zeb

The holdup is the extension of the runway at a cost of 1.5million euros. Don't think O'Leary will pay. Val - I thought it was being named Angouleme/Cognac. I see Limoges has become Limoges International!

[quote user="miaviv"]I was thinking of setting myself up in business, dealing in expat relocation, bilingual services, secretarial assistance etc..... I am having trouble finding out enough information to guide me in the right direction. Does anyone know what are the pitfalls/advantages of a profession libérale and a micro entreprise ? What internet sites could I look at that give some clear information either in French or English ? Any help appreciated. Thanks [/quote] A French friend who offers this service has gone down the profession liberale route, but you really need to get expert advice from an accountant. This website may (or may not) help. Good luck. http://www.apce.com/index.php?rubrique_id=300000112&type_page=IL&pays=1

Well, luckily we're in France and have been for four years. We both have children from previous marriages and married soon after moving to France on the advise of the notaire (and also because we had been together 15 years and love each other!!!). We have a French marriage contact but of course, the surviving children may wish to force a sale of the property, or have their share on the sale of the property etc etc in the event of a death. All this worry about inheritance, was not a good reason for us to stay in Britain. We were mid forties when we moved out here and maybe have another 30 years (or maybe not!) at least. We knew what the French system was like so we married as the safest way to ensure the partner vcan remain in the property. But, I really think that our children wouldn't have it any other way!! We just couldn't risk not living the life we want NOW just in case something happens to one of us sooner rather than later. And if it does, so be it. I find it really sad that folks are so worried about who inherits what - why have children in the first place?

We do speedferries - it's 80 quid cheaper!

The problem wont be finding work. As a plumber/heating engineer there will probably be plenty of work. The problem is with registering as self employed. Takes time and is expensive; very different to the UK. You will have to register at the Chambre de metiers, do a course (some departments have the course in English), then choose a tax regime and register. Social security payments are very high in France (c. 4000k a year plus insurances) so do come with money to tide you over for a couple of years whilst you build up your business. It's the same for any business and so your wife will probably have to register separately (and pay....). Find a good accountant and get advise. It's not impossible, many including us, have done it, but it does take more planning and you don't earn the same amount as in the UK. A good website to get an idea of the process is: http://www.apce.com/index.php?rubrique_id=300000112&type_page=IL&pays=1 Good luck!

Stick to your non-smoking rule for the house - you can always say that smoking is allowed outside on patio, in garden etc and provide ashtrays outside. I don't think this would have much effect on your bookings as, like others have said, the majority of folks are non smokers (or smokers, like me, who are quite happy to smoke outside (I don't smoke in my own house!). If it really is such a big issue for folks they should book elsewhere. You have every right to preserve your furniture/decor etc. and I'm sure that the majority will respect this. The problem could be that there are so many gites to choose from, so you may have to do a websearch and study gites in your area to find out what they are offering which you are not. Maybe you could specialise such as gay friendly, pet friendly, fishing/cycling/walking/beach holidays or whatever and advertise accordingly.

In France, you are only allowed to have a stall at two vide-greniers a year unless you are a registered trader.

I'll go a step further than retread and say - you must get a professional in!! We did one opening for an internal door in a metre thick stone wall 3 years ago and it was so scary. We carefully made holes right through above where the lintel was going to stick the suppport joists through then propped them with accros back and front - one at a time, three holes, 6 accros. Then took stones out where lintel was going - err 3 reinforced concrete lintels were needed for a metre wide stone wall. Fitted lintel and cemented in both sides. When set and strong we removed all the stones under the lintel for the doorway. At this stage I was wearing motorbike crash helmet, just in case....... The accros were left in until the door with frame was fitted. Then sides were shuttered/made good and all plasterboarded (as our stonework in that room was crap). All very, very scary as there seemed to be lots of creeking and groaning but OH reckoned I was imagining that. Even he was a bit unnerved by it though so...... .......Got a guy in to do all the other openings - he did them all in less than 2 weeks - 3 veluxes, two normal sized bedroom windows, a port-fenetre, and a service door into the barn and charged 1000 euros!! Think it probably costs more now. Anyway, it was fascinating watching an expert - he took so much care. Mind you, we had absolutely tonnes of rubble to get rid of which seemed out of all proportion to the size of the openings. Please get an artisan in, or experienced help - folks have been killed doing this sort of thing.

We moved ourselves bit by bit - some essentials, hubby, cat and motorbike first, then carloads of books, personal stuff. Then, when I moved out we hired, through this site a guy from Hesdin with his high top tranny, to move the rest of thousands of books, some paintings, beds (which came apart), linen and kitchen stuff. Cost around a grand. Everything else we sold with our house or gave away as none would have looked good in old French cottage (and the garden furniture wouldn't fit in the van - boo hoo). Another problem was that old French cottage at that time only had one habitable room and, although we have a large barn, I didn't fancy all the stuff living in there for years. Many of the books, which we couldn't bring ourselves to part with at the time, are still boxed and in the barn, probably eaten by the mice - and, we havent missed them at all as we have bought hundreds more books since living here. We started again. Some items (white goods plus sofas) we bought new over a period of time scouting around to find the right things. Other things we have bought second hand. Stuff had been left here - super old oak farmhouse table, chairs and huge oak buffet which we have used and loved over the last four years. I've just bought an old chesterfield from a brocante, sold by folks going back to the UK, for a room which has just been renovated. Depends whether your stuff is part of your life or whether you can leave it behind and get excited about searching out things here. The other consideration is, how quickly will you need replacements for the things you leave behind? Searching out the right things takes time. But, we're nomads, so that never presented much of a problem for us. I wouldn't have done it any other way, but if I moved again, I'd take everything I've begged, borrowed and bought over the last four years with me, as we'll probably move within France and, I've sort of grown attached! And that would cost a fortune now!! Edit: we got our sofas from the La Redoute catalogue with a third off for first order. I'd never bought furniture from a catalogue before but after seeing the quality of my neighbour's new furniture thought I'd take a chance and, I'm delighted!

Just come back from a hectic weekend in North East Essex, where, on several of our outings, son in law pointed out new driveways made of some sort of moulded, coloured concrete (mostly russet coloured but we did see one which looked like sandstone). He said the dyed concrete was laid and a mould pressed over it to achieve the desired pattern. Have any of you seen it? Can someone point me to a website as we would like to know what mix is used and how it's done?

powerdesal - it's sooo normal to have your bottled gas in the kitchen if you live in rural France without town gas. Because of the high price and idiosyncracies of the electric installations/system in France a large proportion of the population buy gas cookers/or gas hob/electric oven cookers. It's difficult to find all electric cookers and many folks haven't got a handy barn attached, so we all put our gas bottle in the cupboard/kitchen unit next to the oven or, indeed, inside the handy compartment next to the oven if you have that type of cooker. We change ours every month and the pipe/valve gets checked every time. I'm sure most folks do this.

Try to buy a similar model In France as you may have a problem with the guarantee or repairs if you bring one from the UK. Yes, if they say delivery to France Metropolitan, that's all over France. It means that they don't deliver to the Dom-Toms (French colonies). There is a very good French website for ordering/buying electrical stuff on line if you know the model that you want, with very competitive prices and delivery. Unfortunately, I just can't think of its name but hopefully someone else will know. You could do a Voila.fr or Google.fr search.

2 days for prioritaire - that's a joke! Everything I send (parcels all shapes and sizes up to three kilos) goes prioritaire and usually takes a week to 10 days. Letters are usually delivered in 2 - 3 working days. La Poste shot themselves in the foot on 1st March by raising the tariffs, cutting out domestic economie parcel post, and generally trying to make a killing on the back on French ebay (IMO), which, in the past year has really taken off. Anyway, they quickly had to reduce International Colissimo - parcel post - charges as for a short while it cost 15 euros for any parcels up to a kilo to the UK and there was an outcry. Imagine dealing in CDs! Anyway, it left the small post offices in total confusion, no-one knew what to charge or what forms were needed, and I don't think the dust has really settled yet. Anyway, Beryl, it all gets delivered (well, all mine have) but judging by some photos (and returned goods) I've been sent, many parcels do get used as footballs. Pack them very well and offer customers (?) insurance.

I'm surprised! Since we've been in France (4 years), we've never had a credit card, and have hired cars on several occasions (usually Hertz or Eurocar). We have a La Poste account - very basic - and use the carte blue. Perhaps there are different rules for French cards/hire cars? Is it possible to claim this loss from your household insurance policy?

If you really love the property, I'd say go for it and market your gites positively as being in a rural French farming community. Ask the farmer if he has butter or cheese available for guests, or even buy milk and make homemade yoghurts and icecream. Plant a fast growing screen, this could be laurel interspersed with red robin, or even conifers, so that the calves are hidden a bit. Surely though, they will be out in the fields (or gone to market(!)) from late spring to winter. Not many animals are confined during the summer as they would eat too much costly hay. You may have cows in there rattling their pens and mooing a bit though during the winter, would this disturb you? Good luck.

LOL - we paid in cash for our place as, at the time, we"d left it a bit late to sort out a bank transfer. This was the week after 9/11 and wad of cash was safely(?) stashed in my handbag when we arrived at Stansted. (Actually we missed our flight and had to arrange another later in the day to Bordeaux but that's another story). Unfortunately, NO handbags or anything were allowed on the plane with us, everything went into the hold and I s**t buckets throughout the flight, wondering whether my bag woould arrive in tact at baggage control at Bordeaux. Never again! We paid peanuts for our hovel, but the Notaire was very concerned that we paid this way as the signing was after the banks had closed. He said it was pas normale!

We had our small windows made to measure by local artisan (cost 360 euros for the two four years ago) - they look like babnik's but open which is useful during the summer. Our front, south facing bedroom ceiling (converted grenier) was lined with silver foil sandwich insulation (between valige and plasterboard) which deflects the heat, so that room stays quite cool.

Why negotiate a discount Anton? Isn't the 50% tax credit enough? BOGOF!! LOL

well, it's one of the services we do as there are quite a few holiday homes around here. I only "open up" for a couple of folks as most are able to do that themselves(!) but I cut grass. masses of grass - just got back from cutting b******g grass and it's a public holiday!! Yes, lots of people do it and many do it legally. We have to make a living; we and the menagerie have to eat!!

Sorry John - have to disagree about visiting the DDE rather than Mairie, especially if you live in a small commune. I thinks it's best to introduce yourself to the Maire (if possible) and sound him out with your planned renovation/conversion etc. It's good manners. Ask his opinion and try to get him/her onside as he/she has ultimate power to over-ride the decision of the DDE. We did that and got the forms etc from the Mairie, then went along to the DDE who were a great help. They showed us how to complete the form what, drawings and photographs were needed etc, then we took it all to the Mairie in quadruplet, waited two months and hey presto, plans passed. Obviously if you employ an architect (habitable space over 170 sq mtrs), you don't need contact with the DDE (architect can do that) but still a good idea to talk to the Maire.

They'll be shut. 1st May is a public holiday.

Abs - enquire at your Mairie or neighbours about local recommended roofers. Roofing work is done around the communes all the time and everyone knows who is best. If it's a reputable company their charges will be the same whatever your nationality. We have a couple of very good French roofing firms here who wouldn't risk their reputations by overcharging Brits. Also, it's sensible to get three devis, but don't expect any work to be done for 12 months. Good firms have a waiting list.

I love the countryside here; the verges, hedgerows and setaside fields at the moment are carpeted with cowslips, lung wort, blue bells, and lots of low growing white flowering plants and then in May, the poppies, wild orchids and margeritas etc take over if the eleage or hay makers don't cut them all down. Still haven't tired of it after 4 years and much prettier than Barnet!

LOL - maybe you could save some more if you shipped some workers over from China!

Just about spot on SB. Really sad. LOL then I looked up our accountant..........