Matelot

Hi there! Apologies if this subject has been dealt with before, but can anyone help me with a query regarding the French TV licence. I have recently received a French TV licence questionnaire/reminder. At our house in France we have an exterior TV aerial, but no French TV.  We have a small British made TV/Video combi that we use to watch the occasional video. I have two questions: 1) Are we still liable for a French TV licence? 2) If I removed the exterior terrestrial aerial completely and installed a satellite receiver and dish (purchased in this country) to watch free to view digital channels, would I still be liable for the French licence? Or would the satellite system be exempt? Because I have not yet retired, I only manage to visit the house three or four times per year. If I am liable to purchase a licence whatever 'rig' I have on the outside of the house, I am tempted to take down the aerial and stick with our little TV/Video. I am reluctant to pay over the odds for a service I do not use even if it means missing dubbed reruns of the 70's American classic: "The Love Boat"!!!   (My French neighbour Simone used to love that series!) Thanks in advance for any advice on this.  Matelot  

There's a few variations there I'd like to try!  A French friend of mine was having heart problems and was told to stay off the white wine because it could 'excite' his ticker. Red wine was perfectly ok. (In fact, when he was in the clinic he was served a small carafe of red with his meals! Only in France, eh!) However, instead of having a kir as a pre-dinner tipple he would have cassis with red wine, which is apparently called a 'Cardinal'. Quite nice too. It's worth buying some of the good quality alcoholic syrups as well as cassis, i.e. Creme du Pêche, Poire, Framboise and Mûre (Blackberry). Then you can really offer guests a nice range of drinks. "T'chin, t'chin!" Matelot

As a side issue, after fifteen years of owning a little cottage in Loir et Cher, I never cease to be astounded of the ability of my French friends to drink alcohol so early in the morning.     Let me give you an example… On many occasions while on a DIY break (honest darling!), I have had early morning visits by my French builder friend Michel. At about 8.00am, there I am ‘fully booted and spurred’ in my overalls with a large mug of Typhoo, trying to decide which jobs I can do (or put off!). A van pulls up and in comes Michel - usually to find out what DIY jobs I am about to attempt and what he will have to do to put it right after I make a bordel of it!   After the usual greetings, I offer him a drink: “Café?” “Non Merci”  “Thé?” He looks at me in horror! “Vous avez un petit vin blanc?” he asks. This is a daft question, because I always have chilled white and rosé in the fridge ready for callers. So there we are: Michel with his white wine and me with my tea – putting the world to rights at 8.15am!   Michel told me that for health reasons (!) on matters of drink there is a certain etiquette to be observed by a real Frenchman: ·        07.00 to 08.00  Café-Calva.  (Coffee with a side shot of Calvados.) ·        08.00 to 10.00  Chilled white wine. ·        10.00 to 12.00  Chilled white, rosé or, if in a bar, kir. ·        12.00 to 13.00   Pastis. ·        13.00 to 15.00   Red wine with lunch. (White if eating fish or choucroute) ·        15.00 to 18.00   Red wine. (or rosé at a push.) ·        18.00 to 20.00   Pastis or Whisky. ·        20.00 Onward.  Red wine with dinner. ·        Late evening.    A little Poire eau du vie as a digestif.    

Bonjour! First visit to the forum for years and it has changed quite a bit, so please be gentle with me! A few questions to all you experts out there: I am considering connecting my cottage in Loir et Cher to mains gas. The gas mains pipe runs under the road only about 6-8 mtrs from the house so there is not very far for the branch connection to run. Does any forum member have experience of connecting to mains gas and what sort of work will be involved. Is it usually a straightforward affair (yes I know it's France), or can it be a nightmare. More importantly, can someone give me some idea of the costs involved?  Even a rough idea would be useful. The gas quarterly charge and the cost per unit. Is this astronomical or pretty much similar to the UK? Again even a rough idea would be useful. I will probably write to EDF/GDF, but I thought I would get an idea from those of you who have done this.Also, I intend to put in a new kitchen next Easter. Some of the DIY stores in the UK have very reasonably priced packages combining electric hob, electric oven and extractor all together. Has anyone out there taken this sort of thing over to France and had it installed? Are the electrics compatible? Or will it be false economy?So many questions!  So little time! (and cash!!!) Thanks for your consideration. I look forward to your advice. Matelot