Downunder

[quote]I changed my UK licence to a french one which had and still has on it every class but a motorbike(even though I have a little moped called "taz ")on it,no problem at all to have it changed,six week wa...[/quote] Another query please.  If we should want to buy a car in France and own a UK licence even though the address is wrong, haven't had contact with insurers for 3 years now (to confirm ncb) what would be the procedure please.  Anybody know?  Or is it more prudent that we'd be better off showing Aus licence then at least we'd be able to have confirmation from insurers here that we have a ncb? Gosh there's so much to deal with

[quote]I take your point, I just don't trust insurance companies. Like Franklin Roosevelt said about banks, people who lend you an umbrella when the sun is shining but ask for it back as soon as it starts to...[/quote] What a great response.  Thank you very much everyone for your input.  As the licence is dated until 2009 we'll leave well alone. P.S. I wish I'd had this sort of response to my enquiry for somewhere to stay in the Indre

Please could someone enlighten us as to what the procedure is to be able to drive in France where we hold an English current licence but no longer live in that country, also have a current Australian one and would, for the time being, want to occasionally rent a car until we find somewhere permanent to live.  We hold EU passports if that's of any consequence.  

Hi We're a couple in our mid 60's relocating from downunder and would like to rent self catering appartment/studio/flat from probably late June through to end of August this year.  I have posted in relevant section but thought general posting might be more successful. Rent to be no more than 400 euros p.m. Thanks P.S. we're very well housetrained, honest and reliable Reference available from a previous housesit in Provence if req.

Can anyone help please?  We're a couple in our mid 60's relocating from Australia and wish to rent a self catering appartment/studio/flat from late June through to end of August 2005 in Lille.  Desired rent no more than 400 euros per month.  Thanks Downunder 

Please can anyone tell me if there's a forum similar to this one for Spain. Haven't been able to source Living France Spain where we live in Aus. Thanks Libby  

[quote]HiDon't know about the general situation in France as a whole ,but I can speak from personal experience.My mother has had two major operations in the last year, one in the UK and then as an emergency ...[/quote] It certainly exists here in Victoria, Australia and caused many deaths which have not been reported.  My husband's mother died 30 years ago with it and I worked in a country hospital for 15 years where only when it was time for accreditation did we see any real cleaning.  I was in hospital last year and ended up cleaning the toilet, used by male and female, in the ward at weekends as no cleaning staff are available on those two days.  I also witnessed a senior nurse emptying a bedpan, not washing her hands and coming to my bed to change a dressing.  I absolutely dread the thought of having to go into hospital here and was really hoping France might be more up to date with it's cleanliness.  I've heard such glowing reports from friends who have had the misfortune to go into hospital there so perhaps it's not quite as big a problem as elsewhere in the world but aproblem nevertheless.unsure:

[quote]Interest rates in the Euro zone are very low, hence low savings rates. You could always stick with ING, who operate from Holland (IIRC) and offer Euro savings accounts. Otherwise, stick with the UK co...[/quote] Do you know if you can open an ING account from overseas i.e. Australia in England without having a permanent address there.  Would the same apply to Holland.  We are at present getting 5.25%.   Thanks Libby

[quote]I was aware that some french people do this, but no one I know would is even prepared to consider it. Also, I feel that the recent laws would protect his new wife anyway, apart from the tax aspect ofc...[/quote] When I first posted my original query re the above I felt fairly confident that this contract would suit our situation but after reading all the posts over the past weeks I'm now more confused than ever.  It isn't that important to us at present as we are not in a position to live in France at the moment anyway but it would help to feel confident we could organise our affairs satisfactorily once we're there.  I did mention before that a French friend of ours did not receive a cracker when her father died two years ago and neither was she ever asked to sign anything prior.  She said her father and stepmother entered into the CU, which she found out only after his death.  She sought legal advice which cost her a great deal but was told she had no rights.  How does this sit with those of you who seem so confident that this is not so? There seems to be so many conflicting views which makes us nervous but it would be interesting if there had been a test case so maybe the question could be answered once and for all.  Trouble is no one case is the same. 

:blushardon! My questions re the marriage contract are in the wrong box. 

[quote]Now that I've got over my last little panic about our house move being delayed, I feel at liberty to have another panic now. The acte finale should be October 18th, and the notaire has sent us a note...[/quote] Good morning - A couple of questions have come to mind since reading the posts on the subject of Communaute Universelle.  l.  What happens if the surviving spouse wants to sell up and leave France?  Does it then revert back to the original problem of children inheriting and the surviving spouse/children paying inheritance tax? 2. If renting instead of owning a property would this still be the way to go? 

[quote]"how do you get solicitors moving" Well actually Jill, some solicitors are quite unperturbed by the hassles of us moving and therefore either do not inform their clients properly of the process due t...[/quote] It certainly is a nightmare selling houses and you have my sympathy.  The system in England is dreadful and must cause many a breakdown!  When we sold ours in Suffolk to come to Australia we had had it up for sale for a few months with no luck, took it off the market for 3 months then changed to a different agent,  Seemed to do the trick but could have been sheer luck.  What I wanted to mention though is that we used a Conveyancing clerk from a company in Ipswich.  This young lady was absolutely fantastic and did more for us than anyone could have asked. We were transferring our house money to Aus and it was crucial we met a deadline.  She pulled out all stops and even went into her office on a Sunday to clear all other work so she could give our business her undivided attention on the Monday.  We were charged under 300 pounds, nothing extra, unlike our purchasers whose solicitor was an absolute pain, paid 800 pounds.  Needless to say we sent this young lady a huge bunch of flowers.  I just thought I'd mention our experience as everyone is mentioning solicitors and by using a clerk maybe could save themselves a heap of money.:wow  

[quote]Downunder, having lived in both countries I fear you will find prices a real shock in France in comparison to those at home. We found food to be excellent value in Aus and lived like M. Chirac most o...[/quote] Hi Margaret  Thanks for your response.  We live on the Mornington Peninsula Victoria and do enjoy a mild climate although the summers can be a bit much but in Victoria it never lasts for long.  As you may have heard we can have four seasons in one day! Price of wine varies here greatly e.g. yesterday we found exactly the same bottle we've been buying for $ll.00 (5.70 euros) priced at $17.00!!  You have to know where to buy.  One of the problems with Aussie wine is that they sell it too young and it can play havoc with your digestive system.  The government put on a hefty tax for the vintage wine so naturally the growers are anxious to sell it on quickly. Sometimes you can be lucky and source a good one quite cheaply I think maybe I should have answered your post privately as I'm sure no-one else would be interested in all of this I'm sure France will be more expensive as we found it to be in the U.K. 2 years ago but Australia has become more expensive too with council taxes rising considerably this year especially and fruit and veg because of the drought.  However I guess it's horses for courses.  It comes down to what you want to do with your life and whether you're willing to face a challenge.  We've had plenty of those out here over the past 40 years!!!  If we could buy a smallish house with garden, fruit trees would be a bonus, we'd have a bit left over to invest so maybe our total income wouldn't be so meagre.  I did write to someone in France about the top-up and was quoted 1200 euros for both of us but I've since learned we could get it cheaper depending on the cover we'd want.    My husband is an excellent artist so perhaps could generate some income by selling paintings too which he did in England.  Where there's a will so they say but at our age we can't afford to be stupid Eileen    

[quote]We don't buy any ready made meals or fizzy drinks or flavoured water etc. Our shopping bills in the UK were below all our friends but they were always amazed when they came over for a meal how well w...[/quote] Having just read every posting on the subject of cost of living in France including the above I wonder if I'm living in a fool's paradise thinking my husband and I could live in France on our Australian pension!  We're ex-pats and are avid francophiles and it's long been our dream to return to Europe and buy a small property somewhere in France.  We're in our 60's and would be in receipt of an Australian pension which equates roughly to about ll,400 euros per annum.  We're not afraid to cut our cloth accordingly and I'm more than capable of producing appetising meals without being extravagant.  However, being realistic is more to the point and it's no good kidding ourselves if we're going to be put under stress to manage on such a small income.  For instance we don't have the heating bills you'd have there which after reading your posts sound horrendous.  We already have to pay for seeing specialists here for our health even though we have medicare which pays a proportion, doctors the same.  I guess though the top up insurance would cost a great deal more but am not sure.  I guess what I'm asking is if there is anyone in a similar position to that which we would be in and do they manage to have a reasonable standard of living.  Our desire to return to Europe is very real and our hearts and souls are there even though our family is here.  Our children. god bless em, are totally self sufficient and live their own lives so leaving them as we've done many times before is not a problem. Please feel free to email me privately if you wish.            

[quote]Hi! we went to see our notaire about this very thing yesterday. We got married earlier this year and seem to be in the same situation as yourselves in that we would want the property to go to the sur...[/quote] Hi Athene  Yes please, I would be delighted to hear the results of your visit.  Now I come to think of it I now begin to understand what a French friend of ours told us a long time ago when she missed out on inheriting anything from her father's estate.  It appears he entered into a marriage contract (I thought she meant they went to a church but totally misunderstood what she was trying to explain to a dumb Aus/Pom)at the age of 86 with his second wife and our friend, sadly, didn't inherit a penny or should I say a euro!  I only say this because her circumstances are dire and even a little would have helped her a great deal.  In my siblings case they are very well heeled and don't need whatever is left when we've finished living it up