Blodwyn

For the first time boars have been digging up the grass close to my house. I noticed last spring something had dug all round an apricot tree. It didn't bother me as I haven't continued the potager since my husband died, but I cut the grass near the house to make it presentable. They've made a terrible mess so I asked someone with donkeys if he thought electric fencing would deter them. I can't fence it all as a farmer cuts the hay but I could fence the part I use. It woud keep the dog safe too. I was quoted nearly 900 euros, which is a lot for me. A friend said 'What would happen if a boar got through and couldn't get out? Or the dog got out and was scared to come back? So, has anyone tried to deter boars with electric fencing? If so,, did it work?

Update on wasps. In the autumn I was attacked by loads of them; they got into my clothes and I had severall stings. I think they were nesting in a hole in the ground which I unwittingy walked near. I rushed back to the house followed by wasps, flung off the clothes, took two anti-histamine tablets, appled vinegar, sprayed all round. There were at least 20 bodies. I was awake all night with pain and the horrendous itching continued for severall days. I was very scabby! I'm really worried about wasps now.

What's the FE forum? And what did someone say to be banned for life? I was kicked out of something for being rude about Boris!

Hi, Sorry to see you had no replies; the forum seems less active these day and there were several questions! Not sure I can help a lot as I'm certainly no expert.. I think it may be possible to join the Puma system in France until you reach state pension age but I haven't needed to do this so have no information. I think you may have to pay social charges till you get a state pension, as it's only when you have an S1 that your healthcare is paid for by the UK. Until then you would cost the French health service. I have just cashed in a modest UK pension pot (but more than £10k so it isn't treated as 'small'). I live in France so pay tax here and completed a form France Individul for HMRC so get my pensions untaxed. However there seemed to be no way to get the lump sum untaxed so Utmost gave me the 25% tax free that HMRC allows, and taxed the rest at 35%. I now have to reclaim that money and have a nasty feeling I have to complete another France Individual form and get it stamped by the tax office here. From what I've read, you can ask to have the lump sum taxed here at 7.5% - which I intend to do. This means you pay less tax on it than you would in the UK - but obviously you have to be registered with the Impots here in the year you receive it. Assurance Vie seems to be a good way to invest and is not included in your estate. I think you pay tax on the interest only when money is withdrawn. Take care though - there was a letter in The Connexion recently from someone very unhappy with their AV. They lost a lot in charges and when cancelling it. Of course it is a long-term investment and you have to choose your provider carefully. I started an AV 2 years ago and, despite a market crash due to Covid, it has increased considerably. I'm sure other forum members can correct any errors.

I'm going for the first time in 2 years, via RuinAir so won't be able to bring much back. I usually buy a few things that are hard to find or more expensive in France: kitchen stuff, clothes, makeup, food cupboard stuff or Quorn. I was thinking of getting a laptop as mine is dying. Would I be charged 20% tax for importing new things? I know I can't bring cheese or dairy produce, could bring a banana but not an apple!

Someone just reported that they were not allowed to board a flight from the UK to Spain because, although their passport had 6 months until the expiry date, it had less than 6 months looking at the issue date.. 10 years ago, if you renewed your passport early, you were given a bit of extra time on the expiry date. I just checked my old one and I had a month. My new one has the same issue date and expiry date. Worth checking!

Norman, is it needed for flights from the EU (in my case to UK)?

I didn't say the bank told me! I said TP wrote saying my bank had written to them saying 'We ask that you no longer convert the GBP for this beneficiary'. Checking again, TP also said 'Please note that all our overseas payment are made in local currency, not Sterling. So TP will only send in euros but CA has told them not to!

I wonder why that would happen now? I've been receiving the pension into my CA account for at least two years. I suspect that if it has to be paid in sterling CA will charge a fee - and maybe the exchange rate will be less favourable. I will have to go and talk to someone, maybe make an appointment as the manager is often at another branch. The pension is due on 27th so I don't know if Teachers' Pensions will be sending it this month!

Credit Agricole -the only bank in the village#

For once, Montauban has been pretty efficient! I applied in November, had an email telling me to get a rdv online, went to the Prefecture in April with my passport, had fingerprints done again. The card arrived by registered post two weeks later. A friend applying for the first time had an email requesting a copy of her birth certificate; her friend who applied two weeks earlier and was not asked for a birth cert. She now has an appointment in Montauban.

I had a letter from Teacher's Pensions (I get a pension as my husband was a teacher) saying 'We have received the following message from your bank: We ask that you no longer convert the GBP for this beneficiary' I haven't had a chance to ask the bank yet but am puzzled. How can a French bank refuse payments in euros? Could it be another Brexit problem? Could it be that I asked to be taxed in France now? (But that was months ago.)

I don't think I have paper wasps and I don't make a point of annoying wasps, but was stung 3 or 4 times last year. As for them not nesting in a car unless it hasn't moved for months - my car is never still even for a week! (How would the wasps know how long it had been unused anyway?) Of course I try opening windows if I know a wasp is in the car, though that could let more in, but sometimes they just appear and I don't want that when I'm driving. I spray wasps if there's a nest close to the house, trap mice in the kitchen but otherwise let everything live. I hate it when hunters come on my land as I like to see wildlife, but I know deer and boar can damage property and have no other preditors to keep numbers down.

Wow Ken! I think 20 stings might kill me. One resulted in a swollen sore arm that kept me awake. I like bats but haven't experienced them indoors. i don't mind mice outside but don't like them in kitchen drawers and cupboards. Two types of humane trap failed so I had to resort to the other sort. I can't cope with spiders - one of the 100 reasons I miss my husband as he would put them outside. The spikey ones bit. I posted wondering if anyone knew of a wasp deterrent. I don't like killing things and Raid is expensive when I have to spray a car with 4 doors and a hatch.

Thanks Lori. I don't like to kill things, but prefer not to be stung. In a tree across the field is an Asian hornet nest. Apparently they don't return to the nest in spring - but they lurk nearby and build another, I wonder where? Never had a bat in the house; mice despite having 4 cats at the time, lizards, a loir in the loft, deer , rabbits, wild boar outside. It's interesting living in the country.