Chrissie

At our recent signing of a compromis d'achat, the Notaire asked the seller specifically to declare if any portion of his house had been let out or used for a business at any time during their occupancy. Chrissie (81)

Be careful not to get TOO good a reputation locally - a few more boxes and their occupants might arrive in your garden.......[:(]  That happened to a friend of mine. Chrissie (81)

That picture with the vase of flowers is a real competition-winner!  Brilliant!  What a little sweetheart he looks.  And he must love you too!  Chrissie (81)

OH got up one night, not feeling too bright, and sat down at the computer to while away half an hour.  Suddenly a sonorous voice said "You have reached your destination".....................!  Apparently his reaction was "not yet, mate" and he started to feel better straightaway. My satnav said "Bear Left."  I looked around and there was the zoo.  Brilliant! Chrissie (81)

Agree with you totally, idun! (Good heavens.)  Something I feel is terribly lacking in today's society is the idea of accountability and consequences.  I am so fed up with hearing people (of all ages) say:  "Oh, but I didn't mean any harm.  I didn't think such-and-such would happen."  Usually followed by a slightly belligerent "Well, I've said I'm sorry, so what's the problem?...." If a kid gets in with the wrong crowd, they should still have the basics to realise that breaking into someone's house is not "for a laugh" or "just to get a bit of dosh."  It is a really serious offence, is totally morally wrong and, these days, could see them getting a serious bit of payback.  It's the real world, not a play-station. Chrissie (81)

Perhaps a mod could retitle the thread to help this lady - I for one nearly didn't bother once I saw it was in neither French nor English...... Chrissie (81)

I think the last thing anyone should do is just cut off the burglar's means of escape - that could turn a bad situation into a horrendous one.  I would like to think I would have the presence of mind, and the opportunity, to hit, cut or shoot them in such a way as to disable them and allow their subsequent arrest.  But suppose there are several of them?.........And whilst possessions are replaceable, suppose they have violence on their mind anyway?  I can understand anyone lashing out indiscriminately in a huge panic, and probably trying to eliminate (i.e.kill) the threat before they or their family get harmed. I also think that anyone who breaks into a house or business premises, and who is therefore by definition intent on a crime of some sort, should lose all rights regarding their treatment at the hands of the occupier. Chrissie (81)

Just bumping Brian back up to the top.  Did Jo's brother ever come through?  or is Brian still looking for a home? Chrissie (81)

Aaaaaaaaw!  Marvellous.  Has he got a permanent name yet? (Not the one you call him at 3 am.....)  Or will he stay "Tsetung"? Chrissie (81)

Dunno about the Lidl one, but you can certainly get ones that do.  Our old Flyvac died last week and I looked on LeBonCoin and got a souffleur/broyeur in the next town for 30 euros.  Can't tell you the make, but is very powerful (has 2 speeds) and the bag has a long zip to enable easy dumping of the finely mulched leaves.  Try looking near you for something like that - it's the broyeur bit you want to be sure of. Chrissie (81)

Why are so many people so critical?  If the programme had been about a load of expats who had upped sticks and gone to live in Ulan Bator, we would have applauded them for their ingenuity in managing to make a living from making and selling English dishes, or from farming animals, or, yes, from providing a particular service for which there is a demand (in this case weddings.)  We would be thrilled that their children were speaking both languages.  And we would applaud them for their courage in taking the Big Step. Of course the German couple were milking the prog for all the publicity they could get for their location.  Of course there are people struggling or living in hardship just around the corner.  Yes, it does rain in France and there are miserable times.  Yes, not everyone portrayed is my idea of a close friend.    I don't think that's the point. I enjoyed it, I love Geoffrey Palmer's grumpy old voice and I will probably watch more.  I won't be alone! If some of you are that b****y purist.............. er.............. why are you watching a UK TV prog anyway?  Chrissie (81)  (Grumpy as she has a filthy cold caught from a BRITISH visitor.[:P])

Lots of us are watching this thread anxiously, but are too far away to be of any help.  I feel for you as any loss of sleep has me working at only about 10% efficiency.  Hopefully each day will get a little easier?  Hope you can find someone to take over the odd feed and give you a break. Good luck! Chrissie (81)

As far as I understand, the top reading should be 11 or 12 (or 110,120 in old money) for a "good" result.  10 or below and they will watch you. Ditto for 13-14. 15 and above, our doc told OH he would be hospitalised straight away. BUT, we are all different.  My pressure has always been low and still drops down to 10 on occasion. Chrissie (81)  

A pic of William might help someone to come forward..... and is he neutered?  Good with cats? Etc. Chrissie (81)

I was told that PR (at 2.2"%) was instead of PS (at 2%, only applicable to certain other types of invetsment). I worry about QA because there is a usually a reason for these French forms to fill themselves out in a certain way! Chrissie (81)

OK, Parsnips - if I stick with credit d'impot = zero, and carry on down, I have one more question: I  have put the total gain into each of the sections under "8" except PS, and the calculated amount of social contributions appears under each bit in "montant brut", which I then transfer manually across to "montant net", getting a total in PT = PU.  That's fine.  Then I add OR and PU to get QR - that's also fine.  But the automated form insists in putting the figure from OR into section 10 QA.  Despite MP being zero, I cannot overwrite this number.  Do I just leave it and not declare anything in the eventual 2042 line BG?  Goodness, I feel a wimp  [:(].  Thanks for helping. Chrissie (81)

Thanks Parsnips - I realise that the form is to pay withholding tax at 7.5%now, rather than marginal income tax later.  (Also to declare same sum for social contributions.)  The policy is well over 8 years old and I thought it would be straightforward, but am having trouble with the sections for "credit d'impot", which I assume are nil as I have paid no tax elsewhere on the gain, but tax office here weren't sure.  I explained all this to them, but they were totally flummoxed. I only have until 15th Sept to pay the bill, or it will default to paying income tax later.  I also understand that, having paid this bill by 15th September, when I fill out the usual tax forms for the year 2011 I will be entitled to a 9,200 euro reduction on my amount imposable.  Am worried that this has to be flagged in some way on the form or I will miss out. Any help welcome! Chrissie (81)

Has anyone tried filling out the French tax form 2778, which deals with the cashing in of an overseas assurance vie?  I am having trouble getting it right and no-one in my tax office, or that of the sous-prefecture, has ever heard of it......  I want to make sure I don't miss out on the tax benefits I understand are available. (I spent at least 10 minutes today with them, arguing that Luxembourg IS in the EU!     I have to say, I do wonder why I bother sometimes!!![8-)]) Chrissie (81)

Oh dear, this will sound sad, but I can no longer get M. Propre Kitchen spray, only the bathroom one.  Have tried a variety of similar-seeming products but quite a lot of them (eg Carolin) are so strong that they damage surfaces.  Anyone got a good suggestion for an effective but gentle cleaner? Chrissie (81)

And I wonder what happened to TeamedUp, who had a novel take on a lot of things French....  I seem to recall she also went back to UK Chrissie (81)

We love it here (10 years), but we have always moved around, abroad and at home, all our (separate and together) lives.  And neither of is has much in the way of family ties in UK.  Most of the people we know who have moved back to UK have wanted to be with children or grandchildren.  If I was to think of returning to the UK now, I would have no particular region that calls to me, and I think I would find it a little frightening after so long away.  I rarely visit UK. I would like to know what happened to MAZAN who was so helpful on technical things..... Chrissie (81)  

If you search the web you will find numerous articles explaining that although the (UK) seller is obliged to hand over the property in the same state as that in which it was viewed when the sale was agreed, he is specifically under no obligation to insure the property.  The buyer thus risks taking completion on a parcel of land with a charred ruin, and having to sue the seller for what he can get.  I suspect that in practice most of us keep the insurance going until the day we move out, if only because often the buildings and contents are covered by the same firm.  But should always be checked and agreed with lawyers. Chrissie(81)

Yes, in the UK under standard sales/purchase agreements the seller is not legally obliged to insure the house after the contracts have been exchanged.  The only way round this is to write a separate clause into the contract.  Of course, we are talking only buildings insurance. Chrissie (81)

Thanks Idun.  I checked with our insurer today and he confirmed he needs to give us an attestation to take with us to the signing of the Acte.  (I told him that in the UK you needed to insure once contracts had been exchanged, even though the sale was not finalised, and he was surprised.) Chrissie (81)

Hi We have just signed the compromis d'achat on a new house.  Are we obliged to start insuring the buildings from the date 7 days after the receipt of the signed documentation (i.e. once cooling-off period is over), or do we wait until the date of signing of the Acte? Thanks Chrissie (81)