Lou

Thanks for starting this thread, and for the links, especially the details of the programmes of each party. I think it gives a good summary of the "flavour" of each party. I listen to the station 'Sud Radio' in the car on the way to work each morning - they're currently doing a presidential election slot and have been interviewing some of the candidates or their representatives (doubt if Sarkozy will show up though, will probably send a minion). Yesterday it was Marine Le Pen, this morning José Bové. Interesting. The French people who I've talked to about the election seem to think Hollande will win, but not a lot will change. As someone who works in France, and will probably/possibly end up working here for longer than I worked in the UK, these elections interest me far more than those in the UK. I only wish I could vote - it would be the only reason I'd consider getting French nationality (not because I don't want French nationality but simply because I'm NOT French and never will be, not matter how long I live and work here) Lou

personally I think I'd just get on and change them rather than having to sniff them.......[+o(]

Good Luck Francis - are you in or near a large-ish town/city? I would imagine work is a bit easier to come by in that sort of area (I live in a very rural area!), though obviously it depends on what you looking for. Lou

A very good point Norman, especially in a rural area like this, where I get the feeling that a lot of jobs are filled via word of mouth. Lou

How much does it cost an employer to offer a job of 1 hour per week? Insane..... Do employers have to pay to list with Pole Emploi, do they get any benefit in offering these tiny jobs perhaps?

I think I may have answered part of my own question at least. In case it's useful/interesting for others to know - it seems it used to be the case that the amount you received as unemployment was reduced by a percentage every 6 mths or so, however it was changed around about 2008/2009 (as far as I can tell from internet searching) and now remains the same throughout the period you're entitled to claim. Speaking to a friend, it seems that the Pole Emploi are becoming ever more strict regarding active job hunting, turning down "unsuitable" job offers and sending you off on training courses. All understandable I suppose, especially given the potentially high amounts you could be paid (relative to the UK at least). Lou

Thanks again both. Clair, thanks for the tip. I might've guessed that this organisation would conform to stereotype and not be straightforward! Lou

Thanks Eurotrash - I've read about this but I don't think it can apply, as (unfortunately) we're not looking at a temporary arrangement, or at least not a defined period. Lou

Thanks Clair and Norman Lou

Hi Just wondering if anyone has any recent personal experience they can share. I'm trying to work out what unemployment benefit I would be entitled to. I'm currently working full-time but my boss is going to ask me to change to half-time due to the economic crisis. Before I say yes, I'm trying to compare what I would earn part-time with what I might get if I were to say no and be made redundant. I think I've established that I'd be entitled to be paid for 2 years, but someone I know suggested that the initial amount (roughly 75 % of my salary) is reduced on a sliding scale over that period - ie I wouldn't get the equivalent of 75% salary for the full 2 years, I've searched on Google and read stuff on the service public and pole emploi websites but can't find anything about this. Any help would be appreciated. I am fluent in French so French website links also welcomed. Also, does anyone know if I can contact pole emploi just for advice - the website just talks about signing on, which obviously is not relevant (yet) Thanks Lou  

Robert wrote: " We had stayed in a house in Burgundy last year and the lady(Dutch) who was renovating the house and out buildings was using labour from Poland. She told me that the 'Lads" measured up all her wood work - doors windows rafters etc and then went back to Poland and bought it all there and brought it back in a Van for her. Risky maybe but she told me she saved and absolute fortune on her local costs to do the same -and the quality was outstanding. interesting concept " I know someone locally who used Polish workers on his renovation.......he'd managed to upset others in the village (long story) and apparently someone informed the authorities that he was employing people on the black - the workers were sent home, and the owner was fined 35,000 euros. Once you factor that into the costs, it's probably not saving much. In this instance, he couldn't afford to pay the fine and continue the work - the property is now up for sale. Beware, it can and does happen Lou

"it's just around the corner from the british school so it's quite safe." I don't know the area you're talking about at all, but your comment makes it sound like the reason it's safe is because of the British school !! I'm sure you didn't mean to imply that Brits = safe, French = dodgy, did you?[;-)]

It was -4 when I left the house for work this morning, and I doubt if it's increased much if any since. Has been snowing all morning - car is covered over again now but it doesn't seem to be sticking too much on the pavements/roads. I fear tomorrow morning will be worse once this lot has frozen solid overnight. MeteoFrance (who are sometimes bang on and sometimes wildly inaccurate) suggest v cold for the next two days and then more snow on Sunday - don't care if it snows on Sunday as I can be at home snug in front of the woodburner! Lou

When we drove up to Paris, we actually stayed in a hotel in Versailles which offered free enclosed parking as part of the deal - easy to get to, and easy to get into Paris on the RER; we bought a carnet of tickets (or it's possible to get tickets of variable durations) so it worked out cheaper for the travel into Paris. Admittedly it's about 20 mins on the train but for the three/four days we were there we though it was worth the stress-free part of not trying to drive in/around Paris itself, plus we spent a day in Versailles anyway. May not suit what you're doing but it's a thought Lou

Many thanks for the replies - have looked again at all the info - on photos as well this time!! and now see the bit where it says you don't need a counter-signatory. I was lazy and didn't read absolutely everything - so thanks to you both! Now just got to save up the 185 euros required[:(] That's over 10 % of our monthly income!! Lou

I've just realised OH's passport is due to expire next month, and have searched out the forms etc on the FCO website. There's one thing I'm confused about (and shouldn't be really as I renewed my own passport only 12 months ago but cannot remember what I did then) and that's the counter-signatory - I'm sure that it used to be the case that if you were renewing and enclosing your old passport, you didn't need to get it counter-signed, but I can't find anything anywhere now to confirm this. I don't remember getting mine counter-signed - not a clue who I would've asked to do it. Any help from those of you who've done it recently? Thanks in advance Lou

[quote user="suein56"][quote user="N importequoi"]I'm also going to depost a main portante with the gendarmerie regarding my neighbour's behaviour. [/quote] Could I ask what 'main portante' is ? I've done a google/word reference search but cannot come with anything useful. Is it similar to 'porter plainte'? Sue [/quote] I think that the term is actually "main courante" . It's a more informal declaration that a "plainte" Explained here: http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/F11182.xhtml All the animal protection websites that I've looked at in finding out more about all of this say that you should insist on making a "plainte" - the gendarmes don't have the right not to accept it, but if they do (this is France after all) you can write direct to the Procureur.

Thanks Sweet and N'importe quoi for your kind thoughts. Our cat is doing remarkably well, all things considered. I'm being given the run-around by the gendarmes at the mo, but have insisted and have an appointment to make the report this afternoon. I didn't expect much, and that's exactly what I'm getting! He told me of another case in the local area, and the Parquet declined to take it any further, essentially saying that it was the owner's fault for allowing their animal to wander onto other people's property..............there are other ways of deterring a cat than shooting it in the head for heaven's sake! We've also had people blame foxes for our cats disappearing - interestingly our vet says he's never heard of or seen cases of cats being taken by foxes.... In any case we will follow up this ourselves with the Maire and the Chasse, and make sure the maximum number of people see the photo and x-ray we have of the cat - both of which are shocking to see but I don't care if anyone finds it distressing. lou

This is a timely thread as we just found our cat on saturday in a terrible state - he had been missing for several weeks. Straight off to the vet - he had to have surgery to remove an eye. The vet took an x-ray and the whole of one side of his head is littered with lead-shot. The vet has told us that the amount of pellets and distribution means that this was a deliberate, close-range, targeted shot. This afternoon we are going to the gendarmerie to lodge a complaint. The vet is going to provide us with a copy of the x-ray and a signed attestation describing the cat's condition. It is ILLEGAL to shoot a domestic cat - doesn't matter as far as I can tell, where it is or what it's doing..... In six years of living in France we have lost 8 cats - without a trace, no remains ever found (and believe me we searched high and low). Now with this ninth incident we suspect we have the answer to what's been happening to them. We've spoken with the mayor and the head of the chasse in our village - he has sworn several times that nobody here shots cats...... when we present him with the tube of lead-shot and x-ray pic he's going to have to eat his words. We have said that we won't have any more cats now - and expect everyday for something to happen to the two left to us, or for them to disappear too. Lou

Some of the tests are pretty basic, and I'm not entirely sure how much "unknown" conditions they might pick up - but it can't hurt. For  example the eyesight test I had was very basic but as I wear glasses I go regularly to the ophthalmologist anyway. I think it's worthwhile, especially if you're lucky enough not to see your doctor on a regular basis. Lou

I thought it was just automatic - we had invitations several years ago and ignored them, then got sent another invitation a few years later which we signed up for. I think it's a good idea - mine picked up a urine infection I wasn't aware of, plus reassurance regarding chloresterol and stuff like that. as someone else said, it was all free, and we were reimbursed for travel expenses. We had no contact with our doctor beforehand - though he did get sent the results, and all follow-ups (eg urine infection) were with him. Lou

I'm younger than you all![:D] 3,773,985,295th

When times have been hard (and still are!), my husband and I have a silly challenge for Xmas. We like to have presents to open on the day, but can't afford to spend a lot of money so we set ourselves a budget (say 20 euros - or has been as low as 10) and the challenge is to buy as many presents as possible for that amount. We usually end up with a dozen or so little packets to open - and the sillier the present the better! So we spend Xmas morning surrounding by wrapping paper and laughing ourselves stupid..... Lou

The site Frederick quoted also has up to date info on this year's observations: http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/grues/point_sur_la_migration.htm# and figures for previous year's over-wintering: http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/grus-grus/donnee_mig/point_mig.htm it seems my figures of 600-700 for Puydarrieux were somewhat off - more like 2.500 - 3.000 observed last year!! Lou (hope the links work)

There's usually 600-700 (I haven't actually counted them myself! figures from the Bird/Nature Reserve) who over-winter on the lake near us - dept 65 Puydarrieux - and every day during the winter they fly overhead on their way to and from the lake to feed in the surrounding fields. Absolutely wonderful and very distinctive call they have. Haven't seen or heard any yet but I'd say compared to previous years it's a week or two early yet Lou