benedicte

Yes we have got all the Sky channels at the moment and have had them for nearly a month, waiting for them to disappear again any day now!

They have some on The Book Depository, great site which I've used a lot and usually cheaper than Amazon: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/search.php?key=dual%20language%20french&by=title

Thank you everyone for all the replies, I have them saved whilst I consider my options. I am hoping that we can settle things amicably but I do not think that will happen. The saddest part for me is that I have never settled in France and would prefer to go back to the UK but as my husband will want to stay here I will have to do so too (for my children).

Hi, it looks like me and my husband are splitting up, we have children and live in France but are British (as are the children) and we married in the UK. As a first step, can anyone tell me with regard to house ownership/maintenance/custody/divorce are we covered by UK law or French law? I know that's a big question and that I do need to seek legal advice but I'm not able to do that until things here are certain, I'm just looking for general pointers and any advice at the moment. I don't know if I have the right to make him leave the family home etc., how I stand with custody of the children, whether I will be able to claim any benefits here until I can support myself.

Yes they are very good for getting your conversational French started, highly recommended :)

Thank you :)

Can anyone update me on the (non) smoking laws in France please? This seems to have passed me by, I didn't realise it was coming in in France, I thought it was at the first stages of legislation?

Free postage to France from this site as well, I've ordered from them recently and been very happy with them: www.bookdepository.co.uk

Thanks Lori - I had asked one gynae but she wasn't very helpful, I shall try ringing around until I get some success :)

Hi, can someone recommend an english speaking gynaecologist in department 22/29. Preferably Brest area but Happy to travel to find someone I am comfortable with. Thanks :)

Thanks for the replies, that's great, will go direct to the Pharmacy to see if I can get something without a visit to the Doctors.

Hi, one of my children has thread worms - can I just go to the pharmacy to get some treatment? What are they called and what should I ask for? horrible horrible things - the worms that is not my children!

I bought a new phone from Carphone Warehouse when last in the UK and they told me that all their mobiles are sold unlocked. They also seemed to have the best prices on PAYG phones.

I would not enforce an English only rule on him but I would carry on speaking only in English to him. A French speaking friend of mine who is living in the UK has found that her child is now refusing to speak French, he says he lives in the UK so why should he. She speaks French to him regardless of which language he chooses to answer in, I think it is the best way of doing it.

Good luck with your new job! Yes I noticed there isn't a Siret on their website but I guess it doesn't mean they don't have one. There's no contact address nor their full names on there either. I would not buy any product or service from someone who has those on their website as a minimum. Trading standards in the UK state that websites selling services/products should have full names, addresses and phone number - is there a similar regulation in France?

Ty - Perhaps you could contact 'centralbrittanyservices' and ask what their registration is? But from what I read on their site I think some of the work they are offering is contracted out. Have you changed your mind about giving up your business to take the job you have been offered? It sounded too good to miss out on!

Hi Ian, yes the OU does seem to be expensive. Even if you are a UK resident it seems to be more expensive than other alternatives for similar courses. Out of interest what course did you take and with whom?

Thanks again Sue :)

Thanks for the replies. I have just been looking at the Oxford Open Learning Distance Courses and they seem to be what I'm looking for and at 245.00 UKP (GCSE level) they are a lot cheaper than the OU equivalent! And they are open to non UK residents at the same price :) Only thing is that the exam costs are additional and I can't find on the site details of how much they are - Sue do you know how much the exams cost? (approximately).

I agree they are many english speakers who have second homes here who find it easier to employ other english speakers. But I wouldn't describe keeping a property maintained and secure as unskilled labour. I think you will find that many people who are self employed in France (whatever their nationality) part declare their earnings to offset the heavy cotisations - it's catch 22.

TK - Don't worry we don't operate in your area :)

Ty Korrigan - I can only speak for ourselves but we carry our the services we are registered for - i.e. garden maintenance. Yes we undercut the prices you advertise, we work hard, pay our social charges andmake a living.

Hi, I've been looking at the OU 'Bon Depart' French Course but as I am a French resident the fees are double that if I still lived in the UK and I was wondering if there are other distance learning courses I should consider? I have tried listening to CDs and taking lessons but I am finding it very difficult to learn French and I know that I work better with a structured course with tests/coursework etc. I don't need points toward any qualifications etc. although I wouldn't mind :) Any ideas? Anyone here taken the OU Courses?

The ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) defines racism as follows: “Any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin...” Race can be defined as a group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality or geographic distribution.

For the people who have stated they hate 'the Welsh' or that North Walians are rude - what all of them? really? you KNOW all of them? Racism is a horrible thing but racism it is.