Truffleman

Just paid €33 per CV in Cahors, Lot (46) which on my eight and tree quarter year old Volvo V70 amounted to €330. Still cheaper than waiting and having to get UK, MOT, Road Tax and Insurance. Mind you the very nice man in the Prefecture told me that if I waited six weeks until the day after first UK registration, when the car would be over 9 years old, i.e. into its tenth year, the rate would be halved. Still couldn't wait so paid the extra and smiled and got my Carte Gris.

Our Police could make a fortune if they checked the EU lorries from outside UK for incorrectly adjusted headlights. Coming back at night up the M20 from the Tunnel the traffic heading the other way is positively dazzling, also lorry right dipping lights behind in the rear view mirror are not to pleasant. However if adjusting UK headlights by means of the thumbscrews to go from left dipping to right dipping (or vice versa) keep a record of the number of turns of the adjustment wheels if you want to avoid an MOT failure or paying the garage to re-adjust them. Use black insulating tape instead of the expensive sticky patches.

I would not use or trust an alarm (whatever the price) as the sole means of protection of a pool to save a small child. Even if the batteries worked and the alarm was going off, what difference will that make if no-one hears it. Who pays attention to car alarms. An approved fence and lockable gate designed to defeat a child upto 5 years old (I think that is the age) will stop unauthorised access by the same. An alarm will not. A security cover is far to heavy and difficult to take off and put back on after a quick dip. A fence will also stop animals, deer and boar in our area. Will your insurance company pay out for a new liner or heavy "bache" torn by a deer's hooves as it tries to get out? For those without I think it's case of biting the bullet and getting fenced.

Thanks for the reply, but that is my point, all my NI contributions were paid up to the maximum and I had the payment holiday from age 60 to 65 so that I will/should get the maximum State pension at 65. Thus as I have no contributions in the last three years it appears I am unable to get a E106. As a contributor to the French system for a couple of years I would have to pay 8% of my income after the allowance of about 600 euros. Alternatively as my wife is in receipt of her State pension, as she is over 60, I believe I could get her to get her E121 and I become her dependant with nothing to pay. Are my assumptions correct? I would of course have to pay my French Taxes on my income, savings, etc Very confusing.

Advice please. I am 63, retired, resident in UK and in receipt of a UK company pension, but thinking of re-locating to France. I spoke to Inland Revenue, Centre for Non-Residents who told me that although my NI contributions were fully paid up I was not entitled to a E106 as I had not made any contributions in the past two years. If I wanted to move to France I would have to take out private medical insurance.  I thought that private insurance was illegal in France.Is this correct? If so I guess that I'll have to wait a couple of years and pick up my E121. Truffleman

Pool Alarms are Ok if you intend and can remain within 20 seconds of the pool in order to hear the alarm, register it going off, get to the pool, jump in, retrieve the little darling(s) and then get out. More likely the object thrown into the pool, by the little darlings, will set the alarm off with the splash; still all that running will keep you fit, and a nervous wreck. But what will you do when you leave the property, to go shopping, to UK, etc? What can happen when no-one is there officially? Who will attend to the alarm calls? In the country, no fences; what will you do about a pool with just an alarm if a animal such as a deer gets in the pool? Ever looked closely at deers' feet, lovely knife edges to the hooves; make a lovely job of slicing up a pool liner. Will the insurance cover a new liner? Just an alarm, no pool cover, well now autumn is here, all those leaves sinking and rotting ready for you to spend cleaning it for the first week of your summer visit. Best idea, an AFNOR approved fence with child proof gate AND a security winter cover or 'Abri'. Expensive but not as expensive as a visit from an AFNOR inspector or, heaven forbid, another child drowning. Still one can always fill the pool in and visit the local 'piscine', save a lot of bother and expense if that is what one is attempting to achieve by just relying on an alarm.  

How many local airports are being built/developed? The Cahors/Lalbenque Aeroport between J58 on the A20 and the N20 has had an application from Ryanair being considered. ILS (Instrument Landing System) being tested prior to being a permanent installation. Plans afoot to extend the runway to 2100metres to allow A320's and similar sized aircraft, charter and military. Truffleman

Why use Speedferries. Forgive the following diatribe. Due to illness I had to cancel my Speedferries trip, phoned them on their O870 number and was told that I could have the booking "parked" until I could use it. Several long phone calls to 0870 on hold to try and get the booking activated, two e-mails with an auto response "that I could expect an answer in 3 days" without answers, I'm giving up. Why promise an answer and not give one is worse than just being ignored. Speedfrerries Customer Service does not warrant the word "service". I want a supplier with whom I can have a dialogue. P......d off, Truffleman

Hi everyone, I'm confused. Having read posts, other web pages and FAQ's concerned with this subject, I'm still confused with how E106's and E121's affect my wife and myself. To detail; I'm 62.5 years and my wife is the same and in receipt of her State Age Related Pension, I have an occupational pension. We have a house which we/I am renovating with assistance of local artisans. This entails me being there a considerable amount of time over the next two years or so. As I will be there for more than 6 months in a year I believe that I should get an E106 and register at the CPAM as my E111 is not technically valid and my annual multi-trip travel insurance limits me to 183 days per annum with no trip exceeding 35 days. Am I correct to think; 1) That if my wife obtains an E121 and registers with the CPAM that we are both covered under the French Health Service, ie. for 70% of the cost. 2) That if I take get my E106 now and register with the CPAM I will be covered under the French Health Service, ie. for 70% of the cost. 3) When I reach 65 and start to receive my OAP, get my E121 we both will be covered for 70% 4) As we want to keep a house in UK what effect will the above have on our Health entitlement when we are back in the UK. Worst case scenario, 6 months in each country. 5) With an E106/E121 will I have to contribute 8% of my existing Occupational Pension to the French system. 6) Finally with E121's and in receipt of UK State pensions will we have to contribute 8% to the French system. Failing definitive answers can anyone recommed a source/book that will give the answers before I go to Peter Owen at expathealth. Thanking you all in advance, a confused Truffleman.

I'm definitely miffed! BF Property Owners Club 2005 annual membership increase from £55 to £75, for France & Spain membership. But if I wanted to just get my membership to be for France only (£45 up from £40) , then I would have to join again,  with a new joining fee of £35!!!!!!! (£50 to register for France & Spain)  Why does it cost extra to register to for France & Spain as it does for France only on the same website? I'm not really interested in the answer. BF on the Western Channel crossings do not seem to be reacting to the price war out of Dover, but with P&O pulling out of Portsmouth, BF seem to be applying swingeing price increases across the board. With the price varying according to the time/load/booking factor it is impossible to find the base line fare. What was an enjoyable trip from Portsmouth, avoiding the drive to Dover and back down to join my usual route south has now become a viable alternative. So cheers to the Channel Tunnel, Speedferries, SeaFrance and P&O, you are all now worth using even it means an additional 300 miles and a possible extra overnight on the the road. Unless things change next year I am sure that I will be with many other BF Property Club members who will vote with their feet, well drive the extra mileage. My that feels better!!

Not yet, still putting together the full extent and cost of the works. Thanks for the interest.

Thanks for the response and the interest this post has generated. Although I didn't get all my answers thru' LF I did manage to do so through an Internet search. For anyone interested in the process check out http://riviera.angloinfo.com/information/1/buildplan.asp and its associated links. Good luck everyone. Rgds, Truffleman

Although the final existing house and extension will be under 170 sq. metres I used a local architect to prepare the drawings and dossier from my sketches. The fee seemed Ok for what I thought I was going to get, namely the scheme drawn up in the local vernacular style and the construction drawings in conformity to local requirements. Eventually I got the dossier and drawings based entirely on my sketches (no constructional drawings) to submit in my name and after a question on the colour of the pavings and pool, which I answered I have now received back from the Maire my Permis de Construire with 2 copies of the drawings. The PdC "est ACCORDE" with some expected conditions; As I can see a difference of opinion with the architect (he wants the balance of his fee and I want the constructional drawings) I am loathe to ask him for further advice or information. Can anyone throw some light on the following and so help me and others on the procedure following receipt of the PdC. The advice I require is: The project and materials to be in accordance with the drawings. OK no problems. External rendering to be the colour of the existing and local stone. OK no problem. "Une permission de voirie sera a soliciter aupres de Chef..." OK if this is for permission if I am altering the entrance from the road/highway (voirie). If not can someone explain, please? "Le dispoitif d'assainissement individuel devra etre conforme....." Drainage to conform to SPANC, OK, but does this mean that although I'm moving the kitchen I have to make an application to ensure that my septic tank system, installed in 2003 by the previous owner conforms? The construction will be taxed and I will be notified..." OK taxes and death are certainties. Assuming all the above is OK, but attached to the PdC are "Informations a Lire Attentivement", namely; "Droits des Tiers" Third Party rights. OK if this merely refers to existing 3rd party rights are unchanged by the PdC. "Duree de Validite" 2 years validity, extension notice etc. OK "Affichage" Notice of the Permis must be attached to the land during the duration of the works. OK. I've seen these Notices, presumably obtainable from the builders merchants. "Delais et Voies de Recours" The beneficiary of a decision has 2 Months to contest the conditions: in the event the Permis was refused, presumably? So as it was granted, no problems. "Assurance Dommages-Ouvrages"  The Maitre d'ouvrage, i.e. me, must, be starting work, apply for "les conditions prevue par les articles L.242-1 et suivants du code des assurances." Does this mean 3rd party insurance cover, etc.? Finally, 2 more questions; I have read/heard that an Objection can be made by a third party to the proposed extension within two months of the ACCORDE and any work I do before that will be at my own risk if the objection is upheld. Is this the case? Lastly. The architect has conflicting information of the drawings; windows shown as sliding on elevation and hinged on plan, roof lights and other windows omitted, terrace at the same level as the internal floor level, despite steps between, porch too small, etc. Should I resubmit the PdC application myself before work (and thus have another delay) or wait until after and submit with these corrections and other changes that will undoubtably crop up during the work? Any opinions? Sorry the above is so long, but if you know or have experience, advice and opinions greatly appreciated as the books only cover the submission of a PdC, not the nitty-gritty of what happens next. Thanks in advance, Truffleman        

The 5.5% TVA rate is fantastic. If I DIY I pay 19.6% TVA as part of the already high retail price in the Brico sheds. If I get an Artisan to do the work, he gets the materials at the best local trade rates, charges me material and labour both at 5.5% TVA, for which I also get a 10 year guarantee on the work. He recovers the 14.1% difference from the TVA authorities. I am currently have oak framed double glazing fitted and for an extra €120 I am getting them all fitted. I couldn't have hired the ladders and scaffold platform for that, let alone do the job on my own. This French Tax incentive should be adopted elsewhere in Europe, UK?, to encourage people to use real registered traders. If you use un-registered operatives in France you will still pay them whatever they charge for their labour and full price for materials including the 19.6% plus any applied "mark-up" and not have access to the State backed guarantee scheme.

Yes but with UK wiring, threaded thru' joists, stapled and plastered in, it is impossible to add any additional wiring without major problems. Now even more expensive with the necessary use of a Certified Electrician or having the work inspected by the local Building Inspector under UK Building Regulations. Same procedure in France (technically) but with the correct use of wires in "gaines" and the use of a proper "tir-fils" (a flexible reusable nylon draw wire, about €6 to €10)that is easily fed into the installed "gaine" and the wires attached and pulled through. Check on the cable capacity, number and size for the "gaine". Make sure no sharp wire ends can catch on the "gaine", I alwaysfold the wires back so that the rounded insulated wire(s) is/are facing the direction of "pull". The real problem I found with the French wiring is wiring up the Legrand double sockets; so fiddly with my fat fingers, the stiff 2.5mm wire, lack of space and the cold!!!! I'm now trying to thaw them out from the inside with a dwindling supply of Scotch. Cheers, everyone.

Just seen this post and question. If you have not solved the problem, one answer is to locate where the units will be fitted and fixing points and mark the wall. Cut through the plasterboard so that you can securely fix a timber to the stone or brick behind the plasterboard with the face of the timber either flush with the outer face of the plasterboard so that the unit can then be srewed to this timber. Or for a neater job, and in case you ever move the units, fix the timber upto the back of the plasterboard, refix the cut out piece of plasterboard with Gripfix or similar, fill the joint round to get a flush surface and hang the unit. Hope this helps you and/or others, rgds, Truffleman

I am reliably informed by MOH that by taking the skin with the fat off the pork (when you can get it) and then re-truss it if boned. Insert slivers or garlic before re-trussing into the meat. The flat piece of pork skin (singe the hairs if farm slaughtered) should be scored (use a Stanley knife on a good cutting board or you will score the worktop) or cut into half inch (sorry 12mm) wide strips and then salt and oil rubbed into the wounds. Roast separately from the pork on a trivet (so the fat drains off), do not let it get too brown, and you will have a lovely bit of crackling. Also works with duck skin - very soft texture. Too avoid the pork from drying out too much, put some water/white wine in the base of the roasting tin, meat on a trivet, cover with foil for half the cooking time. Juices make great gravy when the bulk of the fat drained off. Enjoy, Truffleman

I thought the price I was quoted for whole house CH plus HW including installation of oil tank, boiler with HW 'ballon' was expensive until I related it to UK costs or a replacement gas wall-hung boiler by British Gas. In UK I was so used to the price of bolting a gas boiler with a balanced flue on the wall and the etc. that when I added on the extra costs of what I was getting in France (with VAT at 5.5%) which included the oil tank and boiler foundations, flue from 'cave' to roof, etc., the Fench price  of €9000 by a SIRET registered plumber seemed very reasonable. Especiallly when I added on the negotiated freebies of replacing the CW supply pipe, concrete bases for the oil tank, boiler and the guarantee! Yes, I could do it my self for less, but at what cost. A breakdown in mid-winter is not what I fancy facing without a local plumber on hand. You get what you pay for, provided you check the prices!! and who's doing the work. Use local tradesmen and ask for references.