Lori

We bought a 180 x 200 bed from literieland. I believe they have shops all over France. They will also custom make a bed for you whatever size you wish. Have never been able to find sheets that fit our California King Bed here. Have to order them from the States. Oh well...

Logan: Private message sent to you. Lori

Not sure where you bank, but we have our account at Credit Agricole. When we first bought our house, we had huge expenses and needed lots of cash. They simply changed our account to allow a much larger weekly withdrawal for a set period of weeks, then it went back to the ridiculous 300 euros per week. You might give this a try..

Ryanair has bus service from Paris to Beauvais?? Do they have this information on their website? How can I determine where the bus picks up passengers and the cost? That would be great.. Thanks for the info. and any further data you might have..

I am taking my daughter up to Paris for a flight to the States. She is 10 years old, and will be traveling as an unaccompanied minor on the plane to the States (visiting Gramma). I will get her to Paris and onto the plane, but then she's on her own. After that, I need to get to the Beauvais airport to take a cheap flight to Glasgow. I have no idea if there is any bus service from Charles de Gaul to Beauvais - or any other type of service. I've looked at their website, but this is not mentioned. Anyone out there have any idea?? Thanks.

As a family of 3, one 10 year old child, me and my husband, we could spend 90 euros (I think that's 60 pounds?)per week on food, but just food. Not things like wine,canteen tickets, or having friends over for an apperitif or dinner. And, that is just as has been said by others here, shopping at the Lidl, the Leader Price and LeClerc. They are all within 500 meters of one another, so no extra gas is spent taking advantage of the bargains each one has to offer. I cannot imagine how a family of five could eat on 90 euros per week. Perhaps they eat only rice, pasta, frozen and/or packaged items which can sometimes be cheaper. No way to fresh veggies, fruits and meats on that budget.

Interesting too.. one day when I was walking my neighbor's 3 year old to maternelle, she stepped in a pile. I did my best to removed her shoe and clean it off (ugh). When I told her Mom what happened (it is a French family), she said "oh, was it her left shoe or her right shoe? If it was her left shoe, that is good luck..." I'm not kidding..

Helen: When I was trying to determine what snake we had living in our backyard, I searched on the web with the description. Brought up many photos, with types described. Perhaps you can find your snakes that way. Mine looked like a grass snake. Five feet would definitely give me a scare ! I agree with you, living in the countryside, you must adapt to the various creatures you live among. Good luck.

It is such a good thing you have done. Don't give up. Is there no law here that allows for IMMEDIATE intervention when animals are, obviously, being abused, neglected and starved?? Does it really take weeks to get the process going? Can anyone go at night to feed/water the animals when Madame et Monsieur Farmer are not aware? I realize that would be asking alot of any volunteers. Wish I was nearby. I live in the Vaucluse or would otherwise be right there at midnight with the food/water. Do keep us posted. Glad to hear the media showed up. They should publish the farmer's name and address (perhaps by mistake) to tell the world what an !(&$#!*$&# he is. Don't know how anyone could sit by and deny the obvious starvation of his own animals. There is a special place down below just waiting for him. Okay, I've written my tyraid....

Sorry, but what is a vole?? Is it a mole??

What a horrible shame ! Can you contact the media for some coverage??? Maybe just the newspapers if the Television media shows no interest. Seems to me the kind of story that pulls at the heartstrings... Surely some of the French must have some heartstrings.... Please let us know what happens.

I use the fitted sheets from La Redoute. I don't find them hot at all and no one has complained about them. I love them because they fit very snuggly (but not too) over the bed, therefore, do not need ironing. We change the linens AND do a complete house cleaning for guests who stay more than one week. I do this myself. Guests are offered this service (free of charge) upon arrival. If they prefer to do it themselves, or that we do not come in, it is their option. They choose the time of day, each Saturday, that they prefer the cleaning/linen changing, take place. All our guests have opted FOR this service. All have told us how much they liked coming back to fresh clean bed linens, bath and kitchen linens and a spotless home. I do iron the twin size sheets, but I take my king sized sheets to 5 a Sec and they wash and iron them for 4 euros each. It would cost me more in water and electricity to do it myself. Anyway, that is what we do here....

Incredible ! (yet somehow believable)...

Thanks Will & Tink et al: Yes, Tink, my husband does have a Visa to work in the UK. His company sorted all that out before he arrived there. As for the Carte de Sejour here, yes, we understand the laws. Thank goodness these are very clear. I just thought that if he had never lived here and never needed a carte de sejour, his work status might start out differently. I think I understand all that you both have said. It makes sense. The Profession Liberte seems to be the only legal way for him to take a year of sabbatical to work out of the house. We NEVER really get to see him ... unless we go to where-ever he is. Plan to make the appt. with Ernst & Young. Tink, if you have anyone closer to the Vaucluse, we'd love to hear the name and number. Would love to converse with you Tink as you sound as though you are in a very similar life situation as we are. Anyway, thanks to all who responded. It is all greatly appreciated. ! Lori

Hello Les Lauriers: Love the picture of the dog. Is it your dog? Yes, we read the description of the domicile fiscal definition. My husband currently has an apartment in Glasgow where he lives. If he took a year to work out of our home in France, he would give up that apartment. Therefore, it "sounds" like he would be fiscally domiciled here in France as he would be living here with us and he would have no other domicile. However, how does this come into the double taxation issue? Perhaps this is not know or not clear. We will, most probably, make an appt. with an Accountant here in France. My husband's tax returns are prepared by Ernst & Young. They have an office on the Cote Azur, so we will probably inquire with them. It is interesting the description of Fiscally Domiciled. We understood this to mean where you are housed and paid. It is unclear where the paid, but housed elsewhere situation is covered. A bit complicated. By example, if he is to stay in France for five months, then leave and work in Glasgow again for a month or two, then come back, could he avoid the need for a carte de sejour (not here six consecutive months)? If he is not a resident or temporary resident of France, and he is paid in the UK and taxed in the UK, how can France have a claim on his income? I can see we need professional advice. If anyone knows of a good Accountant in the Vaucluse - or nearby (Avignon), we'd love to hear the name. Thanks to all for the help offered. Lori

Thanks Will & Tink: Will, we have purchased private medical insurance coverage that covers us in France and anywhere else in Europe. We renew this each year, so we are not a part of the National French Health System. Our issue is strictly an income tax one. Tink, I should clarify that my husband is an American, working for the London Regional office of an American company. He has NEVER lived in France (but is considering working out of our home in France for one year - still for the same company, but what they call - and I'm sure you are familiar with the term "remote"). I live here with my daughter, but I do not work and have no French income. My husband could (but this is the main question) continue paying income taxes, etc. to the UK, where he is paid. He would prefer to do this, but we can't seem to find where the law is written to cover this issue. Have found all the descriptions of "fiscal domicile" in the French government websites regarding to income taxes, but they do not cover this type of situation. My husband does not have a carte de sejour for the moment. He has never needed one as he has never lived here. I do have mine and have renewed it each year. How would he be liable to France when there is a non-double taxation law with the UK?? I just can't seem to find the law on this. Any further help you can offer would be appreciated. Perhaps we will just have to find a good Accounting firm and make an appt. .. Still not sure. We would like to remain within the law, but it is so hard to find out WHAT THAT LAW IS?????? Thanks again to all who can offer any help. Lori

I know this has been covered before, but I can't seem to find the recommended websites to research the issue. If husband works for a UK company, all income earned in UK and taxed in UK, but is a computer software engineer and spends a good deal of time doing this work out of an office in France, but is totally paid in the UK to a UK bank account, does he have any tax liability in France. No income is paid to him (or anyone in the family) in France and ALL income has been taxed in the UK. If I remember most of what I have read on this forum, the answer is he has no tax liability in France because he did not earn anything in France and what he did earn was in another country and already taxed by that country. Can anyone offer a website that might clarify this issue (French or English - matters not). Thanks again, and sorry for bringing up what I'm sure has been covered to death.... Lori

I think the forum is fantastic. I have learned many things by reading the various posts. Though I am new to the forum (only a few months) and I am not British, I still find the posts very interesting, helpful and, often, funny. I also feel that whenever I have a question, this would be one of the first places I would go to seek advice. Thanks for creating the forum - whoever did...

You might try Gaubert Piscines in Nice. We used them and they were very helpful. Email is [email protected] He speaks English if you need to. Tel: 04-93-53-07-24

Here in the Southeast, the same thing applies. When we bought our house, we wanted our property fenced. It is 3000 m2. We wanted a cement wall on one end, to separate our home from the only other home by us (they wanted the wall too). The wall was to be finished in the normal exterior crepi. We then wanted a chain link fence for the remaining three sides of the property. The first macon that came to offer his devis was recommended by a friend.. His estimate - 40,000 EUROS !!!!!!!!!!!!! No not Francs EUROS !! We ended up getting 4 devis and the closure cost us 9,000 euros. It is also of a very good quality. We have had a few things like this happen to us. If you do your homework, you will know when someone is taking you for a ride. Seems extremely important in this part of the world - perhaps everywhere.

What on earth is a weed flame gun??? Sorry, just curious..

We planted Eliagnouses (forgive me, I have no idea how you spell that). I bought them at a local grower's market in Carpentras. They were about a meter tall when I bought them, two years ago. They are now double and in some cases triple in height and much rounded. They also have nice smelling blooms a couple of times per year. I paid 2 euros each for them. They have grown at an exceptional rate for us. Even during last summer's heat wave and living in a water hungry region, they still look great.. Good luck.

Does anyone know if this is a problem in France. We live 30 minutes inland from Avignon. We have a 2 year old collie. Our vet advises we use Frontline for protection against ticks and fleas (which we use each month). We use Drontal for protection against worms (every six months now that he is an adult). However, he has never mentioned heartguard or any other type of protection against heartworms. Recently, our dog has taken up a sort of wheeze. Not too often, but two or three times each day I noticed it. I took him to the vet 10 days ago and his throat was irritated. Vet took a blood test, regular CBC and did a urinalysis. Both were completely normal. Vet said he probably had a virus. Gave me an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic. He seemed better. Only a wheeze here or there. But, I know it isn't normal. He plays, he eats, he runs, etc. In other words, he seems all normal with the exception of this occasional weird breathing. It is a symptom of heartworms. Well, it could be a symptom of anything. I called the vet and asked him about heartworms in the region. He said it is rare. He said there are cases being found in the Camargue region, but rare elsewhere. He said he would take a blood test on Friday a.m. during TouTou's check-up. I will know then, but I wondered if anyone on the forum had any experience with this. Many thanks. Lori

Pretty sure it is in September, but can't remember which week.

Carol: Message in your inbox.