vette

Peugot too by the looks of it. It's quite disgraceful in my opinion.

Slack reporting I'm afraid. It's just a 3 bed Maisonette and not the Chateau apparently. Mind you, for me, anything would be better than living in Reading.

On the subject of Restaurants. The main difference is that in the UK, you can always find one open. Even on a Monday!

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you all.

If you do end up paying in France at the local office, yes, you can pay by card. I recently did this with both my tax fonc' and tax hab'. No problems at all.

Well at least the proposal has now been dropped as the PM ruled against it today. It probably would have been as much of a farce as the useless breathalyser law.

An update for you all. Today, I went back to the office where I paid the bill. I showed the lady the letter concerning the exemption and she asked if I would like a refund. 804 euro's is a lot of money so there was no way I was going to say no. Anyway, she filled in a few lines on a form, got me to put my address and signature on it and that was that. A refund should be forthcoming in January she said. I presume she means January next year!!! Unlike most French bureaucratic things, this was quite easy. Merry Christmas.

Well, I am now a little more clear on why I am exempt. All to do with my age and household income, etc. Nice to know my Tax Foncieres will be less in the future too. Perhaps!! Here are two links to the information I found should anyone wish to read up on what's what re Tax Hab' & Tax Fonc'. Sorry, you will have to copy and paste. http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/local-property-taxes/ http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/local-property-taxes/fonciere/

When I went online, I saw a different letter posted which showed the deadline. I hope that I read it correctly. Here is a link to that letter; http://proxy-pubminefi.diffusion.finances.gouv.fr/pub/document/18/19996.pdf Hope that helps a little.

Her ladyship said the same to me, what if they decide they want it back. Well, they have got until next March to make their minds up.

I have had exactly the same thing happen this year. I delayed paying the tax to be honest, but when I did, last Monday, the lady in the office wanted to fine me for late payment. I told her I thought that would be criminal, jokingly of course, at which point she waived the fine. The very next day a letter arrived to say that I didn't have to pay. The money will be refunded in March or, if I claim by November 10th, it will be refunded within 3 weeks. Needless to say, the letter arrived on December 1st. So, how many people has this happened to and how much interest will be earned by taxman by March? I too have no idea why I don't have to pay, unless it's to do with my disabled daughter.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]Yeah but the M62 going into Bolton is still cobbled.?[/quote] Haha! Now that did make me smile. Thank you for your wit.

I prefer their neighbouring town of Bury. They still have steam trains running there. Fantastic!!!

We had them visit a few days ago. Definitely earlier than usual. Perhaps they are trying to beat the Xmas rush!!! They are from the Ambrieres les Vallees station. They did well this year, 5 euros from me and 10 from the better half.

Having travelled through the tunnel more than 300 times over the past 10 years, I am probably qualified to make some observations. Firstly, going from the UK to France is usually hassle free with the odd explosives check and sometimes, no checks whatsoever from anybody. Sometimes, just a cursory wave from the French checkpoint. Secondly, travelling from France to the UK through the UKBA checkpoint at Calais. Well, it's as though there is a deliberate intention to slow things down. I sometimes wonder what the point of a Biometric Passport actually is. Thirdly, since the system at Calais was altered so that you go through Passport control before entering the rest area, things have definitely become worse. That's my take on it anyway.

We have never done that. The only thing we went to the Marie for was for them to register our car, which they kindly did. We have been here for nearly 10 years and also have a business. Maybe it's a regional thing that some don't bother with. Having said that, it's a fairly small place where most folk know each other anyway.

That's one way to neutralise some of the competition I suppose. Probably be a big fiddle anyway.

Carry on using your existing password. If it works then I would assume a possible scammer is trying to get you to change things.

Google maps! HA!! Yesterday we decided to visit Ikea in Rennes. Off we set, Google map on the phone, all working just fine with the English lady directing us until, all of a sudden, an American lady started giving directions. It was like the two of them were having a contest and worst of all, they were giving different directions. Luckily, we found Ikea, but on the way back, the same thing happened causing me to make a couple of U-turns. Totally bizarre.

At least we are still able to cycle Sid. Les.

Hi Sid. Yes, I knew Harry Hall from his shop in Manchester city centre. I bought one of his hand made bikes. It was state of the art at the time, full Campag set up, metallic silver with 6" chromed front and rear forks. Beautiful bike. I was a member of Seamons CC in Altrincham in those days. Just been out today on my new Cannondale over 15.6 miles of the last Tour de France course. Lovely day for it here in the Mayenne. Harder work now though at my tender age of 64. Les.

I take it you remember Tommy Simpson then Sid. 1966, in those days I used to ride every day from Peel Hall to Trafford Park engine sheds where I worked. Happy days indeed. Les.

A Parafoudre is put in place to protect electrical items from surges. I have a couple just in case. TV/Satellite box, big fridge/router box, etc. Unfortunately, if the power trips due to a lightning strike, it will stay tripped and not come back on until you return home and reset it yourself. I would love something that could switch the power back on but it doesn't exist if I'm not mistaken.

It will probably pass not too far from us. I will have to find a more detailed route map. Luckily, the tour has gone through our local village of Ambrieres les Vallees twice in the past 9 years. It's a great day out for us. I've just ordered a new Cannondale so I plan to ride some of the route myself soon. Well, maybe next summer!

Mint. Your quote; Just ask around local to you about your Norauto however. We went to our local branch for change of brake pads and I have posted on here about squealing brakes! Never hurt to ask around? Mint, just a point about squealing brakes. The backs of the new pads should have been copper slip greased. That is what stops the noise in most circumstances. Hope that helps. Les.