timc17

Having read all of the above i am amazed by how many artisans have asked for money up front. I can understand asking for a deposit to pay for materials etc but not for labour as in Nick's case. We spent approx 90000 euros with local tradesmen renovationg our house but not one asked for any payment in advance. We've obviously been very lucky.

Miki is spot-on. Our eldest was 14 when we came here (under protest) last year. She is settled , fluent , has lots of friends and a steady boyfriend BUT can't wait to go back when she's 18/19 for Uni. If we'd let her she'd move back next year to do A-levels even though it would mean her being at boarding school and away from the family. Our youngest (now 10) is the total opposite. He's so much happier here compared to the UK. Most people on this forum agree that the earlier kids come here the better they will adapt and that has certainly been our experience.   Tim. 

David, Thanks for the reply but i'm actually trying to recruit new players to the club rather than play matches against other teams.

Nick, One reason why he might not want to start is the weather. This is not really the right time of  year to 'hack out' and re-point. He might even make you wait until next spring when dry weather is more predictable.  

Excellent clear answer , thanks Jon. I'm hoping that having four children will mean my income tax  will be virtually zero.

Will, Are you really saying you lose 46% of your gross turnover in cotisations and then get taxed on the balance? I thought there were allowances before cotisations were deducted.

Is there anyone interested in playing badminton at a friendly club near to St Jean D'Angely in dept 17?     Tim.

Will, With my 'thicky' hat on why do you keep quoting  46% as the average cotisations? Does this include income tax?   Tim.

Well this has totally confused me (although i'm a bit of a thicky anyway). I'm having to register as a micro-bic in the new year and was pleased with the news that from 2007 things will be simplified and the deductions reduced. Now having read all the posts here i don't know what to think. If anyone has a definitive answer could this be posted as a sticky please?  

First question - do you live and run a business in France?

Until people are educated  to think that taking drugs and binge drinking is not cool and trendy then the situation will only get worse regardless of how many CCTV cameras are installed on Britain's streets. Instead of spending billions on CCTV , a  DNA database and ID cards why not use the money to prevent crime rather than just record it and jail the offenders.

Dick, I only pointed out a consequence of increased surveillance. I followed this by saying i welcome catching more criminals and advocate stricter punishments. Please can you explain how the BBC were able to obtain the names and addresses of convicted child killers/molesters out on probation for a recent Panorama. You don't think someone in the Probation Service leaked the information do you? Living in France i'm not a UK taxpayer so don't really care about increases in taxation.    

[quote user="Dick Smith"][quote user="timc17"] Increasing the numbers of CCTV cameras together with a DNA database and ID cards will lead to a huge increase in the prison population which is already one of the highest in Europe. The DNA database is the one that worries me the most. Insurance companies will somehow end up with a copy and will use it to either refuse cover or load possible high-risk people.   [/quote] Sorry, Timc, this just isn't logical. So you are saying that we, effectively, shouldn't be trying to catch so many criminals? What if we have a higher number of criminals than other European countries - have you considered that? Which criminals should we try not to catch? Which victims of crime will we ignore? Do you often worry that things will 'somehow' happen? Or do you have any real reasons for supposing this DNA transfer will happen? [/quote] Dick, I'm not worried about more criminals being caught. If it was up to me i'd bring back the death penalty. The prison service can't cope now so what will happen is:  Some crimes will not result in a prison sentence. Things like petty theft , drink-driving etc. or  More prisons will be built - up go your taxes. With regards to the DNA database can you guarantee that this won't find it's way to the insurance co's?

Increasing the numbers of CCTV cameras together with a DNA database and ID cards will lead to a huge increase in the prison population which is already one of the highest in Europe. The DNA database is the one that worries me the most. Insurance companies will somehow end up with a copy and will use it to either refuse cover or load possible high-risk people.  

Cat, Might have seen you at the Samson - i was a regular from 1977 onwards. It changed it's name years back and i think is now closed. Zac's now have two thriving resaurants in Norwich.     Tim.

[quote user="Jon D"]My brother went out with Bernard Matthews' daughter for a short while. She takes after her dad. [/quote] Which one? Kathy or Vicky? I  used to hang around with his kids when i was a teenager in Norfolk.  

It's not just advertisers who use this method. A few month's back two Brits peddling The Watchtower appeared at our gate. When i asked how they found us they said they trawled the phone directory looking for English sounding names.

[quote user="Deimos"][quote user="timc17"] Alan, Can i have your secret please. We have four children but no mortgage and can just survive on around 2k a month.   [/quote] Alan said a lot less that 2k per month AFTER PAYING BILLS. By the time you take out mortgage, food bills, car bills, tax bills, insurance bills, electric bills, etc. the bills are pretty much everything so 2k per months AFTER BILLS is a lot. timc17, is your 2K per month after bills or total amount per month (incl everything) ? Ian[/quote] Ian, The 2k is the total per month. This leaves us very little for going out or trips back to the UK.   Tim.

Alan, Can i have your secret please. We have four children but no mortgage and can just survive on around 2k a month.  

You are stark staring bonkers!! A family of four will need an income of around 2000 euros a month to survive assuming you've got no mortgage and jobs are very hard to find unless you have a transferable skill or trade. Sorry to be so gloom and doom.     Tim.

They have buses here? I've seen plenty of bus stops but never a bus.

The game is actually at 5.15pm local time. I'm also not aware of anybody here who regularly goes to games.   Tim.

Depending on the day of travel the Norwich to Bordeaux arrival time is perfect for lunch at Ikea. Two hot dogs and a coffee for less than two euros - bargain.

Food - Has to be a curry. Prawn Puri followed by Chicken Jalfrezi with Pilau rice , Mushroom Bahji and Sag Aloo - all washed down with any house red.   Drink - A good Bordeaux.

I actually want Germany to win because out of the four they are the only ones not to have cheated to get this far. Also for the german people who have been very friendly and welcoming  to everyone. One thing that does amaze me is the apparent lack of public interest for France. No flags from cars or in shop windows - nothing.     Tim.