Bob

I'm led to believe that Jeys fluid will rid me of a fly infestation. can Jeys be obtained in france or what is the french equivalent please? Bob

I have reached the UK retirement age and am now living in France on a very modest UK pension. I have over 50 years experience as a Bricklayer/Mason and vast experience in most other "wet" trades. I might also add that I have considerable supervisory experience. I feel that I still have a service to offer and whist I am still fit and able and possibly prone to going "Stir Crazy" I would like to use some of my "retirement" time earning a small wage to perhaps go towards my bar bill! I'm sure the question has appeared on this forum many times but can anyone tell me the cheapest/easiest way to go about getting some legal work? I have been offered some building work by a resident English builder who tells me that he can't employ me via Cheque emploi as he is a micro enterprise! Is this true? I am getting very confused by this whole thing, as my Insurance man, who is French, ensures me that as a Micro Enterprise, the builder can emploi me under cheque emploi by obtaining a form from his bank for a Company, not an individual?? Please don't mention applying for a siret No. as the French absurd but compulsory social charges would be too prohibitive for my potential earnings and I would have to charge in excess of 30 Euros an hour and work a full 35/40 hour week. I have been to the Chamber De metier, who have explained all the charges to me, and, because of my experience as self-employed in the UK, I could register without having to go on the Tax course. I have of course considered the Cheque Emploi route via another prospective employer, but who says it would involve him paying a large percentage of earnings to the French government. Is there anyway that I can legaly work/ offer my services in France without all the masses of formfilling and burocratic shannanigans? Because of my 'old' age....I don't expect to be working flat out and, probably not at all in the next 3 or 4 years time...... I have no ambitions to "fiddle" the taxman or avoid paying my dues for insurance etc. I only want to work a few legal and insured days a week to suppliment a very modest lifestyle for me and my wife. I have no French language that will cope with the complexities of the French rules on this matter The information I keep getting about cheque emploi is very confusing........does anyone know the actual rules applying to Employers in this matter?

I'm toying with the idea of installing a wet room in a spare ground floor 4m2 room, but after a look on various wet room sites `I realise that it is not as simple as say installing a shower tray. Has anyone any experience of a wet room project and where can one buy in France the waterproof liner, tray etc?

I recently saw a large (about 25 M2) exterier block wall that had been plastered with a coloured Crepie. Is a sand/cement backing coat recommended first or does one simply spray/ apply the Crepie directly on to the block wall? I was most impressed with the finished job but after a coupla weeks, staining at the ground level has already made an unsightly mark. How does one stop the bottom of the wall from collecting muck? In the UK we used bell mouth angle bead about 6 ins above ground level but the French don't seem to bother with this! Bob Preston

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Bob"]Is their an English language version? [/quote] Not as far as I can see... but why should there be??? There's no Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish or Polish version either...[:-))][/quote] If this was a UK based forum. then legislation would insist that there be an Urdu, Arabic. Hindustani, Pakistani plus now most of the now former eastern Bloc languages as well. Only joshin ya..honest.

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Bob"]Is their an English language version? [/quote] Not as far as I can see... but why should there be??? There's no Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish or Polish version either...[:-))][/quote] If this was a UK based forum. then legislation would insist that there be an Urdu, Arabic. Hindustani, Pakistani plus now most of the now former eastern Bloc languages as well. Only joshin ya..honest.

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="Bob"]Is their an English language version? [/quote] Not as far as I can see... but why should there be??? There's no Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish or Polish version either...[:-))][/quote] If this was a UK based forum. then legislation would insist that there be an Urdu, Arabic. Hindustani, Pakistani plus now most of the now former eastern Bloc languages as well. Only joshin ya..honest.

Is their an English language version?

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply very comprehensively to my query.  It is very helpful. Our joint income is much lower than the ceiling to qualify, so we will investigate further......... One further question...do you know if they take savings into account?  Not that we have much left from what we originally came out here with, and we are using this to supplement our housekeeping budget, so, as you can imagine it is dwindly fast, and neither my wife or myself have much chance of employment at our ages. Regards Bob

I am sure this have been covered before in the forum, but I have a query on my Top Up Insurance Premium.  I am currently living in France and my only income is a  basic UK state pension. I am covered by an E121 as I am retired (68), and have a carte vitale. My total income is such that I am excempt from Tax D'habitation, but I pay Tax Fonciere! (although this is minimal, because of my income.) Question:-  Do I have to pay for Top Up Insurance to make sure I am fully covered for Medical problems? The reason I ask is because the premium I have been paying and the renewal notice for my Top Up and that of my wife, (who is a dependant) is approx. 20% of my total income, which is a big chunk out of our housekeeping budget. I would like to add, that  myself and my wife, who has paid NHI contributions for the past 40 years+ have been fortunate so far in not having any serious health problems. My wife has been here on her E106 for the past 18 months, which has now expired, and she is tranferring to my E121 as an independant. Any contructive advice would be most appreciated, or if anyone can guide me to the appropriate page if it has already been covered, I would be grateful. Bob

erm..daryl Well said sir. but can you tell me if there is a version of OO that will run on my Mac? I don't realy need another WP but I'm intrigued by all the letters regarding and praising OO. My wife has a laptop windows machine so she may be interested in OO. Bob Preston. Vendee

 Hi Rob, My hubbi, Bob, pointed me to your question re: setting up a business. I find this subject quite interesting as I am in the process of applying to start my own business as I am a qualified holistic therapist. I studied in the UK for 5 years at extreme expense to myself to get qualified. I have since discovered that to gain employment in my particular field here in France, I would have to re-qualify with the equivalent French body, which is further expense and more years of studying (the same subject, may I add). So, no go there.... I registered as un-employed some months ago without any hassle. The only info my local ANPE required to allow me to register was copies of my last P45, and  any details that I had of my salary and employment in the UK. So, not having secured employment since I registered, my Councellor at ANPE has directed  me to my local Chamber of Commerce for assistance in setting up as self-employed. I have been told that  because I have been registered un-employed for 6 months, the up-front costs are zero. I have yet to find out the validity of this when I go to the Chamber of Commerce next week. (No doubt some readers will know different......) But, if I find anything of value to you, or indeed, anyone else in my situation, I will pass the info on......so....watch this space...... Sorry I cannot help further at this stage... Bob's better half...

A bit late now but heres another old saying Beechwood fires are bright and clear if the wood is kept a year Chesnut is only good they say  if for a year 'tis laid away Birch and fir logs burn too fast blaze up bright and do not last It is by the Irish sed Hawthorne bakes the sweetest bread Elmwood burns like churchyard mould even the very flames are cold Poplar gives off bitter smoke fills ya eyes and makes you choke. Applewood will scent your room with an incense like perfume Oak if mainly dry and old  helps to keep out winter cold, but Ashwood wet or Ashwood dry A king can warm his slippers by.

loved all the chat about rabbits. Does anyone happen know of a rabbit breeder in the Vendee? I'm ..er.. talking edible rather than cuddley

What a lovely story. Here's mine. Saw my first opened out daff of the year on Sat 04,03.06 growing in the Vendee  where I live

Yes Pete. we do live in a bootiful part of France. Quite rural, nearest town Lucon, about 9 miles away. We have a slow running river about 200 meters away, with reputedly lots of fish! No grafiti, no hooligans, very few English speakers  altho we have met one or two other expats who live a couple of miles away. The only real gripes are that their is no handy little open all hours shop, and the DIY and builders merchants arn't very close either.  Due to the usual Brit urge to renovate (is it summat genetic?) we spend so much time in  La Roche Sur Yon 's Brico Depot that the manager is thinking about charging us rent. I have read the classic Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence and can assure you that that delightfully lighthearted piece literature is a long way from our experience. Due to language difficulties a dodgy wood burner and a plumbing system that could be of interest to an industrial archeologist, We are about to sue for our ..I think .. .4th divorce but will probably think it over..again.. after a glass or two of the local brew.  Absolute Utopia it is not, but certainly better than what we left behind in the UK.  err.. I'm about to get in full flight again  Pete. I had better log off now. Now where did I put that glass?

Two volvo estates! wow you must of had it bad. What is your location or other contact details? I would love to come over and have a rummage. My Ph No. is 0251 30 80 34  Sincerly  Bob

Hiya Mika Cotisations were not what I was really concerned with. I'm no accountant only a simple workman and will accept that dues are an inevitable part of life. I'm just bemoaning the fact that to pay cotisations one must first get into the employment system. I understand the catch 22 predicament of any government trying to lessen the tax burden. They will be dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. But in simple terms we all have a budget to live to, unfortunately most of us live according to our means plus some. My own working life and earnings have been a see saw roundabout  and when I was earning big bucks I/we tended to live to the extent of those earnings, consequently when things wern't quite so rosy it was difficult but not impossible to  reduce the current life style. But at least I could always get a better job and opportunities were there if I had the wherewithall or energy to take advantage. If  I was a young man with a family in todays France, I would have serious concerns for the future. Because I was the class dunce at school it was deemed by my parents that an apprenticship in the building industry was gonna be my lot. Not many kids have that sort of choice today in France or the UK do they? I'm not very politically aware and only  understand some of the  problems that face any French Government.  But I am..I think.. blessed with a tad of common sense, and that sense tells me that to kickstart any economy ‘Let's get 'em all working. Please let me be able to perhaps legally sell a few vegetables, eggs or small livestock from my own garden gate, allow me to set up a simple market stall or open a shop without a mass of autocracy and a mountain of paper to wade thro first'.  Maggie Thatcher (not my Fav person) understood basic home economics, and ruthlessly applied that logic to cure the UK of some of it's ills. Perhaps a touch of Thatcherism would make the French economists sit up and take notice.  Yes Miki, I am certainly guilty of some cliche'ism. I'm no writer and have no scruples when it comes to a cliche or two or even a touch of plagiarism, and I envy those who can command a living with the pen. But I have strong opinions on the above subject/s and find it difficult to hold my tongue/pen.  Anyway from the response,  it seems that I have prompted a few other folks to express their views. At least France is a 'free' country and one can express ones views without the risk of  a Gendarme hammering at ya front door at 3 am in the morning.  Anyway, that's my moan for today done, But watch this space.

Many thanks Will for your very lucid reply. You also brought up a couple of revalent ponts that I have never considered. I didn't want to get on the campaigne trail with this, but I do feel very strongly about any sort of wasteage. I have often remonstrated with the young aand talented for wasting their God given aptitudes. My own now grownup kids have felt my wrath on such matters,and it sincerly hurts me to watch young French-n-Brit  kids  with no prospects due to mainly to outdated, and  zenaphobic attitudes by those in power. France is a great country with much to offer the world. But it doesn't seem to realise that the world is now a relativly small place and that no man is an island. watch this space!

Snap, I also wanna ask the same question. I am... a supposed to be... semi retired Bricklayer/mason/builder and my wife is an accountant or was in the UK till last year when we came to France.  We would both like to set up a small business of some sort, but not necessarily related to our former UK occupations. We have made some tentative (we remembered  the can of worms story) enquiries and it seems that setting up even a small modest side line is a nightmare of bureaucratic form filling, and incurring social charges that almost amount to the national debt of a small African country. The monies levied and demanded are, even before the proposed business is earning a sou ...if it weren’t true.. Laughable.  There must be thousands, nay possibly tens of thousands of folks in France who would be a positive asset to France if they were allowed to without difficulty set up honest businesses or simply gain employment. I have read somewhere that the powers that be, are making or going to make employment, self employment, and starting a small business less arduous.  Can anyone enlighten me on the latest legislation please?  I hear that due to French bureaucracy, many skilled and unskilled operatives are driven to working on the black. Black working is not only highly illegal it  must also cost France millions. I'm not naive enough to think that tax dodgers/evaders/fiddlers will suddenly develop social consciences and disappear overnight (France doesn't have a monopoly on red tape) but many potentially productive Brit immigrants are reluctantly returning to the UK because of lack of work opportunities. There are of course many other reasons why immigrants return to their native countries, but their stories are better recounted elsewhere and are not part of this brief here. I have written a similar artical on other forums and of course I realise that some of my comments are generalised and I'm sure the PC brigade and nit pickers will be queuing up to shoot me down.Unfortunatly the above is how France is  seen to be by many ex pats. Most of us  came here for  a glass or two of inexpensive wine,  a tad more sunshine than the UK has to offer. and a fairly stressless lifestyle. Utopian employment and rewards most of us are not demanding or expecting. I'm of an age group where my skills or person are not so in demand. but what about all those younger potentially productives going to waste?

Cheers Peter

Many thanks to all who replied to my query.

Does anyone know of a scrap (car reclaimation) yard in the Lucon/St Hermine area, Dept 85 Vendee. I note that most cars on the road are what is termed in the UK as 'Tidy' so the bangers and French MOT failures must be stored somewhere. I need some parts for my 1988 Volvo 240 estate

can anyone recommend a reliable english speaking builder for working in dept 85 Lucon/ST. Hermine area

Lookin for reputable boarding kennels for two dogs in August 06. preferably in the Lucon dept 85 Vendee area.both dogs are fully vaccinated and insured. E-mail [email protected]