Chas

If the French use is the same as the English this link gives some info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staddle_stones

Went through in our camper on 31May - about 0830. It was virtually instantaneous, certainly no more than a couple of minutes.

[quote user="Chancer"][quote user="Sunday Driver"][quote user="Chancer"] There is no law saying that you should insure your ride on mower, [/quote] According to the cour de cassation, la loi du 5 juillet 1985 says you must .....[;-)] [/quote] Rubbish! Have you read le loi du 5 Juillet? [/quote] This section of the Loi du 5 juillet was quoted to me by a neighbour when I purchased my ride on mower ème Chambre civile, 24 juin 2004 (Bull. n° 308) Appelée, pour la première fois, à se prononcer sur la question de savoir si une tondeuse à gazon dite "auto-portée" ou "auto-tractée" était ou non un véhicule terrestre à moteur au sens de la loi du 5 juillet 1985, la deuxième chambre civile de la Cour de cassation, s'inscrivant dans une continuité jurisprudentielle qui l'a conduite à reconnaître cette qualification juridique à des engins motorisés divers, notamment agricoles, a répondu par l'affirmative. Ainsi, la deuxième chambre civile approuve-t-elle les juges du fond d'avoir retenu, pour lui appliquer la loi précitée, que la tondeuse à gazon "auto-portée" à l'origine de l'accident subi par un enfant qui en avait chuté alors qu'il se tenait assis sur les genoux de la personne qui la conduisait "était un engin à moteur doté de quatre roues lui permettant de circuler, équipé d'un siège sur lequel une personne prend place pour le piloter". Il n'a pas échappé à la deuxième chambre civile que la soumission d'un engin de cette nature à la loi du 5 juillet 1985 aurait pour conséquence inévitable de l'assujettir à l'assurance automobile obligatoire. Aussi consciente du fait que les contrats d'assurance de type "multirisques habitation" pouvaient expressément exclure - comme c'était précisément le cas dans l'espèce qui lui était soumise - la garantie de l'assureur en cas d'accident, fût-il "domestique", survenant du fait de l'utilisation d'un tel engin qualifié de véhicule terrestre à moteur, il lui est apparu qu'il devrait appartenir aux fabricants et aux revendeurs de tondeuses ainsi motorisées, mais aussi - du moins lorsqu'ils sont avisés par un assuré de la détention d'un matériel de ce type - aux assureurs, tenus envers leurs assurés d'un devoir d'information et de conseil, d'attirer particulièrement l'attention des possesseurs de tels engins sur la nécessité de souscrire, au cas ou leur contrat d'assurance ne la garantirait pas, une police complémentaire couvrant la responsabilité qu'ils seraient susceptibles d'encourir du fait des dommages causés par ces véhicules.  

Good luck. I also did a similar thing with my motorhome insurance for Safeguard. My French insurers were AMV who provided a table with the relevent details. I created a blank and filled in the details in English (my own uncertified translation) which Safeguard accepted. Their only condition was that I changed my French driving licence for an English one - which I would have had to do in three years anyway.

In similar circumstances a couple of years ago I chose Churchill because they were the only company I found who would accept my "releve d'informations". I sent my French AXA agent a letter with the wording that Churchill required  - basically stating that I had held the policy since 2000 and had made no claims in that period. He sent back a copy on AXA headed paper which I forwarded to Churchill along with a copy of the original French releve d'informations and an explanation of how the French system worked.  Churchill accepted this without a problem.  I hope this is of some help to you.  

Click on the rubriques at the side of this link to see quite a few examples http://trobenet.centerblog.net/rub-jets-eau-.html

[quote user="Boudicca"]Perfectly legal. I ask DVLA regularly. This year I got caught by a speed camera (blush) and went on a speed awareness course to avoid points. I had to show my licence and my marriage certificate (because it was still in my maiden name) and there was no problem at all. The only problem I sometimes have is that some insurers won't accept a European licence, but actually I’m not sure whether they are legally allowed to do that. I always make sure that I state that I have a French European licence.[/quote] Just to clarify it. As a UK resident it is legal to drive a car on an EU licence for three years or until age 70 whichever is the longer period. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/DrivingInGbOnAForeignLicence/DG_4022556

We eventually sold through our local village agency but the Greenacres site produced plenty of enquiries and viewings.

[quote user="Edward Trunk"]There was a programme on telly last night featuring a family who had to live a 1970s lifestyle. No microwaves, no mobile phones, no Ipods, no satellite TV...the horror of it all. I survived the 70s, but I am wondering now how I managed...[/quote] Try the 40's - outside toilet, we had a bath but the only washbasin was the kitchen sink. One radio, no tv never mind satellite. Next door neighbour had a phone. didn't see my Dad between 1942 and 1945.  I think the 70's were luxurious. [:)]

It may be too far out for you but before returning to UK we went to L'Ecluse at Port Maubert for three years in succession and had a really good night out.  Bar-Restaurant L'Écluse Renseignements : Port Maubert   17240 ST-Fort s/ Gironde Tél. 05.46.49.94.78

Our notaire did a same day electronic transfer to our UK bank- which then took 5 working days to clear to the current account!

If it is not too far we used "hotel chiens chats" at Semussac (05 46 05 75 61)on the left just outside Cozes on the road to Royan for our cat on many occasions and were very pleased.

Plenty of adverts in the camping car magasines - e.g. Le monde du camping car

This link gives info for poitou-charente. I am sure something similar must exist for other regions  http://info.eau-poitou-charentes.org/

I returned to UK in December 2008 bringing with me my Frontera in which we had left UK in 2000. Perhaps I was lucky but AXA, on the understanding that I was changing back to a UK registration, agreed to insure during the process, which took about 6 weeks total. During this period I was house hunting and drove without problem on french plates and french Insurance. In the strict letter of the law that was probably illegal but I was "on holiday" and had not decided whether I was about to become a UK resident or not.  DVLA were very helpful, lights were changed, MOT completed, the biggest problem being finding a UK insurer to recognise my French "releve d'information". Churchill came up trumps in the end and accepted my translation and I finished up with the original registration number that I had in 2000. 

We moved back in December 2008 after nearly 9 years. Being retired we made no contributions to CPAM so our situation may be different to yours.  We cancelled both our CPAM/Carte Vitale and top up insurance by registered letter, using a variation of a basic cancellation letter format obtained from a french website (can't remember which but there are quite a few available). CPAM acknowledged quickly and asked for return of our cartes vitales but it took a couple more reminders before the top up company cancelled and refunded the direct debit payments they hed continued to collect. They did not at any time ask for any form of certificate. Although my French is good enough to get by on the phone I found it easier to compose a letter in slower time at home saying exactly what was happening and when.  This also worked well for the tax authorities, bank, insurances and all the utilities. 

  Having watched France/All Blacks and Australia/Italy I am now watching Lions/SA here    http://www.justin.tv/live24live

[quote user="redkite"] I'm thinking of hanging on to my French registered LHD van for use in the UK. Anybody know how much of a hassle this might be? Tax and insurance should be straightforward enough but how do I  go about getting UK number plates for it? [/quote] I've just reimported my car after nearly nine years in France. DVLA was straight forward and I have the number I left behind in 2000. However Churchill were the only insurance company I was able to find who would recognise my French "no claims discount/releve d'information".  Even then the original document which came from AXA in  the form of a table with the relevant information, for which I supplied a translation, was not considered acceptable and had to be backed up by a supplementary letter in English from AXA saying specifically that I had no claims during the time in France. It worked out OK in the end but took close on two months of correspondence to sort it out - and save the best part of £300 on the premium!! MOT with my French plates was no problem but remember that tax and number plates are inseparable and you may find it helpful to obtain the DVLA supplied "Importing your Vehicle" pack which you can order on line.  They were also helpful in answering phone queries subsequently 

A lot of hits if you google "B17 297400".  OH's cousin was an airgunner, shot down in a B17G of 214 Sqn in November 1944.

We had the roman steps on the side and used the cover shown in the link.  It took about 5 minutes to remove and about ten to put back and we considered it to be a good buy. http://couverture-piscine.accessoires-piscine.fr/couverture-de-securite/couverture-watertop/

I've just done this, without any major problems. The vehicle import information pack mentioned in Clair's link has useful information and includes the form V55/5 that you need to complete.  I rang DVLA and found them very helpful in advising which sections of that form had to be completed - particularly as my car had not been noted as "exported".    No claims bonus was something of a problem and the only company I could find that would recognise the French releves d'information was Churchill and they wanted a translation, but were prepared to accept mine. Anyway it's done now - and back on my pre export registration number  

Heres how we sold ours - signed the acte on 10 December. It went on the market about August 2007 via 5 agents and privately via Greenacres and IFP at a net vendeur price which the agents thought was reasonable at the time. There was a reasonable amount of interest from both French and English but no offers. By May 2008 having had only one offer which was €50000 below the asking price and which we rejected we again discussed the price with the agents all of whom recommended reducing by about €20000, which we did in July. Interest picked up quite a lot particularly among French viewers and in August we had an offer via an agent from a french guy. He was a cash buyer and thought to be really serious - three visits lots of questions and all going well. however we got to within three days of signing the compromis and he pulled out.  A bit depressing to say the least. Another agent in the village then asked if a client of his who had been once before could have another look. He came and went and liked it and a week later made an offer. This was when we changed tack a bit. We had previously said that the euro price was a very good price and that we would stick to it as far as we could. The exchange rate meanwhile had changed dramatically, to the extent that the offer would give us (Sept 2008)£15000 more than we would have got for our original asking price in 2007.  That coupled with falling UK house prices meant we had to accept - and all went smoothly from there. The money is the bank in the UK and with the continuing fall in the exchange rate we finally banked £30000 more than if we had sold in 2007at the original price.  so for us a successful outcome - all we need now is to find a house over here. 

Looks good to me - but then we are just waiting for the transfer of house sale Euros to sterling from the notaire to UK bank account  [:D]

[quote user="Belle"]Chas I have sent you an e-mail[/quote] No mail received Belle. If you want to try again do it today - last day on line for a while.

Thanks for your good wishes. We aim to settle ultimately in the west country - North Somerset or Devon.  Christmas in Fareham, New Year near Cheltenham then house hunting.