Mjc

For the past three or four days, every time I connect to the Internet, My Norton Virus checker tells me that it has detected - and deleted - the above virus. It advises that there are two files:- k2[1}]txt and ab62f1.exe I have tried disabling AntiVirus and looking for these files, but they do not appear to exist. Questions 1. What does this virus do? 2. Why can't I find the files? 3. Why does AntiVirus report them at every connection to the Internet? Many thanks in advance.

' thought so Anton, but thanks anyway.

We shall be going to Spain for eight weeks in the winter and are hoping that we can find English language TV in a villa to rent. One property has BBC Prime, CNN and Movie Channels. Does anyone know if this would be from the same satellite as Sky/BBC, so if we were to take our own digibox and card, we could have our full package?  

It has been interesting over the past couple of weeks to hear both Chirac and Schroeder say that Britain refuses to compromise. Yet in the same sentence Chirac states categorically that he will not give way on the CAP. Now that's what I call a French compromise. After Tony Blair's speech to the European Parliament today, it was very enlightening to hear that the leaders of Germany's left and right wing parties say that if TB can negotiate a reform of the CAP and a fundamental change of EU direction during the UK' s six months that each would support him.  With Schroeder likely to go in the autumn, all the signs are that the EU is beginning to swing their views away from the old self agranding attitudes of France and Germany and see that perhaps the UK does have the right approach of looking to the future. Since Britain has undoubtedly been more successful than most of it's EU partners over the past ten years or so, I wonder why we see, in this thread, so many UK knockers?  

From personal experience, we can thoroughly recommend Barbara and Mick Young at Blanzay (near St Jean d'Angely). Phone number 0546582732 or email [email protected] They are "dog soppy" and the dogs stay in comfort in their home. If you contact Barbara and Mick, tell them that Yvonne and Michael from Ozillac recommended them. (No, we're not on commission.) Nearer to Saintes is an excellent (but not cheap) boarding kennel at St Georges les Coteaux. Don't have their number but it will be in Yellow Pages under Pensions Animaux (or similar).

I don't know if ISAs are taxable in France, but the UK Inland Revenue will NOT be reporting them to France, I have been reliably informed. So, it's up to you whether or not you declare them.

[quote]Interesting development. I'm not sure that the rate is net, rather that it's paid without being taxed but it's been a while since I looked at the rules on the back of the application form. Arnold[/quote] The PB winnings are paid gross, without deduction of tax, and in Britain, they are not taxable. However, I seem to remember that the level of interest paid in to the "pool" for each monthly draw, is equivalent to the value of a net (ie taxed) return, so the government effectively has "taken" tax by paying out less than the gross (i.e. bank rate) return. I am not sure whether, on your French tax return, you could enter the winnings as having been received tax paid - tax not recoverable from the UK. Might be worth a try, and the legal ramifications could go on for years.

[quote]Which box on the tax form would you have to put it in? Better win that million quid before 1st July, hadn't I...... Chrissie (81)[/quote] Sorry Chrissie, but it's already spoken for!

Further update. Inland Revenue have now confirmed that from 1st January next they will be passing to all EU tax authorities details of any premium bond winnings paid from 1st July 2005 onwards. So, although tax free in the UK, all such winnings are taxable in France.    

We have had letters de-directed to a temporay address in Spain, for which we had to fill in a form at our local post office and pay a fee - 'though I can't remember how much. System worked ok. Another time, we had the PO hold our mail when we were away for a couple of weeks. Similar procedure, but we had to go and collect when we returned.

[quote]Not forgetting of course that France has lady Maires as well. And haven't the Government just announced/proposed a Female version of the word? Mairiée, or summat?[/quote] Meantime, it's Madame le Maire! Yes, masculine. Strange the French language genders. La sentinelle for a sentry. La prostate, which is certainly unfeminine and (dare I say it) le vagin!

[quote]To be honest it's six and two threes with broken/damaged goods. My wife offers a 5 days buy back if not satisfied and insures all her items that are sold. The cost of course is borne by the buyer but ...[/quote] I had a buyer, who did not acknowledge any of five emails until three weeks after she won the item which I was selling. Meantime, I had offered it to the "second chance" bidder, who accepted, and then the original buyer wrote saying that she had been unwell. Checked her details, and found that while she was "unwell" she had bought and paid for three other items. By that time I had given her  a negative feedback. Later, bidder number two retracted, bidder number one paid and I despatched the item, offering to retract the negative feedback. That was just over a week ago, and I have heard nothing since. I am now expecting a negative feedback from the buyer, but what the heck. It's complicated, isn't it, but it's the first bad experience in around 100 eBay transactions.

Further to a recent thread on this subject, I am NOW informed by UK National Savings that any prizes won on Premium Bonds by overseas residents WILL be reported to the Inland Revenue for onward advice to the tax authorities of the appropriate countries. I had been told previously that they would not be so advised. Does anyone have any different information? As such winnings are taxable in France, could one claim on the annual tax return that tax has already been deducted in the UK, since the percentage paid in prizes is one calculated as a NET distribution after notional tax deduction?  

Confirm that the two vets near Cozes are excellent. She speaks English better than he. I think that they are actually Belgian - whatever difference that makes!

We have an account in France with CCF. We wondered about having an offshore HSBC account(s), and wondered what their charges would be and, perhaps more pertinent, what rate of exchange they would use. Tried to ring HSBC in UK, but found we were talking to a gentleman somewhere in India. Told him what we wanted and where we lived, but when he asked if we wanted a French franc account (and this was last year) we hung up, being the second experience we have had of Indian call centres being somewhat less than perfect. We wrote to HSBC to report what had happened, but did not receive the courtesy of a reply. Coming back to others experiences, how have HSBC rates of exchange compared with others on the same day?

Very many thanks for all your help. Looks as though I can save  a few pennies then!

Many thanks Andrew.   With regard to your last sentence/question - of course, saving life is paramount. The reason for my endeavouring to confirm the requirements for the alarm is that we are frequently away for long periods, and our pool is already in an area which is totally enclosed with walls, none of which is less than two metres high. Three of the walls are within 1 to   1 1/2 metres of the pool, the other being about four metres away. We would need only to add an approved automatic lockable gate to replace the automatic lockable gate that we already have. For us therefore, the fencing regulations are a complete nonsense, but in order to try and comply with the law we obviousy wish the least expensive option. When we installed our pool, we were very conscious of safety, and had it totally enclosed and secure for the very purpose of saving life, but this was before the regulations were in place. Now those regulations seem to give lesser security than we already have, but, if I have correctly interpreted the very useful info on this site, we must install "something" in order to conform.

[quote]In reply to Mjc's request about where to find the regulations for the alarms. Yes, I have bought a copy. You can find the regs for download on the AFNOR website - about 90 Euros.If you fit an alarm, t...[/quote] Richard, two further questions following your previous excellent advice.   1. There seems to be some conflict, regarding the pool alarm system. You have said that there is no stipulation that one must be present 24/7/365, but on another forum, it has been stated that someone must be available at all times to answer any alarm. As you have the regulations, could you kindly re-check this aspect? 2. Could you please advise where you found the €45 per metre fencing? Many thanks in advance.

Another thank you to Ecossais. We have now registered for free faxes. It was easy, and we have received our first fax today. So, that's quite a few bawbees saved on an unnecessary replacement fax machine. I'd have faxed you with my thanks if I had your number.  

Since my first posting, National Savings have advised that they will not be reporting any tax free winnings to the other EU tax authorities, and it is up to ex pat winners themselves to report such winnings (as interest received) if required by (in our case) the annual French tax return. When you win the £1,000,000, make a note that you will not only have to pax income tax on the lot, but you will also have become liable for the annual wealth tax, since your total capital will then be over 720,000 euros. Even if you give it away (would you like my address?), the recipient is then liable for Gift Tax! SORRY THIS POSTING HAS APPEARED TWICE. FIRST TIME I GOT A MESSAGE SAYING IT HAD NOT BEEN SENT, OWING TO A "STACK OVERFLOW", WHATEVER THAT IS, SO I SENT IT AGAIN!    

Since my first posting, National Savings have advised that they will not be reporting any tax free winnings to the other EU tax authorities, and it is up to ex pat winners themselves to report such winnings (as interest received) if required by (in our case) the annual French tax return. When you win the £1,000,000, make a note that you will not only have to pax income tax on the lot, but you will also have become liable for the annual wealth tax, since your total capital will then be over 720,000 euros. Even if you give it away (would you like my address?), the recipient is then liable for Gift Tax!

[quote]there is a distinct difrence between a dog owner and a dog lover.. many of the replies prove this point.it would seem that many have never heard of patience understanding and TRAINING. now im no expe...[/quote] I would realy like to know how you managed to stop your dogs chasing chickens. That would be brilliant!

[quote]My local farmer has in his garden, a long piece of wire on the ground, secured each end, about 50 metres in length, the dog is attached somehow to this with his lead. He is able to run up and down fre...[/quote] Yes, we have seen this. There is however, one problem which we can envisage. The dog may catch his limbs on the wire and damage himself, and if the lead attached to the dog's collar and to the cable is too slack (and there must be some "play"), that too could catch around the dog's feet. Also, the dog should not be attached by a collar, which could choke him if he tries to run too quickly to the extension of the "play", but rather should be fitted with a harness, which would not choke. We actually experimented along similar lines, with a harness, but under our close supervision. At one stage, the restricted dog started a game with the "free" dog, and managed to get her short lead wrapped around the neck of the other. End of experiment!

[quote]Another excellent reason for fencing your garden! If you keep dogs then you must make sure they aren't a pest to other people, I think the original poster said they were thinking of selling their hou...[/quote] As the original poster:- 1. I should have said that the neighbours chickens come in to our garden (theirs being unfenced!), scratch up our flower beds and then get chased by our dog, who doesn't recognise the boundary when she gets there. Who's at fault, us or the neighbours, since our dog only crosses the boundary when her territory has been invaded? 2. Yes, we may be selling up in the near future, but that's nothing to do with the dog. Just getting too darned old to maintain a latge house and garden.

Thanks for the very detailed reply. The free faxes in sounds great, and since we have so few it just has to be a winner. I'll look at the site very, very soon. Many thanks for all the other useful info. Very much appreciated.