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I look after a cottage (changeovers and gardening) which is occasionally rented out by the owners and wouldn't charge less than 15 euros an hour. If I carry on next year, my rates will go up to 18 euros an hour. Obviously, if your changeover person isn't registered you may get away with less, but I think it's really mean to pay less than SMIC! Remember that most changeover people can see what your rental charge is per week on websites. Deposits: we book somewhere (usually 3 epies) through Gites de France every year and we pay 250 - 300 euros as a security deposit (the rental this year for 6 person character gite near Pau is 270 euros in September). We also opt to pay the 45 euro cleaning charge so that our last evening doesn't have to be spent cleaning - although we always hoover around and do basic clean of the kitchen and bathroom. Be realistic if you are running a business - the French are!

If you go into the Chambre de Metiers and ask for an English speaker, I'm sure that there is someone there who can help. They run the course in English, so maybe the guy who runs it will be able to help. The next one in English is 13th December. Sorry, I can't help with names as the original guy from the Chambre de Metiers was French, and we met him at the Mairie at Roumaziers. They have a weekly session there. Our accountant is based in Civray - G2A

LOL - I think that people work "on the black" to avoid the very high social charges/taxes/acccountants/decinalle insurance etc etc! Getting the paperwork together and then the Siret number is the easy part, and the stage (course) can be pretty useful (and in some departments, is in English) - depends on attitude I suppose. Make sure you can get plenty of work before you register as you have to pay out whether you have work or not (although there may be some concessions). And find an accountant for advice regarding the right business set up. This may help if you haven't already seen it http://www.apce.com/index.php?rubrique_id=300000112&type_page=IL&pays=1 We once borrowed a mate's van (to collect some stuff from the brico) which had General Builder and Plasterer emblazoned across it. When we came out, there was a queue of Brits wanting work done!! Play it right and you shouldn't have too many problems getting plastering work. Good luck..

Claire - one near miss is one too many for me. Treat it like you would an in ground pool i.e get a fence, gate and alarm! Regarding the extra guests, we have rented a gite de france gite and rang the owners to say there may be another couple joining our party which will take the gite up to maximum occupancy (nearby friends who really won't want to drive home after BBQing with us). The owner was amazed and asked why we'd phoned - he said "the gite sleeps six; six are booked in - we leave bedding for six"! We didn't have to give individual names of our party on the booking form. I look after a gite here in Charente for some friends. They normally say how many are staying, but I don't question them or visit (just a phone call the day after they've arrived to ensure all is well). The owners just asked me to make up the two double beds every time and leave bedding folded on the two single beds. Once guests have paid for the cottage, it's their home for the week and we expect them to be in holiday mode and enjoy themselves. That may mean having friends around. Luckily there is no pool!

He needs to be able to show some sort of proof (translated using official translator - addresses provided at your Mairie). But, the best thing to do is get an appointment with your local CdM and ask them exactly what he needs. We found them very helpful (my OH had done building in the UK but it was one career of many!), and at the initial interview he was booked onto the course, so set the ball rolling.

You say you've written to him twice - maybe he is a normal builder type chappy who gets no time to write letters, emails etc. Have you tried phoning him (between 7pm-8.30pm) or driving round and asking him face to face (nicely) what the problem was? Maybe it was a complete error - the sacks he ordered of the same colour code turned out to be different batches and he didn't notice until work was progressing and now doesn't quite know how to rectify the situation. Most builders I know are mortified if a job goes wrong and go out of their way to put it right, but some become ostrich like! Talk to the man. It's no good whinging on here until you have done so and worked something out between you. Then, if there are still problems, take alternative action. Good luck.

Any surveyor who had seen ours would have had a fit!! But now, if I was going to spend 250K upwards, I'd probably get someone in to point out less than obvious faults.

If you find one closeby, take a photo of the site in to them when you order so they have a rough idea whether it's doable (is that a word?). Friends ordered some for a barn floor but the lorry couldn't get into their gateway!

I presume you mean something like ReadyMix? Have a look in www.pagesjaunes.fr for beton pret a l'emploi. There should be one fairly near you, but measure very carefully!

Hi Lilly - You'll be OK if you have a dishwasher! Tablets and rinseaid are much cheaper than in the UK. Agree with everyone else regarding general shopping though. I bought my fruit and veg from the village market last week and I spent three times what I normally spend for the same stuff. Great quality, but tres cher, so never again!! I'm not too bothered about my food bill as we have people round a lot (no other form of entertainment here unless we travel), and I have no mortgage or c/cs as opposed to past life in the UK (only a thrid of the income though!). But, the bulk of my shopping is done in Lidls or Leader Price as it's good stuff and much cheaper than the large supermarkets. I get pet food in bulk (and wine) from the agri co-op, but have to visit Intermarche or LeClerc for toiletries and cheese. I grow zillions of courgettes, tomatoes and beans, have my own eggs and reckon on spending 100 euro a week absolute max(and that usually includes feeding guests at least once a week).

Why not have a business account for the B&B and have money from that transferred monthly to your separate accounts? I should go for equal amounts as isn't that what a partnership is all about. I don't think it (receiving a wage from your partner) will make any difference to the French inheritance laws. Unless you've had things sorted out otherwise, children or parents will inherit on the death of whoever's name the property is in (I hope it's in joint names). I also hope you got good legal advice on that one before you signed. It's a b++++y minefield! Edit: Meant to say welcome and good luck!

Not a good day to travel - according to French news last Saturday was the busiest day of the summer on the road due to the August close down - a rouge weekend. Mind you, we made the mistake once of driving (southbound) through Paris at 6pm on 13th July pont weekend! Why do the French all have to travel on the same time/day and stop at services at the same time to eat?

Yes, there are lots of little shops which sell "British" foods here, certainly in SW and W.France, and, if you moved near one you could probably order what you need. There are also online "English" food suppliers. As far as restaurants go, many of the newly set up British restaurants often have a vegetarian option. As far as French restaurants go................! Rural France has difficulty with the concept of vegetarianism! But, if you are eating prawns and tuna, why stop there? Lots of super fish for sale in most large supermarkets! And then, there's meat! (Sorry can't do smilies, but there should be one here!)

LOL - I hope you've warned your guests!

Strange things have happened this summer to my hair, and it's now the colour of straw! I was (I am) mouse underneath but used a chestnut dye for years to brighten it up a bit. Then, this Spring, I bucked up courage and had a mesch (sp), red, chestnut and blond highlights. Sounds pretty dire doesn't it, but this is what the hairdresser at the local French salon offered/suggested! Now it's all bleached by the sun, and for the first time in my life, I'm mainly blond hiding the mouse underneath! I have a feeling I'll be grey by winter.

P - Our local agri co-op sells them - 120 euros each. Sunshine - just buy a submersable pump(about 50 euros), some huge waterbutts and a hose, et voila! Position the waterbutts in useful places around the garden and fill from the citern. Sorry - don't know about grants or rigging it up to the loo!

Have sent you a pm.

I think you need to assume that some of your guests will be flying over (and then hiring a car) so luggage, especially with Ryanair/Flybe, has to be kept to a minimum. The other thing is the heat - here in Charente it's been 36 degrees in the shade every day this week - and I don't know about the rest of you but I'm changing T-shirts and undies 2 or 3 times a day! And then, there's the swimming stuff and towels, plus the towels etc provided at the gite (usually just two for the week). At the moment, for the two of us, I'm doing a load every other day and I'd expect to do the same on holiday. It doesn't mean I stand about in the heat ironing things, just like to be clean and fresh. I think a dishwasher is an essential on holiday as well. All the French owned gites we used to stay in had good ones and it was one of the treats/provisions I really looked forward to as I didn't have one of my own. Who wants to stand around washing up at a sink when they're en vacance?

Pint of Flowers and garlicy gambas - that's today, tomorrow it may be something else!

Sorry active8 to hijack the thread but going back to the earlier argument as to whether a SIRET number must be on publicity material I'm just going to quote from our letter from the Chambre de Metiers (apologises for lack of accents): quote/ Le numero SIRET mentionne sur votre carte doit imperativement figurer sur les documents diffuses par votre entreprise (lettres, bons de commande, devis, factures, publicite, etc......). /unquote I've always assumed that websites count as publicite.

Wozza - you 're just looking for excuses to go to the bar daily, are you not? LOL, I'm now going to spoil all that - have a look at http://www.sortir16.net/ That goes for you too Nick, you might find something on/open which will entertain your mum.

You just write a letter to annul your registration to MSA and Chambre de Commerce. They send you back a form to complete, then send you official deregistration document. You are still covered by the MSA insurance/carte vitale for the following 12 months. Then you get billed for the next quarter's cotisations!!! Hate to say this Ty, but you'll have to pay cotisations to the MSA for the entire year (as they told me, you should consult with them when the best time is to deregister (!) - it's actually 31st December). Then depending on your income from the business in previous years, you will still have to pay for 2005, then 2006!! It's a never ending nightmare! Do a runner Ty!! Good luck.

We have an electronic zapper outside on the patio but unfortunately it only works after dark (and then it's quite entertaining - sorry). We also burn citronella candles if we can get them (there seems to be a run on them at the moment). For indoors, buy mosquito/fly netting from the bricos. Cut to fit and either staple it to your window frames or make a frame to fit the window opening and staple the netting on so that you can remove it for the winter. Seems to be the only way, as I can't stand sprays or sticky brown strips - ugh!

Oh dear, you don't sound very optamisiic; not a good idea starting up something which you think may fail! Anyway, here's a website (you'll have to cut and paste) which explains some business setups and their liabilities. It may help a bit. http://www.apce.com/index.php?rubrique_id=300000112&type_page=IL&pays=1 Good luck.

I think you can recommend a company (as long as it's not your company) here Matthew; I've seen many such posts.