Ysatis

   We bought a 'terrain à bâtir on the 20th September '05 and looking at our paperwork it seems that the CU was 'stamped' by the Maire or one of his staff on the 2nd of September '05. If  I am correct we have until the beginning of September before it expires. I am aware that to apply for an extension for a further 12 months it has to be submitted, I assume, at the Mairie's, 8 weeks previous.    We were intending to go to France after Easter but work hindered that occassion, and again were going to go on the 4th June '06 to give plenty of time to go and consult the Maire on this matter, but thwarted again, the car broke down. We are trying in vain to get to France in a few weeks time, but work and school are making this a problem. If we need to allow 8 weeks, we are quickly running out of time.    My question is, do we have to visit the Maire in person to extend the CU or is it something that can be done via e-mail and post?  Just in case we can't get there allowing enough time.     I would also be grateful if someone could give some information on the procedure involved in reapplying/extending a CU. Regards,

Hi vab,    I have sent you a PM of a contact telephone number and name for the "Get Together" association. I'm not sure if I would be braking any Forum rules if I just posted them here. Regards,

Hello vab,    To echo Bastet, welcome to the LF Forum. I have good friends who will be moving to that area very soon to enjoy their retirement, and are in a similar situation as you. He is a very keen brass band enthusiast, and are both dog lovers.  I agree with the previous two posters, whilst it is important to intergrate with the French and their lifestyle they have to offer, an association like Get Together is an opportunity to make new friends and perhaps get help and support when you feel you need it. Some may call it 'clicky', but if you keep a balance between having French and English friends and activites you can't go far wrong.Moving to a new country is a hugh challenge and everyone needs a degree of assistance, whether it be from the French or the English. I wish you 'bonne chance' with your new life. Regards,

Hi,    Not that I am an expert at all but you may find the following useful: Nouns ending with: -tion & -cion are all feminine Ending with:  -ment are all masculine Ending with-  -age all masculine; except 6: la cage, la rage, la plage, la page,                                                                           la nage, l'image. Ending with  -b,-d,-ing,- ing, -k, l, m, -one, -p, are all masculine, ( except la faim) Ending with: -cé, -ee, fe, -nde, -tié, -ue, are all feminine ( apart from a few                                                                                                    exceptions)    There are loads, and I know some, but I have them on file but haven't worked out how I can post them on this forum without typing it all out. The first three I find are the easiest to remember in a conversation, but after that, I think you just have to learn them and remember them! I believe, but maybe wrong, that French children are always taught a noun with the relevant article. It's something I ought to do, but mainly concentrate on just learning the word without the article.    Hope this is helpful.                                                                                                           

Hi pads,    My apologies for not sending a PM, haven't had time (four kids, own a pub etc.). We haven't started building yet, haven't even drawn plans, husband is a carpenter and builder (during the day) and is trying to get round to drawing them.     Yes, we do go there, we've only had one holiday there, the month or so after we signed (Sept/Oct). We are or should I say will be in the summer surounded with sunflowers and sweetcorn, which I love. We seem in the middle of nowhere but a 5 minute drive to Savigné and Civray, two quite nice places, the countryside is gentle.    I am a little familiar with Carcasonne, have driven past it on the motorway to the south many times, a place I'd love to visit. Several family members have visited.    What a great adventure, my husband once suggested that for the future, but I'm a bit reserved as we know nothing about sailing.    It scares me to up sticks and move 100% to France but happy to have holiday/retirement home. I feel I don't know enough of the language to take the plunge full time but I admire those who do because I feel I could and would miss out on a very rich experience. Regards,

Of course it is better to seek professional advice and everybody's situation is different, so better to hear from the horses mouth. I actually live in Cornwall and have a plot of land near Civray unless it was Cerise you were answering. I also thought, well, if one of our health's starts to fail, sell up and move back to England, but it's when it's a sudden unforeseen death that catches you that you have to be prepared for, God forbid. Regards,

You might want to take a look in 'Legal Issues In France', where there is a topic being discussed 'Why we are NOT buying in France' posted by Phil the Francophile. Not to put you off but there is some very useful information being given. Might be worth taking a look. It's something my husband and I didn't even discuss (inheritance laws) and I'm concerned that we didn't have anything prepared before we bought. Very neive. Regards,

I am having problems sending you a PM.You might have received several blank PM's, that might have been me trying. I can type in the 'subject' but can't seem to get in the box to write a message. I've never written a PM before as I'm quite new to this. Bear with me I will keep trying. Anyway, I can answer a few of your questions. I am female, late thirties and live about 15 miles south of Lauceston. (Used to go to school there, St Joseph's Convent!!). We bought a plot of land last September near Civray, south Vienne, to build a house. My level of French is perhaps a little further on than you. Like  you, started teaching myself out of a book, but found I wasn't disciplined enough, I would do 2 hours every night for three weeks, then not look at it again for 4 months. This went on for about 3 years!! So I decided to do a course ran by the Adult Education. I studied GCSE French, started September 2004, took the exam (extremely nerve racking) in June 2005 and achieved A*. When I started that course my level of French was similar to yours now and thought that I would never cope with learning so much so quickly, school children have 2 years to do what  I had to do in 12 month's ( because it's funded ), so quite intense but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a class of 6 ladies ( I was the youngest). Then in September '05 until April '06 I did another adult course called Le Cercle Français Stage 5, happened to be the most advanced, they went from 1-5, and were only running 1,3,and 5 that year and after talking with my GCSE teacher (who by the way was /is a first class teacher and was also doing this course) said Stage 3 would be similar to the GCSE and thought I would cope with Stage 5 but not without a challenge. And she was right, I found it quite hard,discussing some subjects I knew little about in English let alone in French. It, in my opinion, didn't really improve my speaking but it did improve immensly my listening skills, so some good came out of it. I would have prefered to have done Stage 4 but it was not available that particular year, maybe September coming it might be as they did Stage 3 last year it would make sense to continue with Stage 4. Also this September I'm doing A-Level French with the same Adult Education, again same teacher and can't wait. I seem to learn quite well under that sort of structure which doesn't suit everyone. There sometimes some Conversation Classes, I've not been but I believe you meet and chat (in French).    If your interested in something like that here's the web address, it list all the courses in Cornwall: www.cornwall-adulteducation.co.uk  Once there, click on the area that would suit you and enter 'french' in Course Search box and then click 'submit'. They will most likely be the current years' but Septembers' will be updated mid to end July. You can enroll on line too, and not that expensive.   As for meeting for coffee, let me give it some more thought. Regards,

I will send you a PM (Personal message). Regards,

I saw this post after your other one in 'French Culture', I have replied there. Regards,

Hello pads,    That sound's like a good idea. At what level would you say your French is at? I know it's difficult to guage, at home I don't think I'm so bad. I have great conversations with myself in my head but the minute I open my mouth it all goes horribly wrong. I too struggle when in France. They speak soooo fast. I am in Cornwall aswell, about 15 miles from you. Regards,

I read your post with much interest. If you don't mind, what is the name and address of the French solicitor in Plymouth as it might be a handy contact to have in my address book. Regards,

Right, got it!! Thank you all again.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far, there was some useful information I was unaware of. So am I right in understanding, if the trailer is less than 500kg it does not need a    ' plaque de tare', if it's over 500kg it does. If I do need a plaque how do I go about getting this. Would I have to register the trailer to obtain a plaque, if so, what authority do I contact? Regards,

If we did not want to employ an architect because our house would not exceed 170m2, does anyone know if it is possible to just buy house plans 'off the peg'? Regards,  

We are going to take a small trailer to France in a few weeks time, to leave permenantly at our property. I have no idea how heavy it is (made of wood), but it's about 1.2m ( inc.wheels) wide x 2m long including the tow hitch and standard height. It's old but strong and safe. Apart from having a number plate and rear lights, does it need to have, by law, one or maybe two smallish reflective triangles fixed to the rear, similar to what caravans have. Any other advice would be useful. Regards,

That's what I did WJT, I went on  Pages Jaunes, clicked on white Pages, put in neighbours surname and zoomed in. We haven't even got a house, just a plot of land the other side of his lane, and I printed it without any trouble. I agree, a lot better than Google Earth, out land was a blurr and could only just make it out but this is such good quality. 

I am going to speak French, my French isn't too good, but I will give my best shot. I have great conversations with myself but I get panicky and clam up when I actually open my mouth, no problems with general chit chat so I'll ease myself in gently with that. Regards,

I now have an appointment to meet the maire, any do's or don'ts? Little nervous now, husband isn't but he won't be doing the talking!!

I don't think that they have registered or been along to a vets, or even thought about going to the vets. I will suggest it to them. I went on Pages Jaunes last night, there were several and told them about one in Civray. I will also tell of your suggestion in Richlieu. Thank you.

Does anyone know of a Dog Grooming service. My friends are looking for someone French/ English speaking as their French is limited, even though I'm sure they would cope with French. They are situated on the 86/79/16 borders and are prepared to travel a bit.Their dog needs toe-nails clipping.

I ask because some friend's said they were with Sorégies. This maybe inaccurate as it was my husband who spoke to them and only caught the 'sor' bit, so I looked up electricity suppliers in 'pagesjaunes' and spotted them.I was hopeful to find another supplier to get round the 'temporary supply' as we won't be in a position for a full supply in 12 months. Can live with the low Kw's, just need a supply of electric that I won't be cut off from. Thanks for your reply, 

Has anybody had a experience with the companies 'Sorégies' and/or 'Poweo'? Any information please. Regards, 

   I've done my checking and it is Savigné.  I'm going to e-mail the office to make an appointment. Not that I intend to speak in English (going to put my new GCSE in French to practice) but are they, Maire's in general, likely to speak some English  just incase my limited French is not good enough.  

Has anybody had any experience with the companies 'Sorégies' and/or 'Poweo'? I have e-mailed them but not yet had a response. Regards,