Alan

[quote user="BJSLIV"] You are quite likely to get a written instruction requiring you to change to a French licence so that points can be deducted. Incurring a driving penalty will normally invoke this procedure.   [/quote] Yes that happened to me, 3 months after the fine got a call from the local police asking me to take all my paperwork along, which they photocopied , then 2 weeks later another call to say i had to go back to be told i had 7 days to change the licence to a french one so points could be taken away. They did give me 2 weeks to change as i was going away to but had to go back to them with the new licence

[quote user="Cassis"]What is your response, B&Bers, to guests who want clothing washed?  We do not advertise a laundry service, but we do not mind giving visitors some washing powder for them to wash their own things in their bath or washbasin and then hang them on our washing lines.  [/quote] Afraid i dont have the time to tie up my machines for guests laundry, would not mind giving them a bit of powder if required. Last year however we had some belgiums staying for the second time and the wife said to them that if they needed a bit of washing doing then to give it to me and i would do it form them.Well she came down with a small pile which she placed in the machine and and i asked her at what temperature they had to be washed to which the reply was 40.On taking the clothes out she had only mixed some blue pants with her husbands cream trousers, they had turned a nice baby blue.

No you are not alone we have been the same this year ,much shorter stays and some real pains. I had the family room free last night for just the one night and got a call requesting it but just could not face another change . Couple arrive last week at 6.45pm with 2 children in their teens, the first question  was why did he not have 2 bathrooms in the family room, this had all been explained when the room was booked. He then came down 10 minutes later and asked me to book horse riding for the children that evening, said that I was sorry but that would not be possible, however the response was I still want you call to  check. To be honest I was so knackered I just did not have the power to respond so phoned, of course the response was negative so he then said that he wanted me to call another  stable by which time is was me that was laughing and suggested that maybe it would be best for him to make the call , but of course he could not speak any French so declined.I did ring , but it was my friend just to have a friendly word before i killed someone They then went for a walk and returned about 8 as I was going to serve dinner to the other guests, said gentleman came into the kitchen and said that after taking there walk and reading my guest book  they had all decided to eat here this evening, his wife only ate white meat and the children did not like fish however he was not fussy and would eat most things. Needless to say I did not cook for them that evening.

[quote user="wen"] They also left without taking their childs bed rail and had to drive all the way back from Spain to collect it, the OH confronted her and she denied it and said we only put out one set!. An absolute lie!.  Mongrels![/quote]   Oh i am terribly sorry but no bed rail has been left here, seems you have had a wasted trip back.   Must say we so far have been very lucky, only thing that seems to go missing are loo rolls

It’s interesting and I must say I only thought about the key issue yesterday. As very stupidly I have never thought to get spare keys for the bedroom doors, we issue door keys on arrival and apart from one set of guests taking them home have never had a problem in the past 4 years. In this time also we have never had a guest go out for the day and lock their room, we only have 3 rooms. But of course yesterday was an exception, luckily said family had booked all 3 rooms but one couple decided to lock the bedroom door. The problem that arose was in their bedroom the main fuse box is situated and of course about 4pm the trip switch went off during a brief clap of thunder. Of course said guest had booked dinner last night, which was a problem as I cook with electric. They arrived back at 7.30 to be told dinner was off. Mind you on very hot days that might be a good idea throw the mains switch for 3 hours [;-)], so it’s off to mistermint today

Its days like today that i wished i did not do evening meals.[:(] My ironing has been waiting now for 4 days but will have to be done tomorrow Got to go into the pool at midnight yesterday and it was like taking a bath

Most french we find tend to take the shoes off and leave them outside the room, maybe they think we do a shoe cleaning service[:)] On the subject of bedspreads this year  after showing them the room, I then tend to fold the bed down and put the bedspread in a cupboard

[quote user="Miki"] I suspect your hosts were either cheesed off or simply clueless ! [/quote] Time to turn out the lights and lock the door in my view.   Kathy you really should have voiced your opinion . Afraid Toast is my one pet hate, will not serve it unless the guests ask for it as I always think that they will think its old bread I am toasting and breakfast is just one of the things I pride myself on  

We are also in the Tarn et Garonne and yes this year we also have the same problem, i think they are looking to drink. Its worst if the kids have splashed a lot and the water is all around.A friend in the states has said that there you can buy an aerosol spray for out doors, but i cant see that would help much to be honest. Not seen hany here that would do the trick.  

Bit early to say Miki as its our first year with them, currently we have had more booking through them though than either of our other paid and unpaid sites. Ok enquiries have started coming in this week but this time last year we were fully booked for july and august, but its the same for other also in the area this year. We have also found this year we have much more short stays

[quote user="Cerise"] .  I believe one of the association (Clévacances?) recommends every other day sheet changes, but that seems a terrible waste of resources to me.   Maggi [/quote]   Maggie when the rep came to grade use for our area, we missed the 4 keys because we did not have a tv in the bedroom and one of the double beds was 140 instead of 160 and there was something to do with the shower cant remember off hand. However she asked how oftern beds and towels were changed and we tend to do like everybody else currently on here 4 days for sheets and every two for towels.She told us for 3 keys we had to change the towels every 2 days and if a guest was staying a week the bed had to be changed once within their stay. 4 Keys the beds had to be changed every 2 days and the towels daily

Yes I do update the calendar every day. But I only update if all my rooms are booked. We have 3 rooms but if they are not all booked then I leave blank. If I have 2 booked and I receive a provisionally booking for the third then I mark that as grey In all the years we have been doing it we have never really had one year the same. I think in previous years we have been very lucky, as we have mainly always received week or 2 week booking. This year however most of our booking are for 2,3 or 4 days. This time last year nearly all of July and august was booked, but that is not the case this year, however I must say that February march and April are up on previous years. This week however I have seen an increase in enquiries so lets hope things are on the turn

Next time it might be useful to have a look at  VistaPrint. site. I did have a small number of postcards made up to put in our rooms for guests to use, these where free, however i did add a few pictures which i had to pay for. The service was very quick , I did not pay for special delivery but got my order with 2 weeks

I am in the French system and last year the doctor tested me and the results were positive .The doctor wrote a letter to CPAM and i am now covered 100%. I pay the doctor for the visit but this is credited back to me in full and i don’t pay a euro for my tablets, i sometimes end up having to pay for the blood test but once again i get the full 100% back. I also am on high blood pressure and these are also cover 100%, before i did have to pay for these and claim the difference back from the insurance I currently also take METFORMIN but 1000mg 3 times. CPAM insist that i have a flu jab once a year. Any other medication that i need provided it is related to my condition then i don’t pay, if it not related then my top up insurance covers me. Not sure if your other tablets would be covered or not to be honest

[quote user="Dicksmith"]. You may also have to consider the rating of your electricity supply if you get several. [/quote]   This is a good point, we have had guests in all three of our letting rooms for the past 10 days and have found at night when we go over to the cheaper electric we are not able to run the dishwasher or washing machine as the electric cuts out.with the extra load

Thanks David that has cleared matters up

On my English licence I had B ,C1, D1 ,BE ,C1E, D1E. So what is the difference between B and BE ?   I was told that to tow a trailer or caravan on the French driving licence I would need category E B, which I was told is the same as the English BE.At this point i said that i would never tow a caravan but could i tow a small trailer and was told no not unless i had BE category as the same was required As I do not normally tow anything I decided not to go for the medical, mainly for the time factor as I only had 5 days to provide the police with the French Permis when I received the French Permis The categories on my french licence are A1  B1 , B. Now ok B states 3500kg plus 8 people with a car shown next to it. EB shows the car and caravan

So be it, but unless i had a medical they would not give me one that would allow to tow plain and simple. I had a choice get a medical  and be allowed to tow or no medical and no towing allowed

If you have a European one then you don’t have to change it unless you commit an offence. I was stopped for speeding and then had to change mine for a French one. Regards to towing a caravan/trailer if you do decide to change the licence then you will need to have a medical, or you had to in our dept, not saying all depts are the same though without this you cant tow

in our area one to one range from 10 to 20 euros per hour. group classes by utl is currently 6 euros for one and half hours, they run 3 levels,

[quote user="Cerise"] I use quilts also have some sheets and blankets in case anyone prefers. Maggi [/quote] Hi Maggi We use quilts but do find that the french prefer sheets and blankets.With only 3 rooms i can manage with one washer machine but if i had the space i would have a second dishwasher. Chris i could do with a new heavy weight iron, what make is yours

I have only seen it once about 2 years ago, have to get friends to bring it over.I was wondering how its made and if it could be made from ginger root

Have a look at the following web page , think it helps with the verbs   http://www.happychild.org.uk/freeway/french/index.htm    

[:D] Maggii Of course all my guest have at least 6 children ( if they dont then we give them our two for therestay to keep the numbers up), i am suprised that i dont have to take photos of the war wounds and of course requests copies of guests benefits to attached to the register, as if you would even asked if somebody was on benefit.[:$] To be honest we dont currently charge guests the tax, i have not increase my prices in the last 3 years but will most likely review them for next year.

In some ways that makes it simpler. We are required to keep a register, the tax is 0.70€ per person per night for stays 1st june to 30th september. Children dont pay or war wounded, goverment workers in the course of work and people on benefits. Families also get a reduction 30% for 3 children ,40% for 4, 50% for 5 ,and 75% for 6