Cassis

Hi SD I have no problem with any of that and I agree that many people wrongly accuse the French systems of just about anything as being bureaucratic nightmares.  I don't agree with that attitude either - it's a lazy stereotype.  I only take issue with the impression that was given of everything being straightforward if you 'follow the rules'.  Sometimes the 'rules' are far from clear and even if they are clear, sometimes they are misinterpreted by local staff (as you say above), which can lead to problems and confusion for the service seeker.  It does happen, and not rarely. Phil

[quote user="Jc"]No,he's done it properly;go and ask the people in the offices!Don't just put a letter on these fora and get loads of mainly conflicting advice.[/quote] I've edited this because my posting crossed with SD's. SD originally said you just have to provide proof of identity and residence to get a carte vitale.  He has since qualified this - fine.  However, the simple procedure he describes is not always the case - a look through some previous posts on the subject will show this. I don't want to make a big issue out of it - but I don't think it's right to make out that everything is always straightforward, fonctionnaires have also been known to give conflicting advice. Phil

[quote user="Kristine"] No tall dog owners are irresponsible[/quote] In that case I'll be happy to have tall dog owners, as long as they produce proof of their height (min. 1.9metres). Phil [:D]

[quote user="Sunday Driver"]Getting registered for healthcare - produce proof of identity/residence and receive your carte vital in the post. ......or have I just been lucky so far?  [:)]   [/quote] Er - yes! [:P] Phil

Fair do's - have a nice evening.  As long as the sun is over the yardarm, get stuck in! Phil

I see the sun is on the way down so a wee drink sounds like just the ticket - if nothing else then just to wash the dust out of the throat! May everyone live in peace with their cats, dogs, fish, children, bears, fouines, parents and other halves. Phil [B] [B] [B]

I thought you might spot this one, Phil!  I regard you as our resident expert on these matters after your experience! Phil (the other Phil)

If you do a search for words like 'moving' and 'agency' or 'service' as I described, you'll find a number of posts relating to what you are interested in.  Try this one and don't be put off by some of the replies - not everyone approves of 'settling agencies', possibly because there are so many around who overcharge for providing very little in return. http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/602583/ShowPost.aspx Phil

Just a bit - I prefer working in the sunshine.  Ah well, off to chip away at the wall for another couple of hours now the guests have left ... Phil

[quote user="hobbiherm"] a rural "peasant type" village or community where the old traditions and ways are still daily alive and practiced [/quote] What - like horsedrawn carts and spinning your own wool?  There's a museum of rural life near us at St Rémy du Val and other musées de la ruralité throughout France.  There are lots of the 'old ways' still practiced (like basketweaving, embroidery, clog making etc.) but most people have electricity and drive a car nowadays.  Sorry if this seems a bit harsh, but you need to be realistic in your expectations otherwise you will be disappointed. Phil

Getting a bit heated again!  Has everyone got hangovers this morning?  I've just picked up a pair of LHD headlights for our old 306 for 50 euros the pair from a scrapyard, so it doesn't have to be expensive. Phil

Thanks for the offer but despite my numerous posts on this string I don't actually like cress (other than a bit of watercress in samads)! Phil PS I think this is my 300th post - another landmark in my sad life. PPs And it's grey here too! [:(]

[quote user="pads"]have you been talking to my husband (I jest)[/quote] No, No!  Just there are lots of cows here so they were the first animal that might be white with spots that came to mind ! Phil

We had some bikers travelling home to UK from Dieppe on Transmanche on Monday this week so I rang the company at 7.30am to see if there were any delays to the 12.30 crossing as the weather was so bad in the Channel.  No answer the passenger service number (should have known, really) and no info on the recorded message on the booking service number.  And of course, their website is useless!  So if you find anywhere that covers Transmanche Ferries, please let us know! Phil

Do you have it in writing in the contract for work that he would clear all debris?  Otherwise I'm not sure it will be easy to prove responsibility. Phil

Er, quite.  Let's keep all this in perspective, shall we?  Each to their own and all that? [:)] Phil

Chris Following an earlier post of yours on the subject I'm trying your mulch method on the potatoes - unfortunately they were already planted and growing away when you wrote about it, so I'm just doing the mulhcing part - next year I'll try the surface planting as well.  Thanks for the tip. Phil

How did you guess? [:)] Phil

Not silly at all.  But I thought you would be a cow.

'They' being the tax authorities in France (who else?) and equity investments being investments on the stock exchange (sorry if there's another meaning).  You aren't taxed until you sell your shares - and then obviously only if you've made a profit.

Have you been teaching RI today, Dick? Phil

I don't think this should put you off staying with Brits as a whole, just because some don't cater for animals.  You'll probably find a lot of French owned B&Bs don't take animals either.  But there are plenty of hotels and B&Bs and gites, owned by both Brits and other nationalities, that do take animals, so I'm sure you'll find somewhere without too much trouble.  It's quite usual for strings on this forum to go off at a tangent, regardless of the subject! Phil

Hello cat-like candle thing You may find the answers to your questions if you search for inheritance on the forums (see the little box in the top right of the page).  This recent discussion may help you: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/687721/ShowPost.aspx Phil

Well nothing's happened he

Wow!  We're flying now!  Who turned the wick up? Phil