Chiefluvvie

Wrong Rabbie - I can read. French levels of customer service are very relevant on a francophile forum. (duh) £400 for varifocals is extortionate in the UK. The internet is also available there isn't it? Please........ Chiefluvvie

''For me it is a case of use them or lose them'' So what Rabbie ? - you're not honestly saying that's it's better to be ripped off than see high street opticians go out of business - are you?? The online suppliers are 'very helpful' too - in fact they trounce French style customer service. It's nearly 2014 - the world has moved on...(thank goodness) £400 for varifocals - utter rip-off. Or, are they gold plated? Chiefluvvie

Clevacances ? Useless - never come up on first page of Google search results! Chiefluvvie

No doubt that's the case in New Jersey - but the store prices in rip-off France are extortionate! Chiefluvvie

Oh Yawn.... If you always do what you've always done then you'll always be what you've always been..... In this case - ripped off! Chiefluvvie

Hi Théière ! Live in Mauritius now and only really catch up on the forums during down-time when I'm working (i.e. in London and between flights). Can't resist popping in every now and then....know how it is ? Is it me or does the 'view' rate shoot up when I make a contribution ?? Chiefluvvie :-)

Look - if you want to pay through the nose for rip-off specs from an optician then go ahead - I have much better things to spend my hard earned cash on. It's 2013 and about time high street opticians got with the programme and stopped taking the proverbial - they will go the same way as travel agents. You simply can't 'uninvent' progress and competition. Pharmacies next for the cull....... Chiefluvvie....

Hi Betty! I use zennioptical.com for both single vision and progressive / bifocal lenses - no problem and great prices. They are quite specific about measurements and offer loads of help including live chat. As far as the frames suiting you - you simply upload a face picture and try them on-line - easy and brilliant. Chiefluvvie

Crikey - have you been put off yet?! Steven - not sure what age you both are but - if you're young and healthy then just go for it and follow your heart - what the heck! If you're not then have a good long think about what you BOTH REALLY are looking for - lavender is not in bloom all year round, if you get my drift. You may need to use your head more than your heart. The practicalities of living in France as non-French speakers can be daunting and overwhelming. I never lived in such an insular country. I lived in the Luberon for many years - stunning, but even stunning can wear a bit thin - more to life than stunning, lavender, and stone cottages. You may have heard about 'Mistral Madness' - completely true (no doubt many on here would say that it got to me!). You've got to LOVE wind and cold winters. I better stop there! Best of luck whatever you decide - ''here for a good time not a long time'' and all that...... Chiefluvvie :-)

zennioptical.com Fab quality, great price and delivered very quickly by Fedex. (prices are VAT cleared) Chiefluvvie

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Jay"]The Kindle is not really that "friendly". [/quote] I do find it awkward to create collections on the Kindle, and I am astounded at the fact the Kindle does not sync with the Kindle apps on my iPad and PC, but thankfully, I mainly use Calibre, which makes it a lot easier to manage all my ebooks. I am not familiar with Nooks at all. I don't think I have even seen a picture of one... [:$] [/quote] Don't be astounded Clair - dare I suggest you're doing something wrong! Kindle sync's seamlessly and VERY easily across all my devices - PC, iPad, and Android. Simple..... Chiefluvvie

So that will be 33 royalty payments not made to the authors of the books you've had the benefit of.....how very 'clever' of you Clair - you must feel positively smug.... Pretty 'easy' to turn this shameful behaviour into Amazon bashing.....pathetic Chiefluvvie

OMG Clair! - wrong on so many levels! Shameful..... Chiefluvvie

Jobs in more than one country NormanH? How very modern....:-) Chiefluvvie

That would be lovely NormanH - just so long as the country where you work is happy for you to pay all your employment taxes and contributions in the country where you live. Current EU legislation requires you to pay where you earn. There are hundreds of thousands of people who live in one country and work (or are based) in another. Chiefluvvie

Yep - yet another French protectionist market! Go Amazon!! Chiefluvvie :-)

Just for info - S1's are also issued to those who work in the UK (PAYE) but live in France - effectively a transfer of benefits with the UK picking up the tab. I received S1's from the UK for 9 years whilst living in France. Same happens the other way round for people working in France but living in the UK - France issues their S1's. nectarine - be interested to know how your husband qualifies for an S1 issued by the UK -is he still working and/or contributing in the UK OR is it a residual S1 issued following your exit from the UK? An S1 would not be issued solely on the basis of being in receipt of a private pension...... Chiefluvvie

tinabee you're doing a sterling job but I fear Mrs T just does not get it....! To be clear Mrs T - you can only have ONE 'principal' residence anywhere in the world and generally (!? there are exceptions outside the EU) this will be CGT exempt. Certainly, within the EU, you can only be 'fiscally resident' in one place BUT, you will also be liable for relevant taxes on your 'worldwide' income and assets. So, as an EU resident - only ONE property you own, anywhere in the world, can be CGT exempt. The exemption does not extend to one property per country! I would also add that sales of 'foreign' owned property (i.e. owned by non-residents of France) are reported to the relevant tax authorities wherever the owner is fiscally relevant e.g. to HMRC where you are a UK resident selling a property in France. In this situation, as has already been stated, a UK resident would be subject to French AND UK CGT - if the UK CGT rate is higher (it currently is!) based on your nominal income tax rates - double whammy! Chiefluvvie

What complicated lives!! Just use overplay as Norman suggested way back! It costs pennies, works a treat all over the world and does not involve downloading any rubbish software that mucks up your PC. No idea why people persevere with expatshield. Chiefluvvie

Strewth! I see things have moved on a pace here! Of course CGT applies to 'full time residents of France' ! Just like it applies to full time residents of just about anywhere.... Crikey.....

hi sweet - I watch it free online using stopstream.com Takes a minute but worth persevering:- Select the sport, then the stream / match, wait for the countdown timer to finish, close down all the advert windows (look for the tiny x's), close down the windows they open (!).... then - click full screen (normally bottom right of the feed picture). Chiefluvvie :-)

Good point Chris - it's a bit like when I walk out of the flight deck chewing my neatly manicured fingernails - you should see the look on the passengers' faces - no translation needed..... It's about making yourself understood - not about how many conjugations you can manage in 20 seconds! How on earth do 'elderly' people cope when communicating with babies, deaf / disabled people, animals etc - they 'adapt' , they cope and they're understood! You can always find a reason NOT to do something... Bin the French lessons, save the money and get out there! Chiefluvvie :-)

Ok..so...I'm bilingual and therefore not sure how much you value my opinion - but here goes anyway.... Naturally I know many people - friends and family members - who are not bilingual and, none of them have ever expressed a wish to be. Most get along just fine. However, I think it's really important not to give yourself a hard time when learning another language - especially French! It has to be fun or it's pretty pointless. Ok agreed you need to give it a degree of commitment but it is SOOOOO much easier to try and assimilate and naturally absorb French instead of getting tied up in knots with verb tables, grammatical rules and those pesky 'exceptions' - there's ALWAYS an exception to any French language rule! Relax, stop paying out a fortune for pointless lessons that become tortuous, and things will become much, much easier. A colleague of mine has been taking French lessons from his female tennis coach for the past 8 years - he's still at the 'plume de ma tante' stage - makes you wonder doesn't it!!? Chiefluvvie :-)

Hi sid - having to do a bit of work at the moment so in London - could be worse !! :-) I try to have a peak at the forum every now and then - just to keep things in order you understand. Add a little spice to the mix and challenge drivel..... Chiefluvvie :-)

Oh deary me Ronnie - happy to dish it out but can't take it eh? I simply love love your 'I will not bother commenting on the posts from BB and CL....' statement - swiftly followed by your comments on our posts - a little psychotic I feel.,,,,, I was also drawn to your statement that you are 'a little more discerning when it comes to handing anyone your affection and especially your respect' - I guess that's what your open and loving church and priests have taught you have they? I feel so very very sorry for your wife.....sounds like a living hell. Chiefluvvie :-)