Stuart

Has anyone used MoneyBookers in the past 10 days? If so, can you say whether their turnround times have improved again? It recently took 12 working days for the money to move from my MoneyBookers account to my Britline account when it should have only taken 4 working days. I want to move some more funds to France but I need to know if they have sorted their problems out first. Thanks Stuart

I asked SpeedFerries for an update on the Pet Passport situation and I got the following reply: Thank you for your interest in SpeedFrerries. We are only able to carry pets from Dover to Boulogne for the moment, but we are in the process of applying for authorization under the Pets Travel Scheme, which we hope will be in effect around 1 August (We can not guarantee this as the matter is now in the hands of the British authorities!). Dogs, except guide dogs, will have to stay in the car during the crossing. The price per dog is 15 GBP. I assume that this is 15 each way per dog - but this is 5 cheaper than the reply I got from them back in April (see posting no. 2), so things are looking up. Let's hope that DEFRA get their fingers out! Stuart

Liz Firstly, good luck with your signing experience. Before we signed for our house, we heard a number of different stories about how long the whole process would take. The worst was from one couple who said it took almost 4 hours and the best was about 75 minutes. In the end, we were pleasantly surprised when ours was completed in just 35 minutes! Anyway, to answer your original questions: 1. Our agent arranged for the water and electric to be reconnected - and made sure the companies had our UK addresses for the bills. She also offered to arrange the house insurance as well but we had already sorted that out ourselves. She also came to the signing to act as our official translator. I understand that the notaire will insist on there being a translator present to make sure that non-French speakers understand the transactions. Personally, I was very grateful to the agent, and thought it showed a very professional attitude - mind you, someone else did say that, for the fee she charged, we shouldn't have expected less. 2. We are on mains sewers so I can't help with this. 3. We got the keys straight after the signing. I hope you enjoy your signing day as much as we did. Stuart

I withdrew some fairly large sums from my Moneybookers account on 9th and 10th June and they have today, finally, been credited into my Britline account. This is 12 working days, when Moneybookers promise a 4-5 working day turnround. I have been talking to their customer service number every day this week and I must say that they have been very apologetic about the problem - however, I would rather they saved the apologies and transferred the money on time. They told me yesterday that they have been having trouble with their French bank (Deutche France) and had decided to move their business to BMP (I think that was what they said)instead. Hopefully, this will resolve the situation. Mind you, I think I will wait a few weeks until others have begun to report that their transfers have gone smoothly before I will feel confident enough to use Moneybookers again. Stuart

I have accessed the site 5-6 times in the last 3 days. I have also spoken to their helpline and have received an e-mail fron them. They are definitely still alive and kicking. Stuart

Thanks to everybody for their ideas - you have given us lots to think about. We already have many of the plants mentioned in our garden here in Sussex, so we could end up with a real home-from-home!! Stuart

We would be very grateful for your ideas. We have a very small walled garden at our house in Basse Normandy, which will be used for holidays and long weekends only. We don't really want to have a lawn, because it will either go wild for the weeks we are not there, or will die off in the summer heat. So, we have decided to pave the majority of the garden, leaving some gaps for planting around the edges, which will be perhaps 50-75cm wide. We are considering planting the more hardy shrubs and herbs like lavenders, rosemary, thyme, origano etc. We would also like some tough plants for a bit of lively colour. We did think of geraniums but we can't seem to think of anything else (some sort of gardeners block). Can anyone suggest some plants that will survive being left on their own for 4-5 weeks at a time - native plants would be nice. Thanks in advance. Stuart

We like the Conforama shops. They seem to be in all regions of France and I think they are very good value. The website is: http://www.conforama.fr/ConfoOnline/accueil.co Stuart

I have just posted this on the Vie Normande site and thought I would post it here as well in case someone finds it useful: MARKETS IN ORNE (61) MONDAY - Briouze (cattle), Rmalard, Tinchebray, Vimoutiers TUESDAY - Athis-de-l'Orne, L'Aigle, Argentan, Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, Noc, Passais, Soligny-la-Trappe (cattle) WEDNESDAY - Alenon, Carrouges , Flers, Longny-au-Perche, La Mle-sur-Sarthe, Le Theil THURSDAY - Alenon, Bellme, Bretoncelles, Ceauc, La Fert-Frnel, La Fert-Mac, Le Merlerault, Messei, Moulins-la-Marche, Putanges-Pont-crepin, Ste-Gauburge-Ste-Colombe, Trun FRIDAY - Argentan, La Chapelle-d'Andaine, Cond-sur-Huisne, Courtomer, Domfront, couch, Tourouvre, Vimoutiers SATURDAY - Alenon, Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, Bretoncelles, Domfront, Flers, Gac, Mortagne-au-Perche, Rnes, Ste-Gauburge-Ste-Colombe, Le Sap, Ses SUNDAY - Alenon, Ceton, Courtomer, Mortre Hope it helps. Stuart

The Department of Health website gives the following information: E111s will cease to be valid throughout the EEA and Switzerland from 1 January 2006, when they will be replaced by the European Health Insurance card. UK issue of these cards will not start before 2005 and application arrangements are not yet finalised. Prior to 1 January 2006, you will only need to apply for another E111 if you use it to claim for treatment and it is not given back to you, or if you mislay it. However, please note that your E111 will cease to be valid if you go to live outside the UK. http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyA....=3HwrCt Stuart

Someone told me today about a company called "Direct Travel", which was quoted in yesterday's Sunday Express as having the best rates around at the moment for annual european insurance. I checked out site and the rates were 31 pounds for a single person (up to age 65) and 50 for 2 adults and unlimited number of dependant children. I thought this was a very good deal but, if any of you know of somewhere cheaper, I would be happy to hear about them. The website for Direct Travel is http://www.direct-travel.co.uk I hasten to add that I have absolutely NO connection to them - I am just passing on the information in case it can be of use. Stuart

We are looking forward to 2 weeks of blissful rest and relaxation from next Saturday (8th May), i.e. starting on the renovations to our new old house (some relaxation that will be, he mutters). We will be in the Flers/Domfront area and I was wondering if anyone has heard the long range weather forecast for that area during May. I suppose that, much like the UK, the trouble with this time of year is that you need to bring a set of winter AND summer stuff to make sure you cover all eventualities. Still, the important things to remember will be to pack the wellies and a waterproof for walking the dogs (just in case). Hopefully, we won't be needing them too often - fingers crossed. Stuart

Evenin' all Advice needed please. We are due to bring our 2 dogs out for their first ever cross channel trip on Saturday 8th May and I just want to make sure that we have done everything right - we don't want any nasty surprises when we try to come back on the 23rd May. 1. We have got signed and stamped PETS 1 and PETS 5 certificates for each dog. They come into effect on 17 May - six months after the successful blood test was taken. 2. We have the yellow PETS 3 certificates ready to be completed on the day we return. 3. We will be booking an appointment on the 22nd May with the vet in Domfront that Pauline Giggins was kind enough to recommend, so that we can have the tick and tapeworm treatment. Can you think of anything that we might have missed? Blimey, I wasn't as nervous as this when we transferred the purchase money over! Stuart

Let's just hope that companies like Speedferries manage to get a decent foothold in the cross-channel market. The possibility of losing some of their business to cheaper rivals may be the one thing that makes them finally realise that they can't carry on the way they have been. I would much rather travel with a company that offers a basic service at a reasonable price than on a plush ship at an extortionate one. Stuart

Personally, I don't understand why he shouldn't have a claim to part of the property. After all, if the boot were on the other foot, I would have expected her to have the right morally to make a claim on what had been "their" home. I am sure that, in the UK, this would be the case. Stuart

I checked this with Speedferries and they e-mailed me the following reply: "Thanks for your interest in SpeedFrerries. We do not expect to be able to carry pets from the route start 19 May, but we are in the process of applying for autorization under the Pets Travel Scheme, which we hope will be in effect before 1 August. Dogs, except guide dogs, will have to stay in the car during the crossing. The price per dog is 20 GBP. Please tjek our website for further informations: www.speedferries.com. " Let's hope that they can get the necessary authorisation arranged. Stuart

Dear Cneal After reading some of the answers here, you might think that the only people who ever moved abroad were completely fluent and grammatically perfect. Well, I doubt very much if that is the real story. Last night, we watched a replay of a "No Going Back" programme about a young builder who. with his wife and two girls, bought a large fishing lake in Brittany. None of the family spoke any French when they arrived but they didn't let that stand in their way. All four of them had the most positive attitude I have seen on any of these programmes and they put 100% effort into everything they tried. At first, they got by with the inevitable international sign language but, within a few months, they were able to attend meetings (in French) at their local Mairie - and understand what was being said. We had a similar experience when we went to live and work in Greece. We could barely say "hello" and "how much" when we arrived and it took a lot of sweat and effort in the first 6 months to get to the stage where we could hold more than the most basic of conversations. However, after about 15 months, we were chatting about all sorts of things with all the locals. After 8 years, we still had to resort to a dictionary for the odd word and we had picked up the local slang and dialect. We would never pass a Greek O'Level but we were happy and accepted by the people that mattered. I'd say that, if you are willing to give it your best shot, the locals will make all kinds of allowances for your inevitable mistakes. You can do it if you want. Stuart

I am very impressed with the prices on the new speedferries site - www.speedferries.com - if you book far enough ahead, you get 25 each way for standard car + 5 and there is no increase depending on the time of year!!! The only thing is, does anyone know if they allow dogs as well? I have read that the car decks on these vessels may give a rougher trip than on conventional feries and that the fumes may be stronger - but we have taken them over on 4 hour crossings to Ireland before in very rough seas (lots of pitching and rolling) and they seemed to have had a better time than we did up stairs. If Speedferries can offer this sort of price AND I can take my babies - I won't be just impressed, I will have fallen in love! Stuart

LAST EDITED ON 03-Mar-04 AT 10:53 PM (GMT) We will be signing our Acte de Vente in 2 weeks and have got all the finance side in place. Now what we need to know is - what documents will we need to take with us we go over? We have made a bit of a list, but we are not sure whether it is too much or not complete. So far, we have listed: Passports, Proof of UK address (driving licences, utility bills etc), Proof of bank accounts (French and UK) and, finally, Proof of French house insurance. Can anyone think of anything else we should take or whether we have got too much? Thanks Stuart

Helen Message in your inbox. Stuart

Stuart

You t*sser Stuart

Is there any way to switch off the Forum function that allows you to be notified if someone else posts into a thread that you have contributed to? I enjoy this function and have used it on many occasions. However, there are times when the original thread gets hijacked (others would probably say "evolves") by a completely different topic. For example, one of the recent Post Bag threads started out with "It seems from speaking to many locals that the english are now seen as extremely rich and looking to buy everything they can get their hands on and subsequently I suppose the french will push the property prices up even further to take advantage of this phenomenon." This lasted for a number of posts and has now turned into a general discussion on racism, with comments such as "its how we respond to rascism when we encounter it which defines how strongly we really feel. if we ignore it when a "friend" or that nice little old lady at the post-office makes a remark then things will never change". Before anyone bites my e-head off, I should make it clear that, by this, I am not saying that racism should never be discussed - far from it. I am simply using this as an example of how a thread can change. Stuart

We plan to take our dogs to France using Dover-Calais, either on the tunnel or by ferry (depending on the price at the time). However, we did have to take them with us when we went to Ireland a couple of years age - 3.5 hour crossing in pretty heavy seas. We were worried about them being nervous, so we gave them a few drops of Rescue Remedy, which is a herbal treatment freely available off-the-shelf from all larger chemists, such as Boots. It worked a treat and they had a better crossing than we did!! We also took them to the Isle of Man last year (3.5 hours again) with the Steam Packet company, who allow dogs to sit in the lounge areas with the owners. There was no trouble from any of the dogs either going or returning and it made the crossing much more relaxing for all of us. I lived in Greece for a number of years and dogs were allowed on the decks of all the Greek ferries. If Steam Packet and Greek ferries can manage this, why do the Channel companies make life so difficult? Mind you, I suppose we should be grateful that they let us use their services at all - after all, we are only there for the companies' convenience, aren't we?! Stuart

I need some technical advice please. It seems a bit of an expensive extravagance to have to buy a second Digibox for my potential French holiday home - especially when I don't intend to rent it. Does anyone know if there would be any problem with me taking my UK Digibox over with me, getting a dish installed for it and then just taking the Digibox back and forward every time I go over for a visit. By doing this, would I be able to get the full range of channels that my current card allows? Obviously, I will need to make sure that it is properly packed for the journey but, other than that, it would hopefully be the ideal solution. Has anyone else tried this - if so, how did you get on? Stuart