[Guests from Hell]

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!

[Guests from Hell]

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!

[b/b wanted in carcassonne]

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.

[snow near narbonne]

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 .....

[Vehicle documentation to carry]

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!

[Can anyone help?]

Hi Payrac-man

Thanks - and yes, I got the tariffs, which probably only work for Nord Midi Pyrenees - but its a start. Also a very useful glossary - my knowledge of french financial terms has so far been a bit limited! I do wish that the other CA regions would jump on the bandwagon - they are very happy to take the Brits money, but less happy in helping them when needed, in English. My husband's branch, in 11, has a person dedicated to helping the English (French but worked as a teaching asst in UK - so excellent English) but that service is available by phone not Internet! My own branch in 47 (long story - no need to know why here!) cannot even answer emails other than with a standard reply in French, which never answers the question!

Wouldn't be a problem if I were resident in France (as hubby is) so I expect it will all be resolved when I retire to France in a few years time. But literature in English is still a prize possession!

Many thanks

[NOT MARRIED !]

You should really check out the situation - anyone who is not related "in line" (ie parents or children only) will have to pay 60% tax on what they get, and if you want your partner to get it (and you remain unmarried and the state does not gets its way) he will have the same enormous tax to pay, and basically no tax-free "bit". As far as relations are concerned, even siblings are not regarded as "related" for French inheritance purposes, so the same applies. You must not assume that an English (or French) will is enough. You do not have free testament allocation as in UK.

Consult a solicitor who knows English and French law - there are very many ramifications to all this - and better to be wise before the event, as there are ways to minimise the problems. The French notaire will not necessarily help, as many do not understand the English system, ie the right of free testamentary allocation, so cannot sensibly understand the English point of view.

[Can anyone help?]

Payrac-man

Which C A web site are you using - the three I have tried (Aquitaine, Midi and the full CA) don't have a Union Jack which leads to a list of charges.

Britiline does - but then, that's only relevant if you bank with Britline, and costs across the different CA "branches" are not comparable as far as I can see.

[Narrow Dog to Carcassonne]

Hi John

Yes, I thought his writing style very low class and somewhat offensive. I did wonder what he was like in his previous working existence!

As for location - we are at the "other" end of the N113, ie 10 mins west of Narbonne - and nearer Homps /Olonzac - though our nearest point to the canal is somewhere whose name escapes me at present. Trebes is very pretty - though it suffers a traffic problem we find so often avoid and use the N113 instead (boring but faster - especially when aiming for the airport at Carcassonne at some ungodly hour of the morning!)

We (I am told) did get the snow, and the rain, and unfortunately floods, the second time this winter, and we only moved in October! Actually, this is all hearsay and photos, as I am still working in Central London (ugh!) - it is hubby who is retired and out permanently. And coping remarkably well with rusty "O" level French, lots of helpful neighbours (English and French) and (occasionally) the English shop at Homps.

I posted recently with advice on where to go for information - it still amazes me that people go into these new projects (be it sailing narrow boats across the Channel, or moving to France lock, stock and barrel), without first doing much research. As a librarian it is the first thing I do!

If you felt the distance between us not to be a hindrance, I'd be happy to keep this conversation going, presumably via our own private emails rather than this fairly public bulletin board!

I'm new to the forum, and haven't quite cracked how that can be done yet.

[Narrow Dog to Carcassonne]

[quote user="Jonzjob"]

I was given a copy by OH's cousin for my last birthday. Good story and quite funny at times. It's just a shame about the use of VERY bad language for no earthly reason and fairly frequent too. I'm afraid that it spoiled the book.

Anyone with the amount of engineering ability that that guy has must be unable to tighten the loose screw he has for even thinking of doing what he did and I think that he was very luck not to come to grief.

Even though I quite enjoyed the book it isn't one I would recomend to many people.

[/quote]

John

I so agree - about the language. I borrowed this from the library (thank goodness I did not buy it!) and I was unhappy with the language - not only are his choice of words very near the bone for a family audience (or am I just old fashioned?) but his language skills are poor to non-existent. As with his obvious lack of engineering skills, a very poor communicator.

Having said that, I did finish it as it did read very quickly (which illustrates its low-level language) because I wanted to see what he thought about the Etang de Thau (where spent our Christmas 2004) and the Canal du Midi (we have just bought our house about 10 mins away from it). But I learnt no more than I knew already.

A somewhat egotistical report, by someone who would not normally be let loose in such circumstances. He was very lucky not to suffer more damages than he did.

And, as you say John, spoilt by the language.

In case the narrow dog is misinterpreted to mean the boat, they actually took a whippet with them, (in their "narrow boat") hence the reference to narrow dog! Like many, I also mis-understood that point until I read it!

[Emigrating made simple]

The David Hampshire book is really THE starting point - though there are many others, but this one has stood the test of time, and is updated regularly. For those who have commented on this forum that it is out of date - of course ANY book of this nature is - the time to check research and get into publication schedules necessitates this. I speak as a professional librarian - you can assume that a book with a date of 2006, was researched during 2005, and sometimes 2004! That is the time delay.

However - I would say to all those who post - how do I? - questions on the various forums - you will find many of the initial answers to those types of questions in this book - and anyone contemplating moving to France should first get this book and (as my father used to tell me) read, learn and inwardly digest it!! It will answer possibly 80% of your initial questions - and help you to decide whether you can cope with the French way of doing things.

By the time we bought our house last year (after more than 5 years research and planning) there was very little that I hadn't discovered just by being prepared to read around the subject, and David Hampshire is still referred to on a regular basis to check things when they come up for the first time (as they always do in a new situation).

[Possible car sharing]

Since I still live and work in Central London until I retire, whilist hubby is now retired and living near Narbonne (11), I am looking to see if I could share the journey on my fairly regular holiday trips to Narbonne. I do not possess a car (pointless these days in London) though I can and do drive, but have so far flown down and next visit I will try the Eurostar / TGV option. However, it seems the amount of stuff needing to be transported never fails to exceed carrying capacity, and if some-one else was also in the same position (and even better had a car) we might be able to share costs and have company on the way south. Other options are to share the cost of a hire car.

This will be an ongoing problem, so any one travelling from the early summer onwards might be interested.

Judith