Judith

Can anybody give me a sensible idiomatic French expression for our "why keep a dog and bark yourself?" All enquiries of French friends so far drawn a blank.

Sue My sister got stuck at Bergerac Mon 27 Mar - given Ryanair's no to rebook (suspect the Irish one) and couldn't get through. No internet at holiday home. Nephew failed that evening on the internet though before it collapsed he got a Wed flight but couldn't complete. Next morning she rang me in UK. I failed on internet (didn't like the bookign codes as given to me by sister - or system overwhelmed possibly??). I phoned UK office and after about 30 mins engaged finally got through. By then first available flights for Thursday, but they did get back, late, that THursday night. Moral: take UK and French Ryanair nos (not the same, know which is which) and re-book asap. And persevere! Both internet and phones likely to be busy and overused. Just heard on the news that Chirac is backing down somewhat on the CPE, so may be this may all soon be coming to an end. Hope so, I travel out Wed, by train!

I now drive more in France than the UK though I still live in the UK, don't need a car much in C London. Every time I would get in someone's car in the UK I would think they were driving on the wrong side. Getting more used to the LHD in France now, though still try to get in the wrong door sometimes! But, when I had to hire a car last week in the UK, no problems with door side etc, but I spent quite a while with my hand wondering around the door handle to find the gear lever before I realised why! Got better during the journey, but still tried now and then to change gear with the wrong hand. The most difficult thing I found transferring was looking in the rear view mirror - automatic in UK (well having driven for almost 40 years not surprising) but the first LHD I had I used the wing mirror - I just could not get used to looking to the right! But even that is not occuring now (after 5-6 times with LHD) I was told that it takes several years to become confident in LHD mode - I have not yet tried to drive a LHD car in the UK. Now that be interesting......

Thanks - I had forgotten Toulouse (how could I?) which could be as near. And a specs-selling optician may also be able to advise which is the best place for emergency treament, and I will ask some contacts when I am in France next. So I am prepared if the worst happens.

Opas - thanks - and glad you can see again - isn't it such a relief! As you surmise I am still working (and living) here in Central London, but hubby is already retired and thus living permanently in our house in France and I will join him when I retire. But yes, I am spending as much time as I can in France, so I wanted to be prepared - when retinas go, the faster you get to the right place for help the better the chance of a full repair. But you also want to know you are in the right place as the wrong treatment could be even worsel I did ask at Moorfields when I went for a check up for my large floater (they think a large blood vessel burst in my eye, and it took weeks to settle to the stage it now has - still irritating but nothing more they can do) and the consultant was less than helpful - as though she did not understand the different system in France. Since we are in the Aude, it may be that I should investigate Montpellier hospital (which is likely to be the main point for the region), but also ask around. Certainly if they deal with special syndromes such as that your daughter has - they should be able to deal with lesser eye problems one would think. Cheers

Very shortsighted at -5! Try being -15 and -17! With astigmatism, retinopathy of prematurity (ie very bad floaters and clouds, increased possibility of retina detaching suddenly) plus the need to wear varifocals, and plastic is far too thick, and then you have problems. I usually need to change my glasses at least every two years (c£500 a pair with c£32 reduction from the NHS for a complex prescription, so you lot in France (even perhaps Opas with whom I sympathise) don't know you've been born! Whilst I can (just) see to put clothes on and walk around somewhere I know, there is no detail without glasses, so I always have spare (or two or three - they don't go to the returns bin until I really can't see out of them, as anything is better than nothing!) My experience in France when my glasses have got bent (and they DO need to fit exactly for me to see properly) is to find the nearest optician and see what they can do. I admit a refit is not the same as a new pair, but [again] my experience is of opticians always being as helpful as is needed - they can see that they are a complex pair and understand how dependent you are on them. And I've always come away happy. Now all I need is to find the equivalent of Moorfields in SW France in case my retina goes suddenly - as did my husband's (only -10) and my sister's (something comparable to me). Immediate entry to the best eye hospital (Moorfields) (husband) and a brilliant specialist (Addenbrookes) (sister - who nearly lost her sight) saved the day for both of them. So - who can help with that one - please? Meanwhile - if you are now able to read again Opas, hope all goes well - suggest you get a second pair to ensure this won't happen again, and hang the cost. As you say, anything is better than not being able to see. From one myopic to another - good luck

Hastobe My apolgies - it is chiropody I am too young to get on the NHS. I do have one pair of orthotics from the NHS but can only wear them in one pair of shoes (my slippers!) so when I needed a design more appropriate for the majority of my shoes I went private. NHS is fine if you only wear a certain style of shoe, (but I am woman enough to want to try to look elegant when I ca) and can wait in a queue for treatment. As I walk to work waiting wasn't an option, else I couldn't do the walk. I think my problems are much less than your club foot and for that and other such serious problems, I would assume that all help is available via the NHS. I am however, reassured as it is obvious that orthotics are to be found in France - again from the prices quoted, considerably more cheaply than I paid for the two I had done privately here. So the French health service still wins over the UK!

Val I can't help re the French system as I am still paying for my foot care in the UK privately, but when I retire to France I will be needing to know this also. My orthotics (the name for the inserts) are the only thing that has kept me being able to walk the distances I do (to get to work and back!) for the last 8 years, but like yours they too are getting beyond their sell by date, and I am noticing the difference, now also affecting my hips, so it could be that a replacement orthotic is the best way forward for you as for me. I sympathise - there is almost nothing worse than painful feet. (And this is not the place for everyone else to discuss what they think is more painful than feet - please!) Because of this I have (almost) given up on smart shoes! I would have thought from my (admittedly) limited knowledge as yet of the Fr health service that you will find someone - but costs of treatment may depend on whether they are within the public or private sector, and what your top-up covers. I have certainly seen brass plates for chiropodists in town centres etc. There are probably people more knowledgable than who can contribute to whether this treatment is also available on the state. As I am not old enough to qualify for NHS "free" treatment for either chiropody or my orthotics, I pay (through the nose of course) privately, but at least it has kept me mobile! Good luck!

[quote user="johnv"] they charge you £7 for using a credit card .. [/quote] Looks like the credit card charge has gone up as well - I booked 1 March for a trip over Spring BH and my credit card charge was only £3.50. And in case you don't think you got a good deal. John, (if you did get it at £29.99) booking almost 2 mths in advance, my total return fare (sans insurance but all other taxes etc) was £92 - still in this case it was cheaper than the train, which is still my preferred option .....much more civilised......

Indeed, been there too! At one time we thought we'd never make it - but we did - but I see the problem, can't book till you know when the meeting is and then no choice.... low cost seems only to work for those who can be flexible - and this is not always the case. In the end we just had to go for the best price we could get on the agreed dates, not cheap, but could have been worse! Good luck - but I'm sure you'll get there - plenty others have already proved it does somehow all work out in the end!

John My experience is that it depends - on business. I watched one (Xmas) flight increase steadily, then - suddenly - there was an offer on it and I got it cheap. Though the general concensus with the low-cost is the nearer you get to flying the dearer they become - the opposite (usually) with the likes of BA. Since this is just before Easter, it may depend on which way you are flying - they price for the peak out from UK I think - so going to France Sun eve can be reasonable, but Th. Fr. Sat not - likewise on the way back. But they may also price for those returning to visit relatives - who knows with Ryanair? In the end it probably depends on how flexible you are on cost and timing - I work on the prinicple that if I must go that day and it is an "acceptable" price - I book it, so that then I know where I am! That said - 29.99 at this stage (ie three wks away) may be the best you will get unless they have a sudden sale - as above. You pays your money and you takes your choice - as they say.

I had hoped to be able to operate it from the UK, but that looks increasingly difficult to achieve. Will just have to investigate more when I'm there on hols, but never much time then of course - however, your info has given me pointers to the research - which is what ths forum is all about - so many thanks.

Thanks - I'd read about Plan d'epargne but only for saving for a house which is not relevant in my situation - but a French tax-free saving scheme is likely to be highly relevant when I finally do get to France permanently when I retire. What I'd really like to do is open a French saving scheme now (before I am tax resident - such as with ING France) but I don't know if this is possible until I become French resident. (I realise it may not be tax free). Do you know if this a possibility?

My reaction as I saw it was - another scam. My reasons? Written in capitals, (very) poor English, hardly understandable, and not at all clear what is required. These days, anything which I am not expecting I delete immediately (though I understand you would not want to loose a booking by doing that) but do you really want to deal with someone who is so uneducated (but can use a computer obviously) that they cannot ask good questions and deal with you in a business like manner. Today's scams are looking more and more lifelike - the (4) Barclays I've had today at work, (in spite of firewalls) look very professional but I have no online account with then so I know its a scam. The Nigerian ones however, look very home made - but I still don't trust them. Business like this is best lost for good!

"of course, as soon as you can be reasonably certain that you will remain in France for at least 5 years (preferably 8), then you should whack the best part of £100k (EUR 132,000) out of the PEPs/ISAs and into a French PEA (or more than one - the limit is one per adult not one per foyer fiscal)." So, for those of us not totally conversant with French acronyms - what is a PEA? And what does it do?????

About 10 years ago, the church I then attended always included ALL women in the mothering Sunday, saying that all women had a caring role, including aunts, cousins etc (very much so for me as a child and me as an aunt) and gave all the women a flower to acknowledge this. A year later, and moved location, and just after my own mother had died, the service made no mention of anyone but mothers - with no acknowledgement of those of us who were not mothers, or who no longer had their mother alive. I felt like a second class citizen and it upset me greatly. I have never been to a mothering Sunday service since. I too have never sent a mother's or father's or any other's day in my life - as I agree about the commercial aspsects, but do feel that some recognition of family ties is useful in this slowly disintegrating world, even if it is overcommercialised!

Just in case any one can help - is anyone driving from London to Narbonne or the Bergerac area (or nearby either - can be flexibe on dates and final location as can arrange a lift if needed in France - about the late May BH, who could find a space for one person and one small suitacase, sharing costs?? Cheap tickets both train and plane have gone already it seems!

Just in case any one can help - is anyone driving from London to Narbonne or the Bergerac area (or nearby either - can be flexibe on dates and final location as can arrange a lift if needed in France - about the late May BH, who could find a space for one person and one small suitacase, sharing costs?? Cheap tickets both train and plane have gone already it seems!

Quillan and Fiona Thanks - both useful, though I had hoped not to have to go as far as Carcassonne! The notaire's site is not playing ball at the moment, but my memory is that they don't always say if they speak English. I asked for recommendations as my experience of most French who speak some English is that when it comes to the crunch of understanding technical and other "jargon" type words is where it fails - as my French does when it gets very complicated - hence the idea that some who had used an English speaker would know the level of English spoken, which is what Fionah has just done. I am normally quite happy to get by in French, but this is rather more important than most things to get right - hence the query.

Can anyone recommend an English speaking notaire in the eastern end of Dept 11 (Between Carcassonne and Narbonne, but preferably not in Narbonne itself!). I need to decide about a will, but as its a little complicated, with two French properties involved, two English families and an existing English will (and an English property still) whilst I can speak French well enough, I quake a little at trying to explain it all in French! If needed, I'll have to go for a local French speaking notaire - but I'd prefer not to use the one we used for our house purchase, efficient though they were, as I found them not quite "sympathetique". Thanks

Steve, Of course, but not all are as considerate as you - try walking the streets of London on a daily basis! The first thing I noticed on my return to London after a lovely week in the fresh air at Christmas in France was the smell - passing cigarettes wafting in smokers hands contributing greatly to the other smells! I look at this way, if smokers have so little regard for themselves and their own bodies (otherwise they wouldn't smoke - and don't get me onto the subject of willpower and addiction!) they usually have very little regard for others' health. Those older people who started long before the damage caused by smoking was known I can have some sympathy with - but since it has been well known for over 40 years I have little sympathy for those younger people who seem unable to control their lives without causing untold misery to those of us who now suffer some ill-health because of other people's past smoking. I realise that these are generalisations - and some (like you) do buck the trend - as I said, you really cannot please all the people all the time - which is why I'm leaving London as soon as I can!

As a previous renter (now got our own so no need) I too would like to put the other point of view. First - smoking - no if I knew smoking was allowed, I wouldn't touch it - not just the smell, I find smokers are much less considerate of others needs, feeling etc. I have never had a bad experience when renting - if anything I have been so frightened of breaking anything that I have scarce dared to use some of the posh equipment, but then I like to feel "at home" and some places are so "up-market". I would have liked a place that was clean and tidy with nice facilites, but which felt like home - they never felt like that to me. But I am hardly typical - a couple in their 50s / 60s are not likely to be the ones to cause damage! Though we did happily replace a shower hose in one place which was obviously past its sell by date and broke when used - never got the money back for that - though we asked - so it does work both ways. We live in a small block of flats in London, and several are now rented out - we have had some horrors (not in our flat, but we hear the noise and have heard reports). We considered whether to keep the flat when we retire to our house in France, but decided that hassle factor did not make it worth our while - and so will cut our ties completely in few years. Whilst it takes all sorts, I still continue to be amazed at the behaviour of "so-called" civilised people. When people niggle about the smallest detail - and forget that living in a country house in France is not the same as living in the "sanitised" so-called English countryside, I say they want something to worry about - I heard one lot had to leave the rented property - owls or rats or something they coudn't stand - what did they expect!! You certainly can't please everybody!

We stayed with English friends (Bruce and Joanna) who run a B&B in La Cite - very conveniently placed inside the walls, lovely breakfast, and a garden to sit in if needed. Couldn't be more handy for all the sights. The web site is: http://www.lechappeebelle.co.uk/ We found our house whilst we were staying there and were able to feed on their experiences of buying. Nice.

Yes, there was about 6" one Saturday at end Jan, but rain next day cleared it. Then just for a change we had our second flood since we arrived in Oct. However this winter has been strange, not just in France, but also in England - so cannot make any pattern out of it. They have certainly had snow in the Narbonne region before, a French woman I sat next to on the trip over at Christmas spoke about making snowmen - but there wasn't really enough snow for that she said. So I guess it is unusual but not unknown - a bit like snow in London I suspect - rare, but not unknown. All the locals say the current weather is atypical - but how much credence you put on that, well, I think I'll wait to see what a few more winters bring .....

I think you may find there is a insurance type-document in the car handbook which is usually found in the glove compartment, along with instructions on what to do in an accident. Your hire document shows that the car hire will have covered the insurance, etc, so sensible to carry that also. It is also sensible to carry driving licence, passport and any other useful docs - and you will not have been able to get your hire car without showing your driving licence and passport, so much easier to carry all the time. The problem of leaving docs with the car, versus keeping on "self" is only one you can decide, but it seems it is wise that they should be with you when you are in the car. I was also advised to keep a copy of the docs somewhere else, like securely at "home" in case of loss of the originals. Hope that helps and doesn't repeat what usually gets posted to a forum whilst I am typing my reply!