Llwyncelyn

I am not sure but I think you can only declare income when you receive it?  ie its in your bank account.  Theorectical interest is a concept not recognised hard cash is.  So I think it must be at the maturity of the agreement. We have accounts but annual ones and its only within the year that we receive the interest do we declare the income to the Impot guys.

I still think Vapeurs at Trouville is superb

Dear Tony well done superb piece of work   rdgs

Rides, as we email each other I bet that Blackpool are just wondering what to do and taking advice from those nice guys in Whitehall.  Policy will take some time to evolve so just keep at it. Again Chairs of Tribunals are Lawyers and will have the book I suggested in front of them.  Not sure if abstracts of it are on the net?  They will struggle to work it all out for its new european law and these Chairs are paid nicely thank you so all of this will as I say take a little time. Its a high cost book and its forgive me in legalise so I would not bother with it. Its difficult even for me sometimes to understand it. Keep copies of everything and everything by recommande avec accuse de reception. Normally law is never retrospective being considered bad law.  But this is different and there is a cut off point when people moved.  That is the argument for if you have been here for say two years or more the monetary considerations are large.  Please forgive me this money is absolutely due to those who are suffering and with the award making their lives easier to live.  That is the only concept that drives me.  It is not for jollies but to make life bearable and I will continue to argue that point for however long it takes.   Take care

Hi Sorry I had to rush off last night domestic upheaval involving animals. Having read the judgment I think as does Tony that only part of DLA is capable of being exported and even now HMG does not truthfully have to follow it and indeed in the past there have been elements (as have France) of totally disregarding judgments. I am going to read the judgment again later today do some research (Non means tested benefits 2006 Thompson Sweet and Maxwell which is the bible on such matters) and see where that takes me. My view of all of this is that those of you who had the benefit (in whatever form and that is for the sake of avoidance DLA only) and this was then ceased on moving to France get an application pack from Blackpool. Be very careful and if you have any copies of previous applications make sure that the story is a continuing one and that (and please forgive me) that there is continuity in your arguments.  If I were a betting man I would say that perhaps you will see some early signs of saying 'No' purely on the DLA front and that only on medical related grounds. I tend to be a cynic in such matters but if DLA was awarded in the past they really would be insane  now to say no. If they say no then its to the Tribunal but I do not think it will get that far. The overall cost to HMG is not even worth considering so its policy as against monetary considerations. My view is to all of those who as I say lost the award on moving here to France is to set up the process once more.  Application pack (perhaps some details from your French medical history) plus a covering letter. The letter should obviously be by recommande avec accuse de reception and should be plain and simple. Perhaps something like  ' In view of the recent decision of the European Court of the............and which deals specifically with the concept of DLA payable in European Member countries I now enclose etc etc. This letter together with the application pack has been send by International Recorded Delivery with a signature being needed (This sorts out the statement 'never had it') so its a presumption that they have had it. The relevance and importance of the judgment is far-reaching and of considerable importance to myself as of course DLA was originally payable but ceased on my move to France in.............................. If my reading of the judgment is correct then DLA is payable to myself from .....................and I look forward to the payment of the arrears portion into my UK bank account and details of which are obviously in your possession as well as confirmation from you when this has been achieved as well as details of the commencement and payment of the new award.'   We all put letters together differently but try to encompass the above points and it would not be right for all letters coming from France to be somewhat stereotyped. Finally my view is that only those who were awarded DLA in the UK can benefit from the judgment.  Those of us who are now resident in France must utilise the French system or go back and to see if you qualify!  However perhaps that is a step too far. Again a just a small point those who can truly point to say a drug being available in France and which is means tested or NICE protected in the UK may equally try to argue that point or that facilities and the availability of facilities are here in France but not in the UK. Hope this helps.  

Good evening like most things the guys in Blackpool are going to take advice!  The next few weeks will be interesting.  It is quite an interesting concept as to whether one can claim DLA when already resident in France for the judgment was strictly on the exporting of DLA not claiming after one is wherever. It would be a point of social security law and my advice is to try it and then if they say no go to appeal.  That being the case you need to get a good lawyer around you   take care

Thanks the central heating is oil but it is a large house and yes of course we will limit the rads in the bedrooms but in Normandie we have 12kw so I think we will go down the route of getting EDF in.  I am sure the present owners will organise it for us. Thanks again for your help    

I just know that there are some knowledgeable people on this forum and I have taken bets with myself as to who is going to be the first to respond. Briefly had a survey on a house we are buying in the Vendee and now in the cooling off period.  The survey says only 9kw coming into the house and we know from Normandie that this not enough.  Thus EDF need to come in and increase the power.  What are the limits please and with our new house being in a small village and with no overhead lines but the feed from the road just in front of the house. We also have some suspect boards and points that sort of thing and would it be wise to rip it all out and start again? Electricty just scares me so much that I tend to overreact but better safe than sorry   kind regards

Tony please for balance lots of people on this site do not use Exclusive Health Care and certainly for our standpoint Groupama has been fine. Also helps there is a computer link between CPAM and Groupama (and indeed other mutuelles) and CPAM do their bit and Groupama then do their bit and its direct into our bank accounts. I have no doubt that Exclusive is first class and they have a good reputation indeed advertise widely but they were not for us. Just trying to achieve balance.

I am not an expert on French law and will some experience of English Law. However my understanding of the compromis situation is that you have seven days cooling off period and that is after the signing by both parties.  Indeed here in France there is a general acceptance that you have to look after yourself and take all reasonable steps to ensure you know what you are letting yourself in for. Thus the purchasers must have seen your house for sale? perhaps once perhaps twice? Then paid the 10% or even 5% deposit Then seven days after that they are bound and they lose their deposit and in theory you can enforce the sale. Surely there must be more to this than what appears for the acte de vente would be due for signing within days? If it were me I would go to the Notaire stand your ground and ask what is happening.  Something behind this. I would not sign any document at all and in the final analysis you are entitled so I believe to the 10% deposit plus damages. I may be wrong so please do not act upon my thoughts without checking and on this forum there are much more experienced people than I. rdgs

Seems to be universal support for these kennels   Will follow and support   Thanks again

Dear Benjamin we are getting nearer.  Due to problems with IT you and I have had exchanges in the past.  Pleasant I must say but where my details were somewhat different.   take care and thanks again

Hi moving and within France on the 6th of December and whilst nothing much is required save for personal tastes and perhaps double glazed units for reasons of minor noise and limited timber treatment does anyone please have direct recommendations within the above artisanal list? Have been very lucky here in Normandie save for the infamous ex-pat guy  back in 2001 and know one has to wait that sort of thing but perhaps someone has direct experience and for which I would be very grateful.  I suppose PM's are the order of the day. Finally have to cut over France Telecom EDF and the like and here the water is SAUR and does one presume they are all in or around Fontennay? kindest regards

They normally draw the line at the end of September and when its supposedly still warm enough for the seeds to germinate. However here in Normandie a relatively mild and warm September and October.  So have a go but the season is normally May to September but during dry and warm spells (?) one should water.   regards

Wisterias come from the mountain regions of China and Japan.  Normally mature plants are hardy.  Just take yours inside a barn or whatever very little water just keep it slightly damp throughout the winter.  

Sorry but you are not ever likely to get this to flower!  The only way is for grafted plants   It will of course lose its leaves this autumn.  However will never (jamais) flower at least not true to variety and may never flower in twenty years.

Due unfortunately to the Notaires being unable to link both the sale and the purchase we are faced with putting our dogs and a little kitten into kennels around about the beginning of December whilst we finalise the purchase. Does anyone please have any direct recommendations of either a kennel or a cattery relatively near to Fontenay le Comte please.  Personal recommendations are so much better and to comply with the rules please could you send me a pm.  House moving if something else but the needs of our animals are more of a priority we can live anywhere but not them. Many thanks Well done to the English rugby side and indeed the French.  I say that honestly and opening and as a lover of the game and whose national side has dispensed with its coach!  Answers on a post card please.

Naturally we all are travelling from differing parts of the UK but when I go back to the UK and have to put up with the M275 from Portsmouth then the M3 and again the A34 and whether its to the Court in Oxford or Bristol I just love getting back on the ferry to St Malo.  Last week it took me three hours from Portsmouth to the Oxford Crown Court and thats at 7.00 in the morning. At least you have a good nights sleep on the return journey and in my opinion a very good meal in the restaurant with the buffet to start and then arrive in St Malo at a sensible time and its just one hour from where we live. However not to everyone's taste. Still moving hopefully to the Vendee in December and that might be more of a challenge.  However in the spring and summer the flights take us to Southampton or Bristol or Birmingham and that has certain advantages.  However again perhaps a problem for others. Love to retire and perhaps the man with the big mouth and of small stature might try to force us all back to the UK.    Just a throw away remark and of no value but in London at the moment there are 300000 individuals of French origin.  We obviously need them.   take care everyone.

Sorry there is only one area in the UK for aspargus and that is Worcestershire and of course Evesham.  Unless you have been to the Fleece at Bretforton and the auction then asparagus with butter and a few pints then you have not lived. Times like this tugs a bit memory wise. Lived at Beckford just down the road and the fruit blossom in the spring was something else.

I absolutely agree with the last posting very comprehensive.  However it is argued that the the world's leading experts on the breeding of new hybrids are the Dutch and they have new ones in the pipeline.  As to purchase it is better to buy one year old crowns (in my opinion) and be careful when purchasing here in France they are always out on display in the inner sales areas and do tend to dry out.  They are readily available by mail order here in France (I will look for the suppliers of ours) and hopefully come back to you and they tend to be fresher. From garden to table in minutes is a delight but I use as well shavings of  pecorino cheese over them and some olive oil Normally available March April and which is the correct planting time.

Harvey have done so!

Nope not really just turn up and collect and away they go.  Seriously its obviously going to cost but for reasons I would not wish to go into we would far prefer to pay for a total service. Thus its quite simple really.  And of course I equally could hire a van here in France and do the job myself. I prefer not to. rdgs

I do apologise.  Of course its Llwyncelyn I come from and have been to Blaenclydach and Cwmfellinfach in my time! Again been to London Bath and Bristol come to think of it.

Good morning we are moving before Xmas from Normandie to department 85 and fairly near to Fontenay le Compte. We know within Normandie that there are well-respected organisations (mainly ex-pats) who do a wonderful job in removals and come highly recommended. However for a whole host of reasons we would prefer not to do our own packing and yes we appreciate the extra cost but as I say there are reasons. Of course we could go to yellow pages but does anyone please have any direct experience on this specific point? Thankss

My understanding and only my understanding is that the E121 covers a specific illness and those illnesses which occur from having that illness.  Thus they are covered 100% but that is only 100% of the agreed standard charge.  If say a specialist is outside the agreed financial limit (par example say a surgeon in Paris) then one does not get 100% of his fees. Again just because one enjoys (and that is not the right word) 100% it relates solely as I say to the illness and thus dental and eye costs are not covered 100%.  Indeed to cover eye and dental stuff in France is something else for the costs in my considered opinion certainly dental wise are much greater than those in the UK. Thus you have to take out complimentaire for the add ons! The decision is like a piece of string. We are with one of the recognised 'suppliers' but the advice must be to shop around.