Liz

Thanks Forum Admin I see you've done it! Liz

There used to be a Language section which disappeared some time ago. I am not sure if I ever saw an explanation but I had the impression it was due to lack of postings. We seem to have had a number of questions on the subject of learning french lately and, although it maybe that the subject is played out for the next few weeks, I was wondering if it could be re-instated. The Postbag gets full to overflowing with all sorts of fun topics but learning the language is important and a single point of reference would be very useful. If not a separate section how about combining it with 'Culture' or 'Education'? Dare I suggest taking a leaf out of a certain other Forum's book and transfering the current topics over? Liz (29)

I can remember seeing the recommendation for The Olive Farm a while back and thinking Yawn, Yawn another 'Year in Provence' type tale. In England last week I picked up a copy (unopened by the look of it) in a charity shop and I have really enjoyed it. A bit sentimental for my taste but a jolly good read. Next time I get to a charity shop (what a treat!) I'll be looking out for Dirk Bogarde too. I think I have heard it on a Book at Bed Time or some radio programme like that. Liz (29)

I noticed that the little column about La Mairie had been dropped a couple of issues ago and I was deeply suspicious because in October it coincided with the disappearance of the Forum for several days without explanation. I used to like that column because it sometimes drew my attention to a topic I had overlooked. I also noticed, as you did, that there were topics on the letters page that could have been answered by this Forum and I sometimes wonder why people with e-mail addresses write asking for information when all they have to do is click on here. I only received my copy of the November magazine a few days ago and have it in mind to write to the letters editor also.

You should contact the Centre des Impots des Non-Residents, 9 Rue d'Uzes, 75094, Paris CEDEX 02. They will send you the necessary form for declaration. No need to tell them in advance as the return is done annually in arrears; the tax year runs from January.

LAST EDITED ON 12-Nov-03 AT 03:20 PM (GMT) It does give (an)other Forum(s) something to talk about I suppose - I don't think the Smileys on La Mairie are quite up to this.

I've read the comments on the magazine in the thread started by Amelie and all I can say is: chance to comment would be a fine thing! It is 10th November and I still haven't received my November issue here in 29. I know there has been a postal strike in some areas of the UK but so far as I know that is over and has been for some time. After a moan about the lateness of the mag a few months ago I found the last couple of issues came pretty promptly. Now I'm back where I was before. Anyone else got the same problem?

Film - Un Homme et Une Femme - with Anouk Aim and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Wonderful music. The best film ever after Casablanca. I agree about Le Grand Meaulnes but should be read by under 21s. I haven't enjoyed it nearly so much since I got to be 'grown up'. Read the early Claudine books from Collette. The atmosphere of the french school room at the turn of the the 19th/20th century is great.

Some years ago I attended a course in Ouistreham specifically for people who spoke a reasonable amount of french and simply wanted to practice. We had a few lessons with a very nice lady and were then free to explore the area. It was arranged with VFB who, I think, are still in Cheltenham. If they no longer offer that sort of course it is the sort of firm that may well offer the kind of thing you are after. I haven't checked but I am sure they have a web site and they advertise a lot in the broadsheet Sunday papers.

I do agree. I find the use of this am and pm business very strange, particularly in an international context. I have a french friend who lets her property through Brittany Ferries. They provide a postcard for new arrrivals to send to advise her of their time of arrival. When people write to say that they will be arriving at 6pm she gets extremely confused and imagines that they will be turning up at 6 in the morning. Fortunately she checks with me for a 'translation'.

LAST EDITED ON 17-Jul-03 AT 03:24 PM (GMT) There was a query a short while ago on similar lines from an electrician. I had read an article in LF Magazine (April 2003) about the British Council in Paris providing a confirmation of his equivalent qualification in France. Maybe they can do the same for plumbers. Try: http://www1.britishcouncil.org/france/france-education/france-education-recognition-qualifications.htm I'm sure people are as desperate for a good plumber in France as the are in the UK, they don't know about CORGI though!

LAST EDITED ON 03-Jul-03 AT 09:08 AM (GMT) My partner wants to take up building and flying model aircraft. There are loads of web sites to look at but we wondered if anyone has experience of the hobby in France. One concern is whether the frequency of a UK purchased aircraft would be legal in France?

There was a posting similar to this on 9 May from someone in Brittany. I see he didn't have any replies! I have never come across salvage yards specifically for building materials (except that they are often described in the agent's details as 'farmhouse for renovation' ) although I will be interested to know if someone else has. The nearest I can think of is the Depot Vente which can have all sorts of stuff for sale, more often furniture, but I have seen building materials as well. The other possibility is Emmaus charity shops which usually have an outdoor yard full of stuff. I have known people use reclaimed items from old houses and the transaction always seems to be by word of mouth.

Usually when I get this forum on screen I am recognised and I have no need to log in. All of a sudden the last couple of times I am asked if I am a new member. I have had to log in and search my memory for the pass word to post this. I know this happened a while back and eventually got sorted out. Is it just me?

I had a brief trip to the UK last week and felt that the prices I was seeing in B&Q were roughly the same as prices in France, what I mean is that if something was priced at 20 in B&Q the price in France is 20 Euros! Probably an illusion but generally a lot of DIY prices do seem cheaper in France. Paint does seem notably dearer in France although I have no complaints about the quality. Does it matter? The price is what it is. If you live in France you pay the local price. If you have a second home and have access to supplies in the UK questions of transport and convenience come into it, ie if you have a busy weekend of DIY ahead it is easier to load up the car in the Uk and get stuck in to the job as soon as you arrive than mess about tracking down supplies when you arrive.

LAST EDITED ON 17-Apr-03 AT 08:20 AM (GMT) The Saniflo type toilets are widely available in France, more so than in the UK. You will have no difficulty in finding one to meet your needs in most of the large DIY shops or plumbers' merchants. We bought ours in Brico Depot fairly recently but I can't unfortunately find the price (somewhere in the filing system!). They are good quality and quite a bit cheaper than any others we saw with a pipe run of up to 60 meters.

It will certainly not be expensive. We had two installed in place of two old metal skylights but very slightly larger and the 2 fitters did the job in a morning. Very worth while and one of the few jobs we would not have wished to tackle ourselves.

I know what you mean about the colour going dark. I have used an oil based silk finish paint to good effect. I have also experimented with colour washes with a thin acrylic paint to lighten it up a bit while leaving the grain showing. I think this could be successful although I have never actually used this technique as the final finish. They sell lambris in an effect called 'cerus' I think to give you an idea what I mean. I have never tried bleach. Is there an inconspicuous area you could try?

One thing I know about Gites de France is that they will not make a grant to a property that is anywhere near the sea, it has to be rural. A friend converted a house and this is what she was told in spite of the fact that to view the sea from the commune she is in one has to be at the highest point on a very clear day! Also if you get a grant you are comitted to letting with them for quite a long period and they take about 12% letting fee.

Try Point P or Big Mat. I think these are national firms or franchises. Both have generally a display and catalogues if you want to order something special.

I have been having problems too but haven't bothered to add my name to the chorus because I thought 'someone will sort this out pdq'. But here we are on Monday morning and still the same mess. My problem is that La Mairie does not recognise me anymore and I have to identify myself each time. I can't tell you how rejected this makes me feel - sob . Also posts are not marked yellow when there are new ones. Regarding the magazine, I understand from the info in the printed mag that the site is being re-vamped and we are either seeing work in progress or it has all gone horribly wrong. I am using Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 5.

LAST EDITED ON 28-Nov-02 AT 01:55 PM (GMT) >I appreciate that at the >moment they appear to follow >previous postings that are being >replied to, but I find >it awkward to follow. > I entirely agree. The muddle spoils what is otherwise an excellent site.

Good idea. Far more useful than all the FAQs put together! I don't see www.pagesjaunes.fr in the list. I also find www.google.fr very handy.

Good idea. Far more useful than all the FAQs put together! I don't see www.pagesjaunes.fr in the list. I also find www.google.fr very handy.

I have been looking at the 3 FAQs that were in preparation for some time now and wondering what it was all about. They have suddenly increased to 6 and I have actually got around to reading some of the content. FAQs they may be but it does not strike me that the answers provided are all that helpful, being too specific to a given situation. Personally I think having the top part of my screen blocked with these is a waste of time. Better to search the archives if one has a particular topic in mind. Sorry to whoever has put in a lot of hard work to get these on screen. You can't please all of the people all of the time!