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Opalienne

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Everything posted by Opalienne

  1. Normally they have a kind of lid that you can take off in order to empty them. But there are some that never need emptying because there is a kind of drain-away into the ground underneath (though I suspect that these are now illegal). Probably easiest to ask the vendors - this is one of the things you should have discussed with the during the sale. If they are not still around, ask a vidangeur (fosse septique emptying company to come and have a look to advise you
  2. Sorry, Dave and Olive, but where I lived in London I had both Asians and West Indians as my neighbours. Generally speaking they were a damn sight more friendly than the whites in the street, and some of the Asians (particularly the women) had had to make a big effort to learn English. But they had done so. I wasn't aware that this forum was a hidey-hole for racists, but maybe I'm too new. None of this, however, has anything to do with the fact that people who live in another country, particularly one where there are no special facilities for people speaking other languages, are just being lazy/ narrow-minded/consider themselves superior if they don't try to communicate.
  3. Re jobs, it depends where you will live and what you do.   In the North, where I live, jobs are few and far between even for native French people, and Engluish speakers are not greatly in demand.  In Paris or the South you might find it easier.  What line of work are you in?   Do you speak good French? Whether you can have a residence permit will depend on whether you have a job or can show sufficient means to support yourself without one.  I don't know the ins and outs of works permits but French unemployment is high and unless you have a particular skill which is needed and for which there are insufficient French candidates I suspect you are right, it would be difficult to get one.   That said, France is a great place to live so don't give up.   Have you asked your local French consulate for advice?  
  4. I remember when we took ours that you could only take three at a time.   But as you are not taking all yours at once you should be OK.
  5. You couldn't be more wrong with your 'last days of the Raj' analogy.   The colonials in India was didn't integrate with the local population (they used them as servants) and in most cases didn't speak the local language.   No-one has the right to live anywhere else just because they can speak a language - but if people choose to go another country, they should make an effort to integrate and be accepted by others.   I'm sure that most people do, if only because it's much more satisfying to be able to communicate.  But being able to make a simple phone call or write a cheque without assistance after 10 months of living full-time in a country is just not trying.
  6. They are not trying to be sociable, that's the problem.   It's the neighbours who are making the effort.   They are simply depending on us to help them through everything - we even have to write their cheques for them because they can't do it after 10 months!   When we moved to France my husband didn't speak a word but hemade the effort to learn and to interact with the neighbours, even if they couldn't always understand him.
  7. I couldn't agree more about Brits who can't be bothered to learn French.  A couple and small child arrived in our village last July.  Last week the woman (who does not work and therefore has all the time in the world to learn) called my husband and asked him to cancel a doctor's appointment for her because she did not know how to explain herself!   They even go back to England to do a lot of their shopping.......   Their neighbours say that they try to get involved with them but just can't make themselves understood.  The child is bullied at school because his friends think his parents are weird.   Why do people go to live in another country if they want to behave as though they never left their own?   I really don't understand it.
  8. I agree about the sonic repeller.   We have had one for two years and no moles.   A month ago we saw a molehill and noticed that the batteries had run out.   As soon as they were replaced - no more moles.   And it's humane too, unlike some of the other solutions suggested here.
  9. For identification with address we have a 'lettre de domicile' from the Mairie.   It doesn't have a photo, so you may sometimes need a passport or driving licence too, but we have found that it is generally accepted.   Just go to the Mairie and ask - it's free.
  10. We had them for years until we moved permanently into the house.   They spent the winter in the roof, and only made a noise when they started to wake up in the spring.  Then they would transfer to the garden and live in the trees.   They ate all our fruit but otherwise caused nio damage at all and were cute to look at in the evening. When we moved permanently we took our cats with us and we haven't seen the dormice since, unfortunately.
  11. I've done even worse.   At a rather smart dinner party we were discussing shell fish.  I said that I couldn't eat moules, but '"j'aime bien sentir les moules des autres'!   The minute it had left my mouth I realised what I had said.   There was a brief silence and then the whole table fell about.   I have never been allowed to live it down!
  12. According to their website, you can buy a yearly pass for the car park at Pau for 424 €.   Even with the cost of buying the car it would probably work out cheaper than hiring.
  13. You get estimates for the work and include them in the amount you are requesting for the mortgage.   Then the mortgage company will want to see the actual bills before paying out for them.  It's very straightforward.
  14. Take flowers.   Arrive on time or at most 10 minutes late.   People in rural areas tend to dress up on Sundays, so I would wear something smart but not too formal (definitely not jeans if hosts are in their 80s).    Recently we left fairly soon after a meal with an elderly couple, thinking that we didn't want to disturb them more than was necessary, but were told off (nicely) for it!   So I would play that by ear.   You will find that people make lots of allowances for foreigners - enjoy yourselves and don't worry too much about it.
  15. Louise de Funes is absolutely my favourite French comic.    If you get a chance, do try to see 'Les Aventures du Rabbi Jacob' which is wonderful, and 'Le Grand Vadrouille', which must have been the inspiration for 'Allo 'Allo.  
  16. My husband lives in France and I live in the UK during the week and commute at weekends.   He is retired and has only a very small pension - I transfer money to the French bank account for living expenses etc.    He has a 'lettre de domicile' from the Mairie and will be liable for French tax next year.  My question is:  should I be included on his tax return?   I am still resident in the UK and he money I transfer has already been taxed there, so that is not a problem in itself, but should be he listed as living on his own (whcih he does most of the time) with only his own income?   Many thanks for any advice
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