Panda

Hi As I understand it you could register either or both as your main income.  If you work at something and it is your main income it should be registered as a professional business and on that income you are charged social, health etc.  The problem you have is that at present it is not a percentage of the income but a flat rate which starts at around 3.5k per year.  There are indications that this will change so that your charges reflect a percentage of income but currently this is not the case.   You need to talk to an accountant ASAP. Panda

Hi Paul You should follow the standard install up until the point at which it asks you to install the 'gestionaire internet' (this comes after various instructions as to what to insert where!) it's basically a front end to your internet connection and it has a tendancy to be a bit flaky.    If you do install it (by accident) you can always uninstall it after the event, I did this for someone with no lasting issues. I use the livebox  WIFI with XP and have very few problems so don't panic!  Panda

Hi One other point to note, I seem to recall some one posting that the area Midi-Pyrenees is one of the worst for not having provision for older kids who do not speak the language and have at times refused entry on the grounds that they could not cope with a non-French speaker (this would apply to rural areas though I would guess, Toulouse should be Ok).  In your shoes I would definitely consider an international school, it will mean they can continue their education in the English language, they have a strong French programme too of course.  The costs are not generally too bad, around 8-10k per year euros so a great deal cheaper than a private education in the UK. In fact even though I'm not in your shoes (I've lived here for nearly 5 years and my son is fluent in French) I am still considering an international school for his secondary education as I've heard some not great things said of state secondary education here and I also want my sons English to be as good as his French and for him to recognise a PC when he sees one (sadly a rare commodity in in rural France [:)]).  Good luck in what ever you decide, keep us informed! Panda

Sorry Mazza but I have to say I still struggle to imagine what would possess someone to move a child at this age.  Education is so important and the systems are very different, a new country with a new language, new curriculum just when teenage angst kicks in.  You will put him at such a disadvantage (IMHO) bringing him here rather than completing his education in the UK, so what is the driving force behind this move that is worth jeopardising your sons future for?  

Hmm, you would think wouldn't you!  The roof was completely re-done the week before Christmas, yeahhh, you might think but no, the really heavy rain of this last week has entered and on inspection it appears a tile is cracked, only been up for two weeks, not a good start!!  Now not wishing to completely rain on this dreamers post, the sun has just shown it's face, generally though the weather is better in England between November and April in my experience (almost 5 years now).  No contest, of course, during the summer months, you can't have it all I suppose!

[quote user="Cendrillon"]writersblock wrote Hi Goldfish, We move to Limousin/Charente border next week .............................................................................................. .............................. I'm glad we are doing this as I know we would have regretted not even trying (and the weather is better!) - Good luck.   [/quote] Living in the Charente already that should be 'the weather is better in summer', it's been either freezing (-6) or raining for days for the past month and my roof leaks!!

Hello Goldie I like Bordeaux at any time of year and it always seems a bustling place.  I live about an hour away which is too far (IMHO) I go about once a month but would opt to be closer if I could.  Panda

Ah sorry, yes I can see now it was your wall, could we not take it in turns, kind of like those novelty birds taking a drink of water?

[quote user="Marton"]....."That means that in the UK, there are people of 13 different nationalities"      which kind of takes us back to the original title of this thread MadMad UK and my statement that the island is too small to take them all.       I will now continue the care and concern for that relative in hospital after the mugging.[/quote] And?? There were 12 different nationalities in my class at Uni here in France (shock [blink]) and it made for lots of interesting debates... Now where are we with that wall Benjamin?

Hello I believe the rental yield is taken into account, it was certainly a factor with the brokers I've spoken to.  The rates offered are the going rates and the LTV could be 100%, in fact they will finance the VAT element which you later get returned by the government if required. Panda

  [quote user="You can call me Betty"]Maybe this is more your style, eh Panda?http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/974805/ShowPost.aspx[/quote] [quote user="Panda "] Huh?? You can call me dim, if I can call you Betty but ummm nooooo, I like a good row, anyone fancy a quicky? [/quote] Still sat here thinking Huh?

Hello Ian I haven't plunged yet actually, the property is still at planning and I still have a couple of reservations regarding the location.  I'm planning to go over and look.  I do already own a few apartments although not on leaseback so this is entirely new to me. Panda

Huh?? You can call me dim, if I can call you Betty but ummm nooooo, I like a good row, anyone fancy a quicky?

Anyone know a good builder cos if these scintillating posts carry on we will all be needing a bit of wall to bang our heads on!

[quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Panda "][quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Bugbear"] But why would anyone right in the head even contemplate moving to America. Land of the Free,      LOL [/quote] I have the same thoughts about people moving to France - why would anyone want to? Liberté égalité fraternité  LOL [/quote] But Scooby no one in there right mind would buy a house in the US (or post on a Living US Forum for that matter), if they felt so negativly about it would they? Come on what is your story, you have only ever posted sweeping statements of an anti-France nature but have said you have had a house for years here, that is really odd to me.  In what way does this forum interest you, I am truly interested in why someone would seemingly waste their time in this way. [/quote] http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/14/1100827/ShowPost.aspx#1100827.  The reason I have spent more time on here recently is because I have been on long term sick leave recovering from a serious accident.  Tbh - If I was going to move abroad permanently to improve my lifestyle / standard of living then I would choose New Zealand - definitely not France. [/quote] Lets hope then for your sake and ours that you are soon back at work ![:D]  In the meantime here's a forum for you to pass some time on www.justlanded.com/english/new_zealand which may bring out more positivity in you!

I will admit that I do watch the early stages of X factor, I find the sheer level of delusion facinating.  It's close to child abuse that some of these mothers insist their offspring can sing and allow them to make a spectacle of themselves that will likely stay with them for life. Once they choose the 'better' ones for the live shows it gets very boring. 

[quote user="Clair"] He doesn't do anything for me... [/quote] That's odd because he could do anything to me!!

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="opas"] I worked with Shane Ward before he was famous.[;-)] [/quote] Who? [8-)] [/quote]   [IMG]http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc149/ahoward99/shaneward.jpg[/IMG] Now that's an office party I would have liked to have gone to!

[quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Bugbear"] But why would anyone right in the head even contemplate moving to America. Land of the Free,      LOL [/quote] I have the same thoughts about people moving to France - why would anyone want to? Liberté égalité fraternité  LOL [/quote] But Scooby no one in there right mind would buy a house in the US (or post on a Living US Forum for that matter), if they felt so negativly about it would they? Come on what is your story, you have only ever posted sweeping statements of an anti-France nature but have said you have had a house for years here, that is really odd to me.  In what way does this forum interest you, I am truly interested in why someone would seemingly waste their time in this way.   

[quote user="Geordie girl"] Might it not rain as much this summer do you think. [/quote] A cheery visitor told me that it is thought that this coming summer will be no better than the last, something to do with cycles of weather, great!

Ha, might be dazzling my wit that scares them off [;-)], I did indeed think you were a man, now I am confused!  Do you and OH post on here then or have I completely got the wrong end of the stick. Seriously though, French neighbours are not known for the impromptu visits around these parts, is it just me do all you others have to fight them off??  Now I'm getting a complex..

[quote user="Scooby"] The thing we have found most difficult though is the lack of privacy / personal space.  Our neighbours seem acutely interested in everything we do, invite themselves into the house, etc etc.  We have always been pretty private people and, at times, find this a little intrusive and claustrophobic.  In fact we put our car in the garage when we are in France far more frequently than we do in the UK - so the neighbours don't know if we are in or out!  Likewise, we often leave the shutters closed for the same reason - just so we can have a little private tine...without offending!  I guess its just different. [/quote] Just t lighten this rather pointless thread up, can I ask again Scooby, what is it that you have that attracts the woman of your hamlet to you??  Last time you told us how your female neighbour calls you in England and begs you to come back to relieve her boredom, now we learn they practically move in when you're in France, I've lived here for 4.5 years and have only ever had one (rather drunk)  neighbour turn up uninvited and I was told it was considered rude to do so, even friends call first!  So come one what is it are you a) Rich and generous, b) A George Clooney lookalike or c) Seen as an easy touch?? The thought of you arriving in the dead of night and storing your car away brings up images of living next door to Mrs Bouquet! EDIT Lack of customer service in France is very well known, the same goes for Germany, why is this news to people, you would only be shocked if you had never set foot in France before moving here, now that would be really stupid!

Hello I'm a consultant but was named a Conseil de Gestion here and gave as wide a brief as I could to cover all eventualities!

Hello Anyone heard any more on this, I too have heard it quoted but nothing official, I was told the upper limit for prof liberale was going up to 34k, would be great if it's true. Panda

I did too!  Does that make us sicko's??