Logan

Does anyone know where it might be possible to purchase a portable computer with Windows Vista in English and English key board at a sensible price. UK companies will not send one to France.

Many thanks for the help and advice here. I think I will go for the APC range.

Are you suggesting I should cut off a new sealed and fused UK plug from an appliance then replace the sealed plug on my computer to accommodate the incoming/internal UK socket on the unit. I don't think so. I shall buy a French one me thinks. Why are folks so sarcastic on this forum these days?

Gluestick. It has occurred to me that if I purchase an APC unit through that UK web site you mentioned the connections will have UK plugs/sockets. Can you confirm? If so we are back at square one ie: requiring adaptors. 

Thanks for that tip GS. I shall order one when back in stock.

I agree that adapters are a bad idea. However I have had to replace one computer and have my current machine's power unit replaced because of power surges. This despite having protective devices on the mains plug. It blew up the other day in a cloud of acrid smoke. Often the mains suddenly trips for a few seconds and the surge afterwards often seems to blow things. Just something you have to put up with if you live in a relatively remote location.

I live in hope that eventually the solidarity of union power in France will be weakened by the people and workers themselves. When unions realise that they simply cannot just call a strike and everyone conforms like lemmings will be the time for accommodation and reality checks. French public sector unions have yet to realise the world has changed. The so called 'socialist state' is being changed by individual ambition and aspiration. Uncertainty is simply a symptom of prosperity. To move forward we have to accept risk. When things are guaranteed stagnation results because the world is dynamic not static. The French people are slowly getting the message.

The problem could lie in either a faulty appliance or as a result of a power surge. The adapter may not be the fault.

England v France   A time for heros.

Personally I have very divided loyalties for tomorrows match's outcome. On the one hand I hope France do well because they are a great team with lots of heart. Yet I can't quite shake off the old loyalty to England. Like the old addage, "you can take the man out of his country but you can't take the country out of the man". Perhaps it's best to hope the best team will win and cheer for a good game played with the best of spirit. 

PM sent Deby.

Here is the article to which you refer. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml;jsessionid=QLVKN5M00OOWJQFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/portal/2007/10/12/nosplit/ftfrench112.xml Which team will you support? Will you pass the Norman Tebbit test?[6]

Hello Deby, you still there. I'm hoping for a reply. Private jet on standby.

[quote user="Frederick"] Going slightly off topic as a holiday home owner who is covered by private medical insurance and not wishing to be  registered as a resident  and claim anything the above does not apply to me ..However ...having been visited this year by three members of the local constabulary. who wanted to know who has keys to my holiday home ...and.... last month  as the Impots office in Lucon sent me a standard printed form wanting to know my full name . and place and date of birth in the UK .I am now  begining to wonder whats changed ? .. After 2 years ownership of the house  it seems  that records are  suddenly being brought up to date so the authorities know just who in the way of non French house occcupiers  they have and where ....They have requested details  from me that are required for a check on Police records..which is fine as far as I am concerned ....Pity the UK have not with their non UK house occupiers done the same .....I was told the information was needed to bring the computer records up to date ...if so ...its taken a while to get round to it .... so I think sombody has issued an instruction to find out who they have got now . [/quote] By way of re-assurance there is nothing at all new about your experience. Twenty odd years ago after out arrival we had a visit from the local Gendarmes who requested similar information. They explained it was simply for their local records in case of fire or break in. They would know then whom to contact in our absence. I did not believe there was anything sinister then and I am still of that view. Occasionally we get friendly visits to update their records. It's harmless community policing and long may it continue.

Here in the SW of France the locals have two irritations about the British. The first is not speaking French. It really does upset French people when British immigrants whom they know and have lived in the area for years, still cannot or will not speak their language. The second irritation is Brits working openly on the black and whizzing around in old bangers, usually white vans and bearing UK plates. I personally also dislike such behaviour and shudder when we all inevitably become tarred with the same brush.

[quote user="LyndaandRichard"]Could be worse. Could be living in England.[;-)] [/quote] I read this post and bashed my monitor with a fly swat. The monitor fell back and broke. Doh.........[:(]

This link may help with news of the latest moves by the Government. http://www.french-property.com:80/newsletter/2007/10/1/health/ Looks like I've duplicated other posts. Tried to delete it.

[quote user="Val_2"]A loto f people are probably just not interested in it, we certainly aren't and in fact didn't know anything about it really. Football is far more popular round here from seeing the previous world cup celebrations locally and they certainly don"t play rugby at the local school either.[/quote] Interest in rugby tends to be regionalised in France. In the SW of France it's almost a religion and in the north and NW less so. This could account for the poor TV coverage which is very Paris based. The ITV UK sat. channel is providing brilliant entertainment and showing some great matches between countries not usually known for their rugby skills. It's a fantastic tournament and very well attended in the stadiums. I have tried searching for tickets for some games without success. England are begining to play better but I am backing New Zealand to win.

Another long overdue reform. The list is long. Spain and Portugal had a similar system created by Franco and Salazar (who still remembers him?) It often led to years of imprisonment and even summary executions, sometimes through just petty jealousy. I remember the system was still actively used there in the seventies/ eighties. Since they entered the EU it has now been reformed and the person denoucing must make a written statement and the details given to the victim before any action is taken.

France is heading for a 'winter of discontent' that's long overdue in my opinion. These retirement conditions in this day and age are unsustainable. The unions are spoiling for a show down with Sarkozy. They want to weaken him politically. This is the real question. Are the French people willing to endure the massive disruption, civil strife and political turmoil this inevitable confrontation will create? He will need the support of the people who elected him and his strong political power base to win any confrontation with the hard line leftist unions. The President of the Republic needs to take political risks if his reputation as a political hard man is to survive. If the unions defeat him and he cannot force through the necessary reforms the country needs the economic prospects for France will be bleak. The coming few months will be interesting times.

The only advice you need here is the post by Ian. [:)]

No. Those rules apply to entering the UK. Honestly you will not experience any problems returning to Spain from Maroc. However if you admit the dog has been to Maroc on returning to UK it will likely be a problem. However I would check that.

Provided you have the EU passport up to date for your dog there will be no restrictions on going or coming back to Spain from Maroc. Going they will not care less and even returning to Spain you should encounter little interest. I have taken my dogs to Maroc before without problems. They make great guardians in a place where you need them.

[quote user="Ron Avery"] [quote user="Logan"]Just to update the question of form E121. I have now had it confirmed officially that in order to qualify for an E121 you must be of state retirement age AND in receipt of a state pension. ).[/quote] Ahhh but do you really, really believe  them [:P]   [/quote] One of the principal difficulties of living abroad is getting the correct information. Even from French officials you receive conflicting opinions and advice. I have lived in France a long time and that has taught me valuable lessons. Always verify anything you are told. Always check and double check if information given to you by officials is correct. Never take anything on face value, especially from functionaires. You will therefore be unsurprised Ron if I accept your advice along with everyone else’s with a pinch of salt. Common sense really if you want to survive the regulation nightmare that is France and the European Union. In this instance you were right. I was not sure. However helpful you are sometimes, may I suggest you don’t patronise the forum with an attitude that everything you write is handed down from the mountain.

Just to update the question of form E121. I have now had it confirmed officially that in order to qualify for an E121 you must be of state retirement age AND in receipt of a state pension. In the case of incapacity benefit only the person in receipt of that benefit is named on the E121. So women without a pension but aged between 60 -65 will have to wait until their husbands reach 65 before entitlement to French healthcare. (assuming they have no other route).