Panda

Have you logged in Cooperlola?  click on the link on page one  Log in and post your webchat question to the minister then on the next screen enter a name in the box provided and press Login, that's it and the questions and answers appear. Sorry if you've tried all that!

Hello I worked in this way during my first year in France and the Dept of Works gave me a 6 year E106, no one knows why and I was told to keep quiet about it by the DWP some time later, I can only assume it was because I was still paying into the UK system but even that doesn't seem to explain it.  I never used the 6 years, I set up as a profession liberale about 18 months in as by then I was able to work 100% from home in France, I still have it though and have to show people as no one believes me! Panda

[quote user="ErnieY"] I always have a laptop with me when I travel, plus a raft of associated electronic bits and bobs, and the last time anybody asked me to switch anything on was in Munich maybe 3 years ago but I believe they too have stopped it now. [/quote] This was my experience too until my last trip in September where the officials at Bordeaux had me take out my laptop and power it up.  I've never been asked before at the French end and travel quite a lot so maybe things have changed again. 

Hello My vet gave me a natural remedy for dogs, similar I would think to rescue remedy, it's called nervousyl and it does have a calming effect.  You just have to put some drops on some food so not tablets.

Well if it's that kind of recommendation you're after then the notaire in Montmorillon (name can be supplied)  is hard to beat, he has male model looks and is throughly charming and he speaks perfect English although I must say I struggled to say very much at all in his company! 

I think you are making the right decision Frenchie, I lost a beloved cat a few years ago and he too spent a couple of days at the vets on a drip beforehand, I dearly wish I had just gone in and taken him home for his last days, he would be much happier with you and you and your son can say your goodbyes.  This thread is so sad, we all know how you feel and the tears come easily to those who have felt this pain. best wishes  

[quote user="Pads"] I wouldnt eat them ..............[+o(] http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/chestnut.htm   [/quote] But these are horse chesnuts as Clair says these are inedible so no one would eat them!

Hi I agree with you all too,  I love France but also love the UK.  I'm with Oakbri on the social life , I miss just being able to go out for a nght with my girl friends, that really doesn't happen around here, I do get to go back to the UK quite often (4 or 5 times a year) and so I always make a big effort to catch up so I guess I don't really  miss out.  As for children, I agree there too it's not just the closed up shutters at 7 mentality, there is also very little aspirational thinking in french rural schools and I want my son to aspire to be the best he can be, I will be making a choice when he reaches secondary school age and the choice will be to live in a French city with an international school (to ensure his english is up to the standard of his french) or move on to another country, could be the UK but more likely somewhere else, NZ or Canada always appeal. Panda  

[quote user="TreizeVents"]I have just signed the health petition.  Don't know who wrote it, but I find it lamentable that the only category available for those who haved moved here is "expatriate".  Very controversial.  I signed anyway, but surely with all the debate that has happened, it would have been courteous to put "immigrant" as a possibility. [/quote] I'm confused as to why you see this as an issue - Wiki definition: An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. Surely this suits the situation or are you confusing the issue with ex-patriot as many do?  

Hi I think work will be your biggest problem, work is very hard to find and almost impossible without full fluency in French, many come over and think they can pick up a few hours of work here and there and it just isn't possible.  Most brits have to work for themselves but this brings associated problems (high cost of social charges, regulations and registrations). So you must think about how you are going to earn and if you can survive without an income and for how long, then choose your area carefully, if work is a must you need to be where the work is . EDIT: Just re-read your first post, you intend to run a small campsite, with just 6 pitches and a fairly short season this would give limited income.  I would work it out on getting business for 12 weeks which is the average for this type of business in France, can you live on this? Panda

Good question wish I knew, we have about 15 acres of them, that's a lot of nuts, so what can be done with them?

With the added bonus you can use your crystal ball to see when the next change is coming!

[quote user="P-D de Rouffignac"] Financial analyst - arbitrator - astrologer (!) - chiropractor - coach - family counsellor - patent expert - business advisor (all types) - financial advisor (all types) - image consultant - computer expert - recruitment advisor - security consultant - interior designer - trainer - geologist - graphologist (someone's career could depend on your decision!) - mountain guide - consulting engineer (!) - construction overseer - masseur - naturopath - psycho-analyst - reflexologist - sexual therapist - sophrologist - clayvoyant. [/quote] So for all you guys affected by the CMU changes, which of these profession libre above are you going to choose to register as (no certification, no course required) in order to get back into the system.  I see you Coops as an Image Consultant but I bet a few more might opt for Sexual Therapist (WB) !!!

[quote user="Chris Head"] Where the end result of a skilled tradespersons work might possibly cause injury or death or damage to property then I believe they should be heavily regulated to protect the consumer, especially in the growing culture of litigation here. [/quote] I totally agree, the restrictions should apply where these is some real risk, the protection should be for the consumer not to encourage the mindset of 'not my job, not my problem' which is the effect it is having.  I see this in all walks of French life, they see lines of division which stop them from being responsive to client need.  Ever heard a French person say, that's not my area but let me see if I can help you? '    Panda

Hi I would think getting your deposit back 'should be' straight forward if, as you say it is very clear that the deal was broken by them, not you.  As for getting the seller portion and damages, this would likely need to go to court and so could take a long time as I understand it.  Panda  

I think that would be for the best, do let us know how it turns out. Panda

Hi It would interesting to know who has contacted you and how, I think you have as Wooly said all the cards in your hand.  The french system does guard against such changes and this seems most out of the ordinary.  The french market is slow right now and if these sellers lose you then they could be waiting months if not a year plus for another sale so I think you should stand firm, you've agreed a price and that's what you should pay, any issue between the agent and seller is just that and not your problem. I would call the notaire (or get someone to do it for you if your french isn't up to it) and get his/her take on it.  Panda

the ones I've used all have a machine in the airport which takes either cash or card and at the exit gate only take CB.

[quote user="sweet 17"] I am thinking about some horse manure but I do have a very active cocker spaniel that LOVES digging and I don't relish the smell of manure all round the house! [/quote] Me too and now that the farmer has just enriched his soil in the neighbouring field with of about 5 hecaters with it we have a welcome smell and a waggy happy expression everytime one of them (we now have two cockers) turn up with a pile of the stuff!  Nice, soon have enough to enrich my garden.

You know what they say about great minds and thinking a like!  My other best friend is Welsh by the way! EDIT : and I realise I am not without blame on this front when I insist on asking her, when she gets up to leave 'whose coat is this jacket?' in what I consider a good Welsh accent (not)

Well said Katie, very true!

  To back up what Clair has said, it does happen the world over, my closest friend at work is French and she lives in England, I cringed when people approached our shared office, they would speak to her, then grimace and ask me the same question,  in the end I got really cross, it was obvious what she was saying despite her very strong accent (having been at Uni in England she spoke fluently).  So this was simple racism, people even referred to her as 'the French one' behind her back. So if there are some small minded people out there ignore them and get on with your life, do your very best to integrate but don't be sorry to be English, I am happy to be known as English, I can speak French and do so when ever  it's required but if I have friends to stay I speak as openly as I want to in my mother tongue, why wouldn't I? Forgot to say, she would very happily chat to her French friends on her mobile in french and loudly, again why wouldn't she? Panda

I think it's difficult to take the figures from the calculator as as Chessfou says this is making some assumptions and including a 'set' figure.  I'm not going to panic (yet) but go talk to my accountant about it.

  Sorry stressless but you don't need two telephones, we have by choice as I use one for work but I know others who have set up so that all calls incoming go to one phone, they can also select whether to dial out over FT or the livebox by pressing the right combination of buttons.  As for needing filters on every socket, that just sounds madness and something I've never needed to do.  Over to Jane or Danny to give the right explanation, I am an amateur, they know there stuff...

I can see that it might happen that way but I just can't see the tiny villages in which most Brits live bothering to chase around after those non registered and if they turn around and say, we are only going to use this as a holiday home and don't want to register so as not to be a burden to the French they will not get pushed to do so.  I know someone who's been here for years, lives in his own little world, is not registered anywhere and is friends with the maire, no one bothers him at all.  He uses his EHIC for medical cover and no one bats an eyelid, why would they, they think of him as better than the type registered to the CMU in their eyes being subsidised.