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Karen_Ian

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  1. I'm sure I'll read le Bal. I recommend Irène Némirovsky also. Having read Suite Française last week I went to the library and got 'Chaleur du Sang' (sure that's the title!) - quite short but good also. Though written a long time ago the story and people are very alive. I also borrowed her 1st novel 'David Golder' so looking forward to reading it.
  2. These are the people you need to register with... http://www.lamaisondesartistes.fr/ It's easy enough from what I remember - I'm sure there's a form online. Then they'll send you a form to fill out once a year, you can only fill it in once you've had your tax form cos you have to send a copy of it. We were unsure the first year so went to the tax office and they were very helpful (tho not very used to deaing with artists!) It's my partner who registered and unfortunately being an artist in France doesn't pay the bills....
  3. Wow thanks for that...didn't know anything about it. I shall certainly be looking into it - though trying to get the mileage figures for last year will be a bit of a job. I'd best get something set up now for this year. Thanks for the links Karen
  4. Thanks for all the comments - and the better link! Yes, I agree Simon Hoggart is a good writer and as the Sat guardian was always a 'treat' for us (no sunday papers for us!) we still read it on line and so spotted it ourselves. Amazingly we'd only sent it to him last Mon! And a copy went off to Matt Lucas this morning! Great minds eh? Thanks again. I'm really delighted for him.
  5. Hi, I just wanted to share our pleasure with you...my partner has written a book (french linked) and if you read the link below (about half way down the page look for the name Ian Andrews) Simon Hoggart mentioned it in the Guardian this weekend! WOW! http://politics.guardian.co.uk/columnist/story/0,,1962240,00.html Karen
  6. Christine, that's a great sight...I've found lots of other goodies on there I'm going to try. thanks!
  7. Hi, I've searched the forum for info on this and would just like some clarity as it seems some people have had sight checks at the opticians rather then the opthalmologist. I've been here 2 years and think it's time I had my sight checked. I wear contacts and have no other health probs with my eyes. I want to 1) check if my vision has changed and 2) have a french prescription so I can be reimbursed. I rarely wear my glasses, so if I feel I need to change the glasses lenses I'll arrange it cheap on the internet not worried about reimbursing that - it's the constant supply of contact lenses I want covered! Anyway, those of you who have done it...opticians or opthalmologist? Want to be sure I've the right before phoning! thanks
  8. Thanks for both your answers. the plan is to look after a friends' two kids from 5 to 7.30 two evenings a week, therefore giving them tea and helping with homework. I think I'll have to go down the cheque-d'emploi route as I'm not registered with anyone and I've no career plans in this direction. My friend is doing a course next year and needs a helping hand, as a one off no pay would be involved but as a regular thing for a year we need to come to some arrangement so neither of us feel exploited. thanks for any further advice
  9. Sorry, it's not an education question but I thought you've all kids/ interests so would know...what's the going rate for childminding 2 kids (7/8yrs)? What do you pay? What would you pay? thanks
  10. Nadia, I'll pm you with a fuller reply but no we didn't have jobs before we moved but we did have funds to keep us going while we improved our french and found them. Yes, we are enjoying our new life and it was worth it, but we came looking to change our life, not to continue with the over-worked life we had in the UK. Karen
  11. Nadia, Not impossible but you have to be prepared for lots of letters and a wait. My partner and I (both teachers in the UK), with reasonable french but still working on it, have taught at various places through doing the following: write to all the lycées in your area, the Inspection Aca, associations and even the temp agencies. So i've been a replacement teacher in a public lycée (fashion) through a direct letter to them and now I'm an intervenante d'anglais for 8-11yr olds after writing to the Insp and waiting a term for them to respond! My partner has taught english in a public collège (it wasn't for him), did private holiday teaching for some kids, he's done/ doing evening classes for adults (which demands lots of prep) and is also an english assist in a lycée (that came through a temp agency!) which is less prep but less pay too. We've both turned down teaching work. We know we're not 'in' the system as proper teachers, but at the minute we're happy with these supporting roles and we can always apply (do the tests, jump the loops etc) to change that in the future. Oh and as you've got the language teaching experience that's already a plus as we've built ours up here. On the IT side a friend (with french like mine) found a job as an infographiste so jobs are possible, but it wasn't the level of job she was used to. Her (french) partner is currently looking in the IT field and each job that comes up is being swamped with applicants. They're in the north west and they're thinking they'll have to move regions to find something suitable for the two of them. Good luck Karen
  12. If you register as unemployed the l'afpa courses will be free and you may even get paid for doing them. You have to take a letter from l'anpe to them to show that it's been advised you work on your french. it's worth registering as there may be other free courses on offer in your area.
  13. Hi, As well as our ideas which have already been mentioned...put up a sign in the village/supermarket/where ever offering to swap english conversation for french. If you're thinking of looking for work at some point, get yourself registered as unemployed and ask for help with your french. There may be courses you can go to or you could do the home-study courses from l'afpa. I've done courses with them now for 7 months and that has helped my written french alot. Is there a keep-fit class or something nearby? Going to that certainly improved my french for parts of the body! And of course there's chat before hand. Good luck
  14. Mike, thanks for your reply and links. I couldn't find 'logic board' in the glossary links so does that mean I'm safe to assume they are both the same thing, but it just has 2 names to confuse non techie people like me! Thanks Karen
  15. Hiya, Does anyone know if the 'logic board' (english) is the same thing as the 'carte mère' (french) - or are they 2 completely different things within my computer? Thanks
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