Evianers

Why are there hardly ever [if at all] vacancies in our region? Is it just that everone hereabouts manages their own property without any help? Interesting to know.

For those who speak German and who enjoy beautiful, genuine oriental carpets, the German eBay site has some lovely ones for sale. First question is, has anyone had a carpet sent from Germany please, and second question is, there seems to be a huge discrepancy in the price of delivery. Now, this may have something to do with the size and weight of the carpet, but should the delivery charges not be more standardised? Or do the sellers make a little something on the side perhaps?

[quote The French may love Aussies, but they will still give a job to a French person first! quote] And here speaks the voice of experience......... so do the Australians!

[quote user="Sprogster"] Most Brits of working age tend to emigrate to English speaking countries like Oz![/quote] Bit of a sweeping generalisation this, methinks..... many other places beckon Something additional has occurred to me: having lived for lengthy periods in both countries. In Oz there tends to be a back-slapping, gung-ho attitude where everyone is automatically "mates". Managing Directors are called by their first names on first introductions. Best not to do that kind of thing here in France - might not go down too well!

[quote user="Sprogster"]To be honest FrenchInterest, I think you are a bit bonkers! As you are moving from one of the few countries to escape recession, to a country or language you don't know, which has very serious economic problems, social unrest, high unemployment and surprisingly long dark and cold winters! Australia, I would have thought holds a much brighter future for your children than France, where unemployment for those under 25 averages 25%. As I am sure you are aware, there are quite a lot of French moving to Australia, so maybe you should speak to one first. If you are moving to France on a European passport you need to know there is one potential major problem and that is rule changes introduced in 2007 prevent those moving to France who are 'inactif', from joining the French health system. Instead you are required to take out private health insurance, which is very expensive and difficult to obtain if you have any form of ongoing medical condition. If I can make just one suggestion and that is please visit France with your family before you commit, as the reality is France is very different, and the person who told you they speak English there was misinformed as generally they don't and more often than not even if they can they won't! Also unless you have a job lined up, finding meaningful employment will be very difficult in the current ecnomic climate and dare I say next to impossible if you do not speak fluent French.[/quote] Wholeheartedly concur: OP rose-tinted spectacles or what?

[quote user="Evianers"]Whislt our daughter-in-law's parents have been staying, they told us of an additional help-card [percentage-reduction] for the over 65s in the UK. Does anyone know please whether a similar system applies [can be applied for] in France i.e. reductions on transport/travel/facilities. TIA [/quote] Sorry, I should have been more specific: they live in Pinner Middlesex: we live in Evian-les-Bains [natch]! We are asking whether there is a similar scheme to assist the financial constraints of the over-65s here, as seems normal in the UK

Whislt our daughter-in-law's parents have been staying, they told us of an additional help-card [percentage-reduction] for the over 65s in the UK. Does anyone know please whether a similar system applies [can be applied for] in France i.e. reductions on transport/travel/facilities. TIA

Parsnip A profound and heartfelt thank you = this is just what is needed, very interesting and informative. Hopefully it might serve to assist other parents in the future. Our thanks again!

Your comments are noted, for which many thanks. Keep 'em coming - someone may yet have a legal brilliant solution.

We live in France [natch]! Our son, his wife, baby daughter and her parents still live in UK. We are almost certain we can transfer a sum of money which attracts no tax [inheritance tax included] to help them buy a house. Came up with a brilliant idea this morning. If the other parents "donated" a sum to us, we held on to it for several months, then transferred it to our son and DIL, would this attract any form of tax, or would it be completely tax free? Does anyone know for certain? Bit of a minefield, but it would be super if it worked, and maybe stand someone else in good stead in future. TIA for all knowledgable answers.

[quote user="Celine"]Princes William and Harry were invited to attend the wedding, but preferred to go to the football.[/quote] Perhaps when one of them marries, Crown princess Victoria will snub them too by going to some sporting venue.

The crown Princess of Sweden married today, and what did we see on the BBC news? Sport, sport and yet more sport, with absolutely no mention of the nuptials. There are those [millions] amongst us who are not remotely interested in any form of sport [surprise, surprise] and are already sick to death of non-stop world cup football. Now Wimbledon starts on Monday! Shame on you BBC news = let's have something different..... pleeeeeeeeeeeease

We have tried to sell items on Leboncoin without success, but have bought some super things: hereabouts everything is noticeably more expensive than in many other areas of France. However, we were very lucky to obtain a teak table and six chairs [albeit some of them having been repaired, and not a matching set] for the princely sum of €50 for the whole lot. There is a new website for those living in the Haute Savoie called "Mabootik" which is in similar vein.

Apparently there was an opportunity to qualify for a CELTA certificate in Lausanne recently but the course had to be cancelled because of too few participants. Does anyone know whether there is another opportunity in the Haute Savoie, or close by in CH? Thanks in advance.

Yes, you're probably thinking of the right place! So Amen..... and I rest my case, but only after saying that we had never heard Asian people referred to as "slopes" until we arrived there. Horrid expression.

Have been following this thread with profound interest, not the least because our inbox seems to be bombarded each day with new and interesting comments. Also, have wanted to add my two-pennyworth since first submitting a humble addition a while ago. We have lived all over the world, including South Africa during Apartheid years [enough said about that] but the very worst racialism we ever encountered in an overt manner was in a corner of the Antipodes which should obviously remain nameless. After 11 years in SA, we arrived there and were utterly shocked at the outspoken racialism amongst the population. Perhaps it has become better over the years? This is just our experience, and may differ from others'.

If I had the wherewithal, the time, the opportunity, and let's face it, the temerity to ask, I should very much like to survey and interview Muslim women who wear any form of covered dress whether they would do so voluntarily if their men had very little or nothing to say in how they dress. One wonders at the outcome? Could be anything from 10% to 100%, because it seems doubtful whether fewer than 10% voluntarily cover themselves in an all-over fashion. And yes, was there not a case a few years ago where a man who robbed [and possibly killed] a shop assistant subsequently escaped through Heathrow wearing his sister's burqua, despite being over 1.90m tall?

[quote user="bixy"]So who's going to win the election and will it make any difference to those of us living in France? To answer my own question, unless the result affects the pound, then probably not. I thought this election might be more interesting than previous ones, with talk of a hung parliament and a Liberal resurgence. That is, until I looked at the odds the bookies are offering. They are quoting only 1 to 6 for the Tories being the largest party and evens for them having an overall majority. This would seem to contradict all the opinion polls. However the bookies are not daft and they ususally get these things right - after all it's their money at risk. I may have a punt at evens - I think that's not a bad bet. My own prediction is Tories with an overall majority of about 20, Liberals improved but only to about 75 seats. Anyone else care to make a prediction? Patrick [/quote] Having lived outside the UK since 1975, each and every time there is a General Election there we are heartily happy that we are long since disenfranchised!

A while ago, I asked for further information regarding the courageous stories of Peter and Odette Churchill. Some kindly forum members gave additional information which was profoundly interesting = thank you again. Yesterday saw us in St. Jorioz on the Lac d'Annecy where they had both been arrested by "Colonel Henri" AKA Hugo Bleicher ["Death Be Not Proud" by Elizabeth Nicolas and "Odette" by Jerard Tickell]. The Hotel de la Poste no longer exists as such but has been rearranged into apartments, but the building is still much the same. We looked at the outside and thought back to the dramatic events which had taken place there. The surroundings are stunningly beautiful - what a tragedy.

many thanks for quick response.

We are thinking of tentatively installed a pompe a chaleur. However, question is, is there any kind which would also heat our hot water [at present heated by a large gas boiler which also heats the underfloor piping in winter] only in the summer months? If anyone has had one such installed recently, could they please share their experiences. Also the cost, which seems to vary between 6,000 and 18,000 euros, although we have been quoted 20,000 which is out of the question. TIA

If anyone were to ask me, personally, and no-one else, whom I should least like to be in this whole wide world, I should answer Mrs Jeremy Clarkson. [wonder whom other forummers would choose]?

There she is again .......... Marie.............. she does get about.

Just retrieved the post from the mailbox: resting gently amidst the weekly bumpf was an A3 brown envelope. "Gotta be from the British Government" I said to OH. It was! Why is it that we automatically associate plain brown A3 envelopes with the BG? Most other countries government departments use white. Or am I mistaken? Oh.......... by the way. Super, super news. My pension is increased from 38.71 per week to 41.17 per week. Now........ what luxury holiday shall I spend it on?

Not only that, but all advertisements are free. If you want to sell something, you avoid payment fees such as eBay. Having said that, you have to be prepared to search through a whole load of stuff every day, as many people [around here] use it extensively.