Monsieurmousseux

It is ten months now since I applied for our Carte Vitale. As I have posted elsewhere, I am told that our papers at at INSEE. Goodness knows why. However, we were given a social security number quite quickly, and have had no problem with the feuilles des soins or with refunds of sums paid to doctors and pharmacies. We do still have to brave a dentist, though!  

Yep, that product page is better in every way. Thanks for the tip, Mikey. It would certainly seem worth considering. Does it have to be installed by a pro, or can I just sit it nicely in the pool and leave it to use up the batteries without disturbance? Cynical?? Moi??!! (We don't have visiting children, not because we don't like them - the opposite is true - but because of the nature of our accommodation).

Thanks, Mikey. Will be checking those links asap.

Well, I hope the device is better than the website!! Mind you, I had a good laugh at the translation from German into English. I know I shouldn't be unkind, especially as a foreigner in someone else's country, but if a company has a good product to sell, why do they cut corners by doing amateur translations? As for the alarm itself, I note that it would require a hole cutting into the side of the pool to allow insertion of a tube/pipe for air to feed the airbag. It would also require connection to a mains supply, I presume. (I am trying to interpret the diagram on the webpage http://www.pool-alarm.com/pool-airbag/index.html). I presume that this could be done, even with pools using plastic liners. But I suspect that these requirements would be more expensive to fulfil than the purchase of the system itself. I would have reservations about the ease of cleaning the pool with this thing lying at the bottom. Also, is it supposed to stop there all winter? All in all, I felt the website leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Edit: On re-reading everything here, I don't think I was looking at the page intended. I have since found a page on a sort of alarm, but it is so difficult to understand - and so much information is missing - that I am still in the dark. I hope my criticism of the translation doesn't offend anyone, and normally I am very reluctant to chide those who try, but really, this site takes the biscuit. The first words on the page (http://www.poolalarm.de/accidents/index.htm) are: "Please you do not go over these pages unread away as if child lives would be arbitrarily replaceable" A great shame.

I agree with pretty well everything said above. We certainly offer to provide a meal on our clients' arrival, as almost always they have had a full day travelling down to us. It seems to be in the spirit of CdH/TdH to do so, too. Last week, I even found myself doing a "light" (hah!) salad for a couple, at the cost of 15 euro between them - covering drinks on arrival, the salad (pretty comprehensive one, too), a dessert, wine and coffee/tea. Not much made there, but as Coco says, that's not the whole reason for offering such a service. I take on board Dick's point about his booking preferences, too. At the same time, whilst we like to offer our own hospitality, I like to think that we act in the spirit of our region, renowned for its wonderful food (and where isn't in France?!) So we are also just as happy to discuss local restaurants (providing we have eaten there ourselves) and recommend those that seem to fit the bill for any guest who wants to know. The point about sharing the spoils with our local eateries is also very valid. We all combine to promote an area of interest, to provide a variety of places to stay, eat, visit and be entertained. We are not so much in competition for the money available as trying to bring more of it to our area, for everyone's benefit. Or is this just too altruistic?

Sad fact is, there's not much money to be made in return for the effort you put in. That said, we do it, as a lot of people like it!

Thanks, Val.

I have a month's cover note from MMA. I was not required to get French plates, but was asked if we intended to to re-register in France, to which I answered (honestly) "yes". I was lead to believe that should a delay occur in the bureaucracy, another cover note could be issued on expiry of the first. However, I have been asked to provide paper evidence of my car insurance over the last 13 years! This was in order to obtain the No Claims Bonus at the appropriate level. The one thing I haven't been given is some idea of the year's premium!

Thanks, Les. I have emailed Citroën in Slough, and now have fingers crossed. If the CdC really does come free, that is a substantial saving! As a matter of interest, did you have to have your headlights changed?

Thanks, Les. I have emailed Citroën in Slough, and now have fingers crossed. If the CdC really does come free, that is a substantial saving! As a matter of interest, did you have to have your headlights changed?

[quote]Just another bit in the chain of you ( or any of us) being checked up on.[/quote] I had more than just a sneaky feeling that might be the case!

I'm waiting for our health docs and Carte Vitale, too. I applied in December!! I emailed our CPAM recently, and they said there was no problem with the file, but the docs were at INSEE. Can anyone tell me what INSEE has got to do with the process?

I wish that Citroën did provide the Certificat de Conformité free of charge. I enquired recently, and was given this reply (and if anyone can make sense of this - and I DO understand French! - please let me know!): Bonjour, Je vous remercie pour votre message et intérêt à l'égard de CITROËN. Vous demandez à obtenir l'attestation d'identification ou l'attestation de conformité (selon le cas) nécessaire à l'immatriculation en France d'un véhicule en provenance déjà immatriculé dans un pays étranger. L'attestation d'identification étant également delivré par la DRIRE. Voici ce que vous devez faire pour les obtenir: Vous devez adresser votre demande par courrier postal en joignant à votre envoi (les pièces indispensables sont soulignées) [Erm, they weren't!] - une photocopie du certificat d'immatriculation étranger - une photocopie du certificat de conformité étranger (ou fiche technique) - une photocopie du certificat de vente ou du certificat de propriété ou de la facture d'achat. - une copie du contrôle technique en cours de validation (véhicule ayant plus de 4 ans) Précisez - Boîte de vitesses: 4/5/6/Auto - Nombre de places assises pour les véhicules utilitaires - Un chèque de 115€ ou 100 € si véhicule a 10 ans ou plus, pour frais administratifs à l'ordre d'AUTOMOBILES CITROËN (tarif applicable au 28 janvier 2004). Pour les particuliers - une photocopie de pièce d'identité au nom du demandeur (ou copie du quitus fiscal) - une enveloppe (sans timbre) avec votre nom et votre adresse. Votre courrier devra être adressé à: Automobiles Citroën Attestations de conformité (CO 10) 12, rue Fructidor 75835 Paris Cedex 17 Cordialement. Service Relations Clientèle CITROËN Now can someone please tell me whether I should do this, or pop over to the DRIRE to see what they say?

If you have a Sky Digibox, you should be able to receive a shopping channel called (I think) Create & Craft. The main presenters are Alan and Barry from Ideal World TV (of which Create & Craft is a spin-off).

WOW!!! Thanks, Peter! Just where does anyone start ... ? Definitely added to my favourites.

I've added my two-pennorth as well. Glad to read on Jonathan's site that ITN News did a story on this recently, with Jonathan himself making an appearance. It is time that the appalling practices of the ferry companies were stopped, especially that of refusing to publish fares in advance. Nothing could be better designed to manipulate the market.