Annhopkins

Thanks for that. Do we need to get our certificates translated or will the British versions be OK?

We have old style driving licences, are we able to exchange these for French ones with ease or should we obtain the new style picture licences in the UK first?  I have made enquiries with DVLC but it appears that sharing of information between EEC countries does not exist and they couldn't help me.   Many thanks Ann

We are moving to France in January.  Our local mairies office have told us that we need the following forms:- E106 x 2 for both adults EAN for each person 2 adults & 2 children EAM for marriage   I have tracked down the first forms, however the international dept of inland revenue have not heard of the other forms.  Could anyone please let me know what they are and where I can obtain them?   Many thanks Ann

As I stated in my post yesterday in a cautionary tale, our education system is about to change (watch the news).  Having received some positive feedback from friends in France whose children are in university we are once again ready to make the move.  As for the future, we are looking only as far as the Bac for our children, after that they will be old enough (and hopefully wise enough) to make their own decisions on where to go from there.  This is a whole family move and is meant to be for the benefit of us all, however once we feel everything is right now to make the move, the future is up to all of us to make happen.  

Could anyone please clarify the age at which children take the brevet. Taylor is 13 and currently in year 9 (English system) she will be 14 in May 2005.  Exactly what age would she be and what time of year would she take the brevet?  If we were to move to France in January would she only have the rest of this academic year and the next before she sat the exams?  Would she have enough time to learn the language and the work needed to pass? This is very important.  Answers please.

Well you have another set of parents worried.  We are on the brink of moving, my husband is handing his notice in next week.  We have spent the last 3 years researching the move, waiting for the right opportunities and weighing up the pros and cons.  Education has been the most difficult.  Our children are 13 and 10, and yes they are exceptionally bright, I don't wish to blow their trumpets but it is a matter of fact.  We were hoping that being bi-lingual would be a benefit.  I work in education and to be honest our system is not as good as everyone makes out.  Exams are changing all the time, there is talk of introducing the Bac, or re-introducing 'O' levels, making maths and english options and not compulsary, and all this could be before our 13 year old reaches year 11, where will she be then, discipline is out of the window and PC runs the schools.  Don't get me wrong I am not saying that the French system is any better but surely it cannot be as bad as everyone here makes out. Is it just a case of being comfortable with what you know and not able or willing to embrace the changes. And what about the other benefits.  Talking to a French teacher in our village in France he says further education is still free, I have nieces who have just finished university with large debts.  We hope the children will find it easier to get on the property ladder when they are older.  And if they want to return to England when they are older, surely a French education would not hinder them.  I firmly believe that when my children are adults we will be far more intergrated into the EU than now and being european education will be a positive advantage. Am I completely wrong? Believe it or not the opinions of this forum could mean the difference between moving or not.  Replies are gratefully received.

I was only doing it as a temporary measure as I didn't know any other way.  I would appreciate any guidance you can give me about setting up your suggestion as I don't want to spend money unecessarily and we will be moving to France in Jan so will be requiring a more permanent method of connection. Computers are a mystery to me, I can't live with them and I can't live without them but I will never understand them.

I have told sky that we are moving in with my parents but want to keep our own box and subscription.  They say we cannot do this and should upgrade to multiroom, which someone else on this thread said they will check your phone line connection, we could then pay for our own subscription and the additional £10 which we should then charge my parents.  Are you talking about something else?  If so what should I be asking for.

When I was last in France I set my internet connection phone number to dial england by adding the 00 44 etc, it appeared to dial up OK but I couldn't access any pages.  Does anyone know why?  Do I need to do something else or will this just not work?   Thanks Ann

We have finally made the decision to move to France in January next year.  As a concession to the children we want to keep up our sky subscription and take our box.  We have been doing this for holidays and have a dish already set up.  However I have tried all means of being able to keep up the subscription here in England but sky are saying no at every turn, we have asked about having 2 subscriptions at one address - not possible, can we use a post office box as our address - no, can we use our French address - no,we don't know anyone whoes address we can use so at the moment are completely stumped. Any help or ideas gratefully received. We have managed to sort out all our other problems but this seems unsolvable.   Ann

How common is it for children to be put back a year when they start? Have children 13 & 10, both bright but although they have a small understanding of the language and 3 months for me to teach them the basics before we move their knowledge will be limited.  Neither mind moving to France, in fact they see it as a challenge and are convinced they will pick things up ok.  However being put back a year is something the 13 year old does not want to have to do. Comments appreciated.

Try looking on www.pointp.fr they have a variety of slates. For a 40x25 Spanish slate we were quoted €1625.63 TTC per 1000 For 46x30 €2023.54 TTC per 1000   Hope this helps

Thanks for a;; previous replies, still ver confused as no one answer is the same.  So I contacted DEFRA, they have advised microchip, rabies and all other injections.  I don't wish to be heartless but we are only taking a houshold moggy, he never visits the vets, we keep up his worming & defleaing so why do I need so much to take him to France when I thought all this protection was for animals that are going to be brought back into England.  It seems money for old rope.   Can anyone tell me exactly what documentation they were asked for at the English port on the way out and in France when they arrived? Thanks  

We are moving to France in the new year and want to take our cat.  He has neither been chipped, or jabbed in any form, do we need to do anything to take him to France.  We shall not be bringing him back to the UK at all. Read previous threads but still not sure.   Thanks

Does anyone know anything about the schools in Lassay-Les Chateaux?  We have two children aged 13 & 10 and intend to move there in January? Are there any English families who's children go there?

Does anyone know anything about the schools in Lassay-Les Chateaux?  We have two children aged 13 & 10 and intend to move there in January? Are there any English families who's children go there?

Does anyone know anything about the schools in Lassay-Les Chateaux?  We have two children aged 13 & 10 and intend to move there in January? Are there any English families who's children go there?

Thanks Nick, this information is useful.. Just one more question, as long as we tell the ferry company the furniture is ours I take it we can still travel as ordinary passengers and not freight.   Ann

What are the legal requirements for importing your furniture into france for a permanent move.  Any forms, payments etc etc.   Please help, have learnt a lot about France from this forum and done a whole load of homework before deciding to move, but not sure about this.

Mind if I add my own question to this forum as I am not sure which one to use. We are thinking of moving over in the new year, for logistics reasons we shall probably hire a van ourselves and make the journey.  What do we have to do to get all our furniture through customs without having to pay import tax or the likes (if applicable).  Would appreciate some help on this matter.  

The fickleness of French laws.  Is you fosse a recent addition, we installed our last one Easter. 

We bank with Credit Agricol, unbeknown to us our account had the standard 1500€ per rolling week withdrawal.  We have changed the card on the account and now we can have 4500€ per rolling week.  This amonut is only applicable for purchases etc made with your card, any cheque payments are not included in this total spend. However you can go into the bank as long as you notify them in advance and withdraw cash, if you do this then this does not count towards your weekly total for using the card.   Hope this helps.   PS we had to pay 6€ per year for the higher card rating.

Not sure about all of France but certainly your fosse must be within 10mtrs of your kitchen in area 53. Sorry about spelling, force of habit.

Sorry my previous post was for Helen16, this one is for Dunrunnin. We do have ambition, if not we would not be considering moving at all.  However you can have ambition without being greedy. Initially our ambition is to succeed and build a good life in France, secure our future, something that is becomming harder in England unless you are already rich.  and not have to worry too much about money.  Once this is achieved then perhaps we may wish to be greedy and get rich.  Any suggestions or offers to help us achieve the latter will be gratefully appreciated.  

I am not sure if Dunrunnin is questioning my husbands knowledge and experience or is just interested in what he knows.  He has only fitted a few fosse sceptics in France but as we live in an area of Devon where there are no mains drains he has installed sceptic tanks and bio-systems over many years.  There are fundamental differences between the two countries, in England the emphasis is for the tank to be as far away from the house as possible whereas in France it has to be within 10mtrs of the kitchen.  In fact the first fosse he installed was one of the most complicated with pumps, raised filter beds and the redirection of several springs.  If you have any information about reed beds this would be appreciated as he has not tackled one of these yet.     Hope this satisfies your curiosity.