Liz

I know it comes as a surprise to many British women when the contract for the house purchase in France shows their maiden name, particularly if the maiden name was last used about 40 years ago! As TU has said here is absolutely no problem in retaining one's maiden name. There is another shock in store for the independent minded woman though; French tax forms are normally completed jointly as a couple and not separately. Liz (29)

I've just had a quick glance at our insurance documents (MMA) and I can't see anything about turning off electricity in case of absence so I think you would need to check your own small print or ask the company concerned. Regarding an electric de-humidifer I think you are on to a non-starter anyway because they normally only have a smallish container (no more than about 2/3 litres I would guess) that has to be emptied regularly. I vaguely remember a posting from someone (possibly in House Renovations or Owning a Property sections) who had rigged up a drain from the de-humidifier to a sink, that might solve the problem. Liz (29)

I think most of the Internet Gite advertising sites have links to discount ferry fares and some people belong to organisiations that can get discounted fares so I usually assume that people sort out the best way for them. In the past I have offered people the BF discount vouchers, but that is only 15% off their extremely expensive fares, and I have rarely had anyone take up the offer. I find, even at this distance from Calais or the tunnel many people prefer to take the short crossings and drive the distance. Liz (29)

Margaret, you've answered some questions that have been in my mind this winter. We have had people here much earlier than in the year than ever before and we have been in a quandry to know how to deal with the heating. IMHO it is unthinkable for people to turn up to a place that has not been heated in advance at this time of the year, but we have had to second guess their time of arrival so as not to waste electricity. I also looked out a hot water bottle, although I haven't gone so far as to put it in the bed, and in fact I have seen no evidence that it has been used! Liz (29)

We are nowhere near you but I have found this year that bookings have really taken off, particularly when compared with last year when we only got 13 weeks. We are not in a major tourist destination, people tend to by-pass us and head for the South Brittany coast. I have found it of great benefit to spread my advertising around quite a bit. I don't think you will ever get one company that will fill the place for you and you need at least least 3 or 4 outlets IMHO. This is helped by the proliferation of web sites offering free trials. They cost nothing other than a bit of time to set up your copy and photos and you can do this all yourself. If you are satisfied with the results you can then pay up the amount required to continue for a longer period. I have found some of these sites generate nothing at all but others have been very successful. I also find that people leave bookings from Internet sites much later than they used to when everything was in a printed brochure. Liz (29)

I am sure there are loads of people in the Guingamp area. Everytime we get on the ferry they all seem to be heading that way. You might try asking on http://www.angloinfo.com as they have a Brittany specific section. Liz (29)

We have a man on a local market who sells spices in small plastic pots 4 for 3 Euros. He sells chilli powder under the name of Piment Chilli. No doubt this man is not convenient for you but I can't believe he is the only person in the whole of France selling spices in this way. He also sells dried fruits and olives so that's the sort of stall to look out for. I can't imagine who he sells them to apart from me. I have several times stood there making my selection and have been asked by other customers what is this or that for. When I tell them that it is for making Indian dishes they usually put it down and leave! I also found Turmeric the other day to my amazement. Liz (29)

We are about 6 km from our village. I am sure there are people who would prefer to be nearer and they presumably don't book with us. In the circumstances you describe I would go for what suits me and my family. A comfortable gite in pleasant surroundings and at a modest price can always be let out for a reasonably long season. If you want to make a business of it and your income depends on it there are rather different considerations. Liz (29)

Thanks chaps. Your were right. I noticed the phone line was very crackly and called out the engineer. Temporary fix to the line on the main road and a permanent fix promised in a day or two. Much better now although still engaged twice this morning! Liz (29)

We're on Tiscali 05/17. Normally it is not too bad to get connected - sometimes engaged, sometimes unable to connect, somtimes drops the conection and sometimes connected very slowly but on the whole it works reasonably well at about 44000bps. Last weekend it was terrible, all of the above most of the time. I put it down to weekend plus half term traffic. Nothing on their web site indicated particular problems. It has been OK for a few days but today I'm having problems again. Managed to connect after many tries to collect e-mail then lost the connection. Then connected to this site at a speed of about 12000bps, then connected later at about 24000bps and I've just noticed that I've lost the connection again. So is it me or is it them? Anyone else got problems? Liz (29)

You will find comments on this firm in various places in this section of La Mairie, some are at http://www.livingfrance.com/dcforum/DCForumID32/452.html#3 If you get in touch with them I am sure they will send you their terms and conditions and prices without obligation. I have considered using them several times but the price, when I last enquired, at over 100, is too much to make it worth while for our small place. Personally I would rather use some of the free sites that are around on a trial basis, and if they come up with the enquiries, I shall be happy to pay them when they get round to asking for the money in future years. Liz (29)

There seems to be a distinct improvement over last year. July/August pretty well full and also people here now, and a January booking is unheard of so far as I am concerned. Property seekers of course! Not a lot of interest in the Spring yet but I don't despair. I have found with the Internet that people leave their choice later and later. My record is an enquiry on a Wednesday and they arrived on the Friday. Liz (29)

Many thanks for your suggestions. Just off to pack my bag and we're en route. Liz (29)

We're taking the straw out of our hair and cleaning off our wellies and taking a short trip to Paris next week. I've read the suggestions for places to visit in this section of the forum, which I didn't even know existed, and noted a few tips. But, and this is really sad, now that M&S have closed down is there anywhere else for English food? I'd love to be able to pick up a bit of Cheddar! Also anywhere else of interest. Top of my list is Muse d'Orsay as it wasn't open last time we went (in the Dark Ages). We've seen all the major sites so what else is there that's a bit different. We like museums, science, gardens. I hope someone is reading this, there don't seem to be too many Paris supporters. Liz (29)

I've been caught out with these. I have a feeling the nasty sugary ones were Polish or something so perhaps they do something different with them there other than to serve up with charcuterie. It was one of the things I always brought back from France before we lived here. Now we're here I have a jar in the cupboard that has been there for months. Liz (29)

I have a friend who is with Gites de France. As has already been mentioned you would be too late for their brochure this year and your customers would be mainly French but with a number of other nationalities to whom the organisation is well known. They inspect the property every 2 years I think and they charge for any extras, eg changes to copy; those little sign posts you see on the roads seem quite expensive. They take a percentage of your rent. They would expect the property to be equiped 'french style' and my impression is that the French do not expect to pay as much as the British for a holiday place. Why not try some of the free ad sites that are around at the moment? You've nothing to lose except a bit of time to set them up. A lot of people say they are rubbish but I have had more enquiries & bookings already this year from some of them than I had last year from paying sites. Look out for Villas-France, Holidaylets or Visitfrance for starters. All these will give you at least a 3 month free trial. Liz(29)

A while ago I looked into translating booking conditions into english and I used as a basis a booklet that appears on the newsagents shelves from a company that produces a listings magazine for the french market. Unfortunately it was so long ago that I've forgotten their name but I am sure you wll find several similar magazines/booklets on the shelves. In the event I decided it was too complicated to get involved with seeking french bookings since all the information I have about the gite and in the gite itself is in english, the gite is equiped for British customers (tea pot, kettle etc) and the french conditions of contract regarding payment etc seemed rather different from what we are used to. Liz (29)

French Connections has been mentioned several times on this Forum. I have also found Villas-France and VisitFrance to be effective and both offer free Internet advertising at the moment. I think you will find that you are much too late to advertise in a printed brochure for 2004, deadlines tend to be about September for this type of thing, but Chez Nous is probable the biggest in the field. Liz (29)

I don't think there is an equivalent. If I'm stuck I listen to France Musique which is a totally different thing, mostly classical but some of the old french 'chansons' and jazz as well. I think you are in Mayenne and you should be able to pick up R4 on Long Wave, on a good quality portable radio or car radio, easily unless you are very unlucky in your location. Margaret's mention of Bergerac is about right for the limit of LW reception, we tested this out in the car a couple of years ago. You can also get R4 both LW and FM by Digital Satellite (not to mention Radios 1,2,3,6 &7 if you want). You can pick up a Digital Sateliite Receiver complete kit for about 99 Euros. Liz (29)

I bought some Creme Crue yesterday from a Bio Co-op. They have shelves full of creme fraiche and only little section of a few pots of the 'real thing'. It is delicious, thick, creamy and yellow. The only other place I have seen it is at the market on the stall of a small local producer. Over Christmas they had sold out but have now had some in again. It is worth seeking out these shops. Liz (29)

I always thought you had to leave it in the bottle for a year before drinking, Val. I still have to decant mine from the sloes picked in the autumn and we are currently drinking the stuff made this time last year (we're very sloe drinkers - groan ). Perhaps I am wrong about this. I must get on with the decanting and see what results. We'll have to organise a sloe gin tasting. Liz

I've just had a look at our current payment slip and there is no indication of a web site address at all I'm afraid. Just a phone number and the adress. As you probably know they operate regionally so if you say where you are someone may be able to give you the details for that centre and you could send them a cheque (116.50 Euros in September). Whether the beaurocracy will allow them to assosiate such a cheque with you is anyone's guess! This was the one organisation who I could never persuade to send the bill to the UK address when we lived in England and I ended up settling for a Direct Debit which, normally I won't do. Liz (29)

I didn't used to like him much but he seems to have grown on me over the years. I heard him interviewed somewhere quite recently and he is very much alive and kicking. I would go and see him of I had the chance. I think he is a brilliant song writer. His official site is http://www.c-aznavour.com/ Liz (29)

My knowledge of french pop dates to the late 60s so I was amazed when I took up part time living in France about 9 years ago to discover that CloClo was very much still around. I never liked him much, my favourite was Richard Antony, J'entends siffler le train ...etc. Liz (29)

I have heard trailed on BBC Radio 4 a programme about french pop music, next Tuesday at about 13 30 I think. It may shed light on the subject. My 'era' is a litle earlier than yours so these names are unknown to me! Liz (29)