vickybear

Hi KKK,   Yes, it is a Samoyed pup.  I had one called Vicky ( hence Vickybear ) until 5 years ago, came from Wales...just like you!! Poor pooch with bad leg is a Heinz rescue, just like her kid sister...oh, and both the cats.  I'd love to have a Samoyed again but the hoover just won't take it.......nice cushion filler though! Shelagh  

Hi there, it's just above her 'knee' joint. She has a habit of licking her legs until she gets bald patches. The vet says there is nothing we can do about this. She's a rescue dog and he thinks she was probably taken from her mum too early as a puppy, as a result she's quite nervous and dependent. I think on this ocassion she has licked one until it's become infected. She's sitting next to me now quite happily, enjoying the extra cuddles. I know what you mean about worrying about them. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats and it seems we're at the vets almost every week with one or another of them. Thanks for replying, the second dressing went on without anti-septic so we'll see how she goes. Vet is open at 8am so not long. Thanks Shelagh

Having re-read my post I can see why you would think she'd literally 'popped it'......gave me a good laugh, which will be more than I'll be doing with the vets bill tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. She just got out and went paddling in the stream without him indoors noticing, so she's already on dressing number 2 !

Hi All, Around an hour ago we noticed one of our dogs had a swelling on her leg, fluid filled. Too late for the vet, and within half an hour she had popped it ( sorry to the squeemish ). It left 2 small holes in her skin. I have some Boots antiseptic cream. Does anyone know if this will be ok to put on a dog until the morning with a dressing so she can't lick it? Any suggestions gratefully received. She doesn't seem too bothered about it, apart from doing a 'Jake the Peg' round the kitchen. Thanks Shelagh

Hi, where are you and are your cats ok with 2 dozey dogs? We have cats and dogs who live happily together. Let us know where you are.

For Chessie and others going through the same.......   If it should be that I grow weak, And pain should wake me from my sleep, Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle can't be won. You will be sad, I understand, Don't let your grief then stay your hand For this time more than all the rest,   Your love and friendship stand the test. We've had so many happy years, What is to come will hold no fears. You'll not want me to suffer so, When the time comes please let me go. Do not grieve it should be you, Who has to decide this thing to do We've been so close we two, these years, Don't let your heart hold any tears.   Smile, for we walked together a while.

Thanks Tresco. Your 'almost human' picture had hubby and I in pleats!!!  Brilliant!  Needed cheering up after earlier thread about vets and cats had me in tears! Back later.

How do you post a photo? My dog feels a need to join in!  

Might be tricky....true, but BOY will you have a list of clients.   Good luck!!...much needed service!

Having just read a post which mentions some posters do not say thanks, I am going through my posts to make sure I have.  On this one I haven't so........   A BIG THANK YOU for the replies. Shelagh

Hi All, Made my interbank transfer today and it cost me 4,70E so that's not too bad ( although CA on-line advised me it would be 15,55 ?? ) Thanks for everyones help. Out of interest I have been buying and selling on Ebay UK for 3 years and have over 500 postitive feedback. Most of the transactions have been via Paypal, buying and selling, and I have never had a bad experience. I know some people have, but this would always be my preferred route. Thanks again Shelagh

Remember, if you're bringing a staircase up there you can also discount the hole that the stairs leave in the upper floor!

Piggybacking this message.......hope you don't mind Annie? We also need to plant 25 metres of fast growing hedge and like the sound of the current suggestions. Does anyone know of any weekly markets in South Charente / North Dordogne areas which sell plants such as these? Many thanks Shelagh

Thank Sunday Driver, just the info I was looking for!!

Hi all, For any of you who buy from Ebay, I am wondering how you pay for purchases made in Germany or Belgium. I have seen a few items I like but the sellers do not accept Paypal. They are asking for bank transfers. Is this easy to do? I have a Credit Agricole French account. If you have paid vis bank transfer for items outside France coulf you let me know how you arranged it and if there are any extra charges. Many thanks! Shelagh

Norman Kember has made a statement part of which is on TV now “I do not agree that lasting peace is achieved by armed force, but I pay tribute to their courage and thank those who played a part in my rescue”   So there you go!

The following is from an article written by a tax specialist. I will be working around 3 months per year in the UK for a UK company. This is why I'm confused!   UK employment Income from an employment carried out in the UK generally remains taxable in the UK. If you are tax resident in France but perform your duties in the UK (ie: you commute to the UK from France), according to the UK/France Double Tax Treaty, your employment income will be taxable in the UK and not in France. However, your employment income will be taken into account in determining the rate at which your other income is taxed in France.UK employment ?

I understand social charges of 8% are paid on 97% of earned income. However, is this income earned only in France or worldwide income, if you are a French tax payer. I.E. If income is earned in the UK where it is taxed and NI'd, when you declare this on your French tax return is there a further 8% to pay? Is the social charge levied on all earned income or is the French allowance for nil tax taken off first? Confused of Charente

Is the health charge assessed the same way as income tax i.e. income divided by 2 then payment made on the first 6950 each?  Allowing joint income of just under 14,000 before health charges are made? Thanks

I apologise in advance if this subject has been covered as I'm sure it has, but I have spent 2 hours searching for the information I need and can't find it! My husband and I moved to France last year. We are under retirement age and currently live on income from investments alone, which totals around 12,000 euros between us. This figure will be higher in 2006, probably around 25000 euros. I know how the tax on this amount is calculated, but cannot find out what other charges I should be paying for being here in France  e.g. social charges, CMU etc etc. Can anyone give me a brief breakdown of what I should be paying. Thank you in advance. VB

Hi there, Try www.castorama.fr  who are part of the Kingfisher group ( B & Q ).  They have a good on-line web site. You need to look under .... Tous nos produits Construction Fenetres Fenetres de toit   Their own brand starts from 125 euro I think, although they do sell 'Velux' brand if you prefer.  

I obtained the names of two 'artisans' from a very flashy website through a Google search. The website states that all their recommended tradesmen in France are 'prescreened professionals'. Indeed, the website looks very professional and would lead you to believe that all is as it seems. Of the two tradesmen who called to quote, neither was registered to work in France. Neither had SIRET numbers ( although one gave me a number which I swear was  a Halifax bank account number! ) and I subsequently found out one had no previous building experience in the UK despite quoting us on plumbing and building work. The tradesmen can post references to support their work. I have found the exact same reference posted by 3 tradesmen for the exact same work on the exact same property! Unlikely I would have thought? The joys of 'cut and paste' eh? I have emailed the website 3 times to ask how they pre-screen their tradesmen and to point out the reference issue.  The emails were sent through their 'contact us and we will get back to you' link.  Did they get back to me? Nope! Just to warn those of you still looking for tradesmen to beware. We have found that when you are lucky enough to get one genuine tradesman he will invariably know others in different fields. Or, of course just ask your neighbours.... Please PM for the website name. If you want to check a SIRET number, the artisan'anglais site has some links to follow for easy checks. One of them actually tells you what the tradesmen are registered for to do.

Please, please can someone help!??!! I am sending in a Permis de Construir to put 2 bathrooms and 2 shower rooms into our loft. We will be well within the 170m rule after the work is done. The form details what needs to be sent with the application and a  number of the items are about what the house will look like after, how it will sit in its surroundings etc etc. I can't see how this is relevant for alterations which will not change the external appearance at all. We are having no new windows, Velux etc. Does anyone know what I need to send with the application? Has anyone done this before. I have sent emails to 3 DDE addresses and got no response and spoke to 3 different departments this morning getting no-where with my limited French. Aaarrgghhhhh!!!!!!! Thanks Shelagh  

Hi, I'm doing the same, interior changes only. What are you doing about the photos and 3 dimensional cross sectional drawings that are asked for. One the back page of the application at the very bottom it says these are not required if we are not modifying the 'destination'. I have tried to clarify what the 'destination' is as the translation is purpose and I am confused as to whether putting bedrooms in a loft is changing the purpose or not. Are we NOT changing the 'purpose' as it is a house now and will remain a house, or are we changing the purpose as it is more specifically a loft now and will become bedrooms. I can't see the point of sending exterior photos of the house and marking the Plan de masse as requested if no exterior changes are taking place. Has anyone sent a Permis de construire in for internal alterations only and, if so, did you send photos and drawings or not? Thanks 

Right.........I'm going to talk to the DDE ( should be interesting with my limited French ) and see if I can get to the bottom of this.The Permis de Construire application definately shows you need permission for converting a 'grenier'. It doesn't say it's ok so long as you're under 170sq m.  There is so much mis-information out there, particularly with the Maire's who should help not confuse. It's so tempting to do nothing but can we really afford the potential fines and corrective work which may be required if permission is required and not obtained and we're found out? I'm worried that by doing the work and THEN advising the Maire of the new living space I'll open a can of worms. But if we don't declare the extra space we're actually defrauding the French government by underpaying tax d'habitation which is not recommended!! I'll post what I find out when and if I do. Thanks to all, please keep the replies coming in. Shelagh