Charlotte3

  Of course I'm an immigrant!  It's not a form of slander but a word which describes someone who immigrates to a country (in this case France) from their country of origin.Those of us who live here will all remain immigrants for the rest of our time here unless we successfully apply for French citizenship. I work for a French company and found it very hard to come to terms with for the first while, but my French colleagues had every right to resent me being there for this very reason.  After several years it's much better, but to them I will always be an immigrant. Even when I apply for citizenship here I doubt if they'll agree that I'm technically French! Aly

[quote user="J.R."] Most larger jobs around here, especially for companies that can't afford to sit waiting in hope that some day the artisan might deign to arrive, are done by Belgium companies. Like the new shopping centre going up very close to me and the recently completed new airport, by the rapid rate of construction and the way that the airport was completed and snagged according to schedule I would think that the main contracts have some element of penalty clause. I very much doubt that these would be accepted or even understood by most building companies and artisans local to me, more the pity for if I had used and enforced such contracts I would still be sitting in an unfinished ruin but slightly better off[:D] [/quote] I live and work in north west France, and we do lots of municipal contracts.  Penalty clauses are a part of life and are dealt with efficiently and speedily!! (For example, I have just three weeks to decorate a new sports centre using just me and one other worker!) Perhaps immigrants to France don't realise that there is an accute shortage of appropriately qualified people in the building and related trades. That's why you may have to wait for a while to get work done. It's nothing to do with people taking their time on jobs!!!  We just can't get the staff! Aly

That's definitely not a Solex, Pierre! Mind you, I wouldn't mind seeing the owner, bet he's a genuine character....it's not you is it? Solexes (?sp) are now being produced again although in very small numbers, saw a lovely daffodil yellow number in Vitre not so long ago. Still think I'll buy a scooter tho! Aly

Nick wrote: "What really pisses me off is when I lose electrical work to obviously unregistered lethal crooks, mainly because their "clients" are, or prefer to, remain, ignorant of how it "works", here. One day, I am going to start reporting illegal workers around here and the people that employ them - it is so easy to find them via this and other sites. Do you beileve that the authorities don't use AI-B to trace black workers? I do." Well said Nick! Incidentally, France is not obsessed with "French" qualifications, France is obsessed with European qualifications. Britain is out of step with the rest of Europe, not the other way round. Just because Britain allows any Tom, Dick or Harry to work in skilled occupations without qualifications, why should France?  I don't "think" I know what qualifications are required to work in France as a painter and decorator, I KNOW what qualifications are required. Anyone can find the information if they look for it, it is freely available! Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Aly 

Also, because building (for example) is a regulated trade, you MUST be qualified in France. It's illegal to register, for example, as an interior designer (no formal qualifications required in France) and then to perform work as a painter and decorator( formal qualifications required in France).  Why can't people just stick to the (French) law? What is it about the British immigrants here that makes them think they can flout the law?  It makes me so cross!!!!! I personally know of several people who have internet companies registered as limited companies in England, but who live and work in France. While they pay cotisations andtax here they flout the law as regards qualifications by registering as something different here. ( For example one local ladyworks as an internet estate agent while registered in France as giving management advice to companies). The problem is that when you complain to the authorities they aren't anxious to follow it up because the person is paying into the system!  How can you win? Sorry, on my soap box again!! I'm going for a drink, Aly

I did (fleetingly) think of the MP3, but even I dismissed it as just too w......y! Really, I wouldn't be seen dead on it, sorry, silly pun given my situation!!!! Also wouldn't be seen dead on the BMW things with the roof, saw one in Paris and all I could think of was w....r! Definitely not for someone whose first love is bikes! Personally I love the Daks, but I'm not sure I could live with the shame...I work with some serious bikers and have suffered enough this past few years! Anyway, OH (bless him) and I are going to Mayenne on Saturday just to check that I haven't missed out on any new developements on the scooter front ( perhaps someone has released a model I don't know about..). When I am sure I have seen averything available I'll choose something and hopefully be in possession of just before our annual holidays in July.  That'll give me three weeks of practice before anyone I know will see me on the road, bright and bushy tailed and rearing to go!! Where will I put my ladders and paint?  OH suggests up my a..e (not very ladylike I say), which is funny because he is broader in the haunches than me, so perhaps he could transport them for me on his bike? (Actually, my boss supplies vans for just this purpose:)  ) Thanks yet again all, Aly  

You really would be better to go to an "opthalmologist". Check the yellow pages.  You can then go online or to an opticians for your glasses...if you need bifocals etc. it's better to go to an optician for your first pair. Don't ever go to an opticians in France for your first eye test, they only do a very basic test. Aly

As an ouvrier qualifiee (qualified worker) herre in France, I can tell you theat most people make minimum wage, or just over.  Almost all young people either live at home with their parents, or else share small appartments.  I would love to know how people in these jobs survive without family in France, especially Paris ( I would love to live in Paris). I do hope you find a way to do this, if you do, can I visit? Really, really really good luck!!!! Aly

Exactly, either do it right, or don't do it at all. There are loads of individuals, almost exclusively English, who want to report you to the authorities! Aly

Portage companies are really for people who have a fixed term contract with a client, not for ongoing businesses. They take control of the contract. They actually form the contract between themselves and your client, your client then pays them at the end of said contract and they (eventually) pay you, less your social charges and their fee, but not tax. It's really supposed to be for people (artisans for example) who are offered one one-off job at a time, rather than an ongoing business. (You can only bend the rules so far.) Good luck, Aly

Ours (Gorron 53) changed to Gedimat, better range of stock, same staff. Aly

Sorry,  forgot to say that some communes demand that documents be translated, ours doesn't. Aly

My OH and I have looked into this with a view to getting married next summer (if I'm not married by my 50th birthday I reckon it's probably too late!!). We do live in France. As Sunday Driver says, the most important thing is to visit your Mairie. The rules vary greatly depending on your local committee's attitude towards the rules. (Some will be prepared to bend the rules about residency but others will not.) We got a really helpful leaflet from ours detailing everything we need and then I phoned the consulate in Paris who were able to put my mind at rest about all the legal documents needed. They do have to be applied for within 3 months of the proposed marriage because in France this is the maximum length of validity for many legal documents in France.  At first it seems impossible, but when you actually get to grips with it, it really isn't so bad. (Mind you, at my age  I do resent a medical exam from the doctor to ensure that if I got pregnant the baby would be Ok!!!) It will be a bit expensive, and only you will know if they can stand being married by your local Mayor in the committee chamber of your commune....definitely not glamorous! Good luck, Aly  

It's not always always water based (same as varnish), we use it in work all the time.. I know it's expensive, but it gives the best longest lasting finish. Certainly, stained varnish is cheaper. I suppose it just depends what you want to spend. On floors or worktops etc. the best finish is obtained using a short haired roller.  Liquid wax tends to attract dust. Aly

I never thought I'd be drive one, but today has changed my mind! Used some of the old folding euros on No2 daughter last night (always works, doesn't it?) and OH and I took off for a wee jaunt this morning, he on the bike and me, much to my shame on Ann's scooter. Well, I've got to tell you all it was absolutely fabulous.... nothing to do but steer the thing, so easy to ride I couldn't believe it! After an hour or so fighting my natural inclination to head for the ditch we stopped at a plan d'eau. I mentioned to OH that she sounded a little rough and on checking the oil found that there wasn't any!!! Nice one, Ann! So of course we had to head to the closest Ecomarche to get some. I'm proud to say that I negotiated the busy (church getting out time) town centre, avoided a rather foolhardy pedestrian who had the temerity to cross the zebra crossing just as I approached it  (silly man), negotiated the roundabout and coped quite well in the busy and very cramped car park. I was feeling very pleased with myself until I realised that we'd parked right beside two of the biggest touring bikes I've ever seen....talk about embarrassed! Anyway, went home, oiled up the scooter properly, quick cup of sugary coffee (and the obligatory chocolate biccy) for my nerves and off out again. Two hours later we got back to the house, and do you know I haven't had so much fun in years!! I've even got over the heading for the ditch thing! I'm totally converted.And no gear changes, so no sore leg! I have been checking out 125cc scooters on the internet, but I wasn't sure that my nerve hadn't completely gone. I have looked at a really spivvy MBK Skycruiser and was suitably impressed.....fuel injected engine, onboard computer etc., a real top of the range job, and I think I'll go ahead and get it.After everything that's happened in the last few years I reckon I deserve it! I am going to keep the CM though... you never know, some day my leg might stop aching, and in the meantime I'll have all that lovely chrome to polish!! ( and she does look so pretty in the garden on a sunny day) Sorry for wittering on, but I'm just so happy to be back on two wheels....now I can't wait for the summer hols for some lovely long runs! Thanks again for all your support, Aly

I'm sorruy but I'm not familar with this product (been over here too long!!), but you could try this.... Paint a sample piece of wood (an offcut etc) with your Ronseal product and take it along to your local Brico type place. (don't worry about the type of wood you take, it's just so they can try to match the colour) Most of them have someone who speaks some English so don't worry if your French is less than fluent, and ask them to match the colour with a similar product. So long as the finish looks similar the job should be OK. Don't get too worried about the technicalities, at the end of the day you want the whole deck to look the same, and that's it! Any equivalent French product will offer much the same protection to the wood. I wouldn't be tempted to mix the two products either, just in case they don't have the same makeup, just use them side by side and you should be fine. Let me know how you get on, Aly

Assuming you have bought "mastic" you've got the right thing. We use this all the time when reglazing in work and yes, it does take an age to dry, but it will eventually! Aly 

What you need is vitrificateur (?sp) incolore finition brilliant. We use masses of this stuff in work for exactly the same work. Use it on any woodwork needing a varnished finish without changing the colour of the wood. You can get it in coloured versions as well (incolore means colourless). This product can be used anywhere including floors, stairs, worktops, doors etc., although it's always better to use the aspect ciree finish on stairs and floors! The first coat will soak in so you will need several coats bo build up to a shine.  To be honest a more traditional finish is "aspect ciree" which gives a finish that looks like wax and is more authentic. (Just a slight sheen rather than a shine). Hope this helps, Aly

Colorant  Universal........universal stainers in English. It just means they can be used in any type of decorating paints. Vinyl (or the French version - Acrylic) silk, matt etc. Also in all other things like oil based gloss or satin, clear varnish, polyurethane finishes etc etc. (In fact anything you can imagine). Always use a little at a time because certain stainers "take" suddenly....you can be happily adding lots with very little change when suddenly the colour changes much more than you want it to!  A handy colour to keep in the house is grey because it can tone down colours that are a little too vivant! Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder (not your jealous neighbour). Happy mixing! Aly

[quote user="Gluestick"] Quite obviously, it would have been totally impossible for them to keep umpteen thousand tins of paint in all the manufacturers colours in stock: and, bear in mind in cellulose, acrylic and synthetic, in those days. So it was all mixed. The mixing was achieved by using a very accurate electronic scale to weigh out the precise amount of each type of pigment for the desired colour; the proportions were all taken from charts. However, even then, invariably the pain did not match and had to be blended and tinted. The worst were metallics.............................. Today, spectrographic analysis makes for more accuracy. A very hard job, even for an expert, by eye.   [/quote] Same thing now, only computerised! 20 years ago I was mixing household paints using the old version of the new machines, and yes, sometimes the tin lid came undone.......not at all pretty, but gave the apprentices something to do cleaning the mess up! If properly measured, the mix was always accurate, although various things, like lighting in situ caused what were apparently (but not acually) variations in colour. There is also the problem of all individuals seeing colours in slightly (or not) different ways, so what looks accurate to the original shade in the shop will not necessarily look accurate in situ, etc. Spectographic analysis:  Not new..... the first manual for the use of  SA was published in 1882 by John Browning of London, England (1835 - 1925), and has been in common use in the paint trade for many, many years. I never found it hard ( by eye), only very interesting.....but then I have an excellent eye for colour. Aly 

You can also use any tube of acrylic paint bought from an art shop! Aly

ianf,  Talk to me about pork... we tend to eat lots of it because it's cheap.  Interestingly, my brother had a pigs heart valve implanted to replace his faulty one because pigs are the nearest genetic matches to us humans... is this anything to do wih it? If things are getting too negative please pm me, Aly

We were llowed to stay in our house with a porapotti until mains drainage goes in, four years ago they said it would probably be in 2 years time, so we're getting a bit fed up! Other houses in the village drain into the storm drains, but thats not legal now, so we're stuck with the portable solution!!! Note:  We were only allowed to stay in the house because we were fraudulently sold the property as being on mains drains.  Be careful what you do... the mairie has the right to condemn the house. Aly

Just curious, Why the Douane?  Why not the local police? Something we've thought of as well, so I'm curious. Aly

Wow, this is amazing! I'm type O positive, I briefly suffered IBS shortly after my children were born, although the doctor put it down to my very stressful lifestyle. ( Hugely stressful job and two babies under 1 year old).  I have beaten cancer once when I was 17, and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism shortly after. I have now, 30 years later, a tumour in my throat (beside the thyroid gland) which so far is benign but is monitored constantly. I was told by my specialist all those years ago that the chances were that cancer would kill me eventually, so I'm really on borrowed time I suppose! Interestingly, my daughter was wheat intolerant (and also hyperactive) as a toddler, although this developed into infantile athsma which eventually disappeared about age 7. She was also lactose intolerant when born and suffered almost two years of excema(?sp), horrific nappy rash and colic before anyone would listen to me. Eventually goats milk did the trick, but the recommended soya milk did not. I'm not saying this book is correct or not, but you have to admit there are a lot of coincidences in my personal experience.  Sometimes you just know by instinct that something is right for you. When I had the problems with my daughter my health visitor told me ALWAYS to listen to what you own instincts because that was the way that mother nature communicated with you She said it is an ancient instinct that modern man has largely blocked out, like telepathy etc, but that's a whole other topic! It's just really interesting, don't you think?  (If something cannot be scientifically proven, does it mean it's not true?  Bit like what my surgeon said about cancer.) Aly