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Hereford

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Posts posted by Hereford

    EHIC am I the first ?

    in Health

    Posted

    We got our new UK cards last week.  When I emailed and queried the fact that it says on the letter sent with them (not exact words but..) "Not valid for NHS services" and "if you move abroad to live or work please return it to us" I received an email back to say, basically," take no notice of that - the rules have changed but we have not updated the paperwork".  Really... have they not heard of word processers".

    I have printed off a copy of the email just in case we are taken poorly in the UK and need, say, a GP rather than emergency treatment.

    Mrs H

    Voting in general election

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    We understood that the postal votes were never sent out in time to get them back for counting.  The simplest way (which we use) is to appoint a proxy to vote for you.  I think you can download a proxy form from somewhere. Then send all the forms to the proxy for them to sign (I think) and off you go.  The political parties will do this for you and provide a proxy.

    It is probably too late now though anyway.  You can only vote for the first 10 years (again "I think") of being away.

    Mrs H

    Declaring UK rental income online?

    in French Finance

    Posted

    You probably got round it the way we do - by putting in the post code of the rental property in the UK (in our case not a house but a very small office building).  You have to use a valid UK postcode in  order to file online.  If you then leave the box labelled "have you changed the address unticked it all works fine.

    In theory you cannot file "online" at all if you live abroad but the tax offices themselves are quite happy as I have spoken to several.  They tried to get me to use a repayment claim form by post - which I refuse to do as the repayment will not be dealt with for months (I am a chartered accountant so understand the system).

    We filled in our UK returns on 7th and will probably have cash in the bank by Tuesday.

    Mrs H

    La Mérule_not covered by diagnostique.

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    Patchapapa:    We always find Larousse useful if a word is not in the dictionary, and our Larousse does indeed have Merule - albeit the explanation is in French !   It does indeed describe it as Dry Rot.

    Mind you our "Le Petit Larousse compact" weighs more than five pounds ....!  Sorry no accents, can't see how to insert a symbol and alt codes do not work on my laptop.

    EHIC am I the first ?

    in Health

    Posted

    Benjamin:  The sentence saying that it cannot be used for the NHS in Uk runs exactly counter to the email I had from the office that are sending out the forms and cards.  I put their answer in an earlier post re this subject.

    They categorically told me that if I am taken ill in the UK whilst on holiday I use the UK EHIC card  !!!  I have printed out their reply and will keep it with my new card when I get it.  We hope the cards will arrive soon as we are away on holiday over the end of April, so into the new regime.

    "They" don't seem to be able to see the confusion that could arise.

    Mrs H

    Orange: cheaper internet €19,90/month

    in French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone

    Posted

    Kneegel:   We use a code for Coucoutel to phone the UK, Germany, Canada (and most of the world).  The call is then charged at the same rate as a local call in France.  I often talk to my daughter for ages.   Dial 0811 65 30 40, wait for the message (in French), immediately dial UK number (including 0044), you will get total silence for a few seconds - don't panic - then a message "un moment svp", then you will hear the Uk phone ringing tone.  See coucoutel.com   for other codes.   This code seems to have changed to the above today!  It is not the one I was using.

    Calls are shown on our France telecom bill as "other operator"/ 

    Mrs H

    Cheque d'emploi payment

    in Earning a Living

    Posted

    We are sure that any deduction from the agreed rate is wrong.  We pay our gardener under this system and always pay the agreed rate, including the holiday element, in full.  It seems expensive but the employer gets to deduct half of the pay and cotisations paid from their tax bill so actually quite cheap (at least for tax paying employers).

    We have always understood that we have to pay ALL the cotisations even though some are for the employee.

    Mrs H

    HMRC

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    We are pretty sure the calculation comes up before you press "submit".   In any case you get a submission receipt - which you should keep.

    We too files all our client returns online and have continued to do our own.

    Mrs H

    Edit:  If the return (online) shows a refund is due it is received in days.  It is automatic - i.e. untouched by human hands !   If no refund has been received and you do not hold a "receipt" of transmission I would do the return again online.  It will soon say if it already has one.  There will be no late filing penalty if a refund is indeed due.

    Fromage Blanc

    in French Food and Wine

    Posted

    Many thanks for replies. The Ikea topping was like whipped cream so perhaps from a machine as suggested. It was not "yellow" so probably not the mixed with egg yolk version.  Sounds nice though - will try it out.

    Mrs H

    Fromage Blanc

    in French Food and Wine

    Posted

    Hi

    In Ikea (near Rennes) yesterday we had a dessert made of fruits rouges topped with what was called "mousse de fromage blanc". Looked like whipped cream - tasted wonderful - perhaps slightly sweetened but not much.

    Does anyone know how to make this please?  Can one whip fromage blanc like cream?  We have never bought fromage blanc as we thought you just ate it as it was and did not fancy it.

    Thanks

    Mrs H

    E 109 and taking a part time job

    in Health

    Posted

    A friend (yes - really), is living here in France but her husband works still in the UK so her healthcare is covered by an E 109  (if that is the wrong number then I apologise).  She is under UK pension age.

    She would like to work for a few hours a week (if she can find a job) but is concerned that her health cover will be withdrawn.  Does anyone know, or have experience of talking a part time job in these circumstances please?  If she just worked 4 or 5 hours a week that would not get her into the French system I assume so does that mean she could take on that many hours?

    Thanks a lot

    Mrs H

    EHIC French version

    in Health

    Posted

    I thought it might be useful to bring this thread back with some more information for when UK issue EHIC cards for us OAP's living in France:

    I received, yesterday,  the form saying that I will get my EHIC from the UK from 1st May.  No problem - I will fill in the form.

    However I emailed the "overseas healthcare team" and asked what would happen if I was taken ill in the UK whilst there on a visit - bearing in mind that one does not use an EHIC card in the country of issue.

    I have had an immediate reply to say:

    You will use your UK issued EHIC card in the UK if you are taken ill there. 

    Bizarre...

    I told them that I would print out their reply so that I could prove my entitlement if needed  !!

    Mrs H.

    Health and low humidity caused by log burners.

    in Health

    Posted

    Thanks, may try an ioniser.  I know I am allergic to feathers, etc so have always had "non-allergenic" bedding.  Too far for me to go to London too, but surely the French have homeopathic hospitals?

    The RH in the sitting room this morning is 35. We only use our woodburner occasionally so not that.  More fresh air would help probably.  My severe pollen allergies (early, middle and late and falling leaves) mean that apart from deep winter I try to keep doors and windows closed.

    C'est ;la vie.  Should live in  a town.

    Mrs H

    Health and low humidity caused by log burners.

    in Health

    Posted

    Thank you JohnRoss for starting this thread.  I suffer from severe allergic rhinitis but had wondered why it was so bad here in the winter!  Bought a humidity meter and can see that nowhere in the house is above 37, except the kitchen when we are actually cooking. That is without the wood burner on - we have electric radiators and double glazing and only use the woodburner for fun when it is really cold and miserable.

    Clearly we need to tackle this - it not good for the furniture either !  My daughter tells me they tried a "steam" humidifier but it was like being in a sauna and that the cold water ones are much better.  She is finding me a link to one.

    Thanks again, if I can sort this out life will be much more comfortable.  At present I have to take antihistamine all year and that has caused "dry eye syndrome".

    Mrs H

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