KathyC

I wish you all the very best of luck but think that I should point out that if it's too peaceful and tranquil around your lake it'll mean you're not making much money![:)]

I agree that if you can get decently priced tickets, the train is the more comfortable option and, nowadays, I usually do as Judith has described. I just wanted to point out that the coach is quite tolerable and always reasonably priced. I know that nobody's been talking about flying but I was trying to make a relevant point. That is that if you have a bad experience on an overland journey, people say "I'm not doing that again"! When it happens on a journey by air the response seems to be a shrug and acceptance that these things happen sometimes. Nobody ever says that they're not going to fly again because of one bad experience with delays and overbooking!

[quote user="Teamedup"] Many years ago a french man of our acquaintance said that french men were the best lovers, they had the know how, the savoir-faire.   I wouldn't know, never road tested one. [/quote] I wonder if HE had?

Anything aniseed flavour is the devil's work! I used to drink Dubonnet and bitter lemon before I learnt any better, since then I've discovered the wonders of Campari (although I appreciate it's not French).

Cork's really environmentally friendly. I bought large, thin sheets of it recently at a reasonable price. PM me if you want the details.

[quote user="Paysages de France"]   No.... [/quote] There is a God!

[quote user="5-element"] [quote user="Dick Smith"]I'm afraid this is very predictable - my favourite book would have to be the complete works of Shakespeare. If only one play allowed, then the Tempest.  [/quote] Favourite French book??? Is my computer playing tricks too?[:D] One of my favourite Fench books of all times has to be "La Peste" - Albert Camus. [/quote] One of my "A" Level set texts - I think I might be able to face it again after 30 something years! Now the Racine would be a different question alltogether. Did anyone else do "A" level in the days when heavyweight amounts of literature were the order of the day?

God, I hope not; ours is in the sous sol.

I was told I could be in a "click" if I PMd people, so I'm seeing if it's true.

WJT I've PMd you

Paysages Perhaps you should point out to the French how American it is to have these large hoardings everywhere. That ought to turn feelings against them!

WJT Entente cordiale it is then[:D] I thought I'd made an enemy in the Dordogne before I'd even got there!

Our TH bill was sent to our UK address correctly, except that they sent it to the Isle of Man rather than the Isle of Wight, causing considerable delay (so much for postcodes!). I wrote back - in French- explaining that it was as if they'd sent a letter for someone in Corsica to someone on l'Isle d'Oloron. They seem to have accepted the cheque without late charges and I hope that my letter amused someone. Knowing the mistakes I make in writing French, they're probably still rolling round the floor about it!

Hi As someone who hasn't moved over yet I still have some pinkish glasses on and I do understand anyone's unhappiness about the English education system. However I know that many people aren't happy with the system in France and I'm sure that they'll tell you all about it! I often think that what many people are looking for is a move from the town/city to the country rather than from the UK to France . Personally, I feel  that it might be worthwhile asking yourselves the question "If we could buy the country property/lake/renovation project/guest house for the same price in the UK as we can in France, would we still want to move over?". If the answer is "no" then I would think very carefully about your plans. A move to the country is a difficult enough proposition without adding in the extra complications of a foreign country; unless you really love the idea of moving to France (and accept that your idea may well change with more knowledge) then I would think and think again.

I think that what Teamed Up is referring to is your assumption that your children will have a better quality of life in France than in England. Perhaps if you could post your thoughts on why you assume this to be so then people can confirm or contradict (probably both!) your thinking on the subject.

[quote user="RumziGal"] [quote user="KathyC"]If your area is as expensive as you're always telling us and if people are as poor as you usually describe, how are so many people managing to move there? [/quote] I can only refer you to the other thread again, Kathyc, in S-E France, where LanguedocGal (I think!) pointed out the oddity of Montpellier.  There are jobs, but there's also hugely high unemployment.   Because of the TGV opening up from Paris a few years ago, lots of people commute on a weekly basis - wife and family live in the sun, papa commutes to Paris to earn the dosh.   Expensive?   No, I think 13 500 euros is a fair price for a one-car garage, don't you?  [:)]   [/quote] Haven't seen the other thread; will have a look. I wasn't arguing with what you've told us about the area but the two facts didn't seem to "go". Like USA then, extremes of wealth and poverty? WTBJ (sorry can't remember your initials) Didn't mean to have a go at you personally but your first posts were pretty nimbyish. Sometimes people who aren't directly affected by problems (but do have previous experience of the issues) are able to be less emotional about things. I think that much of this thread has actually been about town attitudes versus country attitudes, rather than UK v. French - but that would be another thread entirely![:D] (Yippee, I've remembered how to do smilies!)

Which bit did you find harsh? Perhaps if local housing and work were more available,  young people wouldn't have to relocate to the cities. If your area is as expensive as you're always telling us and if people are as poor as you usually describe, how are so many people managing to move there?  (That's not meant to be snide, I'm really interested.) I don't really think that we've been discussing the growth of the cities (although that would be interesting) but modern housing being built as villages expand. Keep up at the back! (Can't do smilies, imagine yourself smiled at.)

[quote user="Jon"] I walk a fine line vis-à-vis curry: my Dear Wife is from Bradford, one Mother Outlaw lives in Dewsbury and the other in Manchester. Birmingham is broadly neutral gound. Actually, and don't tell them I said this, I think the best curries come from around the Brick Lane area of East London but if I ever mentioned this when Up North it would probably be discounted on grounds of my so-called Metropolitan bias. I happen to agree that Manchester produces curries of deep excellence (what's the name of that one street where there are about 850 restos?), but I think it best to steer the middle course and make non-commital but appreciative noises when we go out. [/quote]   Wilmslow Road, Rusholme (although I believe it's gone downhill since I was a student in Manchester) - (but then, haven't we all?).

WJT Of course I believe in planning constraints; so do the French. Unfortunately the people who make these decisions don't have the same sensibilities as you do. As Will says, the French seem to like this style of housing so I can't see why you feel that you have the right to impose your aesthetics on them. I think that you're getting the whole thing out of proportion with your talk of people's lives being ruined; I can't see how a few new houses, even a housing estate can do this, unless what you're really worried about is the effect on house prices! In fact I do have some clue what you're talking about here. Our little semi is facing a large garden on the opposite side of the road. The immobilier told us that the neighbour adjacent had bought this so that nobody could build on it. However, we realise that her circumstances could change and she could sell up or sell it as a building plot in the future. We looked at it and decided that although it's pleasant looking out on a garden at present, if someone were to build a pavillion on it, or even a small block of flats it wouldn't be the end of the world. I certainly wouldn't feel that my life had been ruined, even if it knocked a few grand off the house price!

My mother also paid the married women' stamp and probably understood the implications as she worked for the Revenue. However, I'm sure that the thought of divorce never crossed her mind and the extra money in her purse was needed for essentials. As BJSLIV says, similar attitudes exist now to starting pension provision early and with far less excuse. I never understand why people feel so hard done by when something benefits someone else without worsening their own situation. It seems rather petty to me.

If you had bothered to read my post you'd have seen that I said I've moved to a town (the edge of a small town as it happens) not a city. I've lived in a very rural area of the UK and you would hear the same views as yours from wealthy incomers everytime the question of affordable housing for local young people or local workshops/industry  was put forward."put it somewhere else, not next to me"! Your posts are not about planning issues at all; you seem only concerned that you and your friends have had the "prettiness" of the surrounding area spoilt. You keep on about "green belt" land which I don't believe is a concept that exists in France and your comment about "pink and beige Legoland developments" is patronising in the extreme. Sticking a phony tower at one end of a house and a bit of stone cladding doesn't make for good architecture; what it does do is put up the price of such houses beyond the reach of young locals, thus ruining the point of affordable houses.

I think that Tony's spot on about this issue and WJT you're completely wrong. The fact that an area "would be considered green belt in the UK" is of no relevance whatsoever. I agree that "all of us here have been effected" (sic) but the effect has been that young people have been able to stay in their home area near their families. I thought that the quality of family life was one of the reasons that people moved to France, or is that only the quality of their family's life? Even in the UK you have no right to a view. I'm not saying that you're a snob but your attitude is pure nimbyism. Yes, inexpensive housing is needed but not near where my friends and I live. Of course I've given the matter thought; that's why I was so quick to reply to your post. I've bought in a town with houses all around me. I don't need to pretend that I own the whole country as so many people seem to want to do.

[quote user="Teamedup"]30% Well all I can say is that married women who worked voluntarily chose to not pay towards a pension. As a wages clerk I remember well in the 1960's that precise choice. No one made any woman take it, it mattered not one iota to the employer, the pennies stamp or full stamp both had to be put through the books.  Anyway, was it 10/-? a week in their pocket was considered far better than actually getting a pension. In fact they had to sign to do it. My MIL was considered daft by her work mates paying the extra as she wanted a pension. Most women don't actually remember, well don't want to, and are just whingers, I have no sympathy at all.[/quote] I think that there are two issues here, reduced rate contributions and women's caring responsibilities. There are groups campaigning that the drawbacks of not paying the full stamp were not fully explained to them and in many cases that's likely to be true. People are more aware of these kind of financial issues these days and I have a certain sympathy for anyone who's in that position. Also, as you need to have been married before 1977 to have had this option, we're largely talking about a generation who've already retired, not the ones who'll benefit from the new rules. I don't know how anybody can deny that women are far more often the ones who give up work to look after children, elderly parents and older husbands; that's now being recognised by the need to work fewer years. As it doesn't take anything away from people who have worked for 39 years I don't see any need for anyone to feel aggrieved.

[quote user="dave"] Hi all, Thoroughly annoying isn't it.  My birthday is in October, so I just miss the new 30 year rule.  I also have to work until I'm 60years 6 months and 16 days old because they are gradually raising the age for women to 65. I've started counting......   [/quote] No, you're just in time for the new 30 year rule. I'm the same age as you (September) and will get my pension in the following April. We're pretty lucky; we benefit from the fewer years needed but don't have to work until we're 65 . Perfect timing - thanks mum!

[quote user="WJT"] This is a terrible terrible problem here in the Dordogne as well, so good on you. I hope your efforts will have an impact on the French authorities. This is a serious problem here but even worse are the new developments of pavillons (small square bungalows, usually pink) popping up absolutely everywhere here. They stand out like sore thumbs and there seems to be no effort to build them in keeping with the local area. It is heartbreaking because many are built on the outskirts of beautiful villages, that have now been ruined forever. I do hope the French authorities wake up soon, I am seeing it all around me.[:'(] Good luck. [/quote] Many of these pavillions have been built by young French families who can no longer afford to buy a home because of rising property prices, so you're on pretty shaky ground here. As much of the rise in property prices can be attributed to foreigners moving to these pretty areas, the ground gets even shakier! You seem to have fallen into the trap of wanting to keep an area the way you like it, rather than having it respond to the needs of the indigenous community. I'd give the matter a bit more thought before you start complaining.