Chardie

L'invitation de voyage - B & B with secure private parking just around the corner. Look it up on trip advisor. Its in a very convenient position (we were able to walk everyway from it) and the owner Fabrice is very welcoming and helpful. Its no 4 star hotel but is very clean and warm.

hi - yes the number of the units stays the same. I will have to try and see if HMRC will stop taking the 20% tax on the notional distributions. Thanks.

I'm clutching at straws posting this but you never know someone might know the answer! Does anyone know if the  notional interest/ dividends distributions on a Uk managed (accumulation) investment fund are declarable and taxable in France? HMRC tax notional distributions as if they were income even though not received by the investor. I have trawled through countless different combinations of searches on google and even painfully read and translated the relevant article 20 of the impots.fr massive tax manual but can't seem to find an answer to my question as notional distributions aren't referred to only distribution income. (Note I am NOT referring to investment funds with an element of life cover which would be the equivalent of an ass.vie.)

Retroassure do not cover completely all risks for motorbikes. you are not covered if you are in an accident which does not involve collision with anyone else.It is covered if yours is an old car. (Axa was the same - no cover if you are in an accident not involving anyone else.)  

Mascotte looks like a good possibility at a good price.

Does anyone know of an insurance company that will do all risks, agreed value cover for a motorcycle (old '57 triumph) which is registered as a vehicule de collection? I have tried a few insurers (including so say specialist ones like retro, and Baillys) but they do not cover all risks,  in particular they do not cover if you have an accident in which there is no other vehicle involved -eg you are riding along bike slides on a bit of oil and you come off and bike damaged. Would be grateful for any suggestions.     

I second La Plagne - lots of nice long cruising slopes and generally reliable snow. Just need to avoid the midlift at the end of the day as it becomes a bit of a bottleneck (but may have changed now as we are talking nearly 9 years ago.)

Thanks - will do some googling.

As the subject title says: just wondered if France offered fixed rate bonds or anything similar?

A lot of the UK savings accounts will stipulate that to take out for example a fixed rate bond  you must be uk resident (presumably fiscally speaking). Therefore the better paying savings vehicles will not be open to you if you are fiscally resident in france. I am sure there are a lot of people who just ignore the small print where it says that you should be uk resident as it is generally in the terms and conditions - but thought I would point it out. Off shore savings rates are poor from my searches on the internet . 

I was very surprised at how high the average net income per family was for our village (and surrounding villages.) But averages are easily skewed by a few high income families, I guess.

Think I'm been ripped off. I've wondered about these UK based companies - whats the experience like in the event of a claim?  

our insurance for second home with Axa has increased from around 340 euros to 560 euros in 6 yrs. 90 sq mts only - 4 rooms (not including bathroom) - Barn (attached and another 90 sq mts) is also covered. Next year if I get my act together in time I will shop around.

Sugarfree - aren't you suppose to be a UK resident to invest in one of Nationwides bonds (irrespective of whether you have an account with them)? Maybe if you  still have a UK address its feasible although not strictly correct to do this. I have been doing loads of research re this in preperation for our move to France and at the moment only Uk resident based bonds look attractive which we will not be eligible for if we become french resident unless we take them out before we move - but then what to do when the bond is paid up in a few years? - The off shore bonds interest rates are rubbish.  

Funnily enough I had a bit of a rant about this last night. No renewal notice sent for our house insurance. Normally arrives at out UK home 1 week before the expiry of the insurance - not arrived this year. However discovered that I can find out the amount and pay online with AXA.fr - which I have done so no lapse in cover. (Would insurance company pay out if  you hadn't paid the renewal by the expiry date and something happened to the house in that interim period? I bet they wouldn't.)  

No - Flue outlet on stove 125mm so I won't be reducing which I know is definitely not allowed. KW of stove small 5kw.

hi, Whilst I know not ideal and wouldn't be acceptable in UK (HETAS regs), I think that in france it is ok to use a 125mm flexible liner down an existing chimney. Can anyone confirm this or point me in the direction of where I can find this info? Problem is that having bought a metre length of 150mm to try out whether would fit, have found it gets stuck at one point in chimney (elsewhere very tight) and have just spent hours trying to loosen the obstruction to no avail. ...and now its raining.

Thanks Clair. Is cornflour the same as maizena? It looks a lot less fattening this recipe. (or maybe thats just wishful thinking on my part!)

Can anyone recommend a simple lemon mousse recipe? I've been searching on the internet and come up with a Sophie Dahl one but it seems to use large quantities for what is suppose to be a 2 person recipe - 4 eggs, 1/2pt cream, 8 oz caster sugar and 3 lemons. Does this seem a lot to all you dessert makers out there?

Made the Raymond Blanc chocolate mousse last night - very simple to make (and I never ever make puds), and very yummy. Husband said it was very nice but a bit too much - I didn't have a problem with the quantity! Also the Raymond blanc recipe doesn't use the egg yolks so I'm guessing its less calories - a bonus.

A free cabin? I'm a member and never had that in 5yrs -only a discount on the overall amount. Free breakfast -yes.

Bought a motolug single trailer this year and used to take Sprint ST down to Charente (and back). Fits together easy once you're familiar with it. It was a bit difficult to get onto trailer on my own but managed it. Only thing when tying the bike down the bellypan of the ST was very close to trailer so needed a bit of sponge just as a bit of protection. Trailered at highspeed no problem and now is neatly out of sight. Only thing is you cannot tow the trailer without a load - you would have to collapse and put in back of car.

www.legrand.co.uk - email [email protected]. cust services:01215150525 - catalogue shows the mosaic range (french standard sockets)- ask them to send you a catalogue. (its the commercial and residential catalogue.

We got a new phone line (from  pole to house) connected and direct debit set up over the phone with the FT English helpline  back in June.  No problems whatsoever. I rang the helpline dead on 8am UK time and got through straight away.

Yes I did the exchange same year as you Cathy in 1973/1974! So guess you are the same age as me. I still live in Bristol as well. Mine actually turned into the Bristol- Biarritz exchange as they didn't have anyone left for me in Bordeaux.I had to do a paper round for a year to help pay for the trip. Couldn't stand my exchange partner. We had absolutely nothing in common. She was an only child and I have 3 brothers. Her father was a dentist and mine an artist. The father was a real old lecher - use to parade around in front of me in a very very short dressing gown. and I had to sleep in a granny annexe seperate  from the main house. Obviously I never kept in touch with the girl.  But the experience didn't put me off buying in France (just not next door to that family!).      Becky