Emma and David<P>Emma and David <P><P>Montaigu<P>

Peter, the table you have got is really interesting, where did you find it?? Also Have you got any further information on how much the different licenses would cost?  I'd be very interested in Classe 2 for the B&B I'll be opening next year. Thanks Emma

Dear all, I wanted to say Thank you!!! Has been great to have people looking at the site and to hear your feedback!  Please do keep checking it and if anyone has any opinions or ideas, please let us know, we are so open to suggestions!! Similarly if anyone is sitting on the fene about making a move over to france and would like some pros or cons (if I can think of any) then just ask, I'd be pleased to help whoever I could. Thanks again  

Hi there, I agree with everything everyone else has said, if you are inviting them just for drinks then make sure you say the invitation is for aperitifes and if you are going to cook then say pour diner, that way they won't gte confused! I find our neighbours so relaxed and as interested by the cultural differences as we are so don't worry too much about what to do, they will appreciate it anyway.  Just offer plenty!!!  And if you're not sure about wine then ask their opnion, they'd love to show you what they know! Bon appetite! Emma

We have had exactly the same situation, it is self-leveling concrete you've got there, was used to make slightly bumpy floorboards flat.  The only way to get itoff is to use a hammer and bang it so it cracks and then you can sweep it. Although we have been playing with the idea of taking up all floorboards carefully and turning them over...don't want any to split though. Good luck Emma

http://frenchbnb.blogspot.com Thought I'd pop this link on, its to the BLOG I've been writing since arriving in France this year, thought it would make you all laugh. I update it regularly so keep an eye out! Emma P.S Admin - this is NOT advertising, I gain nothing from the BLOG, it is just an online diary!

Oh my gosh! Did I not put the address for it on?!  Oh dear it is http://frenchbnb.blogspot.com Sorry about that!  Thanks for looking, let me know what you think Emma

We will one day be opening a B&B in the Allier, but it seems a lifetime away as the house is in need of more than just a lick of paint. I have created a BLOG full of posts and pictures as a kind of online diary. It was first created so that our friends and family could keep up to date on our progress. But I thought if ever you are bored it might make a good time filler. You can see just how NOT to renovate a house, how to get 20 french teenagers in your pool or how to make an excellent chicken liver pate! This is not advertising I would just like to add, I gain nothing from people looking at the BLOG, just thought it might make you laugh! Happy blogging!

We have recently moved out to France with an aim to create a B&B, whilst that is still very much our goal we have found out that it is a year or 2 away as our roof is one rainfall away from collapsing in on itself!! So whilst i wait for the roof to be repaired so i can start my B&B, David is steaming ahead with his new business. www.dwhitehouse.co.uk I do hope I am not breaking too many rules by posting this! Please do check the site out and perhaps we could help each other.... also for general interest we have created a BLOG, you can look at this to laugh at out DIY efforts at http://frenchbnb.blogspot.com

Dear Jenny, Your post made me interested in Wild Boar, it is indeed delicious. I don't have any personal recipes but I did a search on goole and found this website: http://www.britishwildboar.org.uk/Recipe Is quite good, they have some nice roast Boar recipes. If you get any good tips let me know. Emma

Hi Gary, We are currently in the middle of a massive renovation project and we are doing most of it our selves. I can't answer many of your questions, but I do know that in France the electrics must have an EDF certificate. ths means that the work either has to be carried out by a EDF registered electrician or by yourself and then checked by an EDF eletrician to be given the appropriate certificate. I think the same hing applies with plumbing but not roofing. I hope I have shone the tiniest light! Best of luck

Oh Gosh Steve! That's awful! I did PM you once though, remember? But it turned out we were too far away to be able to meet up. How are you finding things now? Is it still hard to settle and make friends? I was thinking that if that was still the case maybe you could join a class or club and make friends that way. Maybe a language school or cookery classes or something. That way you will meet people and learn something. Or you could advertise your dog walking skills and maybe people will pay you to walk their dogs and then you can meet people that way. Just ideas... I moved to France recently too and I'm young, it is difficult making it work, but with a little perserverance you'll do it! If you and your partner are ever down towards the Auvergne then please let me know as we'd love to meet up for a beer! Best of luck Emma

Hi Anna, It was David and I that PM'd you! Sorry you can't reply either! If you would like to email us, our address is [email protected]. Best of luck with everything. Emma

I have had a few quotes from architects to do plans for us, one was for about 3,500 Euros but this was extensive work, for a plan of the house, a plan of works and a plan to go to the batiments de france for the facade etc. Another chap quoted 2000 Euros but this was just a plan of what the house will look like and he worked for a large company that do all the work too, and said that it would cost between 300 and 700 Euros a square metre for them to do the work. The Architect we eventually had working for us is dong it for about 1000 Euros and is doing a current plan of the house and a future plan of the house. Hope that helps. Emma

Which part of France excatly?  We are in the Auvergne in Central France, would that be appropriate?  

I will definatly be doing table d'hote when David and I open for business next year, but I have a few (silly) questions. When you serve table d'hote do you always sit with your guests?  You see, I feel that if I am serving 2-4 guests it won't be a problem to sit with them but when it is more than that I would feel that I would rather stay in the kitchen and serve them restaurant style as it is easier to handle the cooking and timing that way. Also, when you serve food do you do it very 'en famile' style by putting it on the table and allowing people to help themsleves or do you plate it up and give it to them 'restaurant' style. Also (!!), do you include wine in the price of your meal and do you do it by the half litre or bottle, and do you give them a choice of colour wine? Thanks for your advice and consideration Emma

Dear all, I am trying to find out where I can buy mini bottles of shower gel/shampoo/soap for our B&B.  I have read that they sell them in Cash and Carry's over here,but I don't know the name of any stores and haven't been able to locate one.  can anyone help?  I am willing to drive a little way in order to stock up.  I live near Vichy in the Auvergne. Or if any-one has any other suggestions.. Thanks Emma

Hi there all, I've just spotted this part of living France! David and I have just moved to a small village near Varennes-Sur-Allier, if anyone is local then we would greatly appreciate making some new friends and practicing our french! Hope to hear from you Emma

Oh! It is such a shame we are not yet open for business!  We will be opening a Chambre D'hote next summer and we are right between St.Etienne and Lyon, just off the N7!! In our area there are some nice B&B's, there is one in Lapalisse, which is 4 epis but reasonably priced. and I thik she does Table d'hote.  Also a michellin recommended restaurant in Bouce near Varennes-Sur-Allier which is good. Buona vacanza! Emma  

Thanks for your reply. It is encouraging to know that other people have been in my place.  I'm going to improve my French as much as possible but even so I know these things take time, and the longer I'm out here the better and easier it'll get. Great tip on getting people to confirm their booking by email. Was it yourself Coco, that had the GdF lady round recently, did you make a decision on them? How much do they charge for people booking at your through their website? Is it easy enough to get into other guide books (alistar Sawday, Michelin???!!) Thanks for your advice and support.  

We have a large Oil tank and boiler for both CH and hot water.  But we're still in renovation stage of the property so we will not be installing new system for a few months, but obviously it is something we have to think about now.

Ha ha! Ok, I shall start panicking!  That was probably the best response I could have had actually as it forces me to get in gear.  I would say my french is much better than "holiday" level, but I understand what you mean about never being as good as you hope it might be. right, on with learning Merci

Dear All, thank you so much for your replys, you are all so helpful! I don't knwo where I ave heard all this silly info, i guess on the grapevine, different rumours come about, you must have had similar situations when you first came out here! Great on not having to need a TdS, will get one anyway probably as they sound useful. Didn't realise the info about getting E form from Newcastle, but will sort that out ASAP. All the questions you have raised about David and my marital status is interesting, and certainly amunition for me to pressure him with!!! Thank you once again. I wish i could offer some help to you but the only thing i'm good at over here at the mo is crashing down walls and cooking!!  

[quote]A titre de sejour does not replace anything at all, it is french ID for foreigners. Passports are necessary and I would always keep mine up to date. You should have sorted out your E forms with Newca...[/quote] Also, there is no way I would be unmarried, ie living with someone, in France at all. Sorry but partner means nothing at all, it means that you could go out and marry someone else immediately. Inheritance is complicated enough here without two strangers sharing things and the 60% inheritance it attracts when someone dies.   Perhaps I'm being a little gormless here but what do you mean inheritance problems?  I am only 24!  I am not planning on letting anyone get any inheritance off me for a while and I'm sure David and I will marry soon. In the mean time does our unmarriedness cause us problems?  So far we have had to have a certificate to prove that I am his concubine for insurance purposes! 

We are not asking for anything from the state, i did not expect anything from them till we earn, but I know I need a carte de sejour to be able to see the doctor here.  I thnk so at least.   And where is our money coming from, cheeky question!  No it is no savings, we do not earn any interets, we earn no money of any description! Thanks for your advice.

I am going to be starting a B&B with my partner next year.  My french is currently "Good"  I have worked in france before briefly, his french is not so good!  Although I can get along with people reasonably well, i do have to ask them to repeat themselves quite a bit. I am willing to go to a course, and I know David has to, but what level does my French need to be?  I mean i can't imagine that i shall ever know every word! Did any of you start a ChD with not perfect French? Did you cope, or shall I start panicking!