Richardk

I think what he's getting at is that to have two accounts as suggested one requires 2 different email addresses. This is because PayPal only allows an email address to be associated with one PayPal account.

Thanks 'M'  -  the challenge is that I want a path which incorporates steps. So rather than just going straight I plan to kind of make a semi-circular path. As you look at the slope from the bottom, the path will head right, then back on itself in order to give me more room to play with. At the turn I'll make the area a feature by enlarging it into a circle or the like. Somewhere between top and bottom I'll also incorporate the steps, but how many (probably go for a rise of max 18cm) is really dependent on the gradient of the slope I go for. I had considered just 'doing' the path and taking it from there. I'd rather have a bit more idea of where I'm going ideally though! Now....what's 'tanalised timber' in French?!? Thanks again, Richard

I'm about to embark on building some rustic steps and terracing into a small area of bank and could do with some pointers from those who know. I need some help on gradients. What is reasonable, considered too steep etc.... 1:15, 1:10, 1:5 etc.... the bank I am looking to cut into is 2.5m high and 3m deep. I'm thinking that I will do a combination of steps and slope but try as I might, I can't find anything on the web to help me with gradients which is what I need to work out the combinationlikely we'll use wood in some way here. Either for the edge of the steps or terracing. I imagine I could use treated pine which would be the cheapest, but what would should I really use for longevity? I'm sure ages ago I read something on green oak...?Location wise we live in Languedoc, in a bit from Perpignan. That's down near the Spanish border on the med side. It's relatively dry, not that you'd know it at the moment mind you. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. Richard

Can anyone enlighten me as to: whether it is possible to offset losses made from the sale of stocks and shares against other capital gains? can losses be carried forward to be used in future tax years?Thanks for any enlightenment.... Richard

I have to admit up front to not having read the link, but we only pay 32 euros every 2 months for FT line rental anyhow, hence unless this offer at 16 euros a month offers something else which I'm not aware of, then to my mind you may as well pay the 32 every 2 months and not worry about activating it for each visit / return. Richard

Thankyou for that. Does anyone else have personal experience of an acountant for TVA returns which can work in English if required AND who is good with email? Although we're based near Perpignan (PO - 66), the accountant can be anywhere in France. I'd simply rather pursue recommendations than go in cold so to speak.

Thanks for those - I'd seen your previous posts recommending [email protected], however as their company hasn't as yet put a site up at http://www.bruno-hebert.eu, I hadn't pursued them. They are if you like on a 'B' list pending other recommendations. Certainly http://www.groupe-fidorg.fr/ looks well worth a closer look - thanks. Do you actually work with either for your business accounts and hence can personally recommend them? Richard

I hope I'm not asking too much here. We are considering changing our accountant right now and hence I am looking for any recommendations from people. We need someone / a company who can correspond in English, is able to handle business accounts for a TVA registered company, and who you regard as efficient (i.e. responds in a timely manner & answers questions). They can be based anywhere in France as long as they are able to work with email and the phone. I'd prefer that they have a web site to enable me to find out something about them. Thanks, Richard

I think you're being entirely realistic. It's always nice to know there is help to fall back on, and frankly, although I can chat away with our neighbours in French (... my French is not brilliant), there is nothing like having the occasional evening chatting in your mother tongue with native English speakers. It's helps to keep us sane! For us, having English speaking friends is necessary. We see them when we want to, which probably means every 6 weeks or so. BUT....they are a phone call away and just around the corner. We have both English and French friends lined up to help support us when my wife has the next baby. In some ways it's easier with the English, in others the French (like they are next door). Good luck. You'll enjoy it. Really though, if you pick your area based on an area you like whilst making sure you are  in a large village / small town or bigger, you'll find all the English speaking contact you want even if you have to ask at the local town hall. You won't have a problem. Regards, Richard

In my (personal) experience, Blevins Franks have also illustrated themselves to be out of date on financial matters too, an area where they position themselves as experts. Certainly I would never use them again.

We've been here coming on 5 years now, and without specifically looking have come across health professionals (GP, gnaecologist, and knee surgeon) who talk English to various levels of proficiency. Those who speak it well are seemingly always those who do not use it unless you request it, whereas, anyone who knows 3 words will always have a go! Like you we have a young family with another on the way due in June. We've lived near Narbonne and now (again) between Perpignan & Prades in the PO. The point is, as long as you don't live in the middle of nowhere, you will, if you wish, be able to find people who speak some English I am sure. Toddler groups are not easily found, although find another English family with young children and you will aready have a the start of weekly get togethers. We haven't found French families so keen on the concept. My recommendation therefore would be, don't live in an isolated place. A village / town of minimum 500 and really with a school in it should be your starting point. Don't be tempted by the idyllic 'quiet' house away from it all which seems to have everything...you'll be very lonely. If you want English contact, you will find it. If you don't go looking, you won't...or at least, not too much.  I have a perception that there is a fairly high congregation of English from Carcassonne to Limoux further south, and as someone esle said around the Pezanas area. If I can help with any more info, please ask. Regards, Richard

From simply hearing what others have said over time I believe you are restricted to the total amount of time rather than each individual period. I 'think' it's no more than 3 or 4 months per year. Richard

We did take a look at trusts some years ago, however two things came to light: France does not recognise offshore trust in the same way that the UK does, and you don't need a trust to get around inheritance rules with regards to property - you're notaire will be able to help you on this with a straight forward mariage contract. Regards, Richard

Our experiences on English speaking families with young children around the Perpignan area is different. They are there and in our experience in reasonable numbers  -  we're one of  them with two children age 3 and 1.5.

Hi Michele, We live in a small village outside Prades in the PO region  - a bit left of Perpignan on the map. We chose the village (which is the 3rd we've lived in in France now) for it's school primarily, although in reality we also liked the village and found a house which suited us. Our children are 1.5 and 3, so one has recently started school and the other goes a registered child minder 2.5 days a week. In reality it was the latter which we had most trouble with .. as in finding one (the registered bit was the problem). What to say...look around, keep your ears open and when you find something which 'feels right', move forward. Good luck, Richard

One thing to be aware of is that the first time you light it you will most likely get a not too pleasant smell coming off it. I can't remember why but the instructions which come with a Godin will mention it...at least ours did (we have 2). It happens with all new stoves - something to do with the manufacturing process and burning off whatever was left on it during that process. So....light it for the first time when you don't plan to sit admiring it with a glass of wine! You will likely need / want to open the windows to get rid of the smell too. Richard

Our windows are framed by stonework (sandstone colour) as many places are. The property is 200 years of so old. One of the stone uprights into which the shutter fixings have been drilled has broken somewhat over the years (due to the putting the fixing in it looks like) and as such I need to patch it to prevent further deterioration. I can see this has happened to one other stone block. My question is what would I patch with and how do I try to match the colour into the existing stone wo it doesn't stick out too much? Thanks Richard

Anton  -  interesting, many thanks. If we do the project perhaps we'll go down the route of someone else putting the windows in place (+ responsibility for the property falling down....) and then we'll do as much as we can of what's left. Your input was exactly what I was looking for and much appreciated, so thank you. Richard

Thanks for that. The particular case in point here is: * 3 sides are entirely above ground level * of the remaining 1 side, some is above, some isn't * height is about 2.2 metres, certainly enough for a room although a little lower than normal * the house is modern, about 15 to 20 years old * no digging out required, simply sectioning the area out into rooms, putting windows and doors in as appropriate and wiring etc... From what you're saying this is probably a reasonably viable conversion but I'd still appreciate any ballpark guestimation you can give on a per square metre cost. Thanks, Richard

As I understand it the cost per metre squared for new build is somewhere between 1,200 to 1,500 euros. Does anyone have a feel for the cost when converting a sous-sol to habitable space? We're interested in the concept but would like to understand the financial side a little more. Assuming you are paying someone to do this, does it make little difference to the above and hence you're still looking at 1,200 euros or so? Or can we halve that to 600 euros for example? Any knowledge people can shed on this appreciated. Let's base it on a 100sqm space for ease of calculation. Thanks, Richard

Can anyone point me in the direction of a route map for the new TGV line which is currently being constructed between Perpignan and Figueras. Specifically I'm interested in the French section down to where it enters the tunel near Le Perthus. Thanks, Richard

We run a service business which from January will become TVA registered. Our customers are based all around the world. Does anyone know whether TVA is charged to persons or business' based outside the EU, in this specific instance South Africa? Many thanks, Richard

Thank you for all your replies -  very helpful indeed. Regards, Richard

Can anyone recomment an online store for purchasing PC 'things' (modems, USB hubs, network cards, software,...etc...) from in France please? Thanks, Richard

If you read her message she does in fairness say 'generallly' and is not as you position it implying that the only good plumbers are French! Of course they're not.  And as it happens, yes, she does have a lot of knowledge and experience to pull on.