Barry

I just want to say a big thank you for everyone who has contributed here. I'm now a little wiser! Barry

Hi Nomad Yes, all that you say is my understanding too & it was only personal preference to have mine paid into an UK account. It's this matter of social contribution that surprised me and I'm looking for confirmation from somebody that pensions (military or otherwise really) while taxed in the UK are still liable against French "contributions sociales". It occurs to me that maybe I've declared my pension in the wrong block. It also occurs to me maybe I shouldn't have declared it at all but too late now! Anyway, nice to hear from you & we'll await some kind person's further input. Barry

I would welcome advice please. I receive a small RAF pension on which UK tax is deducted at source. I dutifully declare this in France on Form 2047-K block VII (Revenus Exonérés Pris En Compte Pour Le Calcul Du Taux Effectif) and transcribe it onto Form 2042-K Part 8 Block TI. It seems that while this is not factored in the Avis D'Impot (i.e. I don't think I'm paying unearned income tax on the pension in both UK and France), I am pretty sure last year it was part of the calculation for Contributions Sociales. I'm sorry if I sound a little vague but I find reverse engineering the tax office calculations from my declaration hard going! Anyway, my question is: does a taxed UK pension count towards French Social Contributions? By the way, the pension is paid into my UK account. Be glad to hear from someone.

May once again express my gratitude for all your advice and comments. Above all, I have a feeling of reassurance that this is not an unique problem in France. When the garage first flooded I was plunged into despair (knowing how hard it is to get local artisans to fix this sort of problem.) Many, many thanks and I must say how good it is to have access to this forum.

May I thank everyone who has responded. I am truly grateful.

My garage is partly subterranean. After three or four days of heavy rain, as we have recently experienced, it floods. It appears that when the water table rises sufficiently high, the water seeps through the breeze block wall and the junction of wall and floor. As a temporary measure (because it will take forever to get a Maçon in this neck of the woods) I am considering a pump. The level of flooding is about 3” or 4” over the area of a standard double garage. I have never bought a pump in my life and am looking for advice. Should I buy petrol or diesel? Or would electric be easier to use? What power? Can anyone recommend a particular make and model that’s available here in France and that a complete pump-novice can simply work. I need to pump the floodwater from the garage well clear of the vicinity, say 20 metres. I would be so grateful for anyone’s help. Thank you.

I live permanently in France, want to improve my French and have been thinking a correspondence course to "A" level standard might best suit my needs and circumstances. I have looked at the Open Learning Centre International on the internet but before committing myself I'd very much like to know if anyone has knowledge of OCLI. Or if anyone has a better recommendation. I can speak, write and understand pretty well, I guess, but I want to push on a bit further, have the discipline of a structured course, and with the satisfaction of possibly gaining at A level in my late fiftiues! I'm willing to allocate a budget of say £400-500 for a 2 year correspondence course. Also, does anyone know whether if I did opt for an "A" level correspondence course whether there are exam centres in France or does one have to register and return to UK?

Hi All I'd just like to say thanks for your input. I'm a little wiser now. I checked again today and the "ring thing" is definitely on the willow, mirabelle, and cherry. It's hard to tell on the walnut. Might have been there but not sure. Once again, my gratitude to you all. 

Can anyone tell me, please, what the blackish rings on our trees might be? We bought the house with several trees in the garden (willow, walnut, cherry, apple to name a few) which all display a black ring about a metre up the trunk. They have clearly been painted on by the previous owners as some form of parasite and/or insect protection. It looks a little like tar or creosote. What I'd like to know is firstly what the compound is (no trace of similar in our garden centre) and, secondly, is it effective? If it is effective, when is the best time to treat trees, and how does one apply the stuff - spray or brush - and at what optimum height? I'm sorry to have to admit my wife's and my ignorance in this matter but we would like to do our best by our leafy friends.

I would like to conclude this thread by saying a big thank you to everyone for the response. (I have also emailed individually.) I must add a happy concluding note to anyone who may subsequently read this. The company Delta Dore were very helpful and sent me a manual by return post following my phone call. Regards Barry

I'd be glad of help, please. I have bought a 15 year old pavillon complete with a electric control panel to manage the electric radiators throughout the house. Unfortunately the previous owners had lost or mislaid the manual with the programming instructions.I am at a loss as how to program it and fear outrageous bills because my only form of heating is electric. The control panel looks to date from when the house was built. It is a "Stopener 150, Delta Dore electronique". As you look at the panel, the top row of lights are the days of the week. Left hand side, descending, are lights Horl, S1, S2. Right hand side, descending, lights CONF, ECO , EFF and to the right of this 2 thermostats TH1 and TH2. Bottom row are programmable buttons, PROG, +, -, rt facing arrow, PROG/LECT. In the house I have 2 wall mounted (what look to be) sensors. One in the salle de jour, the other in the priciple bedroom. If anyone has any idea how to program this lot, I would be delighted to hear from him or her. Even better, if someone has a manual for a Stopener 150 I will be tremendously happy to but a copy of it. The thing should be intuitive. Sadly, it isn't. That or I'm just thick! With thanks to all who might read this.