Kiraude

Just to add to what I've started. If you don't have a home in the UK (or an address) then how will your DVLA licence be legal??? That in itself in the UK, if not changed within X-many months of moving is worth a £1,000 fine!!!

Interesting .. I was initially asked/told by a friend who is at the Commissariat in Carcassonne early in the summer to make sure I get it changed. I did so. I've just been told by a friend (was at limoux, now narbonne station) that they're cracking down ..... Quillan ... do you mind me asking who you were talking to? Was it Proust? The old guy with the big grey moustache who's often out on his gendarmes bike???? The towing test I was never asked to take ... but I now have a full French licence, with 7 tonnes and towing capabilities ...

I've heard via a friendly local gendarme that they will be cracking down on UK licences for permanent residents here. If you have been permanent for over a year, your UK licence is 'invalid' requiring you to sit the test here .. you should change it prior to the end of the first year. But beware. If you want to keep your licence with the ability to drive a trailer/caravan and loads up to 7.5 tons then you'll need to go through a fairly simple medical every 5 years. Otherwise you'll have a regular French licence without the ability to tow or drive anything over 3tons (or do I mean tonnes?!) It's a simple process and well worth doing, taking a test in France costs around 2,000€ with all the lessons, code etc!

I know your house well, I know Gino .. you're the lucky people that bought it! Send me an e-mail, I'm very close by .. your rental people know me .. if you need any help or advice I may be able to assist! The builder at Campagne is excellent however, he's the expert on new properties, new builds etc .. I can recommend a team of French builders used to older properties if you do need them! Bienvenue et bonne chance!!!

I'm in the process of swapping my UK licence as the UK address is not in use and it would be easier to have a French one. I've just been informed that I should do it within a year of arriving (according to the Prefecture at Carcassonne) although I can continue driving on the UK one if I've a valid address in the UK. So, happily prepared to get this done armed with all the necessary paperwork, photo's & photocopies I've found a few problems - anyone who has a 'new' DVLA licence with photocard, could you help me out. What are the codes on the back? They DO NOT correspond to the French ones It shows little pictures of various vehicles (and in one case a trailer), what are they all? Apparently because I (under UK law) can drive a small goods vehicle - so Madame seems to think (I haven't taken any test except the normal driving one in the UK) I need a medical for the French equivalent (to be redone every 5 years). Any opinions on this? The best of it was, having filled out all the forms, including the medical I handed it all into her after lunch. She gave me a form about the medical and I asked (as something was mentioned about glasses) if it was necessary to bring them and would I have an eye test .... OHHHHH .. but your photo doesn't have you wearing glasses ... 'so?' I said .... 'well you'd better go and get more photo's with glasses on and bring all the paperwork back' You can tell I've had a great morning!!!!! Kira

Stefan We've been through this one before I seem to remember ... to back it up .... 09 - Ariege - where you are =SW France 11 - Aude - where I am =SE France Why? 04 - phone numbers - you would be 05 Weather - always SE as we are in the Languedoc you are in the Midi-Pyrenees Radio/TV - always get Montpellier broadcasts as we are covered by their sateillites or whatever they use (please don't start going into that one .. I have very little knowledge of airwaves and don't really want to start learning! ) If you look up most things for 11/66/34/13/12 you start in the Languedoc area ... which definately falls into the SE area of France. Admittedly it can be confusing when you do live close to the 09 border! Kira

One of the two hospitals in Toulouse - either Purpan or Rangeuil is meant to be the worlds leading cancer hospital .. as for English speaking specialists - try them .. they might be able to help Bonne courage Kira

Try M.Sanz at ADA Location. 0468 11-71-92 He'll come out to the airport if you ask him nicely!! Kira

Yes, that's the quote SNCF gave me yesterday .. Morlaix - Toulouse (via paris - the other route wasn't even worth bothering with) ... Anyone got a better suggestion? Is there a bus service from Morlaix that would connect to the Toulouse service that I'm pretty sure passes through Nantes? None of the airlines are able to help ... SNCF has a monopoly on this region of France it seems!!! Any suggestions for one person at the beginning of August! Thanks Kira

Anyone know anything about the autoroute from Nice direction to Italy? How busy does it get? Radars? Border control at all like as we enter Spain? Thanks Kira

You are in the wrong bit of the forum ... SE France would help ... but here goes anyway! I would personally get the train down from Toulouse, navette from the airport and then a train ... check the timetables as it's a holiday! Driving into Carcassonne on 14th will be something short of a nightmare, finding parking - even worse! Walk across Square Gambetta (bottom end) and then walk up Rue du Pont Vieux ... before you reach the old bridge turn right and stand in front of the Trois Corounnes Hotel looking over the river. It's not usually too crowded there & I've always had a great view. Kira

Washy I must be mad, but tell me more? Which ones are female? Are they the typical small Aude cat or larger? (My cats in the UK were considered small and here they're considered monsters!) Kira

Hi Sue First question .. where are you in relation to your gite? Are you nearby? >However, it would appear that long >term lets are not simple, >but I am a little >confused by one or two >postings. > >I am paranoid that they will >end up as 'squatters' so >I have some very basic >questions. I keep >reading about 3 year lets >so are 6 months lets >different? Technically yes, you should draw up a different document but it depends who you are letting to and where you are. If you are nearby .. you have a fighting chance .. if you let to a family with children under 16 you could go through hell unless it's all properly drawn up. Tenants with children can claim 'anything'!!! You could find yourself trying to get them out for years. > >1. Do I need a different >tenancy agreement for 6 months >or can I use the >same one I have for >the ususal 2 week holiday >let? I use the holiday one .. modified. They have a monthly contract which can be extended ... this is for people without children. > >2. It would appear that for >whatever period you agree (e.g. >5 months) the tenants can >stay in for 6 months >anyway. Is this correct? > Not sure. However I take 75% of the monthly rental as an upfront deposit to try to stop that. Agreement to stay each month after the first has to be declared 10 days to me before the end of the month. >3. If this is a 6 >month let do we need >to give any notice to >the tenant beforehand to quit >the property (i.e. 3months)? Not sure, but as I do a 'rolling monthly' rental I don't have this problem. >What have peoples experiences been. >Have you found it a >viable option or are the >costs of heating etc and >the tenants rights amde it >too much hassle. No problems for me at all ... water, gas/electricity are worked out with the tenant, I still receive the bills and we work it out ourselves including the abonnement. I may be contravening a French/EU law .. but this way it works and I am on hand to keep an eye on things! Kira

I've got a male neutered cat who has for the second summer running come up with the same symptons, which makes me think it's the heat. He is incredibly itchy ... I've 'frontlined' him, put an anti flea collar on and tried all sorts ... he's getting small scabs and around his ears he's losing some fur ... he's also licking his 'derriere' a lot a that's getting red now!!!! What can I do? I know you'll tell me to take him to the vets but I went there last year and he was put on a course of pills and a second course of 'anti-stress' pills to stop him scratching(Pussy Prozac I think!!!) This is not a wind-up .. but an unhappy owner with an unhappy cat (who spends a lot of time outside in the sun!). Any ideas? Thanks Kira

You are probably better off putting this post under SE France, where the little yellow train runs to and from! Kira