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sturrdave

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  1. Once again, thanks to you all for taking the time and trouble to respond.  I will definitely visit the area in November/December to see for myself what the weather`s like!   Sturrdave
  2. Many thanks for all your replies.  So OK, it doesn`t go from autumn to spring!  But would it be fair to say that in general, winter is fairly short and mild? Basically, as a pensioner, I`m looking for somewhere to live, which has a relatively short, mild winter, so I don`t have to spend a big chunk of my pension on utilities. Or am I looking at the wrong part of France? Thanks again for all your help   Sturrdave
  3. I`ve seen an estate agent ad, which claims that the south Charente Maritime has no real winter, and the year goes from Spring to Summer, to Autumn, and back to Spring. Can anyone who lives there, please confirm if this is true? And if so, exactly where is the SOUTH Charente Maritime, as opposed to the rest? Thanks in advance for your input.   Sturrdave
  4. I think you`ll find that if you leave the aspect ratio switch at 4:3, everything will take care of itself.  Most programmes are still transmitted in the standard 4:3 format, but when a widescreen (16:9) programme is transmitted, the broadcaster also transmits a signal to tell widescreen receivers to switch to 16:9 format.  When the next 4:3 programme comes on, the broadcaster switches off the signal again, and the widescreen TV will automatically return to 4:3 format.  Sometimes it takes a second or two for the automatic switching to take place. It doesn`t work the other way round!  If you`ve set your receiver up as 16:9, everything will be stretched out to 16:9, even when it`s really a 4:3 signal being transmitted. Good luck,   sturrdave
  5. sturrdave

    CPAM Again

    Make sure they correct your father`s name at the same time, or off you go again.....! Best of luck
  6. I`ve joined this thread rather late, but looking at Cicero`s original post I get the impression that he just requested the local TV dealer to install an aerial and dish, a digital receiver, and a TV.  If so, the dish is almost certainly pointed at 19.2 degrees E, the usual source for French TV channels. It seems to me that no amount of re-booting/retuning etc., is going to have any effect, as the BBC channels are transmitted from 28.2 degrees E, whereas the installer will have aimed the dish at 19.2 degrees E, where most of the French TV channels are! Surely what`s required is either another dish aimed at the correct satellite, or a second,  offset LNB on the original dish, to pick up the signal from 28.2 degrees E..  I don`t know whether a second LNB can cope with a signal 9 degrees away from the original setting of the dish, but maybe if the dish is realigned slightly to around 23 or 24 degrees E ? ? ?
  7. I`ve heard horror stories of French banks charging for everything from direct debits, to credit cards, to accessing accounts on the web, to monthly charges for having access to your own money ! ! ! Does anyone know of a French bank which comes near to giving free banking? Why do the French put up with banks having the use of their hard-earned cash to make all kinds of investments and profits, and then having the cheek to charge for the privilege?   Sturrdave
  8. Ah!  Kunzle cakes.......Biting into that thick outer layer of chocolate, and then sucking that lovely squishy inner cream into my mouth....  Older memories still :  ....The milkman arriving on his little horse and cart, with several churns of milk, and visiting every house in the street with a wooden yoke over his shoulders, with two churns suspended from it, and carrying a metal 1 pint measuring jug, which was used to fill a jug/jugs at each house. ....The day sweets came off ration after the war, and with sixpence I bought a Mars bar, jelly babies, some toffees and some liquorice sticks, and ate them greedily - with the result that  an hour or two later I was very sick. ....Streets almost empty of traffic, apart from the occasional horse and cart making a delivery.  The only cars in the town belonged to the Doctor, the Vicar, the coal merchant and the local squire.  The occasional steam-powered lorry passing through. Those were the days !
  9. It`s interesting that so few people are prepared to give a categorical reply. I`m from a generation that was brought up to believe that the law MUST be obeyed!  So as far as I`m concerned, if the law is being flouted I would inform.   sturrdave
  10. Sorry if this has been covered before, but I can`t find any reference to it.  I`d be grateful if anyone can throw any light on my following dilemma: I`m hoping to purchase a French property within the next six months, and will do so using my savings.  While the property is being painted/decorated/refurbished, I will continue to live in my home in the UK. Once the French home is ready, I will move, and will have my UK property tittivated prior to sale. If I become officially resident in France, before the sale of my UK property, will I become liable to pay CGT on the UK sale?  If I do, which tax authority will require payment - UK or France? Thanks in advance for any comments.   sturrdave
  11. Thanks Barrym. I took a look at the website, and was able to get the gist of it, but I didn`t see any mention of chequebooks. Does the on-line Axa account come with a chequebook? Thanks again. Best regards   sturrdave
  12. I`ve see here, horror stories of French banks charging for everything from direct debits, to credit cards, to accessing accounts on the web, to monthly charges for having access to your money ! ! ! Does anyone know of a French bank which comes near to giving free banking? Thanks in advance for any help you can give. sturrdave
  13. Many thanks to all above for your very helpful remarks. sturrdave
  14. I`m a newbie, and wondering if anyone can answer this query? I`m hoping to buy a French property within the next 6 to 8 months, but obviously I`ll need a French bank account in order to pay a large sum to the notaire, upon agreeing to purchase a property. However, as I understand it, in order to open an account, I will need (amongst other things) either a utilities bill (which I won`t have!), or a document from the notaire saying I have purchased a property.  In other words, I can`t open an account in advance. My concern is that : a) I would have to wander around with 10% of the house cost on my person.                             b) The delay in opening the French account would exceed the period allowed                                 for payment of the remaining 90%. Are my fears justified? Hope someone can help.  Thanks in advance.   sturrdave
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