Catalpa

[quote user="powerdesal"] ''Hi guys'' doesn't really work, or at least not as far as I am concerned, others may have different opinions of course.[/quote] [;-)] Yes, I do. Speaking as a gal in my late 50s, "guys" is just fine. Might not have been 30 years ago but certainly is now. [:P]

[quote user="Val_2"]...I urge you to think twice before getting carried away with the idea that France is the land of the plentiful work,cheap living and sitting in the sun drinking wine...[/quote] To be fair to Steve, the OP, I don't think wine and sitting was in his mind. I gathered that he was absolutely desperate to work and earn and is looking for validation that time in France at their home there might deliver salvation. I think it's unlikely but I know you know, Val, that when times are tough you look at every possibility. It's just that I can't convince myself that - unless Steve is absolutely sure that there's work available for the taking - getting work in France is a viable option for them.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]I've killed the lavender...[/quote]Well, don't you kill mine... I like lavender... [kiss]

[quote user="Clair"]I didn't tell anyone to "sid off". [/quote] No, and I shouldn't have taken Sid's name in vain... but I didn't see him sitting quietly there at the top of the page. [blink]

I'm sure there are very very hacked off mods on here (cos mods are human too... [:P]) who've had enough of members bending their metaphorical ears over this inept change of forum software? appearance? (which, let's face it, is probably only so Archant can get their change in before another French forum unveils their upgrade) but mods telling a poster to sid off because a) they've complained, presumably out of simple frustration, b) they don't post much and c) when they do their posts haven't been worth much [:'(] is a little... surprising. [6] If Mr Winner could actually register and post, he'd say it's only a forum, no one's life usually depends on posting here - it's not even that active a forum nowadays. The poorly implemented and tested changes ( so it seems to me) are irritating, but I can't see why so many prams appear to be empty of toys.

This is going to be blunt but it is realistic: if you have no money, that is not the time to think of leaving what you know (Eire) and moving to what you don't (France, but pretty much any other country). It is expensive to set up in a new country. If you are thinking of doing so, that's desperation / depression / panic talking and it's a bonkers idea. Which isn't to say I don't feel for your situation because I do - and for everyone else in a similar situation... many of whom are probably British people already here and trying to make a go of it in France and failing. Having a holiday home is not the same as living and working here. If your French house is an asset but costs you money you don't have, have you researched selling it?

[quote user="osie"]...the main issue for me would be content... The old forum showed lots of content in a minimal space. This new one does the reverse.  < snip >  I would like to see main topics and sub topics screen in as little space as possible such that one would hardly need to scroll.[/quote] Seconded. Strongly.

[quote user="Frecossais"]Still, that should be a sobering judgement for the country.[/quote] I doubt it gives a stuff. It's the world's loss, not France's.

JayJay! < waves >

I can't remember when I saw the "call for French hosts" on AngloMisInfo... not more than 6 months ago, more likely October / November last year. ETA: the production company were asking late August last year for volunteers. So I guess the filming was probably done last autumn.

So far, I've not been able to Google their website. I wonder if they've had customers yet.

Will, did you re-register the chip in the UK to your new address or had you updated the French database with the UK address?

Not all work needs l'assurance décennale. For decorating a house, it's not necessary - structural stuff, plumbing, electrics, tiling etc it is but not for painting and decorating. Ordinary British business insurance usually covers work in the EU, not just the UK. So if a British-based workman damaged someone's French home when they fell off their ladder, the cost of remedial work to the building would be covered - providing they had that insurance. When we looked at the possibility of doing some work for a British holiday home owner before we were French-resident, the only "odd" stipulation within the policy was that any dispute arising from the work would have had to be heard in a British court. You can buy cover for overseas medical treatment arising from work accidents - and repatriation to the UK - for workers just as you can buy holiday insurance. Paying tax is no problem - why should it be? Plenty of British residents have French holiday homes from which they derive income in euros or GBP and have no trouble declaring that income and paying tax and, of course, the double taxation treaty means they don't pay twice. Whether it's worth all the effort and additional expense of getting someone over is another discussion but it can be done. Though I'm confident there's a queue of people who will post and disagree. If so, I'll try to care. But I'll probably fail...[:P]

Lovely. [:)] I love the way birds are impervious to the effects of an electric fence! Well, unless they accidentally ground themselves.

[quote user="Théière"][quote user="Quillan"] [quote user="willow"]Is it our imagination or are bookings slow this year???[/quote] I bet you don't get an answer or if you do they will tell you it's their best year ever. [;-)] [/quote] Only 4 weeks for summer left........not bad so far [:)] [/quote]Erm... we're in the b&b / chambres d'hôte section so if you've only got 4 weeks of the summer left for bookings you certainly are doing well. [:-))] I agree that enquiries are slow but my conversion rate is comparable to last year and happily, each booking is tending to be for more nights. Which is just fine by me! So swings and roundabouts, really.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]I've read a few times on here and other forums, comments from people who have said that one of the reasons they like living in France as opposed to the UK is that in the UK there's always an element of "keeping up" with the neighbours, which I feel seems to extrapolate into some sort of desire to impress. [/quote]Yes, Betty. And, more than that, an indication that those who felt pressured by this odd sense of keeping up did, in their minds, fail. So they are more comfortable in France because the cultural references are different and if there's any keeping up going on between French neighbours (and there is [6]) they can't decipher the clues. [:D]

[quote user="suein56"]Yes OK, but, but that is your definition of your status here. [/quote]Obviously. Just as Idun's definition is / was "guest". [quote user="suein56"]On the other hand, you invited yourself here, no French person invited you to come and share their country/department/town/village/hamlet. [/quote]I don't see the relevance. No one invited you to move to Lincolnshire but you could. No one invited me to move to France but under EU laws, I could. How French people choose to pigeonhole us is a different aspect of the discussion. ETA: I've re-thought this. No, resident is not my definition of my status here. I am a resident because I pay my taxes here. Resident immigrant would also fit the bill.

Have you asked your local tourist office for details of local walks? Or your Mairie? In this area, there are a few publications with good, detailed walks, available from those sources. There may also be a walking group in your area so you could join that if they have walks planned when you're visiting. I think hoping for local information to be available for your Kindle is somewhat unrealistic - not least because the Kindle wasn't launched in France till late last year (iIrc) so - even without provincial France's lacklustre use of the internet - being able to download the details of local walks may be a while away. [:D] Enjoy your walks. [8-|]

A resident. Who, in our case, probably pay as much if not more in taxes and cotisations into the French system than most of our rural neighbours - not least because we have declared all the work we've done on the house unlike local French people who've gradually extended into barns and greniers without becoming liable for the associated increases in local taxes. Gatecrashing? What a bizarre perception.

You wanted something to brighten up a dull February morning, didn't you RH? [6]

I'm already staff to 5 cats (and a dog and two rabbits) so I'm not in the market for more but if I was...

I'm a total pushover for ginger cats but isn't Max gorgeously unusual! Here's hoping they find a good home soon.

[quote user="idun"]Riesling? In the Savoie, it's more likely to be a nice little Apremont. [/quote]Of course it is. Elsewhere a nice little Apremont may not be as easy to find. [quote user="idun"]Isn't the Riesling  heavy?[/quote]For my taste no. An Alsacienne riesling works well and simply adds a touch of astringency along with the mild flavour.

I often slice endive - across the round, not lengthways - and mix that in with the sliced potato. The slight bitterness cuts through the richness of the cream and cheese beautifully. And don't forget the glass of white wine - I usually use a Riesling - as you put it into the oven to cook. In France, Lidl has a cheese for Tartiflette - slightly different taste and texture compared to Reblochon - but not as expensive.

Brilliant news, Coops. All best wishes to you both. [:D]