cypruslady

Dear Diane I am so sorry to hear of the sad loss of your pal. It is an awful, awful time when we lose them, but please remember you gave him a happy, contented and full life, help and support when he needed it (as he did with you) and let him go peacefully when you felt the time was right. I am sure you feel so bereft now, but I truly hope you will feel better in time. Take care. Pauline

Thank you Kira for your message. Unfortunately the link to reply to you won't work.. Could you email me further details at [email protected]. ?   Many thanks Pauline

Well I'm a responsible tenant & hope (desperately hope!!) to move to France in December or January. I'll need to rent until I decide where to buy--I do have pets but they are house trained and well behaved. I'd love to rent a house in the Toulouse area (rural and remote no problem) and would pay rent in advance, of course. Any replies/ suggestions gratfully received Pauline

e: Peter Parfait's Hot Property Alert   I also got a copy of this "magazine" ( 4 pages long?) a few years back--and couldn't get rid of them! They kept arriving and it was mostly the same stuff regurgitated over and over again. Also a few people offering "property buying seminars" full of "exciting  information" and upwards of £450 a time.   Really not worth bothering with--you can find far better info online--for free. Pauline

I'm sorry to hear you lost your dog, and I hope you are comforted by knowing you gave him/her a happy life. I visited my vet this morning, and he was able to tell me the regulations for the UK, and those for other EU countries. Cass, Freddie and Ziggy were all anti-rabies jabbed and micro-chipped, they'll have 2nd rabies jab in 3 weeeks and then we'll have the blood test done as for UK--and if I can leave sooner for France, that's great. It would be just my luck that at the last minute there would be some new EU law if we didn't have the blood test done so we're going for the lot! All animals recovered from their vet visit. It's a long trip through Larnaca in 38C temperatures--thank God for air-conditioned cars. Best wishes Pauline

Hi Roseysan, Thanks to you, and others who have all posted such great advice and opinions. It has all been trmendously helpful and I'm now finding a way out of living here and moving on to France. I might be able to let my house here and use that rent to rent to a house in France--in this way I hope to visit several areas and look at lots of different types of property before committing to buy again. I know this sounds like a basic question (and I did do a lot of original research on France, but gave the books to a friend when I came here): Can I just arrive in France, with a rented house arranged and stay? Do I have to register with authorities, take out private health care etc.. (which is what I had to do here and be issued with an "Alien Card") Do I have to prove so much in a bank a/c or proof of income? My animals are all off to be chipped and anti-rabied next week---I've looked online and as far as I can see for France, I need only wait 30 days, and arrive with healthy animals, Pet passports and a vet cert signed by vet  here.(who has the full registration to issue these--the one I use does a lot of work with the UK Army bases here) If anyone knows any different, please put me right! I really appreciate this online help--one day I hope I'll be in the position to others making the big move. Best wishes to you all, Pauline

Thanks Debra, This is very useful information. Hunting here is widespread, and as you say, anything goes. There is also a huge poisoning problem---Lanate is put down anywhere and everywhere and I meet someone every week who has lost a dog or cat to it. I will have to reseach my area of France carefully, and any advice on how to avoid a hunting area gladly received! Pauline

Language Cds are Michel Thomas, and you can buy them in Smiths, other bookstores, as well as online.

My situation has gone from bad to worse here in Cyprus, so house for sale and dog and cats off to vet for Pet Passports to be put into action. Re French language--it's amazing just what you do remember when you start to "tune in"again. I watch the news in French on TV and can pick out more bits each week (it's a start!!) and there are some excellent CDs, and probably DVDs too. Try ebay, and I think Michel Joseph (? might have wrong name--will check ebay!!!) CDs are supposed to be excellent, or maybe your local library will help? In the 90s I worked in eastern Europe (in the infamous "orphanages") and had several Czech teenagers come over to the UK to stay with me--within weeks they were speaking good Englsih (enough to get by) simply because no-one spoke Czech! Good luck with your plans--I hope everything goes well for you. Pauline

Cyprus is an EU member, and I was interested to read a posting that stated pets were taken to France ( I assume from UK?) on a Health Cert and not the full Pet Passport. I plan to leave Cyprus ASAP and reading up on the Passport scheme I was advised to allow 8 months for the process. Can I bring my healthy animals to France without the Passport, and therefore sooner? I can then have them anti-rabied etc.. in France? I'm happy to keep them housebpund in Franceif necessary, but not in quarantine. Theyare fully vaccinated against all the usual things and I can have them microchipped immediately. I'm going to phone my vet tomorrow but here it's very difficult to get any info that related to outside Cyprus--and even the info for inside Cyprus can vary accorsing to the day of the week! Many thanks. This msg board has been a godsend. Pauline

Many thanks, everyone, for your kind and informative replies. I really appreciate the trouble taken. I shall start looking in France later this year, when I can arrange a trip over. I feel now that I will find more the lifestyle I'm looking for in France, ratherin Cyprus. Yes, it;s hot here---we're having a heatwave from Greece at the moment so hit 40C on school playing field today (I'm doing a 3 month supply maternity cover as I had nothing else to do!)but the weather isn't everything. Why haven't  I taken to Cyprus? It's soul-less, I find, with little self indentity. Not everywhere is like Ayia Napa (which is rather pretty by the harbour and quiet in winter/spring) but I feel as if I'm living somewhere between Disneyworld and the set of Desperate Housewives...maybe I have just turned into Grumpy Old Woman [;-)] Thanks once again--I wish you all continued happiness in France.  

Thanks Roseysan---encouraging info and I need all the reassuranceI can get at the moment!! Fell I might sit in a corner and suck my thumb at any moment.[:(] I'm thinking of further south--I love the sun.my "plan" at the moment is to have afew days in France driving around an area--I thought I'd start at Toulouse--and look for property, tho'  will rent first this time. Not sure how much longer I can stand Cyprus.................. All advice welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pauline

Just casting about for opinions and ideas at the moment. I planned my move from the UK to the sun for 15 years--and still got it wrong! First choice was France, 2nd Italy but I took the 3rd option and moved to Cyprus--seemed like a good idea at the time--everyone speaks English, road signs all in English, drive on same side of road etc... Moved to a new house on a development (supposedly under"guarantee"--ha!) as this also seemed like the low maintainance option. Now realise I hate the place. If I give my likes /dislikes could anyone give their opinions on my chances of living contentedly in France? Like: space, older houses, QUIET--no traffic---- antique shops, markets, auctions, walking, theatre, drama groups (maybe), I have 2 cats and a dog so want somewhere they will be safe from hunters/ traffic/ animal poisoners (all common in Cyprus!) Dislike: modern estates, noise, traffic, I speak, understand and can read and write a reasonable amount of French and have started to relearn via CDs and books (and French movie channels!) ANY and all advice gratefully received. I shall be living alone in France (apart from said pets) but am used to that as been widowed for several years now. Many thanks, Pauline