roxy

Indeed I do! thanks for all replies.

Sorry about omitting the postcode it's 50890 - actually conde sur vire but closer to torigny sur vire. It's a Tomtom 530 it worked great in the UK. I don't know where a Macdonalds is! I did think about that, but imagine I would be in there for hours sorting it. Why is it all so difficult? I guess I'll have to buy a new one, thanks anyway.

Not sure if this is the place but anyway - I am having a lot of trouble with getting the French map I purchased in December onto my sat nav so my housebuying expeditions are not as calm as I would wish them to be. Does anyone know of a computer expert /shop (a gifted amateur and a friends son  have failed already) that I can get help from please. To compound the problem my internet access is very slow and I get timed out a lot, not to mention a new occurrence about unresponsive script! I am in Torigny and running out of time and patience fast...... many thanks  

Lynne, you poor thing - how a simple post can outrage so many people - well it's very strange. You might learn from that - don't discuss anything out loud. I wish you well in your search, don't give up and let other people put you off, if you've got a dream follow it, after all there's nothing worse than looking back and saying 'if only....' Last May I was out with a friend having lunch - by the end of November she was dead (liver disease) and I was at her funeral.   I am househunting and shall continue regardless and if I have to go back well so what, who does it hurt except me? You would think people would be more supportive!

Well, thanks idun for that link to the thread. I have been promising myself to move to France for some years, but circumstances have conspired against me until now. 'Seize the day' is a phrase bandied about a lot nowadays and I'm not getting any younger to have a go at this; so do I sit in my bungalow next to my lovely neighbours, in a lovely part of the country, with lovely friends for the next 20 years until I fall off the perch?....Well I know no-one can answer that except me, but it's a dire possibility to have nothing new to look forward to. Having holidays and buying trips is not the same as living there I know, but I wasn't expecting to read the harassment thread, it's worrying and it all sounds a bit 'lawless'.....hey ho, I expect to have a few more sleepless nights.     

This is just to say that my house is on the market in the UK with a view to me moving to France. As I am a single woman on my own, the preceeding posts have made me exceedingly nervous. I am too far down the line to reconsider - I wasn't expecting it to be a doddle but poison-pen letters, denunciations - crumbs, whatever have I done. 

Thanks to all for the advice - I am confused though - I was under the impression that a ceiling rose was an ornamental piece of plasterwork surrounding the hole that the wiring came out of - you will all be pleased to know that I am not going to attempt rewiring, myself!!

I hope this is ok to post here. I want to bring a couple of ceiling lights from the UK to fit in France. Would it be possible to rewire them to French requirements or would this be impossible to do or invalidate the insurance? Also, can plugs be rewired for the French system? thanks

Wow - the replies just get better. It is heartening to think that I might now be on the right track regarding expenses. I thought food might be cheaper here in the UK just because of the supermarket price wars, but I'm expecting to live reasonably self sufficiently in France, I read the thread about tough French meat so perhaps home-grown chicken will be a good option! It has been very helpful reading all the replies and I feel less worried about surviving now. Thanks to you all.

Many thanks for the above answers. I thought you might scoff at my question but once again it has been a helpful forum. I won't need to claim any benefits in France3. I am quite self-sufficient because I am single and I shall be buying and renovating - hopefully. I live on the outskirts of a city at the moment and will be more than happy to live semi-rurally in France. I am a driver. It is because I am used to fending for myself that I am getting a bit stressed about monthly living costs, but I like to know where I stand - perhaps I should not overthink it?

I know you will all groan at this post but I'm going to do it anyway, my house is nearly sold and it is a matter of great urgency as the maths add up differently each time I sit down to do them. I wondered if someone could give me a rough idea of what I will need to budget for on a monthly basis, for taxes and just essentials really. I am single so do not need a lot to live on but I cannot get a realistic idea from the books so thought you might help.

Hi Jetlag - many thanks for the reply. I hadn't thought of that but it's a really good idea. I will do it asap as it has been worrying me a bit and I will feel easier about the move. The thought of carting dog food under the channel regularly doesn't appeal!

Hi - could anyone tell me if I can buy Chappie dog food in Normandy - both the dried and tinned. I'm hoping to move this year with my 15 year old dog and I don't want to change her diet now. I normally give her a mix of home-cooked food and Chappie as she has become a bit picky since my other dog died and the competition element has gone. Thanks

Zut alors! coq-au-vin - I don't know why I didn't think of that. I could also tie her to the railway track or throw her under a passing truck, silly me.  Anyway, thanks for the advice, I may have got the wrong papers sent to me, I didn't think of that so I shall ring DEFRA, sometimes a second person throws up a new idea. Thanks.

Hi - I have recently received 11 pages of 'stuff' from Defra about exporting my hen to France. Leaving her behind is not an option but I cannot make head or tail of the infiormation. Has anyone any recent experience of moving pet poultry please, as it looks terribly difficult.