neutralzone<EM>Lets not <STRONG>bitch!<STRONG><EM>

They were obviously not going to tell you the laws about doing that here then, were they. If you are professional, then why were you not aware that buying, doing up and selling on as a hobby here, is not actually legal (you might get away once by saying it is your property but you run a high risk by trying it a second time) Also I cannot see how you could class this as a "Hobby" when in fact it is a firm business venture. I have a friend who tried exactly the same thing (as a business venture) and after trying to buy 5 properties here gave up due to nearly every sale falling through due to one difficulty or another (typical french logic involved).  

After working & eating with the French for some time, I have only found 3 instances of where I am allowed butter with my bread They are as follows: 1.  Butter with RADISH  2.  Butter with COOKED MEAT 3.  Butter with SARDINES Every time I query these bizarre recipes all I get is c'est normale David Best thing is though............... if there is any spare butter left they fight over who gets to spread it on their bread!!!!!!!!! Anyway I'm curious If any one else knows of any other French sanctioned use of Butter  

Carrefour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes belive me or belive me not................ spotted bags of Logs there the other day..........  

Yup Miki you are right about the drugs etc. It is even encroaching around some of the very small villages where we are. But this is something that every parent should be aware of no matter where you live. We just find it's better living here than getting blown up all the time!

I maybe phrased that wrong.......... what I meant to say that I prefered the way that the school system worked (at least in our area) where they take no nonsense from the kids and do instill *some* values like respect etc. It is difficult to put into words without going into a lengthy story telling mode!  Never meant to say the French are a wonderful moralist race 'cos I KNOW they will stich you up whilst plying you with Ricard  

No one should say it is cheaper to live in France especially day to day living because it is not, even if rates and road tax are taken into account because you are stung elsewhere and you pay on time or get interest added. You sound rather bitter! As different parts of Britain have fluctuations in pricing (read my post), I'm sure there are other people like us, who find it a lot cheaper to live compared to what they have left behind. By the same token I'm sure there are lots of people (like yourself) who find it extremely expensive to live in France but everyone (like yourself) are entitled to express what they feel about a subject or how else eill we learn?

I do understand a lot of what you say Miki, (I also cannot understand why my daughter was offered anything either!) and after working for the French for nigh on 2 years I do agree its damned hard not only to get work but also to try and mix in their regime. I myself hope to get on formation for 6 months to aquire the papers for the job (painting) I spent 4 years as an apprentice in Britain and nigh on 30 years working at because its the best way for me to progress here. We are not too badly off because my wife also works for the French. As I stress again, for us, as a family, it really was and is still the best thing we have ever done moving to France no matter how hard it can be. But that is not for everyone. Our situation was quite unique and I do think that if you are really worried about education, kids getting work afterwards and feel France cannot provide this for them, well then you should possibly stick with what you know and feel safer with ie: stay in the UK (at least until they are up and away:hehe BUT if you are like me and want them to have a few moral values then I do feel France has something to offer. Finally I think a lot of Brits need to also know the hours the kids work. Our 2 kids start at about 8:15 am and don't finish until 5pm; and by the time they get home it would be about 5:45pm and then they have homework............ so its a pretty tough schedule.

[quote]I have not lived in UK for a long time. However for a couple to live in rural France with an average property, finished and paid for plus a reasonable lifestyle ( 1 car, modest social life, short holi...[/quote] The French authorities deem that a family of 4 needs a minimum of roughly 900 euros to live on so I suppose 1200 would be a bit of a bonus!

We've always had lights that point the right way thanks to having LHD cars. For some reason RHD vehicles, even with French plates, stick out like a sore thumb - and there are a lot of them round here.   It's because the colours of British cars are slightly different to the French equivilant. I know you will think this waffle but it is true!

Just make sure you don't dazzle 'em with your expertise!!!!  

[quote]I'll start off by saying something that will probably upset a few people, and that is that whatever comparisons may have been made in the past France is not a cheap place to live. Some things are chea...[/quote] Interesting that. We are originaly from Ulster where we paid about 3 times as much for our electric as opposed to mainland UK. Also petrol, diesel, food and indeed darn near everything was expensive. We now find that living in France (for us) costs us roughly about half of what it did back in the UK. Take insurance for instance, for our house, car and Tranny Van we pay about 300 quid a year as opposed to 1,000 quid for the van, 350 quid for the car and about 350 quid for the house! Bit of a shock though when we found it is obligatory to insure your kids for school! On the reverse side, a mate of ours who hails from London reckons it costs him about the same to live here. Amazing differences of costs over britain!    

Same here I would like to know what you need (or don't need) either for air rifles, 22 rifles or shotguns etc.    

[quote]Can anybody tell me who you look up in the pages jaune to do the unpleasant task of emptying a fosse septique? We have been trying to extinguish the source of unpleasant odour for a year and trying a...[/quote] Have you tried using one of those pumps you get with those petrol heaters!?  

Your just JEALOUS Miki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God sake the womans not lucky, I know about 5 brits who never changed the lights and passed !!!!!  

Yes indeed one does have to look beyond school. But at the end of the day does anyone genuinely belive there will be more job prospects in Britain? I don't and as I said earlier it is only our experience and opinion. I personaly do not think that our kids will get work just by being multi-lingual but by the same token it wont be a bad thing either as when they finish their education they will have German and Spanish as well (probably not able to speak English though:whistling. Our kids have already done their weeks stage and have been offered jobs for when (and if) they leave school. Our son has been offered training as a chef and our daughter as a Vet (although she wants to travel after Uni.) I still belive that the kids our better of here than in Britain, but there you go.    

My we all seem to be *deflected* from the original ie beam deflecters............ In my experience its best to try one in your left eye first so you can see who is following you from behind (if you put them on both eyes you can't see in front

[quote]Hope someone can help on this one! just when you think you've thought of most things ...* do all children in school in France stay for their Lunch or do some go home?* do any take 'packed lunches'?* ...[/quote] PACKED LUNCH!!!!! Don't even mention it! We did...................... still recovering from the cat o' nine tails tongue lashing I recieved 3 years ago They normally prefer the kids to stay and have lunch at school BUT if you fight back you can get them to let the kids home for lunch (where if you feel wicked enough..... give em a packed lunch)  

I sincerely hope you do Miki!!! 'cause that sort of outlandish, cavalier behaviour is wot ruined the roman empire!

I sincerely hope you do Miki!!! 'cause that sort of outlandish, cavalier behaviour is wot ruined the roman empire!

[quote]Are you sure they didn't nick yours because theirs had gone missing?[/quote] AH! good question BUT if this is so........................... who nicked theirs!!!!!!!!!! This is mind boggling it could go back through thousands of people having to steal fog lamps to replace their stolen ones

[quote]I thought it might be useful for anyone thinking of moving to France with teenagers to hear about what has happened in our family recently. We moved just over 2 years ago with two daughters of 11 and ...[/quote] Sorry your kids didn't adjust I suppose France doesn't suit everyone. We moved over with both our kids (11 & 12) at the time and although they were thrown in the deep end as it where, they have both thrived here especially at school. I'm not saying that the education system is fabulous here but they still adhere to the old principles of right & wrong and in having respect for other people. These are important things which we feel is now dying out in British schools.  Also living in France allows the kids to grow up at a slower pace and keeps peer pressure down to a minimum. Obviously this is just our experience and not everyone will agree but you do have to sit down sometimes and think what do you really want for your kids? Do you want a watered down school system where teachers can't say boo to little johnny?  where you have A+++++ for results? serious peer pressure? Designer gear above respect? or a system where they can learn, teachers have control, a system of making sure they have some education and above all they grow into adults at a reasonable rate! I know which I prefer..................  

Yes, lot cheaper filling with sand & cement. I'm just tired of the constant digging out!!!!!! Get one wall done and 40 more  appear out of nowhere (Or did my wife just build 'em????)!!  

You don't need a disk to connect to wanadoo all you need to do is configure internet explorer manually. Right click on internet explorer select properties select connections add new connection enter in the phone number, username & password, name for the account make the account the default Apply changes & save exit properties and all should be well. If not gimme a shout

Try avast! virus checker its also free and can be found on most of the french computer utillity mags

[quote]As BAF says, you mix up as much or as little as you want in a bucket with a plasterers whisk. I mix up about half a builders bucket at a time which enables me to work for about one and a bit hours an...[/quote] TROWEL!!!!!! Gawd i'm still shoving it in by hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its amazing how 20kg can disappear into one small hole!!!