Keni

I remember those days as well - we used to have Sunday runs from Wimbledon down to Brighton or Worthing - I have some great pics of stops on the way to camping in Tiverton in the sixties. We were elegantly called 'greasers' in those days. Sadly some of the crowd have already fallen off the treadwheel, but many are left to remember the spirit of the sixties.

Trust me, now in my mid-fifties, I'll definitely plonk for the stilettos' next time I'm passing this life! I've just got to get them off my daughter's feet - she's discovered them in the wardrobe, along with my platform boots!  

Sprong has discovered that fact that I never throw stuff away - it just ends up in the loft, so she is walking around in my Chelsea Girl T-Shirts and the dress I made for my eighteenth is too small (Boob dept) for her. (I'm now 50+). Along with my navy velvet South Seas Bubble jacket, denim hot-pants and the superb white PVC and denim lace- up boots (Freezing on the back of a motor bike!!), what did I think I looked like? That's the trouble with being nearly six foot, a skirt on everyone else was a mini to me.

We are three, himself, her and me. That's been taken so can we be 6,000 and then start counting down - that way you'll know there's 6000! - Irish logic, it's born in us you know.

I wonder how long I can stay here without anybody noticing?

Bugger, I knew I had got it wrong, it should have been stiletto's for the pelvic floor muscles, not the other way round. I've spend nineteen years since the sprog's birth trying to get them back again (the floor muscles). Looks' like it's back to painful feet - a choice between that or crossing my legs each time i sneeze or laugh!

That was brill - I have been trying to tell my daughter about the Tales of the Riverbank series, and it confirmed to me that I did remember the wonderful Johnie Morris doing the voices. We have a large specimen that wanders around this place - known by the name of Dog, the Bounty Hampster. Don't ask - when you have a teenager in the house I have found it best to survive by accepting and not questioning such things as why the hampster has this name. I think they are great.

There definitely seems to be 'elderly homes' in our area - around the Haute Vienne. Piegut has a sign directing you to the homes for the elderly and signposting warning you of olds in the roads. In our village itself the more senior folk are sticking it out, but they do have the Franch equivalent of 'Meals on Wheels' each day. I should think that around the coastal areas there must be the equivalent of Bournemouth/Eastbourne. My own experience of mum in a British home was first class, it was good and actually specialised in dementia/altzheimers. Although mum had a shared room it was around £395 per week. So Iwould think in France you should expect £-E.What I would not wish on anybody was sticking it in hospital for six months before finding a suitable home though, as happened to mum, so I would say think long and hard about what you want for yourselves and start to act on it now.  

I hear he wanted to bring the female over here to visit Liz II and Phil, but to stay in same bedroom  (thus gain kudos), had to marry the wench! Liz and Phil they say no to same room - no  certificate no room!! Mind you if I were she, marry Sarko, have a good couple years as No.1 Lady, divorce, get loads of dosh, and no probs. Sounds a winner to me.  

Gluestick Have you hear the early Bill Cosby's? We Have the Bob Newheart Lp with Walter Raleigh, Driving Instructor and Bus Driver on. but the early Bill Cosby monologues are brill. For a rant try Harry Belafonte Day-o, along the lines of freeburg, but more just the rant. As for a general rant, reading D***y M**l, will do it every day.  

Just to let you know although a few years ago, we had a problem, we have found that going to the ATM in Abbey before we left at Christmas, the OH unlocked his pin number first (there was a section for that in the machine), then when travelling, we now seem to be able to use it throughout France, even at automatic fuel pumps. Check your card before travelling, this should help.  

Deimos Would it be possible for you to let us know approximately how much you were quoted for the cover-I have calculated so far it is around 1300euros each per annum - from some quotes we have had. Thanks

Marval seems to be a small village around which there appear to be loads of Brits! There are so many Brits the village hall runs daily French classes in Marval, Mary Tarry runs the classes, even the yoga class was Brit run. I did not realise just how many there were - we thought we were the only ones in the village - HA! five years later I now see that they are hidden in the woods and running businesses, all being French. It was a real eye-opener. Just go to the weekly market at Piegut Pluviers - winter- good, summer, mind-boggling!

Have been chatting on another forum regarding the stitch bit - going to hopefully move my stitching and knitting business over to France - have been running one in UK for many years. Am looking to Piegut or Cussac area, and if Marie agrees, run patchwork classes in our village when established. As I work as a journalist as well, am just looking at possibilities and costs of setting up shop, so to speak. If you need anything will be over Easter again. Please e-mail me. I have been telling Bergere to tell their French stockists to carry the English translated patterns - if you have a stockist near you they should be able to get a range of translated patterns and books. Have links obviously in UK with needlecraft and quilters' groups.  

Restaurant went well but closed - clash of personalities perhaps? The other guy (from London) wnet home in a tiff and left Nige to it. Then Nigel ran the B&B but without Sarah Beeny's advice on renovation, it was really a no go - in the end Celine left, Girlfriend from England left, Nippy left and Nigel was last seen producing (I believe) some of those military tv shows in Iraq - he also edits some of the doing a home up in france type shows - so watchout!!

Thank you for the information, I have yet to move over and was amazed by all the info regarding this new situation, yet realised as yet that no-one had seemed to ask whether in future, or whether as yet, any proviso had been put in place to allow tax relief

I might be repeating what has gone before, and I have looked through the site, but having just re-read the piece on Healthcare Regulations, as the French will now not allow payment into the CMU, from low earners etc., and yet still expect everyone to find the costs for the new healthcare - quote by LF article around £1600/1800 p.a. - will we now get tax relief on private healthcare payments? For a couple this could therefore be around £2-3K p.a,. a lot to suddenly find. If they have been paying in up to date, and have now to find healthcare (is it still illegal?), will the new ruling therefore take costs into account? As I say, I expect this has been covered but could not find where.

Thank you Carolski  for the information, I'll keep trying - by the way Keni is a she - that is one part of life I have to keep explaining, but that's for another day.  

Clair, Can you help us regarding an on-going work problem? We would like to replace our roof (chrysotile). No problems there. However we are in a small village with an ancient church and chateau. Although not actually visible from our property, we are on the same street, and it is facing us. To date, we are struggling to find out what we need to do. We have contacted the Maire, no help there - they told us to contact Batiments de France, we did, and also the company at Poitiers who are meant to help us get help for these situations. No reply there either. All we want to know is what type of permit we need to get the work done? Does anyone know the ruling regarding the permis for this type of property. We would like to do it correctly, friends of ours in the village rebuilt their whole house, they had nothing from the Maire. Everytime we start to enquire we are just told to contact the Batiments. Thank you.

Thank you Will, I have managed to look up the piece you mentioned, it is strange as you say that every where else you can be a self-employed Journalist, but not France, oh well another one of their foibles. This does make me wonder however. As to the working bit, I was refering to living in France but being contracted, as it were, as a writer for British newspapers/magazines, as I do at present. This would mean that I travelled back to the Uk for the writing etc., and was paid in England. That is the bit that gets me, because I would be receiving the money for work in the UK, but as a self-employed person, lived in France. Thank you again for the info.

Hi, I know of a family that did just that in the Dordogne area, but unfortunately, they were eventually beaten by the French paperwork. I can only suggest that from their experience, they found a site that was actually owned by the commune, and they ran it for the Mairie. It was successful, but they bought it off the commune and that is when things went wrong. It might pay for you to look at the specific area you want to move to, and then start contacting the local Mairies' to see if they know of anything.  

Can anyone tell me whether I could transfer over to France as a Journalist? I have been self employed for many years and am not sure as to what I would be 'titled' in France - be it Metier or Commerce? I would like to (obviously) look for work in the afore-mentioned areas but apart from the Charent-Libre newspaper, I do not know whether I would ever find journalism work in France - I must admit I don't mind travelling. Also how would it work regarding cotisations etc? If I am self-employed in France, but obviously only working when I can, how would payments (if any) be made? Would I remain a British self-employed worker, but working in France? Is there anyone out there who knows what happens? Thank You,  

We are looking to move over to France within  the year or so, however, although Living Franceand Franch Property News have recently kindly shown us how to roughly work out taxes etc., we want to know whether our daughter - now 18 - will be considered part of the household when working our the 'parts' for the tax. She as yet doesn't know if she wants to go with us full time and although has another year at college is exploring continuing her studies at university. As she will be visiting back and fort for holidays, but most probably staying  away for her education, will the tax authorities consider her living with us enough to add her as a third person in the household? She is registered disabled in the Uk for epilepsy and is worried about her status if living part time in both countries. Thank you.

Hi, we have been struggling with these things for a few years now - we are opposite a chateau and church or historic value! If you are in the Limoges/Haute Vienne area we were given the following address: Service Departmental de l'Architecture et du patrimoine, 35 rue des Veritiens 87000 Limoges T'Fax: 0555 32 73 80   That is trying to read the hand writing. They might be able to give you more information though. Keni & Chris  

Would love to join you all - will be over in HV87 this week - arriving early (uh) Sunday, but bringing car, still trying to sort out bikes for France, so all we can do is wish you all a good trip and happy easter - Royan in good and so is that small place just north - St Palais sur Mer - great restaurant in summer - Lulus' or something on side of beach - great place for oysters. Have a good run