Roberto

I am interested in finding an Internet site wherein I could view the month-by-month temperatures for different regions/ departments in France. Meteo France gives weekly weather only. Before deciding which area is best for our likes & fancy, I would like some help from ALL viewers of this site, to guide me. I am a not-so-well-informed American at an young age of 79 yrs ! ! ! ! roberto Thursday August 12, 2004 Please drop a note in my InBox. THANKS

We live in USA, we have a single line which serves our Voice telephone, FAX and the computer.... of course, only one of these is "on-line" at any one time. However, within the house there are seven( yes, 7) places there are phone-sockets, and every socket has a phone connected to it so that if a Voice call comes through, one could answer from any location, thw FAX and the Computer are different. We will be moving to France "shortly"... would like to know from a knowledgeable (preferably technical person with firsthand experience in France) to advise me... all phone/Fax equipment is owned by us, and all wiring INSIDE the house can be (and actually has been modified, expanded etc) by the owner (me) without any need to inform or get permission from the Phone Company... How does it work in France, will I enjoy similar freedom as long as I do not interfere with the phone-line OUTSIDE the house... PLEASE explain. Thanks a million. Roberto Saturday July 31, 2004

Saw your post with the question. If you go to www.frenchentree.com, and select legal & Tax item, you will be able to get answers to your questions, including income tax rates for retirees, comparison with UK rates, and also details about who will have to pay Wealth Tax.... This response comes to you from an American who is planning to move to France soon. I hope this information is helpful. Good luck. Roberto Sunday June 13th 2004.

Hello Maggie: I fully understand your plight but would like to add my "two cents worth" as we call in America. As you very know that any verbal agreement does NOT stand up in a court of law. To take a business person (including the architect) is an uphill task because every kind of business person will have a laywer on a monthly retainer including the malpractice insurance because everyone of these added costs of business is passed on to the customer --(that is you). It appears that your "contract" (?) or understanding was NOT properly worded to protect you, to define what is required of the architect, what duties he/she MUST perform, at what stages of the construction, and how he/she will be compensated for his/her services ( as the work progresses or in lump sum). I know it is too late for you to correct these problems. However let me add this advice (at least for the future):-- whenever you enter into a VERBAL understanding, it is in your own interest to WRITE a letter, without any delay, indicating what was agreed upon verbally and adding a note thereto that if for any reason the other party differs as to what was agreed upon verbally, to communicate with you, IN WRITING within three calender days--- such a letter from you MUST be sent by Registered Post Acknowledgement Due (whatever it may be called in France), and keep an exact copy of your letter for your own files and in case an occasion arises at a future date on the verbal understanding (agreement), your own follow-up communication will most likely protect you somewhat. Yes, I agree with you -- this is a cruel world, and plenty of people try to take advantage of the unwary, innocent people like you; but IF you do not look out & protect your own interests, who do you think will come out to "take care of YOUR interests" ? Forgive me, this comes from an elderly American (80 yrs) who in his experience as an Enginerr/Executive had occasion to personally observe a few "other than" straight forward business man. Some architects (including one case in Indiana by Frank Lloyd Wright) engage in artistic dream without considering the financial resources of the client; the Latin saying is: Let the buyer beware (caveat emptor)....My sympathies to you. Roberto June 9, 2004

Need help in figuring the income tax we may owe to the French govt. As an example, the income from our savings is ASSUMED to be around Ten Thousand euros per YEAR, and the age of the couple is 70+ years. Does anyone knowledgeable, and in a situation similar to the above example PLEASE send me a private message to my InBox... I do not know what allowances for old age is granted to the 70+ age...(incidentally, the basic govt. pension is levied incometax at source and no tax is payable in France)... PLEASE share your experience and H E L P us. Thanks. Roberto Sunday 9 May 2004

Hello Chris--- I enjoyed your writeup of the Form letter to the bank. It appears you should have put in a lot of effort & time to compose the same.... by the way, what is the line of your work... I mean making a living, I hope it is not by composing humourous but simple letters of communication that will defintely be "talk of the town"... Good luck keep up the good work Roberto (in USA) Friday 7 May 2004

Saw your posting re: persons over the age of 70 years in United Kingdom...what is the situation in FRANCE...I am 78 years old and hope to move from USA to France in 2004. Though I plan to use the train/plane/bus for my travels withing France but there may occasions when I might be tempted to get a rental car to see "the country side" off the beaten track. Possibly you may be in a position to give me some helpful information. Please reply me thru my InBox, private message. Thank you very much. Roberto Friday April 30 2004

Hello ! Saw your posting on your visit to Limousin... will appreciate your personal opinion on the "good as well as the bad" aspects of that area BECAUSE that is what we are thinking of...sight-unseen and based on brochures from Office Tourisme.. Why do we need Your Help... becaue we are in United States and in the 75+ years bracket; these two factors PLUS a minor thing called "money" preclude our running around. So ANY help you coul kindly give us will be Most Sincerely appreciated. We are not very active except to read books, watch TV and travel once in a while by train/ bus etc. do not desire to drive much. Also any "ball-park" numbers in prices of houses, land to build etc will help. You could -- IF YOU PLEASE -- send it directly to me as a private message. I cannot thank you enough for this help. Roberto Tuesday April 20, 2004