hastobe

Now if I could just get this derned tape off..... Kathie

[quote user="BJSLIV"]I don't think the inhabitants of rural Wales, Shropshire, Herefordshire or similar places would top the list of those heading for France. [/quote] I guess the fact we come from the Peak District explains why we are keeping a foot in the UK then... [Www] Kathie

The following may be useful: ASSOCIATION HUNTINGTON FRANCE 42, 44 Rue du Chateau des Rentiers 75013 PARIS, FRANCE Tel: 33 - 1 - 5360 0879; Mobile: 06-7213 0958 Fax: 33 - 1- 5360 0899 Email: [email protected] Website: huntington.fr FÉDÉRATION HUNTINGTON ESPOIR 20, Le Mas au Lièvre - BP26 F-57645 NOISSEVILLE, France Tel /Fax: 33-3-8776 6165 GSM: (+33) 06 07 23 62 12 Email: [email protected]   [email protected] Website: www.huntington.asso.fr From the inheritance perspective, it was my understanding that the Huntingdons Chorea is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern i.e. each child of someone with HC has a 50 : 50 chance of inheriting the disorder.  Only recessive genes skip a generation.  For this reason, the genetic tests are an accurate predictor of whether someone has the gene and so will go on to develop symptoms.  The whole issue of whether or not to have the test is another matter and brings up all sorts of issues such as ability to get a mortgage / insurance cover etc, how to deal (emotionally) with such a diagnosis, reaction of friends, colleagues, employer - even family members. (One of my sister's patients was divorced by his, then, wife when she discovered his diagnosis - and ironically their daughter (who stayed with her mother) went on to develop the disease herself and is now having terrible problems whenever she needs respite care - she is now feeling 'rejected' by her mother - as her father was.)  It is not an obvious or easy decision to be tested for a serious genetic disorder.  Kathie

Our thoughts (after many years of 'holiday' France) was that one day we would retire to France - and enjoy the relaxed way of life, the beautiful scenery, weather etc. But, for the reasons described very eloquently above, we have now decided we need to keep one foot in Blighty.  My first shock was chatting to a Parisien couple who had 'downsized' for a more relaxed life and bought a B&B in SW France.  Their B&B was very successful and their renovations had featured in the french equivalent of Home & Gardens but - their son had had a horrendous time settling into school.  His parents had had professional jobs before decamping to SW France and so he had travelled and done many of the things Brit kids take for granted.  In contrast, many of his peers in the local village school had never even seen the sea (just an hour or so away) never mind visited the States, the Caribbean, the Far East etc.  Similarly many of the mums didn't work, didn't have any academic qualifications - or any aspirations.  They had nothing in common with their new neighbours. To be frank, with the exception of  a couple of English neighbours, we have found the same.  Don't get me wrong, our neighbours are very nice, wonderfully helpful and friendly - but they have nothing in common with us.  They are from entirely different professional and socio economic groups. We still love France - and still plan to spend a good deal of our retirement here - but we will be keeping our foothold in the UK, and we plan to travel as often as we can - to avoid vegetating! Having said all of that, I am still of the opinion that the UK is not the utopia that all those frustrated with life in France think it is.  The UK has slid dramatically over the last twenty years.  In the same way that the long standing French residents acuse newcomers of wearing 'rose tinted' glasses I think some of the longstanding French residents are looking back at the UK with the same rose coloured hues.  Both countries have their good and bad points - we are hoping  that by keeping a foot in each camp we get to enjoy the good bits that both have to offer. Kathie

We use the Italian screw together coffee pots too.  We've tried the push down cafetiere types and the pod machines and, imho, the italian coffee pots makes the best coffee - good flavour and nice and hot.  We have one in UK and one in France. Kathie

One thing I would mention (if you are a keen skiier) is the snow in noth Pyrenees and Massif Central is pretty unpredicatable and I am guessing this will only get worse with the progression of global warming. We are now in mid / late Feb and, when I last checked, (a few days ago) the resorts in Pyrenees and Massif Central were still showing insufficient snow to ski with slopes closed.  If you want reliable snow you need to be looking at the Alps - and the higher Alps at that. Kathie

[quote user="Ron Avery"][quote user="J.R."] Most french people that I meet ask me what I do for a living. [/quote]   It is very much an English trait which seeks to pigeon hole the person above or below the standing of the other person based on the outdated class system in the UK. [/quote] Seems a logical thing to ask to me - after all as you spend most of your waking hours at work its a pretty important part of your life. Kathie

We've been asked several times what we do for a living. Kathie

I guess the same question could be levelled at you, TU, and your obvious hang up about all things French.  Is it France or is it you with the problem?? Kathie

Although messy it is possible to clean stone by sand blasting in an occupied house.  We have done it twice in our UK house - once to clean the stone wall in the kitchen and the other time to clean the stone inglenook fireplace.   We closed / taped off as much of the area as we possibly could, moved out anything that was delicate / sensitive to dust. Everything else we covered with sheets etc etc.  Then we did an awful lot of cleaning and dusting afterwards!  It was a pain but well worth hte finish we got. Kathie

[quote user="pugwash"]Kathie,  I do not know anything about your circumstances, but have you really looked at it?, when I was forced out of work last year 6 years early at that time, I was in a panic because I couldn't find another equivalent job, and I knew there was no way I was going to stack shelves at Tesco at the behest of a snotty 22 yr old with 2 gce's, so I really had to look at my circumstances, and I found that with the obvious trimming of expectations I could afford to stop work if we moved to France (actually I would be even better off if we wnt to Bulgaria or Brazil, but you cannot go too far from the grandchildren). Having resigned ourselves to the lower expectations we find we will be reasonably comfortable with enough fallback, and we are now looking forward to settling down in Normandy and seeing out our time in a lovely garden surrounded by fruit and not trees, with regular visits from family, and still able to go back ourselves a couple of times a year. Give it some thought [/quote] Unfortunately we have two boys who will still be in the UK school system for the next four years so even if  we could do the sums we still couldn't make the move without causing major disruption to them.  [:(] Kathie

[quote user="Iceni"][quote user="hastobe"] But this what happens to people in the UK who die intestate - which is the bulk of people.  My closest friend lost her husband and had to wait for months living hand to mouth while probate was granted etc.  Then under the UK  rules of intestacy she then had to watch while her two teenage sons spent (in the space of less than twelve months) a substantial part of the assets that she and her deceased husband had worked hard to accumulate.  As I recall each son spent roughly the value of a modest detached house - with absolutely nothing to show for it at the end. Granted, for those that do plan, the french system is worse, but th UK system is far from perfect. Kathie [/quote] Blaming the UK rules for those who choose to die intestate is unfair. If your friend and her late husband had not wanted teenage but presumably adult (sic) children to squander the money they should have taken action to prevent it. One of the few certainties in life is death. We all know it is going to happen and have adequate time to prepare for it. The French system is different, but well documented, and is one of many factors to be taken into account before moving. If concerns as to what happens to my money when I shuffle off is important to me then responsibility rests with me to do something about it. John not     [/quote] Sorry John - it may seem obvious to you. in your 'more senior years' to make a will but it would never occur to most twenty somethings.  And sudden tragic death leaves the survivor with enough to deal with without having to cope without any money for a long period of time while probate is being sought and then dealing with the vagaries of a forced pattern of inheritance.  In both France and the UK many of the inheritance issues can be avoided with advance planning but similarly both systems give unwanted outcomes without some thought ahead of time. Kathie

[quote user="LanguedocGal2"]Hastobe, I think it's irresponsible not to leave a will. In France, the govt decides for you and that's what I object to. [/quote] I agree - but I don't think she anticipated being a widow at 26!  If you don't have a will then, as in France, the UK government decides who inherits. On the subject of 'the best time to buy' - we have always bought houses on the basis of what we need as a family / couple.  Although concious of making wise fiancial choices - the need to 'make money' has alway been secondary.  After all if you are living in the house its just paper money and only of any value if you downsize - which with three kids was always a long way off for us.  Much more important were factors such as quality of life, environment, schools etc (which, I guess, drive prices). Like some who have already posted, our choice to buy in France was partly driven by: the lower house prices which will allow us to release capital and so have better quality retirement, our love of France and a desire to be in a warmer (or more acurately a drier) environment due to my health issues.  I'm sure the value of our French house will go up (and quite possibly down) over the years we will own it but the changes are irrelevant.   Our only frustration atm is that our retirement is still 4 years off and in the meantime we are not getting the use out of our house that we would like - and for that reason only we wonder if we bought at the 'right time'. Kathie

[quote user="LanguedocGal2"]Re succession laws I know we can't take it with us but if I only have a tenner left when I do kick the bucket, I prefer to decide where and to whom it goes.  I don't need some govt to make that decision for me based on 200 year old laws. I sincerely hope to outlive those daft laws in any case. [/quote] But this what happens to people in the UK who die intestate - which is the bulk of people.  My closest friend lost her husband and had to wait for months living hand to mouth while probate was granted etc.  Then under the UK  rules of intestacy she then had to watch while her two teenage sons spent (in the space of less than twelve months) a substantial part of the assets that she and her deceased husband had worked hard to accumulate.  As I recall each son spent roughly the value of a modest detached house - with absolutely nothing to show for it at the end. Granted, for those that do plan, the french system is worse, but th UK system is far from perfect. Kathie

[quote user="Coco"]My mum tells me pigs trotters are lovely but can't quite bring myself to try those, although OH keeps asking me to get some, especially since he saw that they are only about 30 cents each! [/quote] Love them - and used to have them a lot as a child (in England) - cheap and nutritious - according to my mum! Especially with broad beans, new potatoes and home made parsley sauce....mmmmm Kathie

[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] [/quote] My thoughts too - I was just looking forward to list of good 'French' books to get my teeth into - and they're all English books!  I only started French lesssons a little over a year ago so not up to anything 'heavy' but I have enjoyed some of the Marcel Pagnol books, read a few of the Maigret novels (definitely not heavy french!) and I'm now reading 'Et si c'etait vrai' by Marc Levy (french 'chic lit' I'm afraid!). Any recommendations of other books around this level gratefully received.... Kathie ps apologies for any typos / lack of accents but just had reconstructive surgery on right shoulder so it's one handed typing atm [:(]

[quote user="Andyphilpott"]Kathie - do you really believe that the extra revenue raised will be used by government to cut global warming? No chance. [/quote] I don't for one minute think that the government will use the additional revenues to tackle global warming - I was making the point that I think they should. Most flights are probably unnecessary - to be frank.  We try to fly as little as possible and, when we do, contribute to environmental credits to try to counteract the environmental effects of our choices.  Sadly there are insufficient environmentally friendly choices available (trains being ridiculously expensive for example).   Simple ways of reducing the effects of travel are to travel less frequently  - but stay longer. Kathie

I agree the headline price should be the actual price - including all taxes etc. It's misleading advertising.  Particularly the additional charges for baggage (even if you tick the 'no baggage' option with Ryanair another tariff is added to your bill!). Why - you haven't purchased any 'extras'?  And the credit card charge per passenger per flight is ridiculous - you make one payment - so why not one charge?  (Btw you can avoid this by paying with an electron card - we got one from our bank just to book flight tickets with!)  It may only be a 'small' tax - but it's one of many new 'small' taxes - dressed up as something else by dear old Mr Brown.  Again - its misleading and dishonest.  Mr Brown doesn't want to be seen doing a U turn on his election promise  - so he introduces 'levies', 'duties', additional NI, freezes tax free bands etc - because of course these are not actually taxes are they? However, in this case I agree with the taxes on flights / fuel etc.  I firmly believe that flight prices should be increased substantially to reduce the number of unnecessary flights taken.  However, I also believe that the additional funds raised should be applied to measures that mitigate global warming. Kathie

[quote user="Tresco"][quote user="Just Katie "]So I guess Tresc is 45 [/quote] Hardly a guess Katie. Of couse I am 45. [/quote] Snap - but only by a few weeks...[:)] Kathie

[quote user="Chouette"]Hi Zap My husband and I visited Canada for a month a few years back and absolutely loved it which is why we considered emigrating there.  We flew to Calgary, travelled across the rockies to Banff and then onto Vancouver and Vancouver Island.  Flew from there to Toronto, then drove up to Ottawa and Montreal.  We adored Vancouver and that's where we would have liked to have lived if we had emigrated; either there or the Okanagan.  We will most definitely go back there one day.......... In the meantime and for the foreseeable future, we're busy building and enjoying our new life in France [/quote] We have good friends who emigrated there twenty five years ago and who have tried (many times!) to persuade us to join them. I've visited them many times (and travelled across Canada) and love the beautiful (stunning!) scenery. However, the one thing that always put me off were the long winters.  Having  (more recently) seen them dealing with the issue of having elderly and sick family in the UK they want to spend time with, but now also having children settled in Canada, I'm glad we never joined them.  Ironically, they are now seriously talking about returning to the UK - a decision that has also encouraged us to try to maintain a foothold in the UK rather than throw ourselves into the french life lock, stock and barrel. Kathie  

[quote user="Cassis"] The Northumberland beaches have to be seen to be believed, by the way.  Almost enough to make you believe there is a God (which could explain why the monks set up shop at Lindisfarne, the wild and rugged island just off the coast accessible by causeway at low tide). [/quote] Northumberland is stunningly beautiful - we have family who live there and a few years ago they had a fabulous barn conversion along The Wynding in Bamburgh (they live near to Alnwick castle now). From their lounge you could see the Farne Islands through one window and Bamburgh castle through another - and step through the gate at the end of their garden and you were on the sand dunes.  Heaven!!  If we could have afforded somewhere like that we probably wouldn't have bought a place in France - though I have to say its a tad more bracing up there [;-)] Kathie

The foil may be an anti-damp covering?  In which case, if you are going to repaper, it may be better to simply apply the new paper over the top of the foil.  Of course, if it is a damp-proof membrane it would also be worth trying to find out what is causing the damp in the first place. Kathie

Snowed in atm - so I'm redecorating the study...and, quite literallly, 'waiting for paint to dry!'.  And this thread seems as entertaining a way to wait as any [;-)]...though I'm sure I could think of a hundred other things to do [:D] Kathie

It seems that a lot of the people who say they are bored only look at the range of things that they could do that would benefit themselves.  The only people (imho) who can genuinely complain about boredom are those who are too sick, frail, elderly or disabled to change their circumstances. If you are bored - get off your backside and find something to do. On the other hand if you are trapped in France by financial hardship, family relationships etc then that is a whole other ball game.  But (imho) the two scenarios are worlds apart. Kathie

[quote user="Dick Smith"]No, Pads, I am serious. SB doesn't need to be insulted like this for telling the truth - please don't aid and abet the insulter - this isn't a case where a little throwaway remark makes it all better. [/quote] Which rather implies that's SB's comments are far more valuable than those that followed.  Ironic that your post seemed to be just as insulting.  There's no point criticising someone then doing exactly the same Dick - unless its was your intention to flatter by mimicry?  I'd forget the milk Pad's - Dick will only turn it sour Kathie