avinalarf

[quote user="Clair"]I did get granary flour as part of my first ever British food delivery last month! Granary is a brand of brown flour with malted wheat grains, milled by Rank Hovis. There are equivalents in the UK, usually called "malthouse" something or other, as they cannot call themselves "granary". I have not seen a similar flour in France yet (I was out looking today as a matter of fact!), although I know of several mills which produce a similar-sounding flour mix. [/quote] I used to get brown with budgie food flour from Casino or Carrefour but recently they have started doing it at my local Leader Price and Intermarche.  

[quote user="WJT"] Avinalarf, every time I read something about investments the more confused I get. I have just been reading that now is the time to buy shares because if they haven't hit bottom they are very close.[8-)] [/quote] Well who knows - the volatility is ludicrous and which ones to buy?  I like property - at least you have something you can call your own to bang your head against if it all goes wrong.   

If you have the space then I think the best buy at the moment is oil. I would put my money in sterling bank deposits too - but make sure the money is safe, so divide it up if needs be to make sure each chunk is fully guaranteed and then I would buy bricks and mortar at the earliest signs of recovery. I would avoid shares and share based investments.

There's no doubt that rental returns are way below the interest you would earn on money in the bank.  Whether house prices will go up or down?  No-one knows.

I've just claimed for a woodburner.  The tax office told me I could only claim on the cost of the woodburner, not the associated chimney parts required to fit it.  If anyone has contrary advice, particularly from a tax office, I would be interested to hear.

Shoot them with an air gun if they trespass.

On our oak staircase we used Danish oil -  from Reseau Pro.  I'll try the same.

I'm fitting chestnut floors now - I'll be oiling them.

Why not learn french - I'm sure that view will prove controversial.

I agree with Sue and IMHO the limit applies to unit trusts and similar investment vehicles.

So to clarify the above there is no two year french residency requirement for french residents.

There are also tough rules on what improvements qualify for reducing the taxable gain - not all expenditure is.

A clarification and a correction. Where is the two year french residence rule from?  I'm not aware of it. UK tax is not charged at 40% or the 'maximum imposable rate'.  Instead: The amount chargeable to CGT is added onto the top of income liable to income tax for individuals and is charged to CGT at these rates: below the starting rate limit at 10%, between the starting rate and basic rate limits at 20%, and above the basic rate limit at 40%

Cooperlola, Under the exisiting UK France tax treaty then the present sale of the UK property whilst french resident will not attract a capital gains liability in either country.  Basically the loophole is that the gain on sale of immovable property is taxable in the country in which it is located.  But non-Uk residents are not liable to pay capital gains tax on Uk property.  This loophole would change once the new treaty is ratified and implemented.  Then the gain would be taxable in France with a deduction for UK tax (which would be nil).  The last time I checked, which was several months ago, there had been no progress on ratification.  Also under the current rules then if your friends return to the UK within five years of their having left then a capital gain might crystallise upon their return if they sold their house in the meantime - it depends on how long their UK house was previously a main residence and how long it was rented out over the whole period of ownership.  From what you say I doubt there would be much of a liability, if any, but that's a guess without more information to give a proper answer.  One caveat under the existing treaty - found on a similar thread on another forum - the Paris tax office has recently claimed that french capital gains tax would be payable under the current treaty by a french resident on the sale of a UK property.  This is contrary to Sykes Anderson tax lawyers advice which they say was confirmed with several french tax offices.  However, I think the french tax people may have found a lucrative opportunity that they wish to exploit and may be prepared to test in court.  Before selling my UK property I would ask a tax lawyer how confident they would be of defending the current tax free position.

Advice to consult a tax specialist is good advice.  As I said I don't wish to be specific but there I have seen plenty of advice given on threads such as these which is completely wrong .  Sometimes the rules referred to are way out of date, sometimes misinterpreted and sometimes seem just guesswork or repetition of hearsay.  There is also plenty of excellent advice too from people who are clearly experts.  If the reader could know how to distinguish which is which then they could rely on the good advice and would often not need to consult a tax specialist. I don't wish to put people down who are trying to help, but I think that unless one is sure of the facts then they shoud say so.  There's no shame in that.  You could say, for instance: "Four years ago when I sold my house the rules were........."  or, "I think the rules are .... but 'm not really sure" or, "A friend told me that ........." or, "I'm no expert but my understanding is............." A reader would then know that such an opinion was just so, rather than a matter of fact.        

Without being specific, tax advice given on threads such as this is often complete rubbish. 

Without being specific, a tax advice given on threads such as this is often complete rubbish. 

How about a Newfoundland?  They are large - ours is 70kg.  Good watchdogs but too friendly for guarding.  And there is no better breed of dog to be with children.  In fact there is no better breed of dog.

You may also wish to consider adopting a dog from owners who for one reason or another give away their dogs.   It's free and you can find out all you wish to know about the dog's history and character, which can be unknown by a rescue centre. There are loads always available.

Well it is a good idea but there can be serious drawbacks.  We've adopted two dogs recently .  The first is a serial escaper despite the wonderful conditions we have provided and is on the verge of being returned.  The second, despite assurances to the contrary, attacked our cat and then turned aggressive towards visitors, so has been returned.  Both were abandoned dogs with unknown histories.

We used Iribarren, Limoges.  We ordered beton pret a l'emploi and Redimix duly turned up.

I'm quite pleased with my estimate. Just fyi (old habits from the dark days of the office), the price of Euros 1,600 was for two lorries of the stuff - including pump and the wee fibres for added strength.  

We used ready mix for 8m3 - it was about Euros 1,600 including a pump.  It was just about the best money I've spent given the amount of hard labour it saved. My estimate would be 70 bags (35kg bags). Is this a bit like guess the weight of a cake or the number of jelly beans in the jar?          

Misread the currency signs.  E2800 three years old versus 4000 ish new.  I'd haggle down to 2,500. 

2800 for a three year old model versus 3000 new.  I know which I'd go for.