Evianers

Would be nice [and courteous] if you let us know whether you are fixed or not

For those living close to the CH border, beware that it is being mooted that the Vignette annual cost be increased from CHF40.-- to CHF100.-- in 2014/2015 - how about that for inflation?!!!

And if it is supposed to be such a paradise Down Under why are they coming here in droves?

[quote user="Daft Doctor"]Hi Evianers, I would truly love to be more helpful, but I've only been in France for 5 months, so haven't yet had any dealings (other than administrative) with CPAM.  It might be worth you visiting the office either local to you or the regional office in Annecy and seek advice/plead your case for reimbursement directly with them.  Beware of buying any drugs through the internet, they are famed for frequently being fakes with no active ingredients.  Not sure whether you've been prescribed the small 2,5mg dose to be taken every day, or whether its the more usual 10 or 20mg to be used as the need arises.  If its the former, it is more expensive than ad hoc use.  In the NHS we used to prescribe in a limited fashion on the basis of a maximum of one tablet per week average.  The private cost of (say) 4 x 20mg tablets was approx £40 for those who didn't 'qualify' for NHS treatment.  I must say I'm surprised that you can't get some cost reimbursement given the origin of the prescription and the background reason for it.  If I were you I'd persue the reimbursement side fully with CPAM before I spent any money. [/quote] We have been prescribed the 5mgs x 30 days. Thank you again folks - thanks cost nothing and hopefully expresses our appreciation. We have decided to go away for a few days and will resume our deliberations upon our return. Excellent idea to take up the matter with CPAM/Mutuelle, as we are of course already ALD.

[quote user="idun"]If she is still as well informed as she used to be then it would be worth Evianers asking about getting reimbursed for this. IF the CPAM will pay, then I would imagine that the mutualist would probably make up the rest.[/quote] If any kind contributor knows how to go about this before we have the prescription dispensed, would they please urgently let us know how to go about it, especially DD who seemingly lives in our region. Our profound thanks once again and we are grateful for your kindness and help.

Once again, our thanks to all contributors. This morning called in to our local pharmacy, who have, throughout been absolutely marvellous, only to find that the cost, which is not in any way reimbursed by either CPAM or the Mutuelle for one month's supply is a cool €105.-- which has come as a huge shock. So we are still deliberating.....

It is because you don't know to whom you are talking that it is so much easier. If you had to discuss such intimate matters with friends or relatives, it would not be so facile. We need to have input. Peoples' experiences vary widely and it is this which we hope to find. That said, we accept your apology but maybe you should think a little before posting fatuous remarks. Quite frankly we have been through hell during the last 8 months cancer in any form is unbelievably difficult to cope with, which is why we are asking for recommendations on an open forum - don't want to make a serious mistake.

[quote user="sid"]Swallow it quickly or you'll get a stiff neck.   [:-))]     [/quote] Thank you Sid, but we didn't find this remark either particularly helpful, or funny. The drug has been prescribed post-operatively after a radical prostatectomy following cancer. We have one or two rather serious reservations about taking the drug. Thank you for the other sensible replies.

Does anyone please have any experience with the drug "Cialis"? We were at the hospital today for what will be the last check-up for this year = DG! The urologist prescribed the above but it seems to have some rather nasty side-effects. If anyone has experience, please feel free to share, for which, many thanks in advance.

We purchased a house a long time ago with a view to getting onto the French property ladder early, thereby having somewhere to move to directly when we retired. As such, we offered that house for rent : basically, as the agent at that time was good [since gone right downhill] everything worked out well. However, you should perhaps bear in mind that there will be a substantial amount to pay when you "register" for the house, a deposit and sometimes three months rental in advance but once that it paid, all the legalities are on the side of the person renting, not the owner. We had one disastrous tenant [British - all the rest who were good were French but that's just fate] whom we had eventually to take to court because he did so much damage, but we feel this is extreme. If you need any further information, please don't hesitate to contact us.

[quote user="Quillan"]Basically no you can't find out the final price.[/quote] We were of the opinion that the FNAIM probably published a list of houses sold and for which prices. Is this, then, not correct?

[quote user="Chancer"]I had never seen or heard of Engrenages although know what the word means. I now know from google that it is a good drama series and probably the only one that has been exported, its a shame that it is not diffused on any of the French free to air channels, I dont pay for Canal+ so wont get to see it [:(] [/quote] Funny that as we saw it on the BBC - were hooked immediately we saw the first episode - it's marvellous. Hopefully there will be a follow-up series. Well worth watching. BTW, it's with English subtitles.

[quote user="Mr Ceour de Lion II"]I'm proud to say that I haven't seen a single thing of the games, not even the opening ceremony. I see there's one channel that is showing the olympics here in the States, but with 400 odd other channels of shit to choose from, I very much doubt I'll see any of it. Plus I spend most time out and about doing stuff, and what with the kids being off, I'm subjected more to Spongebob than I am to cycling or whatever. That's the good thing about them having the games at this time of year, the good weather means there's more options than just tv :) [/quote] Bravo! Echoing our sentiments entirely.

Yes, we watched Engrenages with great alacrity each week - magnificent series, very informative - especially regarding how the French legal system works, and perhaps how it can be "manipulated" somewhat by hungry lawyers. Amazingly good and oh so realistic. The Beethoven last evening was superb - have sung it several times so could well associate with the singers. Barenboim's orchestra is a credit to him and his idea to bring troubled peoples together. Will definitely watch more of the Proms especially during the remainder of the PO!

Thanks for your input. Yes I am certain you are right, but our French is not quite up to following rapid-fire conversations so we tend to be mega-lazy and watch the BBC all the time. Our fault - perhaps it would have been better if 7 years ago [or whatever it was] France had won the bid - although we doubt it!

No doubt we are totally alone in the world, but we are not interested in sport of any kind, under any circumstances. We are rather disenchanted that having suffered surfeits of golf, tennis, TdF et al, we are not subjected day and night with the above. Not a great deal of consideration is given to those of us who are not totally addicted to sports, but having said that, thank heavens for Barenboim and his 9 Beethoven Symphonies - where would we have been without him these past few days.

congratulations on your sale and good luck in NJ, which has some of the highest taxes in the US according to my pen-friend who lives in a little town near Patterson! but, as for Australia seems to have many good things about both countries mixed in from my perspective eg a decent healthcare system, and taxation is fairer I think. We lived 5.5 years there, and 5.5 years here in France....... we know where we would rather be!!!!! No further comments, except to say, we detested the Antipodes [just our personal experience]

In Upper Wallis [Valais Haut] where we spend a great deal of our time, there are thousands upon thousands of Dutch tourists. They are know generally by the subriquet "de deur", which means in English "too dear" because in every shop in CH they are heard to be mumbling 'de deur, de deur'. And yes, they bring absolutely everything with them, but then so too do the Finns who come to their parents' house opposite us in France. Crazy world!

Yes, we too........ so if we can help anyone with anything, you only have to let us know. Wealth of experience under our belts in the last six months!

There is no doubt that going through a stage of whatever cancer it is, the situation is nothing short of traumatic. We hope that our experiences might prove useful for anyone who goes through a similar hell. Remain positive! It's not always easy : circumstances often get one down. There often does not seem much light at the end of the tunnel, but we are now heading towards that light and have come through, if not with flying colours, then at least with thanks that we are now basically on the up and up. If anyone would like to correspond with us for help or advice please feel free. We have received support and encouragement from members of the forum with their kindness and thoughtfulness so it would be the least we can do. Do not let the Big C get you down! It can be beaten! Bon courage!

I haven't posted for a while because we have been logging in to the CSF forum more frequently. But just want to say that we are getting there slowly. It takes so much more time than one envisages. Lots of men suffer with prostate cancer, but that doesn't make it any easier when it hits you personally. If anyone wishes to correspond if they feel in need of support or help, as we have received tremendous aid from others, so we now wish to pass on this help if or when it is necessary.

Bravo that it has finally been received. HMG are not going to like what I write, but whilst I was working at the Zürich Consulate, this was closed with the loss of +20 senior positions : whilst working at the Antwerp Consulate, ditto [although with fewer job losses]. I began to wonder whether it was ME. But no, it all fell under the "cost cutting" axe and subsequently, the Geneva Consulate has also been closed. How on earth do they intend to keep up standards? Your son's sorry saga will probably become par for the course in future if the axe cuts any further.

Bravo! Keep at 'em. Only way to eventually receive satisfaction. Good luck though!

[quote user="idun"]It still hasn't turned up and he has emailed them and had no reply. I have told him not to call as it costs far too much to speak to them and I resent them getting even more money out of him. [/quote] I have worked at both the British Consulate in Bruxelles and Zürich. There is supposed to be a strict turn-around time of maximum 5 working days. The service you are experiencing is shocking. In our day it wouldn't have been tolerated, but then how many things have changed for the worse within the last 10 years?

We too are doing reasonably well : it is of course a long uphill struggle but today we have been invited out for lunch by friends with whom we sat by the lakeside on the restaurant terrace admiring the calm waters. My OH emptied the "accessory" before leaving, and again when we returned home, so we really feel that we are able, more or less, to start resuming our truncated lives. We still take each day as it comes : we have received the most amazing support from the CSF-Forum who have all been marvellous. Onwards and ever upwards eh?