Busy Bee

Fantastic idea! Coach number's 1 & 18 on the Eurostar are the family carriages - I was really pleased to see this when I reserved a seat for myself and my 3 year old to visit the UK, so I requested it specially.  Sounded great, smaller carriage that is separate for the rest of the train, half folding tables so more space for children to move round, close to toilets etc, how wonderful to know that we would would be with other families that appreciate that even for well behaved toddlers, 8 hours on a train is a long time. Hmm, we were the only family in the carriage, with every single seat taken by old 'Meldrews' hoping for a quiet, peaceful journey.  It was a nightmare, I'm not the most child friendly person myself so every time my child wriggled, moaned and clashed legs with the people opposite, I nearly died so we went for a walk and found empty seats in practically every carriage except ours.  It appears that all the special offer seats are allocated straight to these 2 carriages and so they are always full, not full of families but full of budget travellers. On the return, I spoke to the train manager who upgraded us to the next class and we had an absolutely lovely journey away from scowling faces.  So, if your tickets say you are booked in coach 1 or 18, ask for a different seat at check in and then we'll all be happy.[:D]

Regarding your question, I have tiled many bathroom floors on top of the existing boards. It is of the utmost importance that the old boards are fixed very firmly indeed, to stop any undue movement, predrill and countersink all screws, do not nail. Remove all existing varnish/wax and sand thoroughly with rough grit sandpaper to provide a key for the primer. I would thoroughly recommend the use of the kits that are available e.g from weber brutin, this will prime and seal your floor completely so as to not allow any moisture to pass through to the boards below and cause swelling/movement. The kit includes a primer coat, ruberised finish coat and normally 5meters of band to be used in all corners and pipework. This is normally no where near enough but extra rolls are available to buy independantly. It is expensive but will give you complete peace of mind. Use only flexible adhesive that can be used for internal AND external tiling. DO NOT use cheap products go for a well known brand e.g Weber Brutin or Parex-Lanko. If in doubt ask your local depot. They will give you a product that will be specifically designed for your needs. Do NOT leave the tile spacers inbetween the tiles, use the spacers on their end then remove after 24hours. This will allow the maximum amount of grout around the edges of the tiles. The grout must be of the flexible type also. If you are at all unsure about excessive "give "in the floorboards then use a primer then  mesh and self levelling screed (usually 2-3 mm) after sanding then use the sealing kits. Not knowing how thick your natural stone tiles are I can only suggest the use of a Barre Suisse, this is a wooden threshold strip of timber usually hardwood that will coverthe meeting point  between the existing floor and new floor. Good luck, and dont skimp on the quality of the materials.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to place adverts until you are registered!  So you can't advertise to judge demand and you can't advertise to let people know that you will shortly be offering a service in a certain area.  Typical French legislation![6]

Hi Abi, Your baby will only be covered by your Carte Vitale if you have completed the relevant forms that CPAM should have sent you when you first declared your pregnancy.  Until then, pay everything and keep the brown feuille de soins and send them for reimbursement when you receive your attestation from CPAM. With regards to the Mutuelle, we have them for our 2 little ones, children, generally receive the same reimbursement from CPAM as adults so a top up is probably needed.  Surprisingly not even all the vaccines are 100% and some are not covered at all, eg meningitus. Hope little one is thriving now, I had same difficulty with my first - switching to formula worked wonders! All the best.

Reading these posts makes me curious about the type of people that use the Forum and why.  Does anyone know (roughly) if most people are retired, have children, second home owners, employed, self employed, married to locals etc. Does this have an effect on whether people would want to move or return to the UK?   Haveing worked in the travel industry most of my life, I decided in my 30's to settle in France as it was my favourite out of all the countries I had lived and worked in (including the UK).  Now married, with 2 small children and gainfully employed (french job), I would not contemplate going to live in the UK.  France has it's downfalls, but on the whole, I like it better here and it is my home, for better or worse.  It is interesting to know why people move or leave here - my reason for using the forum is I miss the ease of chatting in my own language and debating points of view with others - with cultural differences it is not so straight forward. I wish you all the best Fi and hope you find what you are looking for.[:)]

Having been resident in that region for several years - I would say you would be welcomed with open arms by the non-french speaking population.  I have a good level of spoken french but still can not be as precise as I would like to with things of the utmost importance, for example medically. Foreigners now account for 20 percent of Chamonix area residents and more of them speak English than French.  I never ceased to be amazed by the lack of spoken french, by people who live in the region year round and the total lack of effort they made.  However, it is perfectly possible to live in the area and not have to speak french, as practically everyone speaks English.  I know for sure there is an English nurse in Sallanches hospital, an English optician (working as an optician to the local opthalmo), an English physio and an English dentist and it takes forever to get an appointment. So the way is open, it would be a good move for you, the only thing to be aware of, is that there is a certain amount of negativity amongst the locals.  House prices in the area are as high as Paris and the Cote d'Azure and a certain element (rightly or wrongly but that is another discussion) blames this on the Brits.  This is not to put you off, merely to advise you, forewarned is foreamed! The doctors I have used in Les Houches have all been great and the region is a great place to live, we have since moved to another region of France that suits us better better but we did enjoy it there at the time.      

Hope this works, http://www.bij-brest.org/spip/spip.php?article519 If not, try looking up information jeunesse à brest - baby-sitting mode d'emploi Our baby sitter printed it out and brought it along for us which gave me confidence that he was at least switched on and helpful.   Good luck.

We recently used a babysitter for the first time and we paid the SMIC.  There is a website with official rates, noting that it slightly less for employees under 18.  There is also a lower rate if the children are in bed and the baby sitter can 'dispose freely of their time' - we took this to mean that if they are sat watching the TV, whilst remaining in the house, responsible for the children. Although we paid cash, the baby sitter did request that next time we register for cheque emploi system, so that he was fully insured and also gaining employment status.  I can't remember the web site though, I believe it was a site for young people though & it was french.  If I come across the piece of paper I will post again. Hope that helps a bit

I don't think any of them are compulsory any more, it's just that the school/creche rules haven't caught up with the legislation.  Our doctor refused to give my little boy the BCG and promptly provided a note saying that his state of health prevented the giving of the vaccintion, which the garderie were very happy to accept (actually insisted on). I think they only ask for the vaccination record for use in medical emergency eg it might be useful for the hospital to know if the tetanus is up to date. As for the children who are not vaccinated and never get sick, I hope they are grateful that the majority of other children have had the recommended vaccinations, enabling these potentially fatal diseases to die out and for them not to have to worry about it!

And on the other hand, we asked at our local tabac in April - when we had all the rain and had run out of wood - and got an excellent recommendation.  The man had none in stock and it was too wet for him to collect any more for the next week or so, he then rang back half an hour later and brought us wood from his dad's stock pile that evening. Fantastic wood, 3 logs last all night, he helped stack it in the garage and only charged us 80 euro for a 'moule' apparently 2.2 stere!  So some of them are really nice, there's good and bad everywhere, not just with wood suppliers;[:D]

Hi Fi, What you are doing is not that unusual, it's just that it does not fit into a nice little box from a state administrative view, ie dad works full time, mum works part time or full time, both children in school or organised childcare.  It's just one of France's little quirks, you get used to it - you have to or it will drive you up the wall.  You can't change it, so don't get stressed about it, save your energy for dealing with it and change the things that are worth changing - like trying a better life here in France. Don't worry abouth the rumours too much either, just be aware of them and ensure you have plan B available just in case - which is what you seem to be doing. BusyBee

As far as I am aware, Allocations Familial are available to everyone RESIDENT in France.  However, if your situation is at all unsual, both parents not working and not paying social charges anywhere, is classed as unusual, then it becomes complicated - this is probably why no one has replied. I would say that you are probably not entitled to UK Child Benefit, whether or not the CAF will allocate you anything is another matter.  There are rumours afoot that a similar situation to the health issues is coming into place, whereby if you can afford to choose not to work at all, you can afford to look after yourself totally.  This is not confirmed, I am merely repeating rumours! In your shoes, I would assume nothing will be forthcoming, ensure the UK Child Benefit authorites give you a form stating that you are not eligible for CB and WHY, then make a claim once you are resident in France.  Then if you do find yourselves awarded Allocations Familial, go out and treat yourselves.  Not only will the money be handy, having the relevant paperwork, with a Quotient Familial, will smooth your way over a number of child related matters. Good luck and have a great adventure, my children aged 4 and nearly 2 were fortunate to be born here and it's a great life, just a tiny bit tiresome on the administrative side.[:-))]

Hi Maria, I sucessfully claimed top up from the CAF, including the ACTIPAJE - and when it was finally sorted out I received a whopping £1000 from UK child Benefit and about 3000 euros from the CAF - mind you, no one paid me anything for about a year - meant we could actually celebrate Christmas that year after all. It's called Allocation Differentiale I think and whether it's payable, depends on individual circumstances such as number of children and household income.  Once it's agreed the CAF send you a form every 3 months, to send to the UK, the UK then loses the form or fills it in incorrectly, you then send it back to the CAF who repeat the procedure - ie lose the form.  You then throw yourself on the mercy of the friendliest CAF person you can find - I'm afraid I cried in front of the nice man who helped me and eventually they pay up.    So it is possible, you just have to be determined! Good luck[:D]

Hi Mark, Good luck with the prep - my experience is that if the waters break they like the mum to be to go to the hospital within 3 hours.  so you have time to have a quick shower, wash hair, have some breakfast and pack hubby a pic-nic!  All very essential!  Hubby meanwhile, managed 2 hours extra sleep (didn't wake him up to tell him) then ran round, somewhat demented and panicing, looking for towels to put on the van seat!  (Whether to protect his seat or my bum, I'm not quite sure) Cheers  

Hi Abi, I appreciate your worries as when my first baby was born nearly 4 years ago, I was petrified - never changed a nappy in my life.  During your 5 days in hospital the staff are fantastic and will teach you all the basics, however, once you leave it is quite possible you will be alone unless you take steps to change it.  The PMI will probably send you a letter with their details but if not they are in the phone book.  Go to see them, if you don't get on with the local one, go to the one in the next village or town - I have had experience of one that was awful and one that is fantastic, with the first one that was awful, I went to my GP in tears - and she was just amazing, so kind. When I had my second baby I discharged myself a day early - much as I wanted the rest, my first child was missing me - so the hospital contacted the midwife from the PMI and she did come to see me at home.  She was great and told me to get in touch if I needed any other visits.  So the help is there, you just have to ask for it, as they expect you to have a family network on hand to help out. Feel free to PM if you need more detailed help, as I know exactly how you feel.  Do check out www.babycentre.co.uk and go to the forums where they have a section for mums in France and they have an amazing amount of help there. All the best Tracy

Hi Artois, I have had similar problems with Child Benefit and the CAF.  After over a year, the end result was that if I paid cotisations in France and my husband paid them in the UK, then it is the country where the children live that has to pay.  The CAF have to tell you exactly why, they will not pay, not just that you don't fullfill the requirements - which requirement do you not fulfil.  They must put it in writing so you can respond in writing.  Visit them again and again until you find someone that will actually listen.  The next step is to enlist the help of the assistant social at the mairie, they often have a contact that will be able to tell you something unofficially.  Keep going, I only have 2 children and after a year of having nothing received about 1000GBP and 3000 euros!  Well worth the battle Incidentally, another problem I came up against is that in the UK they don't ask about the father and so don't take him into account when refusing you - that is why the UK did say they were wrong to refuse me in the first place.  In France, you have to take into account the father - ie as a couple. Tracy

We got married (after the mairie) in the Eglise Reforme de France where the priest was originally from New Zealand.  He let us more or less write our own ceremony but had lots of helpful suggestions such as both my mum and my dad, 'gave me away' ie he asked them both for their blessing, and he also asked all the congregation to affirm that they would all give us their help and support in maintaining our marriage vows. And this is despite the fact that when we went for our first meeting, my husband to be told him straight away that he had no interest whatsoever in getting married in church, it was only because it meant a lot to me.  Lovely man, churches would be a lot busier if there were more pastors like him.  

Hi Lindsey, Congratulations qnd commiserations! The prices over here are indeed high, especially in baby shops, I took one trip back to the UK and bought it all in one very expensive go!  Check and see if there is a Relais Assistant Maternelles near you and ask if they are due to have a bourse (second hand sale) sometime or ask at the PMI.  The very large supermarkets sell everything and can be good value, some points to consider, Microwave sterilisers are much cheaper than electric, Baby monitors are not good for your nerves (you jump at every little squeak and small babies squeak continuously), if they cry you will hear them, I guarantee it! French babies sleep in sleeping bags - you will be considered a bad mother if you use sheets & blankets and expose your child to the risk of suffocation Don't waste money on a crib/moses basket, go straight to a cot - we use a cot bed so it last's longer.  When the babies were very small, I put the pram bit of the pushchair inside the cot. Electronic breast pumps can be hired from the pharmacie Subject to resources the CAF will give you a payment of around 800 euros when you are about 7 months pregnant and thereafter about 170 euros a month till baby is 3.  Can you buy smaller stuff on line and get someone to post it on to you. IKEA do some reasonably priced baby stuff if you like IKEA - their stair gates are very good value Try www.babycentre.co.uk and visit their forum for families in France, loads of relevant info there Good luck Busy Bee  

The hardest thing ever to quantify, is what you consider a decent standard of living.  My husband and my friend earn roughly the same amount of money, we have about the same size mortgage and the same outlook on life.  I don't go out to work as our 2 children are only 18 months and 3, my friend lives with her boyfriend who earns a 'reasonable' salary.  We both consider we are struggling and having to make sacrifices and continuously disagree over what is a reasonable income for this region, bearing in mind we are all bi-lingual (more or less) and have worked here for years. On the positive side, being a bit short of money living here, is infinitely preferable to being short of money in the UK and wild horses wouldn't drag me back there.[:D]

RTT is determined by how many hours you work each week after the statutory 35 hours.  The amount is determined by statute not the size of the company, although there may well be exceptions for small companies, though 100 employees is not classed as small!  How it is worked out I'm not exactly sure but there is an official 'formula'! 9am till 7pm is not unusual though, with a long lunch break, although 8pm seems a bit harsh!  In the UK I often worked 9 till 6pm with just an hour lunch and I only got 4 weeks holiday with no RTT - I love RTT. Busy Bee

Ask at the maire or the CAF for the Assistant Sociale, they are very helpful at knowing which forms to fill out - correctly and chasing things up for you.  They don't seem to have the power to make any decisions though even though they work for the CAF.  Hope that helps and you sort something out, good luck.

Hello, Does anyone have (or know anyone who has) a large gite (or 2 adjoining ones) available for a week between 31st March and 9th April please.  We need to sleep 6 adults, 3 small children (ages 5,3 and 3) and 3 crawling babies.  My brother is unexpectedly coming to France from Canada with his wife and 4 children, we are flying my parents out from the UK and my husband and I are trying to find somewhere that will accommodate us all, as it will the first time we are able to meet up since they emigrated 5 years ago.  Our 2 bed home will just not stretch that far - we do have blow up kiddie beds and travel cots if someone has a large gite with lots of floor space and a big dining table! We need to find somewhere in the Tonnerre region, going out as far as Auxerre if necessary, as we have many friends that want to come and see us - but no one (surprisingly enough), has enough space to put us all up and we do so want to stay together if poss - transporting all those children is tricky enough with only one car! I am using search engines etc but not finding anything big enough/cheap enough/open yet, in the right area so if anyone could pm me with anything suitable, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you    

Oh no!  I don't want to hear about these kind of things - my daughter is only 3 and I already get 'I don't want to talk to you' and 'what you got' - on collecting her from maternelle and she is searching my pockets for 'gôuter'!  I don't think I want my little boy to start school and realising that mummy is not the centre of the universe! On the other hand - is weekly boarding such a bad idea - OK, so we only live 10 minutes walk from school!!!![:-))]

Again, my children are very young (and born here), so it is difficult to comment from experience - but possibly all those returning to the UK are doing so because their parents have given them the 'can do' factor in life instead of sitting around in France and saying 'well, it's difficult to find a job in France when you are young' - because, youth unemployment is super high in France, that's a fact.  Also, most of us living in France have moved over here, away from the bad parts of our own country but have we moved to somewhere that is any better in terms of 'high income' - I think most of us came over here for 'quality of life' remember, so if our kids work as waitresses etc, (which is a profession here) are they really that badly off!!!! I have some good friends who moved over here in 1989 when their children were 11 and 9, their sons have both married local girls, one works as a highly qualified (and well paid) chef and the other earns a good living as a waiter/barman, so is it 'horses for courses'? Also, how many of these children are truly bi-lingual and how many can read and write fluently in BOTH languages?  Lots more to think about than just which education system is better!

It depends who you are giving the measurements to!  We have just completed the dreaded 'H2' and according to the Hôtel des Impots, built in cupboards do count towards the m2 for taxes, even though they do not count for the Loi Carre when you are selling! Don't you just love it here!! I wouldn't be anywhere else, but sometimes,aghhh, I wonder if I'll ever get on top of it![:P]