Loire

Afternoon all I'm returning to live in Wales from La Mayenne around 22 June. I'm stressing hugely about how best to make the journey with my beloved cat, as it's so long for her. I've even considered a private flight, as per PETS rules and companies, eg to Gloucester, but think  I can't afford the quotes I've been given, even though it's a one off and she's so precious to me so I would fork out within limits. I'd be very grateful for any advice/suggestionst/experiences of best way, plus the scanning process. All travel methods seem to be cruel, and/or have risk of her escaping or being devoured by dogs at scanning places. We can use a car. Would a plane journey be likely to stress the cat even more and be very loud? Would only be about an hr and she would be in her carrier in the plane with me, but I think cost means that idea is pie in the sky, no pun intended! The vet has said that I have to take the cat to her  2 to 5 days before travel and the cat has to be wormed. She already has her passport and all jabs incl rabies. Am I right in thinking that the worming was only for dogs not cats and that it doesn't even apply to dogs anymore? Is there another reason why the cat has to visit the vet within that timescale,eg to certify health up to travelling? Kind regards Loire

Thank you so much for that sterling and invaluable advice Mint. Much appreciated. Saw the potential purchaser this morning who owns the hotel next door. Apologised profusely wasn't able to return to look at the rest of the house as planned due to receptionist going sick , so he had to cover, and being inundated with guests/diners. Coming back this week, and seems very enthusiastic, eyes lit up! No price discussed yet, but I have an idea what I want and think it's worth looking at much smaller, and not as nicely done up,  properties for sale in the village, tho I do realise that asking price ain't what you get! Prepared to be flexible on price as shall be leaving here in a few weeks and the convenience of him buying would help enormously. From what I've been told, the potential purchaser has to stay very close to hotel for night cover, though whether that's a french law or not I don't know. My house and garden has features that could suit him very well, not least loads of fruit in the garden that could be used in his gourmet resto! I hope you don't mind but I've pm'd you. Kind regards Loire

Thanks very much Mint. That's very helpful. Unfortunately the person who "might" be interested is faffing me about, though I'll persist. Clearly the best option. Certainly shan't put it in the hands of the notaire who came out Weds - incredibly negative, and as he was unable to come until 2 weeks after I asked for an appt, wouldn't bode well for viewings! Kind regards Loire

Hi foxyloxy25 Thank you very much for that very helpful information. Been unable to log in for a while. I'm sorry to hear that your son's health isn't good. Are agents' fees normally around 10 per cent? Someone in the village where I live might be interested in my house. A notaire is doing a valuation tomorrow afternoon, so there might be some progress when I have a figure. Fingers firmly crossed! Kind regards Loire

Thanks very much Mint. That's very helpful. Kind regards Loire

Hi foxyloxy25 I too shall be returning to the uk soon. Sorry I don't know of an empty van, but I have had lots of quotes via Shiply. Whether they are any good or not I don't know as at that stage I'd only wanted a rough idea of price. As far as I can remember, you sign up and state your journey details and the amount you want transported, and, in my case, loads of quotes come through from companies who could do the removal, thousands cheaper than a quote I had obtained the conventional way.  Some asked questions, which indicated to me that they knew what they were talking about and were genuine. Unfortunately, I pressed the wrong button in haste and stopped all further action and the ability to reply to the quotes and questions. They are rated by clients. I'm not yet ready to set a date etc but shall consider them when they time comes - very soon. If anyone has any experience of Shiply I'd be very grateful to hear it. I shall be selling my house in France. Do you mind me asking how you went about selling as your approach seems to have been very successful? Kind regards Loire

Thanks very much nomoss Excellent suggestion. Normally I would do that but unfortunately have been too ill and swamped to keep up with things as I would otherwise have done. Kind regards Loire

Quillan Thank you so much. Excellent idea about getting an electrician out. The ones who rewired were not good, and have gone bust, but thankfully I know a good reliable team nearby. I think there's always been a prob with the meter, mostly charging me far too much, borne out by a website I looked at yesterday for assessing kilowatts used by each appliance over a year. Never know, might resolve the problem I've always had. Now, if someone can help with today's problem of the supermarket website for my grocery delivery not allowing me access to the order and delivery part of their website, or throwing me out after a few mins... Phoned the supermarket who as ever denied it has a prob with their newly re-done website, as they have on previous occasions, only for it to be obvious later that it was a prob their website, though they tried to wriggle out if it, and of course, no apology or admission of guilt! Kind regards loire

Morning all I have a problem with the functioning of my EDF elect meter HC/HP and hope you can help shed some light on whether I might have to pay a huge amount for past consumption. Sorry it’s so long, but I wanted to make the situation as clear as possible I bought my house 11 yrs ago, and had it re-wired immediately. It was until about 6 yrs ago, my maison secondaire, in which I spent little time, particularly in winter, but had very high bills. The house was heated by electricity, but I was very frugal with it. I am with EDF. All local opinion, which might well not count for much, was that my bills were far too high, and a few years ago, though at the moment I can’t recall when, though I think about 2 yrs or more, I had an EDF technician out to check the meter. Before looking at it, he told me that he had never found a meter to be defective, and that I should have to pay for his call were he to find that there was no problem with the meter. He told me after checking the meter that that he hadn’t found a problem, the meter was working as it should. I have never received a bill, and my bills following that were lower, so I assumed that he had not wished to let me know that he had found a problem. As I have been very ill and had numerous problems to deal with and there didn’t seem to be one there, I didn’t look into it any further. Last winter I had a pellet burner installed, but it was in place only few months as it was found to have been installed incorrectly, was dangerous, and, due to being next to a listed church, no installation that would satisfy the Architects des Batiments de France, mairie etc and meet the safety regs could be made, so after a long battle, it was uninstalled, and I reverted to electric heating. I have been paying for my electricity every two mnths, submitting readings to EDF each time, except each June and December when an EDF calls to read the meter and the bill is based on that reading. I noticed a while ago that the heures  plein reading was staying the same, but initially put that down to the technician having probably found a problem which he hadn’t admitted and that EDF might be in effect recalibrating to account for making my past bills higher than they should have been. After a few such readings however, including those by EDF meter readers, who said nothing about it, a few months ago I asked an electrician to check my meter. He did so, but explained that only EDF could gain access to the meter controls, and that there is a seal to prove that I have not done so. He also thought that the (consumption) wheel was turning too quickly, but couldn’t find out why.   He told me not to worry about the HP problem and say nothing as any problem with the meter was not mine and I could not be held responsible, it was EDF’s, and the seal proved that I hadn’t tampered with it. The meter reader came out from EDF this morning for the usual December reading, and said that I have a problem with the HP reading and that one if their technicians would make an apt with me in the new year. I’ve tried to access my EDF account to see the worst possible scenario for if they make me pay the difference, as money is very tight at the moment, but am able to access very little - it says there is a problem and I must try later. I have been able to look sometimes today at the consumption chart, which shows that HP hasn’t changed since Jan 2014, so around 2 yrs. What has been changed today is that nearly all the readings on that chart are being attributed to me, including the EDF meter readers’ readings each Dec and June. I can’t access my bills to see if they show that the meter was read by an EDF meter reader at the times they took the readings.   Call me suspicious, but what a coincidence that I can’t currently access all my account, and that the only meter readings shown to have been done by the EDF meter readers are immediately before the problem, which is just not true, as I said, they have been each six months. I’ll keep trying to access my bills today, though I have a number of other urgent things to do and am not well. Does anyone know if in the circs EDF could make me pay a sum. which no doubt they would pluck out of thin air and be far higher than any justifiable amount, for the “difference” between the bills that I have paid for two yrs as all HC, and what they consider they should have been HP, even though the meter prob was not of my doing, and they have read it  3 or 4 times in the intervening period? Is there any limit on the time for which they can demand such money? Any quote of the law would be particularly welcome. I have a horrid feeling I’ll receive a bill to be paid very quickly amounting to thousands of euros, though without being able to access my past bills I don’t have much idea of the worst poss scenario. Any help/advice you can give on this would be very gratefully received.   Kind regards   Loire

Afternoon all I was always plagued by mossie bites on hol but inexplicably not here in France. Mystery solved recently by some French people who told me that geraniums keep mossies away. Have geraniums all around house. Wearing a geranium buttonhole, or even a hat festooned with them,  might be slightly less cumbersome than the head-netting! Whether small amounts like that would work is another matter. Hope this helps. Cheers Loire Just had another thought  - geranium essential oil? Supposed to lift spirits too, so maybe wouldn't mind whether you were bitten or not!

Thank you all for the very helpful information. Lots for me to think about. The electronic paraffin heaters sound interesting, and would be a useful back-up if electricity cuts, though could consider using them at other times too. Kind regards Loire

Thank you Quillan and Theiere so much for those most helpful replies which tell me exactly what I need to know. Theiere, excellent suggestion about the infrared panel heaters. Seems like they might be just the job, not least as they are good for musculo-skeletal illnesses. The possible affects on metabolism are very enticing! Shall try now to find some French websites and suppliers. Could well be the way forward, leaving me more than anticipated for insulation. Kind regards Loire

Hi all Am considering having a pompe a challeur installed. I've found excellent information on here and thank you very much for that. Old house, around 170 sq meters, plus lots of basements and attics, virtually no insulation but will get some asap, but need to keep warm now. I have two questions: How loud is the noise from the external unit?The only place it could be installed is about three meters from my neighbour's house and if she could hear even a whisper of a noise she would complaint, which I would rather avoid. I appreciate that it's difficult to describe noise in a forum but any info gratefully received. The potential installer has told me that the unit in the room blows hot air into the room and you can feel a sort of draft. Without sounding too precious I hope, I detest drafts, and my tolerance level is very low due to a (physical) illness. Can anyone who has one give me an idea of whether the "draft" is very noticeable? If I don't go with a pompe, considering having radiateurs a inertie. Anyone any comments on those? Sadly I can't have wood burner, pellets incl, heating as my house is attached to a listed church, and it's impossible to have one installed per the norms with the Architects des Batiments de France constraints. Kind regards Loire

Hi all Probably very little help but possibly a glimmer of hope that there is someone alive and kicking at the new Civ Serv Pension place. I have received an email response to my enquiry(which was entirely general, ie, where can "one" access paylips on line), asking me for all my personal details. Have replied. Watch this space... Regards Loire

Thanks for your posts. I'm so sorry to hear about your pension payment problems and hope they are resolved very soon. Of course, were we uk resident we'd be able to contact our MP for help. You might want to try calling the Parliamentary Ombudsman's office. They might have general info on who you can contact to try to get some sense. Too often for me in France seems we are stateless as we are French resident but so much of our lives is still controlled by the uk, yet we have no recourse to higher authority if uk things go wrong, as they so often do. Best of luck Regards Loire

Very sorry folks, just found the P60 for April 2014, thank goodness. Would still appreciate the info re payslips if anyone able to help. Regards Loire

Hi everyone I think members in receipt of Civil Service Pensions might be able to help me with this. I'm trying to remortgage from the Woolwich to HSBC uk, with whom I've banked for about 40 years and into which account my Civil Service pensions, IIDB and DLA are paid. HSBC insist for the mortgage application that I verify my Civil Service Pension, IIDB and DLA asap, saying that they need my P60 and an up-to-date payslip for the Civ Serv pensions,and an up-to-date letter from DWP for the benefits. I've requested the latter, no prob though have to wait a while - they told me they will send them in about 10 days. I've been onto the Civil Service website, which has changed completely with no prior warning,new pension service providers. Pensioners used to be able to access and print off their payslips (no paper copies are sent except when there's a change) but, unless I'm being really dull, that function seems to have disappeared. I emailed them last week and asked where I can now access printable payslips, no reply yet, and from a previous post I gather they are in disarray and some people haven't even received their pension this month. I thought my P60 and an explanation might suffice, but I've failed to find a P60 for April this year Does anyone know if there is some way of getting hold of up to date payslips? Looking at the new website the latest annual pensions letter is 2013, so maybe we haven't been sent the P60 yet. I'd be very grateful if anyone can confirm if they have had/haven't had a P60 for April 2014, to save me looking again thorough loads of papers I haven't been able to file having had a horrendous year and very poor health. I know I could phone the pensions providers, but thought I would get more sense on here first. I have to go about 80 kms away to the nearest HSBC bank tomorrow by various public transports and a taxi to verify original documents as HSBC will accept only that verification or that of a lawyer, but not a notaire. They are also insisting that I have my passport verified by HSBC again as they won't accept previous HSBC or notaire officially stamped verification from a few years ago for the same passport nor that of 2yrs ago of my uk solicitor whose family have known me most of my life. As said, I've banked with them for 40 years. I shan't be able to get to the HSBC branch again in the near future, so need to take all I can with me tomorrow. I'm not sending originals as they have lost important papers before. Thanks and kind regards Loire

Prepared in our own kitchens in the traditional way by our expert chefs? 

[quote user="The Riff-Raff Element"][quote user="NormanH"] Unfortunately it is very often here (my town anyway)  passed off as 'Cuisine Traditionelle' which is one of the reasons I haven't picked up that particular suggestion for translating artisanale.. [/quote] Fair point. I've heard it said that fewer than 10% of pub restaurants in the UK are serving food that is genuinely homemade. Apparently the term has little legal meaning. Where the likes of Brake Bros are really making inroads in France are in what could be called tourist restaurants - high volume places that see distinct seasons. It's not that what BB sell is particularly cheap (I understand that often it's more expansive than the cost of the ingredients would be), but it can be prepared and served by staff with only the bearest minimum of training, which really cuts down the labour costs. That's why quite a lot of places run by families or be couples with perhaps a single waiter still manage to hang on and are still able to present food that is prepared from scratch and cooked on the premises. Of course the higher-range places manage it because they can charge more, but you've certainly explained why they are so keen to make a point that they actually cook what they are serving [8-)] [/quote]

Hi Sueyh I have used Ymea menopause et Silhoutte for a few years and seems to have helped me.There are other Ymea products but that seems to suit me best. Hope it works for you. Kind regards   Loire

Hi I don't know if this is any use to you but possibly. I know that Copperola had an accident. I have myofacial syndrome and fybromyalgia, which it seems often follows an accident. There are numerous diverse symptoms and it is very rarely that doctors diagnose it. One of the symptoms is a very large stomache. I have also had rashes and all sorts of other symptoms. The symptoms change from hour to hour, day to day, but the huge stomache is, unfortunately, a long-term symptom. Fybromyalgia can also cause gynae problems. There is no test for fybromyalgia and when I was in hospital here the doctors knew nothing about it. I have done a lot of research on the illness and have found what works for me - the most important aspect is managing it. Please feel free to contact me if you need any more info.  I do hope that Copperola's health improves quickly.     Kind regards   Loire  

Thank you all very much for your help. It is no longer needed because, for the second time, the French bank has let me down. I had foolishly thought that they were attempting to right the wrong they did me previously. You live and learn! At least I now have all the info should I proceed via a different bank. Regards Loire

Superb thanks Pachapapa.

Thank you Nomoss. That's very helpful. Regards Loire

Thanks very much Cooperlola. Regards Loire