[What are French schools really like?]

You will probably get better weather here. You will probably get a better health service............ schools???????Well I do not know how bad your childs dyslexia is........ but I am telling you straight, I would never ever move here with a dyslexic child. We have friends who had their family a couple of years ago, there is dyslexia in the family in the UK, but I have told them that they only thing that I can recommend is that at the first sign of such a thing, they practically flee this country.

The main dyslexia research unit in France is at the IUFM in Grenoble. I actually know one of the research team. A couple of years ago I rang them on a fairly regular basis...... to say I was desparate is an understatement. The secretary used to always say, 'you are not alone'........I was probably crying one day when I asked exactly what they could do to help my son......and she said 'nous sommes impuissant!!!!!!' and for the moment that is what they are.

There are many french families who move to Canada, because there are things for dyslexics in Canada.

A surgeon from the main hospital in Bordeaux had to take his son to Belgium because there was nothing available in France.

I could go on and on and on.........

So personally I believe that it is the worst possible thing you could do to move to France.

[email protected]

If you e-mail me I will send you a copy of a letter I sent to the research people......

[Testing]

testing

[Testing]

Just seeing if this will work....... please see the thread in the Post Bag.

[Can I reclaim psy bills?]

Psychiatrists are reimbursed, psychologists are not. There are centres with 'free' psychiatrists and psychologists for children, you would probably need to get your GP or Pediat to refer you. They are called something like Centre Psycho-Medicale.

A psychologist could bankrupt you. If the psychiatrists charge over the amount agreed by the Secu, you will have to pay that difference as you would with any doctor that 'over charges'.

[neighbour's fosse septique]

I would go to your local Mairie and ask about all planning permission rules and regs concerning fosse septiques, the law should be quite strict these days. And he can't let it just run off either.

Incidentally a fosse septique that has been properly built and is used properly should not create any problems at all.

[BOUGHT TOO CHEAPLY?]

A ......... cheek isn't it.

Forget it, but if you are chatting with other neighbours I would be subtle, but not at all shy about the faults encountered in the house and how much you have paid on re-doing it during the last three years.

[childrens health]

Childrens health care is not free in France.

There are rules concerning orthodentistry, you need to check with your CPAM, and your mutuallist otherwise this could be a costly business.

[Mammograms]

I would always go and see my ob/gyn first. If I need a mammogram I would need a smear test too and general checkup. And I just wouldn't go to my GP for these services.

[minor ops]

I don't believe that the E111 works for exsisting medical conditions. And frankly I hope that it doesn't. I dread to think how the already strained system here would hold out if there was an influx of people from the UK sapping the services.

You could go and see any doctor here but how much it would cost I have no idea.

[phone codes again: Coco?]

LAST EDITED ON 02-Oct-01 AT 08:07 PM (GMT)

If you don't want the person you are calling to know your phone number, dial 3651 before the rest of the number.