Coco

[quote]I have no complaint about the food in the Clinique I was in last year; they even tried to force feed me wine "to cheer me up"![/quote] Obviously not the St Jean in Saint LO then Batypuss.  My mum was in there in September and I told her the food would be great (remembering my bosses tales of his mum's stay in a French hospital, where she enjoyed excellent food and wine every day.) Thankfully it was still pretty hot whilst mum was in there, so I was able to take salads and fresh fruit salads into her, otherwise she would have gone three weeks with virtually no fresh veg whatsoever, apart from a few lettuce leaves and tomato salads. Can't say the same of the nursing care or cleaning though - they were absolutely excellent, and with the room being swabbed down three times a day, including the bed frame and door handles, there was virtually no chance of MRSA being present in that hospital. Lousy food was a small price to pay for the peace of mind in other aspects.

I don't call that lazy, I call that organised.  I wish I could work like that.  There's only  two of us and we only have one main meal a day but I usually cook every day.  I must admit, just recently I've become a bit lazy because it's just dawned on me that the B&B season is beginning to pick up, then I'll be compelled to cook most nights whether I want to or not, so we've been having more and more one-course "sloppy TV dinners" (all-in-one stuff, like curries or chilli) because I know we won't get an opportunity to have them for months once we've got guests here.

Yeah, having a Grant to increase the size of my kitchen sounds even better if it's Grant Mitchell  He can lay my concrete floor any time.  As long of course as he doesn't put Dirty Den under it.

"The original émigrés came because they really loved France," she says. "Those that come now are here to take advantage of the better style of living and they don't mind whether it is France, Spain or Italy – they simply want a detached house with their own grounds." The above comments may apply to some but I still believe the majority go to France because it is a country they love and enjoy. Probably the majority of the members of this site came for those reasons Gill, by virtue of the fact that they are interested enough in France to belong to such a Forum.  However, I would disagree with the statement and say that at least 75% of the Brits I have met in France fit that description perfectly.  Even my own parents, who will swear that they moved here for the love of the country, moved here because they could sell their house in the UK, buy a similar property here for a quarter of the price they sold at and stick the rest in the bank to "subsidise" their pensions.  I am 100% convinced that if they could have found something as cheap on the south coast of England they would have stayed there and I think it's the same for too many of the ex-pats in France. In reality many of us have found that once in France the locals are surprisingly "friendly" especially if you can make the effort to communicate with them and join in locally. Don't rush in but get to know them gradually and as others have said, you will probably have friends for life. Oh how I couldn't agree more with you.  I'm afraid I disagree strongly with the British Press's picture of the French as being an arrogant race, I find them extremely shy.  Perhaps they appear arrogant because they are proud of their own country.  Something that a few more Brits could take note of!  It's taken us a long time to get to know our neighbours but we are getting there and are included in a lot of things locally that they have no intention of including the other "non-French speaking Brits" in.

I got thrown by the gas and sunshine hours - if I'd have gone for the one I thought it was I would have had 6 out of 7 but I thought I was being clever and took it as a trick question!!

Yes I think you're right Ian - I hope a moderator sees it and moves it. And Scarlett, yes you're right - but then the whole system is a farce isn't it?  My mum worked and paid her NI contributions from when she was 14 til she was 60 but because about ten years of that period (in her 30's) she paid the lower rate that married women were allowed to pay in those days she only gets £80 per month (and that's a huge increase on what she was getting).  It's partly because my step-dad's younger than her, but to me that's not the point, she paid full rate for a good30 odd years, yet my mother-in-law, who only ever worked part-time, from about 40-60 gets a full pension.  Now where's the sense in that?

Thanks Penny, that explains it very clearly and also confirms what I had suspected about the January expiry date and when you move to France.  Hopefully, anyone with the option to move at an optimum time for them will be able to bear this in mind for the future. However, to me it is yet another Government con and a play on words.  We are told that it is dependant on the amount of NI that we have paid in the previous two years, NOT the date that we move to France.  In our case we could have gone any time between early February and end of March, we thought that completing a full UK tax year may benefit us in some way, so by trying be clever we ended up doing ourselves out of a couple of months of cover.  So much for a transparent Government.  If it did what it says on the tin we would all know where we stand and could get maximum benefit.  After all, if two sets of people have paid maximum NI for the previous two years why should one lot get two years cover, and as you point out, those that move on 31st December only get one year.

Oh dear this is all very worrying.  Don't know what on earth anyone's talking about re Simeons Crew?????  But I should say about 90% of my English-speaking bookings last year came from this site, so I really don't want to hear that they're having problems.  What is worrying is what Krill says about enquiries every day and now none.  I'm the same, I was getting at least two a day for about 2 weeks in January and now about one a week.  I presumed it was the after CHristmas rush to book a holiday - I still hope it is.  The last thing I want to hear is that this, what I have regarded til now as excellent website, is going down the pan

If I think correctly, the person who you ask the money from, has to be a member of PayPal or sign up to be one on the spot, do I remember that right ? Yes, is that right?  I think it would put me off - but then, although I'm expecting other people to use these methods, I tend to be very sceptical myself and I couldn't work out from the Paypal site whether they have to sign up or not. They are distrustful of such a way of booking, whereas in the USA it is pretty common way of paying. Well it's US travellers I had a problem with last year, so if it solves that problem it's fine. So with that in mind, for clients from the States, yes good idea but for UK clients I would go for NOCHEX everytime I've just had a look at NOCHEX Miki but I presume the payment can only be made in sterling and you have to pay it into a sterling account.  Is this the case?  Although the rates are a full 1% lower than Paypal.  And I do have occasion to pay money into my sterling account, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to do that.

[quote]Does he still go to Mortain on a Saturday?[/quote] Don't know how true it is Chris but I've heard that too.  And I'm afraid that judging by the type of people I saw in there on my one and only visit (even though the fish and chips were absolutely delicious!) I can well believe it - they really were the dregs of humanity and the type that make you embarrassed to be British.

[quote]Our single E106 ran from Oct 2002 to Jan 2005 and included me on it as a dependant as I had not made the required payments in the last two years before leaving, so it seems that everybody should press...[/quote] Yes, you see, now this I really don't understand!  When my initial one ran out I presumed I could be covered by my husband's because if you read all the paperwork it says that as long as you live in the same house as an E106 holder you become their dependant and are entitled to cover.  Well neither Newcastle or CPAM seemed to think so until I got my new one. Good luck to both of you if you got more than two years cover but it really does seem to be a lottery doesn't it.  Why Ian, if you hadn't made enough contributions, are the two of you entitled to two years and three months cover, and my husband and I who have made full contributions are only entitled to 21 months cover.  There's just no rhyme or reason! BJSLIV that's the way I had worked it out, but how do you explain the above two cases?  They should both in that case have only got 15 months, not 27.

[quote]Will, the problem with your refusing a grant stance is to me simply that it will not help the poor in France 1 jot IMHO.I have no reason to suspect that local politics and finance are not regulation r...[/quote] This is my point exactly Gay.  Grants are given for specific reasons and not taking one that is offered for one kind of development does not mean that the money will be reallocated to something or someone more worthy.  The other way of looking at this matter of non-French taking grants that would better benefit French people is this.  Does anyone on here truly believe that wealthy Parisian second-home owners would turn down a grant to help them do up their rural retreat?  I think not!!  However, because a lot of these grants of means tested, in terms of having to produce your tax return for the previous year, then if they are "wealthy" Parisians, they won't be eligible anyway.  And at the same time if a non-French (be they English, Welsh, Dutch or German) IS entitled because they meet the criteria then why not take it.  As I keep saying, they've paid their taxes......    Perhaps some people here would feel guilty taking the money because they feel their income is too high to justify it.  I'm afraid I don't - that grant would be a big help to us and our business and if I am offered it, I shall take it!

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has actually managed to be given TWO FULL years cover on their E106!  When I got mine it was valid for nine months - when I queried the fact that my husband's was valid for a year longer than mine with Newcastle they tried to palm me off with the fact that it all depends on whether you have paid full contributions for the last two years before you left the UK.  When I pointed out that I had, and in fact I had been earning MORE than my husband I was miraculously sent a new E106 for a further year.  However, both of us have E106's that have just run out (well 1 Jan actually), even though we didn't leave the UK until 27th March, and for Newcastle's purposes, 6th April (we thought we'd keep it simple for the poor dears). When my husband phoned on Friday to ask why they weren't valid for 2 years he was again given this story about contributions.  Having explained that we had both been in permanent full-time employment for the 2 years before coming to France and had paid full NI contributions he was then told that the E106 is valid for UP TO 2 years, depending on your contributions.  My step-dad also had his run out on 1 Jan, even though he didn't move to France until mid Feb 2003.  So just WHO DOES qualify for the full two years???? It seems as though they all run out on 1st Jan.  Does that mean that if we had arrived in France on 2nd Jan 2003 we would have got 2 year E106's and if we'd arrived on 31st Dec 2003 we would have only got a year's cover. It seems to me to be another Government con.  A bit like the ten year passport that they now have the right to prevent you from travelling on if it's within three months of it's expiry date.  My brother-in-law was only just let out of the country at New Year to come and visit us because his was due to expire some time in March, and he was only coming for the weekend!!!!

Hi Di Thanks for that - I now have the facility to ask for money in an email.  So this afternoon I shall be busy emailing the Americans who have already reserved rooms for this year (at the moment on trust) to ask for their deposits.  Then we'll see who's serious.  Last year I had 11 nights worth of no-shows, all of them from the States!! Yes, and isn't it weird how I'm no longer censored.  What happened there I wonder?!

Well said Fritz!!!!  I also believe integration is taking the good with the bad.  And sorry to harp on about grants, but if I paid the extortionate amount in cotisations (which I have had to do) and smaller amount in tax, both of which I am happy to do because I want to integrate, or be a "part of the local community" then surely it would seem a little odd to the locals (and could be perceived as patronising) if I paid in my full whack along with them but then said, "oh no, you all have the grants, I don't need them - I'm a wealthy (huh) Brit.  You need them much more than me."   And I would for ever remain the outsider.  See my point?

I don't think it's degenerated (certainly not by past records on here!!) differing views or interpretations of things don't equate to degeneration, just lively debate; and although off the original topic, it's still relevant under the title of the topic!!

[quote]Hi - have you tried www.paypal.com - we have used it several times and it works just fine with all currencies - the guest pays in their local currency - you then withdraw in your currency directly i...[/quote] I've just signed up to Paypal and wanted to download the facility to allow payment in the email.  However, because I live in France everything's in French.  Can I download it in English so that I can send it to Americans and Australians, which was my main reason for signing up?

I presume that those of you who have lived in France for a short or a long time and have children, claim child allowance.  Isn't that a "grant" for having children.  After all, it was your choice to have them - why should everyone else pay for them.  And before I get pounced on, I have no objection to child allowance; I'm just using it as an example.  And that payment in particular, is to the people, when they go they have left nothing behind them.  As John pointed out, the grants for property improvement are for the property and not the people. There are also grants at various levels:  EU, national, departemental, designated areas within departements.  If one area has a grant available to improve tourism then it is because it has determined that that is what is beneficial to its particular area.  If there are impoverished areas in other parts of France then maybe there are grants to create bathrooms etc, and if there aren't perhaps you should complain to your local conseil and not have a go at people who happen to live in an area that has different priorities. And as for non-French not being entitled to grants - well just how RACIST is that comment?  If every non-British person in the UK who has been given money over the years had to hand it back the UK would be able to solve all its financial problems overnight.  This attitude that all Brits who have moved to France are privaleged and wealthy is B******t!  I'm not pleading poverty, I wasn't even ASKING for a grant - but I have been paying French tax on my income, which as TU points out, in France is a lot lower than in the UK.  The grant will be given on assessment of my 2003 tax return - if I earned too much I presume I won't get it - if I didn't (and I know I didn't) then I may be entitled.  And if I am, then why the hell shouldn't I have it? And as for the Maire "pushing" a grant at a non-resident - well I am resident or I wouldn't have been paying French tax.  As far as our Maire is concerned, she is delighted that we have brought a Cambres d'Hotes to the village - I don't quite understand why, as we don't have any shops here even for other locals to benefit from - but there you go! And TU - I don't really care what your French friend thinks about it.  It's French people here that are encouraging me to go for it.

And I believe you're a fellow Manchois aren't you Dick?  It clearly depends on the areas and this is an area that has been designated as poor and needing to be brought up to the same levels as other areas - Although with current house prices you wouldn't believe it!!!

[quote]Give me strength. Grants for doing what? There is next to nothing I believe could justify any foreigner getting a grant for. I reckon the demos haven't even started yet. So they buy up our propert...[/quote] I'm sorry TU you may have lived here for over 20 years but you are NOT the expert on the WHOLE of France.  I didn't ask for a grant, I didn't expect a grant but our Maire is strongly urging me to apply for one of the grants being offered to only a small section of Manche to try and develop the area as a tourist area.  As she said, I have paid my taxes I am as entitled as any Frenchman to th grant!

Very interesting thread and something that has interested/worried me for some time.  Not any existing problems, but the thought they could develop due to Brits living in enclaves and not integrating. I have never believed that the Brits are the cause of rising prices in France but I do think they HELP it, however unaware they may be of the fact.  I know of some friends who bought a house here in Manche about 3 years ago for the equivalent of £24,000 and felt they had a bargain.  When they got talking to their Parisian "weekend" neighbours they discovered that the farmer who had sold the property felt as though he had won the lotto because he had told the FRENCH agent that he would like around £12,000 but the agent had said that she knew that foreigners would pay double that.  And they did!! I have recently been talking to our Maire, who also works part-time for a Notaire in Saint Lo.  When I asked her if the market had slowed up at all she said that the Brits buying had eased up a bit but the property market was still extremely bouyant, mainly with Parisians.  I've also had that verified by a local agent who said that their Brit market at the moment is diabolical but that the Parisian market is booming. I've also seen the locals beginning to get aggrevated by the fact that, not so much themselves, but their children are now struggling to be able to buy their first home.  Whether it's true or not, their perception is that it is due to the number of Brits in the area pushing up the prices. And I strongly agree with the comments on here that integration helps to reduce these feelings of animosity.  We had always determined to integrate but in a hard-working "young" farming community that can be quite difficult; for starters you never see anyone because they're always working so hard and when they're not they have young families that they are doing things with and as we don't have kids that makes it a little harder to mix.  However, we have persevered and after 2 years of plugging away at it we're beginning to reap the rewards.  The locals are certainly beginning to open up to us a lot more and their biggest gripe about the Brits is their lack of interest in speaking French or speaking TO the French.  We are constantly told that we are included in things because we make the attempt to speak French and they are constantly encouraging my husband in telling him how much his French improves every time they meet him and consequently we have been included in several local functions that none of the other Brits in the area have been invited to . We are currently getting loads of help from our Maire with our request to convert the integral barn into an extension to the house.  She has given us loads of tips on how to circumvent delays in getting permission and has put us in touch with an association who may well give us quite a bit of financial help to do it.  And this is due to the fact that we have a French tax return to show the association.  Now THAT really impressed our Maire and she was delighted that we asked her for recommendations of French artisans to use for the work.  During this conversation she made the cryptic comment that she knew that a lot of the other Brits in the area would not have had a tax return because they all seem to be "builders" and work on the black, for each other but that one day that may catch up on them all.  Made me pleased that we've always avoided that situation!! I don't believe that it is a privalege to have a house in France.  I do however believe that I am very lucky and I constantly think about how we would perceive immigrants in the UK in our local community and what I would find acceptable in their behaviour and what I would not.  Then I try to live by those standards.  I may have it all wrong - but I think it's working!

It's an idea I've thought of many times Arnold, but didn't have the technical know-how to take it further.  I agree that it should remain purely B&B as so often I get enquiries for gite accommodation because some of the sites I appear on are for self-catering accommodation as well, and people rarely read the details! I'll send you my details straight away.  The trouble is, I can't really recommend anyone else, as just about all the B&B people I know are those I have met via this site - Will, Miki, Quillan....

Emma Glad to hear he's so happy!  The people who were prepared to take him asked me if anyone has taken over Clive's business as they need to find somewhere for their Monty when they go back to the UK.  Are you far from Husson?    

Now isn't that always the way!!!!!  I visited one of our neighbours today, who I recommended use Paws Awhile about 18 months ago when they first had to leave their puppy "Monty" for a trip to the UK.  They used Clive's facilities several times and when I first read this post they sprang to mind immediately, but for some reason I never contacted them.  Possibly the thought of having two dogs called Monty in the same house sounded too confusing to me.  However, today I told them the sad tale of Clive and then of the homeless Monty.  I had hardly finished the sentance before both simultaneously said "we'll have him".  Presumably he's now settled in with you and you're all happy with each other.  However, if you are only taking him in to prevent him from going into a home, this couple may well be the answer to your problem.  Please let me know if you still want to rehome him, or whether he is now settled. I'm afraid I'm a cat person rather than a dog person but if I were to convert, Monty would be the dog to do it!  If you keep him I hope you are extremely happy together!!!

We had lunch in the place with the sculpture on Monday.  It was too bloody cold to walk around and find somewhere else and we were in a bit of a hurry, taking one set of friends back to the airport and the others joining us to end a very boozy weekend, before heading back to Limoux.  The food was very good but I think they had to go a catch a cow and kill it first, the time we had to wait!!!  An hour and a half for one course and a coffee!!!!