Keni

Hi, we need to seal/paint the sous-sol as everytime you touch the walls, stone or cement dust comes off and we want to make more use of the room -fridge/freezer room etc. Any thoughts as to what we can use to seal the wall or paint it with. It appears to be an ancient stone wall, mixed and repaired with lime mortar (I guess) and cement patches.

A few of our plasterboard type (ancient) ceilings appear to be bowing and 'popping' away from each other - you can push them slightly. I would like to stick them back together and then polycell over them - I know not a smooth finish, but compared to the walls in this house, they will most probably be the smoothest thing here. what is suggested - tape/scrim or anything else?

The other half says did it get a CofC?

All our working lives in the UK, and before, I was up around 7.ooam and himself any time (due to shifts). Over in France, we are awake at 7.00am - but it's 8.00am in France, our body clocks are tuned in to the Uk time it still appears! t will be interesting Sunday mornig to see what happens.

i agree that it should be looked at - having run a business in the Uk for nearly 20 years, like many other businesses around me, we all felt the paperwork stopped us from actually running and prospering the business.

Just to finish off our situation, so to speak. We went to DRIRE in Limoges, were given a form to fill in and told to go get a CT. Went to our local bloke, who said non! No CofC, even with the piece of paper from DRIRE, no CT. So we were told about a place in Chalus, we went, no problems. Got CT!!!!! then went back to DRIRE, and even though it was afternoon, and they close at 12 for 'visitors', they kindly sorted out all we were required to bring, stamped everything, took our legal stuuf and gave us another stamped piece of paper, we paid the 67.38 euros and were told to go to Prefecture in around 10 days to pick up the Certificate d'Immatriculation. So, we made it!!! There is life it seems.

Thank you for all your help - just tried to get the CT and as mentioned on another thread, was told without a CofC no CT! Work that one out.

Yeh, we have a Type Approval on the V5C, with an e-number, but have been told this is a UK Type Approval number and must be changed for a French one, which will cost...... When we asked about checking it in the DRIRE system we meet a stone wall. I know it's only a one off payment, but what the heck is the point of being in the EU if it is not a Union, remember we are talking about a car that was manufactured in France, exported for use in the Uk and now trying to be reregistered in France. I enclose below from the French website their copy about the C of C: I translate it as saying to A COMMUNITY TYPE APPROVAL. Justificatifs techniques de conformité si le certificat d'immatriculation ne comprend pas l'ensemble des informations nécessaires à l'immatriculation : pour les véhicules conformes à un type communautaire : soit le certificat de conformité européen original, Le certificat de conformité à un type CE pourra être l'original restitué par les autorités de l'État dans lequel était immatriculé le véhicule, le duplicata du certificat délivré par le constructeur ou son représentant dans le pays, ou la copie du certificat certifiée conforme par les autorités du pays. L'attestation d'identification à un type national et le certificat de conformité d'origine.

Just been to Champagnac la Riviere today - an annual successful farmers/general market and lunch, (but freezing today!). A whole variety of local producers were there from butchers - even a black pudding maker producing on site, to veg producers, bread and cake manufacturers, hot chestnuts, juice producers etc. They works from village fete to fete, depending on the theme, but they come from everywhere, as do the customers. There are no 'Farmers Markets' as such, but you can easily sell at weekly markets as well - the biggest in the area is perhaps in the village of Piegut Pluviers.

Can't get out - working on house..........

Sorry to hear you'll be leaving - you have been very helpful to Keni &I whilst working out what we do next with out lives. We are now in Haute Vienne looking to our future. Thanks again

We were told last week that for the CT we should just turn up - i specifically said what should I bring & was told, just the car! I turn up, different bloke who refuses to do the CT test without the CofC, saying he can no longer do them without the CofC! So as the Haute Vienne is now a DREAL/DRIRE combined unit, when astrying to find the place, we presume it's now in Limoges. It's definitiely chicken & mouse - no CT no CofC, no CofC, no CT - who works that one out?

Note:We were given a 'Certificate of Acquistion' today at the Centre des Impots to prove the VAt had been paid. No charge, but they need the original purchase receipt otherwise they say that they might charge TVA (VAT). We have to give our registration details, mileage and they took copies of passport and V5C and they required details of a household bill - EDF. Looking at the website you showed, our car is secondhand (occasion) and is regarded as etranger - according to that requirement on the form, a Certificate of Conformity is not even mentioned in that section - so are we being demanded of, for something that is not needed? The reason we are trying to contact DRIRE is to get a 'certificate of Conformity ' or equivalent, as Peugeot are asking £100+ -I gather I can get it cheaper via DRIRE. Note : We have details of a new law, I quote from a local free paper Et*****a: New Law regarding Controle Technique''s on English Registered vehicles: To have a Controle Technique on an English registered venicle it is now necessary to produce a full certificate of conformity as well as the English Log Book (V5C).

-AnOther - I did read the sticky but there is no mention of the Eco tax - I was not phased by the need for the Certificate of Attestation - I merely mentioned it because it never seems to be mentioned as important - the sticky is several years old and I need to contact the DRIRE office for the Certificate of Conformity - we are not all gods - many are simply human beings, trying to do the right thing - I simply pasted about the eco tax as I do not recall it being mentioned. The homework has been done - along with my OU French and Spanish courses - but there is sooo much to take in when you move to France, and being superior to others doesn't help. If you had simply phrased it as - check the sticky, there might be more help there, I would not be cross! That is after having spent time still looking on the nternet for the DRIRE office in the Limousin/Haute Vienne area -it doesn't seem to exist to be able to download the document!!!(Keni - C- OH).

And today our neighbour registered their car at Limoges and had to pay an Eco tax of 324 euros!!!!!! Their car is a 2004 registered 2.4 Volvo. Someone their had a Volvo XC90 and they had to pay close to 1000 euros - this is a new one to us.

The children of a friend of ours, although English by birth, who have gone through the French school system-to listen to them and speak to them, you would believe them French. However, once into the job market, the elder daughter has had mega problems, because as she says, once they see your CV and see you were born in England, that is it, interview terminated - also friends in our village, she is from Belgium, he from France, also say the same - he could not get a job in Belgium, and now they are back here, she can not get a job in France!!!!

Sorry Norman - have to ask - are you related to Clement Freud?

Hi, I have just finished an Open University Course (Intermediate), but they have a Beginners' Course - I think it's called French Portal, and they also have week long courses in Caen (and other places I believe). The beauty of these courses for me is that although expensive you learn to a pace, with assessments to make sure you keep on track. And of course, finally, the points awarded can be put towards undergraduate studies etc.

Just to add - we are having to also get a Certificate of Acquisition at the local Centre des Impots to proove that the VAT (TVA) has been paid on the vehicle and that has to be presented when you apply for the Carte Grise!

You have to check this out for all those who have to make the regular journey by aeroplane, well worth watching.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAg0lUYHHFc

Oh Gawd - I lived in Lambeth when DA and the loony left named things like - Streatham Swimming baths would be renamed Nelson Mandela Baths! A great bloke but to name a SB after him - heaven help us - you don't want to know what they renamed some of the parks in and around Brixton....

Looking at what France is now being asked to do by the EU, ie change its immigration rules, (it has been revealed others countries have not altered their laws to allow the free movement of Eu persons). This might mean that French health regulations which are also in conravention of Eu regs, ie the requirement for funding private health care for 5 years, might have to be changed - I believe the Eu are also looking at the French health regulations in this matter as well.

Go online and look up Lapeyre - they are a sort of Magnet Joinery - there are other companies on line as well. They can give you a breakdown in wood or PVC etc - they will also install, am I sure there are other companies as well offering this facility. We are having one done - around 1000 euros, including shutters.

Just to say have just finished my OU Intermediate Course in French - speaking assessment was Friday and posted written one last week. It is a god course for those not beginners and not knowing where to go for their next stage. Thanks for all you help & info - still ove my 2000 years of history.

Hey PeterG - don't let my old man hear you say that Lancashire is Gods' Country - he's from Yorkshire and they all believe that God came from there! See joke on another part of the forum.