Kitty

[quote user="tinabee"]The latest from Nationwide https://www.nationwide-members.co.uk/online-talkback/online-talkback-questions?filterby=Banking/Credit cards [/quote] Thanks for the link, Tina.  Here is a quote from the Nationwide: "The majority of our FlexAccount holders do not live or spend a large percentage of their time abroad and will only travel abroad for short holidays. " So presumably that is why they have introduced free travel insurance - there will not be much take-up for it.  Nice one, Cyril. [Www]  

Good luck, Dexter, with your move.  I see that no one has replied about your specific request about health cover. There is a wealth of information on this Forum if you do a search in the Health section.  http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/326/ShowForum.aspx Just a suggestion - you might get more feedback if your post was headed with the subject you need help on.  On the other hand, it might just be that everyone is watching the wall-to-wall rugby today. 

Does that mean that I have to wear make up?  [:-))]

I was thinking of sitting in a bath of baked beans (was it Pink Floyd that did it?) but you can't get buy them here...

Any ideas anyone - of what I can do in France? [:D]

Successful businesses put their customers first and add services rather than take away services, whomsoever the customers may be - expats, holiday makers etc.  Sometimes these extra services cost a great deal of money, but they pay back in the long term.  An example of this is the fact that British Gas are now giving Nectar Points for using their gas - it adds value to their service. Nationwide took away a really good service.  They were foolish to do this.  If they were putting their customers first, they would not have done it.  It is interesting that they have had to spend money on expensive advertising about foreign cash transactions.  This is an indication that the misguided policy has had an adverse effect.

I have reading 'Surfing the Long Summer', a free book about business (on my Kindle....).  The book analyses highly successful businesses.  The common denominator is that all successful businesses is that they put their customers first and all decision making flows from that.  So, for example, Disneyland wants their visitors to have a better experience on their second visit than their first.  Google resist lucratove advertising on their front page because customers prefer it. etc etc Nationwide used to put their customers first.  They don't any longer and so according to the thesis of the author of 'Surfing etc', their business will be in decline.

Thank you Coops and AnOther.

[quote user="cooperlola"]I know there are still two small building societies which offer free cash withdrawals abroad.[/quote] Do you know who they are, Coops?

I must leap to JK's defence.  I spoke to JK on the telephone as he and I have had the same problems with our Kindles in France.  I have sorted out my Kindle with Amazon but not in a straightforward way and I am very lucky. Simon's posts on the Forum extolling the virtues of the Kindle were part of my thought process in getting one.  I believed what he said that there were no problems buying it in the UK and using it in France.  I should have known better but was preoccupied on other things at the time and should have known better. I have been rather taken aback at Simon's reaction to JK's comments, bearing in mind that he is only explaining what happened to him (and others like me).  I do think that he should be heard and not shouted down, especially as this is a forum for living and visiting France.  I almost feel that this thread ought to be restarted with a balanced view at the beginning rather than on several pages in.

He looks adorable.

The bestest of news that I have heard for a LLLLL-OOOOO-NNNNN-GGGGG time. Life is going to feel SO sweet, Rose.  And the spring has arrived and the air is so full of promise. And you are going to be singing like a robin in full voice in your new band with even more beauty and even more happiness. Yy-ee-hh-aa....

I think that my current treatment will have finished by then (due to finish on 22nd, unless they tack on extra sessions) and so I would like to come along.  Bergerac is about 2.5 hours from me.  I need to see Greyman sometime and so I could combine it with that, Rose, if he is around? It will be funny to see what you all look like. [Www]  I look like nothing like my Avatar as well...  Do I have time to go on a diet beforehand?

JK - I've sent you a PM (Private Message).

[quote user="Dordogne Landlady"]Just to add my little bit to this subject. We clean gites as a living in the Dordogne and believe me it can be very hard work, especially when people just walk away and leave it in a mess, and then there is the pool and garden to do in the short amount of turn-round time. Then there is the laundry which keeps me busy for the rest of the week. I am sure the property owners do not realise how much we have to pay in social costs, forget the tax we don't earn enough to pay it!! Then there is the cost to get to the property which we do not charge extra for. We charge 20 Euros per hour and after paying our cotisations we do not even see half of that. I cringe when I see adverts looking for changeovers and offering to pay 12 Euros per hour!![/quote] I quite agree, Dordogne Landlady.  It is very hard work.  It is not until you have done some changeovers that you realise this.  If you have someone who is doing the changeovers well, you should cherish them.

JK - Thank you for highlighting the problem that I had too.  What happened to you is exactly what happened to me. Simon - Just because you have had no problems downloading books in France doesn't mean that others haven't.  I do believe that readers on the Forum should have a balanced view and be made aware of the problems of having a Kindle in France.  Part of my purchase process for ordering my Kindle was taking into account your superlative comments extolling its virtues.  I am glad that you created this thread because I am enjoying my Kindle but others must be warned of its shortcomings for downloading in France.

Hello Mel  -  Don't delay with the registration for the AE scheme - it ought to be the first thing that you do as soon as you get here (other than health care) - because the paperwork takes a very, very frustrating long time to filter back.  You can register online but I found it helpful to register in person to make sure that I got it right.  Once registered, you will eventually get a SIRET number in the post. 

Sue - Nationwide and International seems to be a contradiction in terms. Was it an international account?  I am intrigued.  I stopped using Nationwide at the end of October when they started charging for cash withdrawals in France.

[quote user="GCCR"]Ok then guys, what about the original topic ... are Bordeaux winters ... REALLY as bad as those in Wales.[/quote] I moved to the Bordeaux area immediately after spending a couple of winters (and summers) in South Wales. Bordeaux is a large area.  If you are inland from Bordeaux, you will find the winters are shorter, drier but definitely colder.  The geraniums have to be taken indoors. If you west of Bordeaux on the coast (like me), the winters are shorter (by about 6 to 8 weeks), drier (by several inches) and warmer.  Most days, I look at the temperatures in Bordeaux and in Bristol and the difference is 5 degrees centigrade.  One winter, my geraniums survivied outdoors to live another year - that is how mild it is in the winter.  This winter, I can count the days that I scraped the frost off my car on one hand.  By midday this month, I have been able to open up the windows until about 4pm. I think that Bordeaux weather compared to the rest of France is fantastic.  The springs are long - spring this year started about 7 days ago.  The summers are hot but not oppressive and last into September.  As for the autumn, you don't get the fog as you do in Wales. The downside of the area is the summer mosquitos.

Well reminded, JJ. When I first saw them in action, I was fascinated by them and had no idea how dangerous they were.  Luckily, my young son told me (he had been taught at school) so we didn't touch them. Could someone post a photo of them?

Thanks for the information, Polly.  I have just found the P6.  It is 11 (whatever that means....). Thank you also for the link to the website, which I have printed off and attached to my carte grise for future reference.

When in rented accommodation as a student, the sitting room (thread bare) carpet would have streaks on it every morning, which I hoovered off (occasionally).  I didn't know why until one night, I crossed the room barefooted and - - - stood on a slug.  My foot hasn't felt the same since.

Great choice Krusty.

Quick question - where on the Carte Gris for my car do I find the "Puissance nbre CV"? It is needed for the travelling expenses form going back and forth to hospital..... Thanking you in advance....

http://www.notaires.fr/static-content/site_gb/web/english-homepage.html This is the French notaires website - English version. On the French version (click on the French map), there is a fee calculator at the bottom - calculer vos frais d'achats immobilier.