Wendy

They've signed you up for one of their "added value" account services (the UK banks charge even more than CA for a similar "added value" account!). The name of these varies around the country but basically you need to cancel (annule) the subscription; that'll save you the monthly charges. Usually Credit Agricole charges around EUR 40 annually for a normal Mastercard (a little more if you have a delayed debit ie pay everything at the end of the month); you can reduce this to EUR 15 or so if you are with one of the Credit Agricoles who offer "L'Autre Carte" which is a direct equivalent to a UK debit card (the others have medical insurance, hence the higher fees). If you could do without the debit card, most CA's don't charge for accounts with just a chequebook.

Quillan we have received loads of those, about 5/6 a month; we just give them to the kids to rip open.Whenever we get mail like that we just throw it in the bin, whoever it is from. We particularly steer clear of 'tourist directories' of all kinds, French or otherwise, that ask for money. We market ourselves for next to nothing.

There is a small bar just near us and the only ones to frequent it were a certain number of old men from the village who loved to sit there for hours of the day and have a smoke and linger over a drink. Since these stupid laws came in the bar, attached to the fuel station, is nearly always empty now.. I think it should go back to the former...the smokers can sit inside, the non-smokers can sit outside, or vice versa. From what I have seen the only people to frequent places like this are those who like a smoke with their drink...and now the party-poopers have killed this off for them. Funny how the non-smokers though don't seem to be filling the empty seats. In my opinion if you dont smoke then you can drink at home...leave the bars to those who like a smoke AND a beer. Like they always were intended.

I think we place too much power in the hands of our so-called 'leaders' and not enough sense of obligation. For pete's sake, if we have not yet learned from what has happened in just the past 70-odd years what hope do we have?

No, our local doc prescribes paracetamol supps for adults. The OH had a bug last year and I noticed when we got back from the chemist that they were not for orale use. I told him what to do with them but he assumed I was just being my usual earthy self. They are still in the cabinet. Some people just don't know how to have fun[;-)]  

This is crazy. Are you registered here for healthcare in France...? Is she living with you?  if so your daughter can be added to your healthcare and she can have her baby here with no extra cost. Pregnancy and birth are covered in France for 100% cover. Why does she want to use UK health insurance when she can be treated here for nothing? Forget the UK you are in France now. I lobbed here from Australia in 2004, barefoot and pregnant, signed up with an OB straight away and carried on until junior was born here. I do not understand the problem[8-)]

I have had one baby here two years ago; my experience was not great even though I stayed in a private clinic. Could not believe the mothers being allowed to smoke in the rooms! Checked out after 2 days despite the protests of the staff. Anyone had a baby here using the local general hospital? I'd be very interested to hear your experience!

I agree Quillan, this is not news to us either. You'd have to be a fool to take these seriously...we delete them as soon as they arrive. A Yahoo address is a dead giveaway.

I agree with you Deby. We are in deepest rural France and here is a great example of the problems. The kids in my sons class, 4eme, all had to find a business establishment to accept them for one week for the work experience 'stage' very soon. We traversed a radius of 35 km's looking for somewhere for my son to spend a few mornings/afternoons a week seeing how a business was run. None of the local businesses in the surrounding six villages (radius of 15 km's) were willing to help out. None. Further afield it was the same. The other kids in his class have had the same problem so, for his class at his school, the 'stage' has been cancelled. It does not cost these miserable bakers, tabac owners, supermarche/hypermarche, hairdressers,etc a darn centime to give these kids a few hours a week to just sit and watch them at work. Last November my son did the first part of the 'stage' with our neighbour, a vineyard owner, but they are not allowed to do the same job twice. No wonder the local youth are deserting the rural areas. In my opinion rural France is the pits and only for dreamers.

Is this law along the sames lines as that which states you must have a certain 'disc' paid for and displayed on your windscreen when travelling through Suisse? We never bothered when travelling there for two weeks last year, covering several of it's borders, cities and towns, and nothing was ever said to us. Actually the border folk were not even interested in the traffic to-ing and fro-ing. The border with France at porte-de-Geneva was unattended and the french border with Italy the same.  

Quillan, Mugabe is in power, yes, but not due to a democratic process. He has a militia behind him and a murderous one at that. 'People power' has nothing to do with his position of office. If it did I am sure he would be six feet under by now...trouble is his 'people' are starving, diseased and terrified. He works to that old standard...eliminate all opposition. As to who gains financially in that State...as a dying aids-stricken woman once told a journalist inquiring as to how much Bob Geldof's 'Aid' had helped the African people - " We are still hungry and dying but the local militia all are carrying new guns ". It is obvious where the money goes and it does NOT go to the people. They do not need cash. They need an infra-structure supplying the most basic of services that we all take for granted and they just do not have it. And you are correct that the US and British Govts did nothing to halt the murder of jewish, gypsy and other peoples in the death camps in WW2. Even though aerial photographs taken by British pilots on reconnaissance missions over Poland in 1942 showed plainly the gas chambers and prisoners of Auschwitz, and more, and were presented to both Govts, as well as Geneva and the Vatican...they all chose to do nothing. It seems nothing has changed today. It seems that to some world powers that there are people on this earth who are dispensible and who do not matter.  

Well I have banked here - CA. Only one 'teller', at least a half hour wait every single time to simply deposit some cash despite there being only 2 people ahead of you. Just like la poste. Too much standing around...and they stare at their computer screens as if they had never seen them before. Sorry, life is too short for such inept nonsence. But then we all must know that the village branches of CA are just job creation schemes for the locals, customer service has nothing to do with anything. There are far too many branches than they can actually finance - hence their charges for anything and everything.  

No it is not that I know nothing about the English; it matters not where the English come from but rather where they are allowing themselves to be led these days. My OH is studying English history with the OU...I know enough already believe me. But then I suppose they have something in common with the unfortunate African people...their Govt's care not a fig about their people.

Gardian you are so correct. Places of birth, dates, names of parents - why do these need translating at all? Answer...they do not. Its all a money spinner. And by the way, the cert only needs to be translated into a 'European' language...meaning English will suffice. We have never bothered with this translation rubbish all the time we have been in France. Nearly five years now.

Okay, fine. I accept your comments as you are obviously comfortable with what is being done to innocent women and children there, and all in the name of it being 'their' continent. Trouble is 'their' continent does not belong to the people themselves, only to the murderous Idi Amin-type dictators that the West does not tolerate anywhere else in the world, but this only holds it seems in oil producing nations. Africa does not contribute in this respect so why bother with them? What white nation these days is going to try and interfere with a black nation? But you say we should do nothing because it is 'nothing to do with us'...? No-one bothers the Chinese for obvious reasons. I cannot believe the way you think. We are all human beings. Cold blooded murder of the population by it's leaders should never be condoned/accepted as 'cultural'. I cannot be bothered with the rest of what you have written re the English.

I would say that Assedic and ANPE are a continuation of the French education assembly line these days. My son left and returned to Australia (since arriving 'home' 3 months ago he now is studying at college, doing an apprenticeship PLUS has a weekend job...the best thing he ever did was leave here) his brother will be hot on his heels soon due to the non-existent prospects in this land. Fortunately my three younger sons will not have to endure the frustration my two elder sons have had to endure. You might just have to face the fact that the 'best options' will never appear here for your kids. Maybe you do not want to go running back...but it might be the best thing for your kids to do in the end.  They are starting out in life...you are not. I feel you are trying to hold your kid back in order to make your life here work. If she wants to go to Germany then let her. Its her life. And if thats aggressive then I am not sorry...but its fact.

Depends what you mean by a French 'bank'. There are really only about 3 actual 'banks' in France. Credit Agricole is a mutually owned 'bank'...therefore more risk is involved. BNP, Societe Generale and HSBC are actually 'banks'. The rest are all building societies so conditions differ. I choose not to bank here at all...the service is rubbish.

Yes Quillan the 'whites' gave Africa back to the 'indigenous' population...just as they should have...and look what they are doing now to their own people. The fact is that Africa was always a tribal civilisation;  pre-white settlement it was always subject to tribal rule/law. It always has been. It was fine for them to spear their people 200 years ago...but to do such things to women and childen today, and with machetes...? But that's okay...because they rule themselves now, right? If parts of the world had been left to develop under 'indigenous populations' we would have a very primitive planet today indeed. Are you English? bear in mind that the true indigenous English are now living in Wales and Scotland.

Good one Burgundy Maid...the bits we prefer to ignore are the one's which can cause us the most problems. Keep looking after yourselves...for each other. [;-)]

Cerise, that old Volvo was not comfortable for 'anything'...make of that what you will. Still the OH intends to hang onto it...the car and our 5 year old son are 'connected' in an 'uncomfortable kind of way' as memory serves me...[:D] By the way, that old Citroen was a 1935 model...I have two pics and am awaiting the OH to load them onto here for all to admire. It was a beauty for sure. Cream with a grey interior.

Well, I just asked my 14 year old son what happens in his school when his schoolmates do not adhere to the rules...he said 'they get sent to the red haired lady in the office'. He said going to her is 'like going to hell'. He says she is always 'cranky and has a vendetta'.   Apparently she makes them quake in their shoes at this school. All power to her!  

Will do if possible. Ernie, these people are French...they know the score. [:)] This car is as old as the last century and yet it is in mint condition. Do they have vintage car clubs here?... My OH has a  2 door 1983 Volvo 340 (steel blue colour) and reckons it is highly prized...I say it is the most uncomfortable car I ever rode in. He refuses to get rid of it.

Hi Cathy. Just advertising the rate on the website is not good enough - what if you had been a 'drive by' and had never seen the tariffs on said website? Chambre d'Hote price MUST be inclusive of breakfast, and also the tariffs must be displayed 'on the back of the bedroom door'. Our inspectors always look for this feature. Tariffs must be on display for guests to see, that much is sure. I feel you were 'got at'.    

Tony Dordogne speaks perfect sense to me. I am getting my OH off to the doc this week even though he is still in his 40's. His own cousin who is just 27 years old  'lost one' in January last year all because he was too shy to see the doctor earlier when he found the lump...he had just become a Dad and had only been married 3 years, even now he is still not in the clear. You guys...get yourselves seen to. The women who love you want you around for as long as possible. Tony...I will be looking forward to this years Xmas greetings from you dear man.

Try your local Alliance Francaise...they are in the phone book. Then again if you are thinking of moving to Normandy, Brittany or especially the Dordogne you will not really need to speak serious French at all as these regions all have large British enclaves already and cater to non-french speakers. Why make life more difficult than need be? There ARE regions in France though where if you do not speak fluent French you will be up the creek. Because they do not speak anything else, of course, and make no allowances for those who do not. Depends where you are moving to.