing to give the benefit of their considerable experience to newbies like me.  If I wanted a bit of nice soft focus, rose tinted specs advice I could watch 'A Place in The Sun'  - I bet they never do a feature on integrating dyslexic/special needs kids into French school! I'm really grateful for all the very good advice I have received over the past few months. We are going to visit two small Catholic College Privee next week and the large state College and at least I will have relevant questions to ask. Donna