martinetchris

John Yes, we've always used Hivernage and found it to be worth using in keepin the pol sweet for the next season. As for other steps (copying a previous posting) : We've found the following works OK for us : - give the pool a good last vacuum/clean - backwash/clean both filters - throw in a bottle of "Hivernage" chemicals that help keep it sweet over the winter - reduce the water levels as you suggest : to as low a level as you can before the skimmers start drawing air - drain the filters and leave pipes from filters to pool "open" to help them drain as much as poss - leave tops off the filters for same reason - put a plastic mineral water bottle (half filled with stones) in each skimmer to help prevent damage in the event of freezing - buy and secure a really good quality winter cover/tarpaulin, it may cost a bit (I think ours was 400 - 500 for an 11x5m pool) but nothing compared to the cost of the pool ! Also, buy one with individual straps/bands securing it in place - therefore if one goes bust in a storm the rest should remain in place. Our old one just had one rope that threaded all around the cover, so when one bit frayed/broke in the tempete the entire cover flew off !! A summer blanket is no good in our view : won't keep all the dirt out and will fly off at the first decent storm ! Good luck ! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Hear hear ! Eleanor does a difficult job with (sometimes) difficult people on her back (and yes, we'd include ourselves in that sometimes - none of us are perfect !) Keep up the good work, Eleanor Chris and Martin

Steve As far as we are aware, the regulations as to what constitutes an approved "safety device" have not been decided - including what specification any fencing would need to be, nor whether indeed other devices (e.g. alarms) are to be acceptable. If anyone knows otherwise, we'd be delighted to hear ! We're waiting to see definitive evidence of the required specifications before jumping in (so to speak ...) on the back of what some salesperson says ! We've copied below a recent e-mail we received from Francedirect (also printed in French News) which seems to reinforce this position : Swimming Pool Owners BEWARE! Says Chris Harrison of Christal Pools As a swimming pool owner you must have been involved in various discussions about pool safety. What is right and what is wrong? The French law regarding this issue, was passed in January 2003, and stated that any 'new' pool installed after 1st January 2004 must be fenced. An 'existing' pool, at a property that is rented, should be fenced from January 2004. All 'private' pools should be fenced from January1st 2006. The penalty for non-compliance is a 45,000 fine. The Law also states that the 'Normalisation' or, standards for fencing will be agreed within three months of the law being passed. To the best of my knowledge, this has not been the case. To view the published details, look at this web address http://www.assembleenationale.fr/12/propositions/pion0234.asp. After many hours of phone calls and emails it seems that details of the new standard has still not been decided. The existing 'standard', XP P90-306, is experimental and dates back to July 2002. see www.afnor.fr Most fencing companies will quote this as being the standard for the fences that need to be installed to comply with the new Law. This may be correct for now.BUT The standard XP P90-306 also states that Observations relating to the present experimental standard must be addressed to AFNOR before 30th November 2004. After questioning AFNOR and also talking to one of the largest British tour operators to France, it seems that the experimental standards could be changed, and if it is, any fence installed to the old norm will have to be modified or changed to comply. Therefore, pool companies can only quote the experimental standards,!!!! Fencing companies can only quote the experimental standards !!! It is perhaps possible that the standards will not change in which case, we will all be able to breath a sigh of relief. Many feel that the standards will not be changed but, the fact is, we simply do not know and will not know until such time as the relevant authorities officially tell us so. As a representative of Christal Pools, a company of over 10 years standing in the French market, as well as an owner of rental properties in France, I find it hard to give the correct advice to pool owners. So I say, be very careful when a salesman offers you a fence to the XP P90-306 standard. Fencing is expensive and will be even more so if it needs to be modified or changed. if you would like us to update you on any changes or have any questions please email [email protected] or [email protected] Regards Pete Harrison FranceDirect.com

Dear LF As a follow-on to the discussion on the Travelling to France section about being flagged down on the motorways : Is there any "Code of Conduct" for the forum ? If so should it not contain at a minimum the requirement for users to show each other courtesy and respect, and basic civilised rules such as no racist content. If there is no such Code, there ought to be ! If LF are concerned how to police that, I suggest they seek the advice of someone like the Commission for Racial Equality. After all, not publishing racist comments is hardly rocket science in the 21st century, is it ? Best wishes Chris

Folks and for anyone who's interested in alternatives to the thinly veiled tabloids of the Murdoch Times/Sunday Times : Guardian Weekly - weekly newspaper available in France by subscription, includes extracts from La Monde and Washington Post : www.guardianweekly.co.uk Guardian on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.guardianunlimited.co.uk Financial Times on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.ft.com Expatica.com, with free English language e-mails of latest headline news in France : www.expatica.com/france.asp Hope some of above may be of interest ! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Folks and for anyone who's interested in alternatives to the thinly veiled tabloids of the Murdoch Times/Sunday Times : Guardian Weekly - weekly newspaper available in France by subscription, includes extracts from La Monde and Washington Post : www.guardianweekly.co.uk Guardian on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.guardianunlimited.co.uk Financial Times on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.ft.com Expatica.com, with free English language e-mails of latest headline news in France : www.expatica.com/france.asp Hope some of above may be of interest ! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Folks and for anyone who's interested in alternatives to the thinly veiled tabloids of the Murdoch Times/Sunday Times : Guardian Weekly - weekly newspaper available in France by subscription, includes extracts from La Monde and Washington Post : www.guardianweekly.co.uk Guardian on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.guardianunlimited.co.uk Financial Times on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.ft.com Expatica.com, with free English language e-mails of latest headline news in France : www.expatica.com/france.asp Hope some of above may be of interest ! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Folks and for anyone who's interested in alternatives to the thinly veiled tabloids of the Murdoch Times/Sunday Times : Guardian Weekly - weekly newspaper available in France by subscription, includes extracts from La Monde and Washington Post : www.guardianweekly.co.uk Guardian on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.guardianunlimited.co.uk Financial Times on-line, with free news e-mail subscriptions : www.ft.com Expatica.com, with free English language e-mails of latest headline news in France : www.expatica.com/france.asp Hope some of above may be of interest ! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Hannah Our suggestions would be : 1. Do a search on the LF site - there's been loads of discussions on just these subjects. 2. Buy "Taxation in France" published by Pannell Kerr Forster (Guernsey). It will answer all these questions and more besides - all for about 25 ! www.pkfguernsey.com/ From our experience, if you are French resident : - you can't "choose" to pay tax on one kind of income in one country rather than the other - the respective tax regimes dictate which income you declare and/or pay tax on in which country. The Double Taxation Treaty ensures you don't have to pay income tax on the same income twice (e.g. enabling you to state on your UK tax return that you haven't declared certain specified income as you're resident in France and the income is taxable in France). However it doesn't cover French social contributions (10% above allowances) or CMU (8% above allowances) - UK rental income is taxed in UK but not income taxed in France. However, it is taken into account in France in assessing your overall tax rate and in CMU contributions (but not social contributions). What expenses (e.g. mortgage interest) can be offset against income for French purposes can depend on whether the Uk property is furnished or unfurnished. - French Gite income is taxed in France but not UK. It is also subject to French social contributions and is taken into account for CMU purposes also Of course, we're not tax experts, so don't take our word for the above - others may well (will ?) have different views/experiences. At the end of the day, buy the book and get expert advice ! Good luck ! Chris and Martin

LAST EDITED ON 02-Feb-03 AT 11:07 AM (GMT) Folks I believe the CMU website now has a new address : http://www.ameli.fr Best wishes Chris and Martin

LAST EDITED ON 02-Feb-03 AT 11:07 AM (GMT) Folks I believe the CMU website now has a new address : http://www.ameli.fr Best wishes Chris and Martin

Hi Having been in a not dissimilar position : Just before our E106s expired, we wrote to the CPAM to whom we'd submitted our E106s in the first place and asked what to do. Basically we just completed our CMU (Couverture mdicale universelle) application forms available on the CMU website : www.ameli.fr/ We sent copies of all the papers requested, and a few weeks later got our new Attestations of CMU cover stating the extension of our previous Cartes Vitale. If your income exceeds a certain amount then you may have to pay 8% towards the CMU depending on the forms of income, but it's a small price to pay. When you get to state retirement age you no longer have to pay. Easy ... well sometimes ! Good luck Chris and Martin

Hear Hear ! Thanks Eleanor ! Bonne Annee ! Chris and Martin

Hi ! We've used Pannell Kerr Forster (Guernsey) for 3 years now, both to give general guidance/reports upon our French tax liabilities and to complete our French tax returns for us. They're not cheap, but we've found them to be efficient, specific and detailed in their advice - and they speak plain english (most of the time - so far as French tax allows !). Without wishing to plug their book for the millionth time on the LF site : their annually published "Taxation in France" book is excellent value at about 25. Web : www.pkfguernsey.com E-mail : [email protected] Address : PO Box 296 Sarnia House Le Truchot St.Peter Port Guernsey GY1 4NA Phone no. : +44 (0) 1481 727927 Fax no. : +44 (0) 1481 710511 Hope above helps ... now I must get back to the thrilling job of compiling 4 UK and French tax returns !! Best wishes Chris and Martin

Peter Can I second TeamedUp thanks - in particular the details of the legislation (with sources/references) helps to clarify things no end ! Best wishes Chris and Martin