Ex Forum Admin
-
Posts
1,696 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by Ex Forum Admin
-
-
Check it out: www.photographymonthly.com
"New Photography Monthly Website is launched
Competition:
Upload your favourite travel image into the ‘travel competition’ gallery and you could be the lucky winner of a Nikon D90 kit, a Nikon COOLPIX P6000 or a signed copy of Travel Photography by Steve Davey. Photography Monthly, in association with Nikon and Footprint Books, will award these superb prizes to the photographers with images that have a tale to tell. Full details will be available on the new site from 16 February when the competition opens.Member Profiles:
Sign up as a member to create your own profile page, list your favourite photographers, kit you can’t live without, and the best photography-related sites and resources out there on the Web. This is your own personal space through which to communicate with other readers. Link to areas of the site such as the gallery and forum; learn new tricks or share a few of your trusted old favourites."
News and Reviews:
Drawing on insider knowledge and years of experience, we’ll bring you all the latest developments in the industry, from camera and lens releases to printers, scanners and imaging software improvements. We’ll inform you of new exhibitions to visit and tell you where to find the best photographic tuition; how to improve your shots both on location and from the comfort of your own home.
Gallery:
Take part in our community gallery by uploading your favourite pictures, and sharing constructive feedback to improve your skills. The gallery will offer you a place to showcase your best pictures while enabling you to learn from others. Divided into several categories you can tag your pictures and group them according to subject matter so you can easily search for inspiration.
Locations:
Want to know where to find great locations locally? Visit this section regularly if you want to find picturesque places to visit across the
photographic database.
Camera Finder:
Use this feature to help you track down the best product for your needs. Brought to you in association with Which Digital Camera, this unique search function will provide you with all the information you need to make the right choice – just enter your requirements and let Camera Finder do the rest. You’ll be provided with reviews and ratings on all the latest cameras, and details on where to find the best prices and deals.
The Magazine:
Here you can download exclusive digital photos so you can follow the tutorials published in the magazine every month step by step. You can learn more about the people behind Photography Monthly and find out how to get in touch with us. We’ll keep you up-to-date with news from the team and details about how to take advantage of the latest subscription deals and giveaways." -
Definition of an internet troll:
-
[quote user="KathyC"][quote user="David"]
I certainly take your point about the name Disabled in France, and I agree with what you say. Should this forum prefer, I would not have a problem with changing the name, but I suggest that the name should be all inclusive for people with any form of disability.
[/quote]
I don't have a problem with the board title although I think that "People with Disabilities" might have been better (sorry for being PC!). I just think that it's important that it doesn't get highjacked by any particular group with assumptions being made about the type of disability.
[/quote]
Forum section name has been changed, thanks.
-
You will find endless inspiration at The France Show 2009, with more than 160 exhibitors ready to answer your questions and along with your presence turn Earl’s Court into a place of French festivity - 9-11 Jan 2009.
With the show now fast approaching time is running out to claim FREE advance tickets: http://www.thefranceshow.com/pre-register.aspx
By booking before the 30 November 2008 you will save the £10 ticket price which will be in place from December 1, so why not tell a friend about this great offer.Features at the 2009 show include:
- Over 160 lifestyle and property exhibitors including selected regional tourism agencies.
- Live cooking demonstrations by top chefs, including Britain’s favourite French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
- 10 seminar theatres bringing you the best advice and information on food, wine (including wine-tasting), travel and property throughout France.
- A free mini-theatre with a large screen 35 seat cinema hosted by TV5Monde.
- Travel activity centre giving you inspired options on various means of travel and activities to involve yourself with in France. Including an area to play Boules!
- We’ve got some great new places for those wanting to eat including Novelli’s very own restaurant, ‘Le Bistro Novelli’.
- More entertainment including caricaturists and the popular Can Can dancers.
- Live music performances.
- And lots more seating for visitors to soak up the atmosphere.
Get your FREE tickets at www.thefranceshow.com. Here you will also find news on the latest attractions and promotions so log on now!
-
Expert advice and tips when driving abroad...
-
If you need help and advice on any gardening problem try 'ask the expert', where Andrew McIndoe, Deputy Managing Director of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, will answer questions emailed to him.
Click here to 'Ask the Expert'
-
Now in its 19th year, the France Calendar is a fantastic year-long reminder of the
It makes the perfect gift for French lovers or for yourself as a beautiful reminder of the
There is:
- Ample space for notes and reminders
- Days in French and English
- French school and public holidays, French fêtes and Saints’ days
- A forward pla
To view photos from the Calendar please visit www.francemag.com/calendar2009
FREE gift delivery service
Share the beauty of
To order your calendar visit www.subscription.co.uk/france/calendar/7925 or call 01858 438836 and quote code 7925.
Hurry whilst stocks last!
-
Hi there,
Are you keen to beat the credit crunch and rising food prices by being self sufficient?
Are you wanting are more independent way of life?
Are you pooling resources with your friends and family to achieve your dream?I'm working on a new documentary series for Channel 4 and am looking to find and then feature, an extended family or perhaps 2 different families, who have decided to pool resources in order to buy one dream property.
The idea being that things such as childcare, finances, working life and leisure time all become easier if they are shared. It also means people can live in an amazing house that they would otherwise not be able to afford on their own.
It seems that many people who are making this move are doing so in order to have a small holding to become self sufficient.
If this sounds like you and you are currently looking to buy, or have already found somewhere then I would love to hear from you.
To find out how a new Channel 4 series can offer assistance to people like you
Call Carl on 020 7153 0615 or email [email protected]
Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you soon,
Carl
-
Hi,
Anyone who has uploaded an ad will need to send an email back to say you are ready for it to go live, it's in the login details email (but at the end so you might have missed it) - email [email protected] with your name or email address you have used.
-
Looking into it.
-
Regarding Staffies, please read here:
Staffie Owners In France Heave Sigh Of Relief:
-
Hi,
The forum title has been changed for Search Engine reasons. I have to say I didn't realise that it would also have this effect on notifications.
I have shortened it...is this ok now?
-
Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate - FREE TICKETS
Friday 16th May - Sunday 18th May
Open 10am - 5pm daily
• Up to 75 French Property Exhibitors
• Legal and Financial advisors
• Free house buying seminars
• Removal companies
• Swimming pool installation companies
• Specialist French book stand
• Free admission
• Free parking
• Café / bar
Register for your FREE tickets today, visit:
http://www.fpeharrogate.com/ -
I know most of you are aware of potential scam emails but for those that are not sure please read the following:
Unfortunately due to the recent increase of online trading, there has been a rise in fraudulent communication with sellers/renters attempting to trick them into handing out confidential details.One of the most prominent scams targeted at sellers is the Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud or 419 Scam. There are many variations of this scam; however the most common type works in the following way
• The fraudster will contact the seller stating his/her interest in the property for let and request that the seller responds, often requesting a price or more details
• After the seller responds, the fraudster attempts to arrange a deal with the seller, where in the fraudster will send a certain amount of money (maybe as a deposit) and then request some of the money back. The seller then refunds the smaller amount of money while waiting for the original payment to go though. However the original payment from the fraudster falls though leaving the seller in a helpless situation.This scam normally occurs via emails. Common things to be aware of are spelling mistakes and poor use of language but not always.
Below are some examples of scam emails- "Hello, Am interestd in the house you have for let on website. Am very keen to book 10 weeks. Please contact immediatly using your own email, have funds wiaiting to book."
"Hello, I'm Lisa Delan From 14 layburn palace,peterlee,co-durham, UK. I have to contact you regarding my client who saw your ad of the property you posted for rent.My client has read the property details and he was glad that such beautiful property is still available for long term let,he will like to let the property.He appointed me to proceed with the transaction and he would like to know the firm price via E-mail to avoid complication. Do state out your firm price to proceed with the transaction."For further information please visit The Metropolitan Police Website.
-
In these articles I have discussed the two methods of Winterising a Pool: Passive and Active. The choice of which on you choose is up to you; they are both effective but for different reasons. It’s your choice, depending on your preference for the work involved, and temperature during winter, type of system, and you health requirements.
WINTERISING (PASSIVE)
- Water level – you can do nothing. Water level does not need to be adjusted for the sake of winter treatment in a
- Freezing will not normal damage your pool but to be sure put some empty bidons in the water under the cover to provide some expansion relief. I recommend that you do no put any water treatment in to prevent icing. Nor is it necessary to put anything more than your normal winter cover over it to excluded leaves and debris. (unless of course you have chosen an alarm as your security device- see other threads).
This is the same treatment for people with salt electrolysers.
- Sanitisation.
Its important from the point of view of sanitisation that you do not start this procedure until the water temperature is at or below 10degressC as Algae will not multiply at that temperature. So now that the water is at the right temperature, First and foremost balance the pH and the Alkalinity using pH minus and Bicarbonate of soda so that the range is pH 7.2-7.6, and TAC 80-130ppm. Use the photometer Scuba + for the best result. Then Choc the pool. This means that you should raise the chlorine levels to a
Clean the water line around the liner. I recommend Aqua clean as it’s a bio degradable product and will not add to the TDS (Total dissolved solids) but is still very effective against most liner stains (black and brown fungal deposits but not sun tan lotion). Using a scrubbing brush on a long handle, scrub the margelles with the pool water, at this time its super chlorinated and therefore good sanitisation media. Take care not to let the water you are using run back into the pool.
- Antialgae.
There are many winterising treatments on the market, I am not in favour of most of them as they add to TDS and cause terrible problems in chemical balance later on. Particularly those containing copper, (read the contents carefully) Benzene ammoniate , not great also. If the product you have purchased contains any of these elements then throw it away, as it will cause you far greater problems in the future than it cost to get another now. My personal preference is a Bio Anti-Algae which is not a poison but and enzyme which eats algae. Its not as straight forward as others, but worth the effort in my opinion but first you must let the chlorine levels go back to normal (1-2 ppm). Then take two satchels and dissolve in a bucket of warm water and introduce to the pool. This is ok to do later when the pool is dormant and water is not circulating and will be enough to inform any hardy algae who are not discouraged by cold water that this pool is not a place for them. Hence, using this regime, when you open your pool again in Spring, the water should not have suffered an increase in the TDS saturation.
Crystal Pool owners should then take out the Ladder by unscrewing the jubilee clips at the base clean the apparatus thoroughly including the filters dry them of and store in the garage for the winter. Likewise the pump. Then put a (clean) AFNOR approved winter/security cover in place and settle in for the long months till you can open up again.
If you do get a ‘greenie’ then contact us or look up the knowledge base on the Poolguy website for ideas on corrective measures.
PASSIVE WINTERISING WITH A SAND OR ZEL EAU FILTER AND SKIMMERS
As above
However you cannot take out your circulation equipment naturally, so you’ll need to block off and drain all of the Pipe work to prevent damage from any water inside freezing.
There are several ways of doing this, but the easiest is to discharge sufficient water so that the level is just below the lowest pipe hole (usually the return jet), which should be about 40 cm below the top of the pool. The Bottom drain will be still full of water but this is not a problem as it is underneath the pool and therefore insulated against dramatic temperature changes.
Another way of doing this if you don’t want to drain the water level is to block off all the pipe with expandable rubber bungs, and screw inserts called widgets for the skimmers. These prevent the pool water from entering the pipes when you have emptied them. Once they are all in place, close the valve for the bottom drain, and open all of the others and run the pump with the multivalve to waist until all the water is sucked out of the pipe work, this should only take a minute or two and watch that the pump is not under stress. If it appears to be sucking only air than turn it off. Usually the pump is housed in a structure, which should be sufficient to protect it from the frost, but if your pump and filter is in a fibreglass box outside then you should consider removing at least the pump for warmer storage.
In all cases though you should remove the drain plugs from the pump (usually two located at the bottom of the pump) and the filter to evacuate all the water, otherwise it will go rancid over the winter. Convention, with professional pool maintenance people suggests that the best place to store the screw bungs is in the basket of the prefilter of the pump to ensure that these are protected and not lost through the Winter as your system will not function without them.
If you have a Floating Security cover, then you are in the fortunate position but you should make sure that the cover is very clean with no debris or fungus between the Lambs. Then advance the cover and secure it using the tape at the roman end to ensure that the free end cannot be lifted at any time. If you have a barred cover or a security bash then, again make sure that it is clean before you put it on, and renew any of the bungies, which are strained or worn.
Once again I do NOT recommend using a commercial winterising fluid or anti-algae save the Bio antialgae which is not a poison but an enzyme. From a water quality stand point, you should preserve the purity of the water at all times, even in the winter.
If you have a JEP Control, or Chemigem pool controller and you wish to passively winterise then you will need to remove the probe from the screw housing and replace the white rubber boot over the sensors with a little fresh water inside (not full). The purpose of this is to keep the pH gel moist so that you get good readings when you replace it in Spring. Then wrap the whole sensor in several layers of bubble wrap for insulation.
If you have a solar array using any form of plastic tubing then you should drain the array well before the night begin to get to freezing otherwise the array will suffer damage very quickly. The only system which can work throughout the winter is the Navitron evacuated tube solar array or a heat pump but even they must be deactivated if the air temperature falls below zero.
ACTIVE WINTERIZING
This procedure is reserved for people with JEP Control/ Chemigem, other brands of pool controls, or in some cases for those who do not mind doing the ‘odd check’ throughout the winter months.
The principle is simple in that you keep up the sanitization regime as you would in summer, (you could drop the chlorine levels a bit as the pool is not in use to say 1ppm or 610millevolts ORP, but keep the pH at 7.2-7.4), however you just change the pump times on the clock to ensure that the water is circulating during the coldest part of the night throughout the winter months (say 15min every hour, from midnight till 6am). Make a note to check the drums of Javel and acid through the winter, say every month and change if necessary. If your doing it manually, you will need to test every month or so with a photometer Scuba+ and add pH minus or (diluted) javel as is necessary according to recommended levels.
You should clean your covers as mentioned before and ensure that all of the circulation equipment (skimmers etc) are white and clean, free of debris. If you have a floating security cover and a bash cover then it’s a good idea to add the two to prevent leaves from entering.
Using this method the pool water should never change from its clean and clear appearance.
SECURITY
NB. If you sole compliant security is an immersion alarm then you are obliged to leave your pool uncovered during this time.
If your bash is compliant with the AFNOR requirements on pool security then it should display somewhere the notation for Couvertures de sécurité et dispositifs d'accrochage (NF P90-308). If there is no lable then it is sure that the cover does not comply and you are liable if there is no other compliant security extant.
The best form of combination security and cover by far are the floating security covers because they do all the jobs in one piece of equipment and are easy to use and less of a struggle and the manual covers.
- Water level – you can do nothing. Water level does not need to be adjusted for the sake of winter treatment in a
-
The France Show 2008
Up to 30,000 people are expected to visit London’s Olympia for The France Show, the UK’s biggest celebration of French lifestyle and culture, which runs from January 18-20, 2008...
Free tickets at http://www.thefranceshow.com
-
With around 7,000 museums spread throughout France, it isn’t difficult to see how the French love showcasing their arts, hobbies, history, science, gastronomy and culture. Indeed, in Paris alone, there are more than 100 museums and some 500 historic monuments in and around the city.
Is you favourite among the 35 we mention on Francemag.com? Perhaps you know of another one that should make our top 100 museums?
-
Many thanks to Val D'Ouest for supplying this information
Getting married in France
Our daughter was married here in France this year (2007) and as there was a lot of paperwork and information-finding involved I thought it might be helpful to put down our experiences for the benefit of others. The notes below will probably be more useful for people in our situation – French residents, with a non-resident daughter from another EU country wishing to marry in France – than for those couples who already live here and want to marry where they have their home. If you wish to marry in the commune where you both already live then the paperwork and the logistics should be a lot simpler.
Who can get married in France?
Strictly speaking, either the bride or groom should be resident in the commune where the marriage is to take place for a period of not less than 40 days immediately before the wedding. Where it is the parents of either the bride or groom who are the residents, the interpretation of the residency requirement is up to the mayor of the commune. In our case the mayor decided that as we are full-time residents of several years standing, and our daughter has been a frequent visitor during that time, the marriage could go ahead. If the prospective bride or groom are non resident, or part-timers, then it would be wise to talk to your mayor at the very beginning to see how the land lies. If it looks as if there will be problems then it is always an option to have a civil ceremony in the UK, followed later by a religious service - if wished - and the reception in France.
What should you do first?
If possible the couple should visit the Mairie together to introduce themselves and to discuss the feasibility of being married there, and also to suggest possible dates. If you are wishing to use the Salle de Fêtes for the reception then check you won’t be clashing with the Hunt Dinner, the Téléthon or any other annual village event whose date is carved in stone. Also crosscheck all UK and French bank holidays so that you don’t choose, for example, Easter Saturday, unless you really mean to. You will be given a very helpful booklet which lists all the various items you will need and once you have agreed the date you can work out a timetable for assembling them all. It is unlikely that you will have to book the marriage months - or even years - in advance as you might have to do in the UK but it is as well to give family and friends as much notice as possible as they may like to arrange a holiday to include the wedding.
Tip! If you arrange the wedding for midweek – say a Tuesday – guests who wish can plan a holiday Saturday to Saturday and enjoy the wedding too. And those with less time to spare can take advantage of cheaper midweek fares.
What paperwork do you need?
According to the official booklet (Guide des futurs époux) from the Mairie, everyone getting married in France (ie both the bride and the groom) needs the following:
A copy of the Extrait d’ Acte de Naissance Intégral, dated no more than three months before the day of the wedding. If you were born in the UK this means a copy of the longer (full) version of your birth certificate*, obtainable from the Registrar in the town where your birth was registered, issued no more than three months before the marriage. You will need to attach to this a translation made by a ‘traducteur assermenté’ who will stamp it with his official stamps.
Tip! If you can, ask around for the name of a fairly local traducteur assermenté. This means you can send the traducteur a good scanned-in copy by e-mail to work from, and then show him the original when you collect the translations: this saves two journeys or having to put original documents in the mail.
A couple of Living France posters have pointed out that all official documentation (including birth certificates) should now be accepted by other countries within the EC without the need for translation. However, the days leading up to your wedding at the Mairie may perhaps not be the best time or place to make a stand on this issue.
- The chances of anyone having the same complication as we did is hopefully very slim. When my daughter applied for a full version of her birth certificate (for the first time as she had always used the shorter version) she hit a major problem. When her father had registered her birth (admittedly somewhat shell-shocked by the arrival of premature – and unexpected – twins) he was asked for ‘mother’s name’. He gave his mother’s name, so for 32 years our twins had been registered as their grandmother’s daughters! Trying to unravel this and put it right was a nightmare, especially with paperwork deadlines looming. I had to make a sworn declaration I had given birth to twins in 1974, my mother in law had to declare she had not, everyone’s birth and marriage certificates had to be produced and I was asked for proof of my name and circumstances in 1974 – hard to do, after 32 years and several house moves. Eventually a wonderful woman in the Records Office at the hospital where the girls were born found my records in a portacabin in the hospital grounds, awaiting secure disposal; copies were made and submitted with everything else to the Registrar and in due course, after jointly making another declaration witnessed by a notaire here in France, a corrected certificate was issued with just a day to spare!
Proof of identity. We supplied b&w copies (certified by a solicitor in the UK) of the relevant pages of both passports.
Attestation sur l’honneur. This is a form (two copies are in the booklet supplied) which the bride and groom each complete and sign to confirm that they are free to marry, and that one of them at least has been residing in the commune for the requisite time. The form asks for domicile (ie the place in the UK which is the usual address of the person signing) and residence (ie for one of them, the address in the commune for the period leading up to the wedding). It may also ask for proof of residence in the commune – a utility bill in the family name should be acceptable if the marriage has already been agreed in principle.
List of witnesses (temoins)
The bride and the groom should each choose witnesses – at least one each, but no more than two. They should enter the details (full names, dates of birth, profession - in French - and domicile) of each witness on the forms in the booklet, and should include a clear b&w photocopy of the relevant page of the passport of each witness.
Certificat prenuptial
This is the medical certificate which must be signed by a doctor no more than three months before the wedding; two copies are in the booklet. It certifies that he has checked the results of various blood tests and has given you advice appropriate to the results.
Tip! The tests themselves do not need to be done within the three months before the wedding (just the certificate) which means they can be done well ahead of time by a French laboratory if you ask for a prescription from your doctor in France. They can also be done by a private lab in the UK though this will probably cost you a great deal more.
It is worth reading the certificate in detail before you have the blood tests done as the instructions (and the tests required) do vary. Our French GP’s receptionist insisted that both parties would need tests for AIDS and syphilis as well as the blood group and rhesus factor tests, and that the bride would also need tests for immunity to rubella and toxiplasmosis. In fact, when we read the small print and pointed it out to the doctor, AIDS and syphilis tests were not required – all he was required to do was to advise the couple that they would be wise to consider whether testing would be prudent in their circumstances!
Reseignements a fournir a l’officier de l’etat civil
This is a long form containing all the information about the couple and their parents. It has to be completed in French so you need to find out the French equivalent of ‘beauty therapist’, ‘merchant banker’, ‘carpet fitter’ or whatever occupations have to be entered.
Marriage contract
If you wish your marriage to be formalised under a particular regime then you will need to have this drawn up by a notaire before the marriage. Otherwise it will by default be under Régime légal de la communauté (where money and belongings acquired after marriage are jointly owned).
In addition, non-French nationals may be asked for
Certificat de Célibat
This is simply a certificate saying that in the UK there is no such certificate, and may be printed off the British Embassy website for no charge.
Certificat de Coutume
This is stated in the booklet as being required though some people have not been asked for it. It is obtainable from the British Embassy in Paris (you need one each if neither of you is French) and has just gone up to €92 (plus the cost of recorded delivery out and back if you feel this is necessary). You can download the application form from the Embassy website, and certified copies of passports and birth certificates are acceptable. You can also apply via the Foreign Office if you are based in the UK – details are on the Embassy website.
Other documents
If you are divorced, widowed, a minor, in the services or have children who will be legitimised by the marriage then you will need to produce extra paperwork: it’s all set out in the booklet.
Calling the banns
Once your dossier is complete and handed over, the banns will be called and notice of the forthcoming marriage will be posted at the Mairie. The amount of time required for this seems to vary: we were nearly thrown because after a date was agreed for the handing over of the dossier (and the bridal couple had booked their flights from the UK accordingly) the secretary and the Maire at our tiny Mairie (only open Tuesday mornings) discovered that they would both be away on that date and for the ten days following, which meant there would not be enough time for the bans to be posted. At least six weeks seems to be required as a general rule but best to ask your own Mairie, and also check what holidays fall between then and the wedding in case that makes a difference.
Just before the wedding
The mayor will probably want to run through the ceremony with the bride and groom before the Big Day, along with the translator if you are having one. We were asked if we wanted music and opted to bring along a CD player and speakers so that something suitable could be played during the period between the arrival of the bride and the start of the ceremony, and afterwards as the newlyweds left the Mairie. The couple also asked if they could exchange rings and so this was incorporated into the end of the ceremony. The mayor suggested that if there were any young children in the family they might like to act as ring bearers, so the groom’s little niece and nephew were recruited to carry a ring apiece, firmly attached to a ring cushion.
The wedding ceremony
The civil marriage ceremony is quite simple and straightforward. It must be completed before any religious wedding service is conducted, and is the only way a marriage in France is recognised as legal.
Traditionally in our part of France, the bride’s family and the groom’s family will host pre-wedding parties separately in their own homes, with wine and savouries on offer. The bridegroom then goes from his home to the bride’s home to collect her, and they arrive together at the Mairie. However, since the bridegroom in our case hailed from Yorkshire and his family were staying in a chalet park a few miles away we dispensed with that bit, and our daughter was driven by her father to the Mairie (in his vintage car, suitably decorated for the occasion) where the groom awaited her. But whether the couple arrive together or separately there seems to follow a few minutes of informal chatting with the guests and then some photographs until the ceremony is due to begin. The couple, their parents and the witnesses proceed into the Mairie – in our case into the Council Chamber – where they are seated in front of the Mayor’s desk. Family and friends file in and stand round the room as best they can, the principals are asked to stand, and the ceremony begins. Our friend who acted as translator repeated in English everything spoken by the Mayor in French, paragraph by paragraph. The only words spoken by the bride and groom were ‘Oui’ in response to the question whether they would take each other as husband and wife (and ‘Yes’ in response to the English version of the question). It was all over in about ten minutes, rings were exchanged, and then we all signed the register. I was surprised to find that I – and the mother of the groom - were listed under our maiden names on all paperwork but we were assured we should nevertheless sign the register with our usual signature.
The bride and groom then emerged into the sunshine to a cloud of bubbles which were blown from little containers of soap solution as an environmentally friendly alternative to confetti. We had dispensed with an official photographer but when one is used in France this often means huge group shots, a bit like school photographs, with absolutely everyone placed in rows and recorded for posterity - as well, of course, as the usual pictures of the happy couple.
Another French tradition we dispensed with was the motor cavalcade around the commune with horns blaring and ribbons trailing. In our area this happens just after the ceremony and then again as the wedding feast ends at around 6.00 am the following morning.
Post-wedding paperwork
On leaving the Mairie after the ceremony, the couple were presented with a Livre de Famille in which their wedding was recorded and space was allotted to enter the births of at least eight children of the marriage. They were also given a photocopy of the Acte de Mariage as it was entered in the Commune Register, complete with all the original seals and official signatures: this is in fact the legal equivalent of the Marriage Certificate. The Bulletin de Mariage, which is a one-page official-type document looking far more like a ‘proper’ marriage certificate, is actually only issued for handing over to the priest to prove the civil marriage has taken place and he can therefore proceed with the religious service.
Tip! However, if you aren’t having a church service, then this Bulletin - with a certified translation attached – is usually readily accepted as evidence of marriage by banks, building societies etc in the UK. In fact even a copy of it, certified by a solicitor, is normally acceptable with the translation.
If you wish your marriage to be registered in the UK (not essential but it means you can in the future obtain additional copies of your certificate from the Central Registry in Southport rather than going back to the Mairie which issued the original) then you will have to ask your Mairie to complete a Formule pluralingue d’extrait de l’acte de mariage. This simply enters the dates, names etc into a series of boxes which are keyed to translations in several languages and removes the need for any extra translation. The British Embassy in Paris assured me that most Mairies had copies of the form but if not then they could photocopy it from Instruction générale relative à l'état civil which is every Mairie’s instruction handbook. Our Mairie had no forms and no copy of this book but with all the details provided they were able to trace the form and have it faxed from another bigger Mairie.
This form is then sent (by you, not the Mairie) to Paris with a French cheque for €53, a photocopy of the passport of whichever of the couple is applying for registration, and a covering letter including the address to which notification of registration should be sent. It is possible to process this form via the Foreign Office but as they send the whole thing back to the British Embassy there is little point; they also require more supporting documentation. Eventually the form should reach the General Registry at Southport and when they have registered the details they will inform the applicant that this has been done; they retain on file all the documentation they have been sent. From then on you can apply to Southport for a copy of your marriage certificate just as if you had been married in the UK, but what you will get is a photocopy of the pluralingual form, stamped and authenticated by the General Registry, which should be as acceptable as a UK certificate. If you cannot get a copy of this form from your Mairie then it is possible to send the Acte de Mariage (the one you were issued with, not a certified copy) to the Embassy with a full certified translation, and the fee. This means that if you apply to Southport in later years for a copy of your marriage certificate you will get authenticated copies of the 2 pages of the Acte, plus 2 pages of translations, not the most convenient thing to carry around, and you will have had to pay for the translation, so hold out for the pluralingual form if you can.
Other tips!
As you are likely to be having guests attending from far and wide, a website is invaluable. Clever people can probably set up their own from scratch but for those who haven’t the skill or the time I can heartily recommend www.wedquarters.com which allows complete novices like me to put together an attractive and useful website with comparatively little effort. I included info on travel and accommodation options as well as something about the area. The company is based in Canada and it costs $30 for a package including the design framework (lots of choice from quietly cool to really naff) and a year’s hosting, which means you can put a selection of the wedding photos on too.
If you have dealings with any official body, in the UK or in particular at the British Embassy in Paris, you may have trouble getting a response at busy times. If you are put through to someone who is knowledgeable and helpful ask for their extension number which can usually be dialled direct, avoiding the busy switchboard another time.
Once you have set the date, sending out Save the Date cards to those people you really want to be there is sensible, so they can set aside the necessary holiday time.
If you are working to a budget, making your own invitations, menu cards and place name cards is not hard to do. A great place to start is www.weddingcrafter.co.uk which has an excellent choice of materials and plenty of ideas.
If you live in rural France try to remember that you came here because you liked the slow pace of life and the refusal to rush. Especially when you are arranging the reception and everyone seems to think that discussing things in detail more than three months in advance is totally mad, and when no-one seems to want to accept a deposit for anything, which would at least make you feel more secure. You just have to escape from the British mindset and go with the flow – or have a nervous breakdown!
One great feature of French wedding receptions is that they do not usually involve speeches. We compromised – the father of the bride and the groom both said a few words, the couple’s health was drunk, and that was that. There is no official ‘best man’ in the UK sense. Unless you really like wedding speeches, this is the perfect excuse to dispense with the tradition.
After much discussion we decided to have a French-style wedding cake instead of the traditional tiered and iced English fruitcake. This was a pièce montée – a tall pyramid of choux pastry balls filled with chocolate (or vanilla, or coffee) cream, held together with nougatine and decorated with the couple’s names in icing. It was made by the local patisserie and delivered straight to the Salle de Fêtes during the celebrations; the couple cut it at the end of the meal and it was served (2 choux per guest) with the raspberry mousse which was our dessert. It is worth asking around for estimates – which are usually per choux. We were given estimates ranging from 0.45 cents to €2 per choux.
We decided early on that this was to be a really informal wedding and that the Salle de Fêtes (village hall) next door to the Mairie would be used for the reception. Like most Salles de Fêtes it was not strong on ambience and needed a lot of input to make it attractive and welcoming. It makes life easier if you start early with ideas, working to a colour scheme, so that you can assemble whatever you need – in our case hundreds of blue and silver balloons, banners (in French and English) and streamers. As the room had one very grotty wall, some good friends managed to disguise this totally with 20-foot fronds of bamboo cut from their garden and arranged in pots (empty paint tins covered in foil) filled with stones. The final effect was magical – so successful that it was used for the commune Fête events later in the summer.
Another great French idea – the Vin d’honneur! This is a drinks and snacks event which follows the wedding ceremony and means you can invite more people, especially those living locally, to enjoy the occasion and some hospitality afterwards without having to stretch the guest list for the evening meal. Our wedding was at 5pm and by 5.45 everyone was tucking in to champagne and savouries under a giant awning between the Mairie and the Salle de Fêtes. This went on until 7.15pm or so when the Vin d’honneur guests drifted away and the others went inside ready for the meal. I was worried that there might be some confusion and that the Vin d’honneur people might not realise they were not invited to the whole thing but it is a common practice in France and I found the appropriate wording for their version of the invitations on an internet website, Putting a time slot (wedding at 5, Vin d’honneur 5.30 until 7.00) removed any remaining ambiguity.
In rural France it is quite common for the clients of the traiteur (caterer) to provide some of the ingredients for the meal – they are often farmers of course. So if you receive sample estimates from previous events look carefully to see just who supplied what. I thought the menu was incredible value until I realised the client in question had supplied all the chickens for the meal (which the traiteur had then prepared) , the cheese, and the salad. It was nevertheless excellent value but still to be added in were separate costs for the table linen, hire of staff, rental of an extra fridge et etc. And the traiteur suggested we provide all the wine so he didn’t have to add on 19.4% TVA.
It may not be the case in every Salle de Fêtes but we had to provide all the requisites for the loos – toilet paper, paper towels, soap etc and clean the entire premises the following morning.
Hiring a bus or minibuses to take your guests to and from the celebrations will be much appreciated and prevent anyone being tempted to drive after having too much to drink.
If you have any specific questions, I’ll be pleased to help if I can. Please post under the forum below in the first instance.
- The chances of anyone having the same complication as we did is hopefully very slim. When my daughter applied for a full version of her birth certificate (for the first time as she had always used the shorter version) she hit a major problem. When her father had registered her birth (admittedly somewhat shell-shocked by the arrival of premature – and unexpected – twins) he was asked for ‘mother’s name’. He gave his mother’s name, so for 32 years our twins had been registered as their grandmother’s daughters! Trying to unravel this and put it right was a nightmare, especially with paperwork deadlines looming. I had to make a sworn declaration I had given birth to twins in 1974, my mother in law had to declare she had not, everyone’s birth and marriage certificates had to be produced and I was asked for proof of my name and circumstances in 1974 – hard to do, after 32 years and several house moves. Eventually a wonderful woman in the Records Office at the hospital where the girls were born found my records in a portacabin in the hospital grounds, awaiting secure disposal; copies were made and submitted with everything else to the Registrar and in due course, after jointly making another declaration witnessed by a notaire here in France, a corrected certificate was issued with just a day to spare!
-
If anyone is using a duplicate login due to the server issues, could you email me your original email login address and I will sort out a new password for you.
Thanks
-
Out-dated equipment never goes wrong...it's the brand new stuff that always has problems.[:)]
-
The login issue should now be fixed. Websites are still rather unstable.
-
The login issue should now be fixed. Websites are still rather unstable.
-
Server Issues are causing page load problems. A number of Archant's sites are down at the moment as they are hosted on the same server.
IS are aware of the problem and are working on fixing...
-
IS department are aware of the logging out issue and are working on it. It seemed to start happening after migration to .net 2.0.
James
French Property Exhibition - Harrogate, 15-17 May 2009
in Finding/Owning French Property
Posted
Yorkshire Event Centre, HARROGATE, 15-17 MAY 2009
You’re invited to celebrate 20 years of French Property News and find your dream home.
Admission is FREE
For more information and to register for your FREE tickets visit http://www.fpeharrogate.com
15-17 MAY 2009
Open daily 10am – 5pm
5 reasons to visit the Harrogate exhibition
1 Hundreds of properties throughout France
2 Meet the agents and find your dream property
3 Free expert advice from professionals in finance, law and removals
4 Free seminars on buying property in, moving to and living in France sponsored by Currencies Direct
5 Free on-site parking