sorchajames

Hi,   Thanks ever so much for that.  I am really trying to get an email address to try and organise things but when I tried the web address it gives no information.  You wouldnt happen to have an email address for the vet would you?   Thanks again   Sarah

Hi,   I wonder is anyone could please help me.  We will need to see a vet in the Saintes/ Cognac / Jarnac area ( off the A10 or in a nearby village ) on the 7th August this year for the tick / tapeworm treatment before going on the ferry to Ireland with our cat.. Does anyone know of any vets in this area, ideally although not necessarily english speaking and preferable an email address or tel no.   Thanks   SorchaJames

Hi,   I wonder is anyone could please help me.  We will need to see a vet in the Saintes/ Cognac / Jarnac area on the 7th August this year for the tick / tapeworm treatment before going on the ferry to Ireland with our cat.. Does anyone know of any vets in this area, ideally although not necessarily english speaking and preferable an email address or tel no.   Thanks   Sarah

Can anyone give me any information on capital gains tax on your principal residence and secondary residence in France? 

Hi, Well, we have been living in Spain for only the last 5 years and have been paying private medical insurance, so I am not an expert on the Spanish system but will attempt to tell you what I understand.  Firstly, it seems cheaper to get private medical insurance in Spain....we are a family of 4 ( 2 adults and 2 children ) in our 40s and it costs us just over €2000 and that covers everything.  What I don't really understand about France is that are you not able to make voluntary contributions to the social security system to allow you medical cover?  In Spain you can choose to make voluntary contributions, I think the minimum is about 200€ per month and this gets you into the spanish health system and also give you some sort of pension.  Some early retired's do this and others just wing it and use their EHIC for years and the Spanish seem not to bother about this ( I am not recommeding this myself ).  The problem with winging it is that you get the basic treatment but no after care etc.  Others, like ourselves, pay for private medical insuance which as I say, is more affordable in Spain ( as is the cost of living, although not house prices! ). Is there no way you can contribute voluntarily in France or is that the whole point?  Also, I dont understand to start a business you need a carte de sejour but you can't get that without medical insurance?  So, would you have to get medical insurance before setting up a business to get you your carte de sejour?   Confusing! Hope this help,  

Thanks very much for prompt replies. Think you could be right on the business front.  I am assuming gite business does not count?  I am concerned about private health insurance as our delayed move from Spain was because I was diagnosed with breast cancer ( v early ) but breast cancer all the same.  I guess I am going to have problems getting cover because of this and it could cost a bomb!  We have 2 kids under 8 ….do they get covered at all automatically by the government or are they classed exactly the same as us and will need to get private cover?   Thanks again  

Hi, We are planning to move to France next year ( it was originally planned for last yr but we have had problems and have had to delay ).  I have just realised about this new health ruling and want to clarify one point. We are in our 40s and planning to start a business in France but this will take time.  We are not eligible for the E106 as have not been working in the UK for 2 yrs ( we have been living in Spain), so were going to get the exemption letter and so get health insurance from the Government after 3 months.  Does this ruling mean we are going to have to get private health insurance from day 1 or in effect do we have the E106 by heed of the exemption letter?.  I dont think I am being v clear but I would be very grateful if someone could clarify.   SorchaJames

Hi, Can anybody help??!!  We have just been let down and do not now have the place we were doing to rent for a year in Jarnac.  We are living in Spain but have to be out of the house by 10th July.  We are looking for somewhere to rent for a few months, up to a year from that date.  We are 2 adults and 2 children and a well behaved cat, so would be happy with a 2/3 bed place. One of our problems is that we have sold a 4 bed place and so would need ideally to be able to put our furniture in the house or to be able to store it in a barn or something.  Otherwise we could maybe use a storage company to store our stuff. Tall order I know but can anyone help as we need to confirm removals and now have nowhere to go.  We are looking anywhere really in the Charente / Charente Maritime area, Thanks SorchaJames 

Hi, Can anybody help??!!  We have just been let down and do not now have the place we were doing to rent for a year in Jarnac.  We are living in Spain but have to be out of the house by 10th July.  We are looking for somewhere to rent for a few months, up to a year from that date.  We are 2 adults and 2 children and a cat, so would be happy with a 2/3 bed place. One of our problems is that we have sold a 4 bed place and so would need ideally to be able to put our furniture in the house or to be able to store it in a barn or something.  Otherwise we could maybe use a storage company to store our stuff. Tall order I know but can anyone help as we need to confirm removals and now have nowhere to go.  We are looking anywhere really in the Charente / Charente Maritime area, Thanks SorchaJames 

Hi, As I mentioned yesterday we are moving to Jarnac ( Charente ) the beginning of July.  We have 2 children aged 5 and 7 and at the moment they don't speak any French.  We are looking for someone to teach them french over the summer to help them when they enter school in September.  Does anyone know how we could find someone or a private language school in the area?  Any advice would be gratefully received as I am trying to minimise the problems they will have when they start school. Thanks v much in advance, SorchaJames

Thanks very much for that I will get in contact with them asap,  

Hi, We are moving to Jarnac ( Charente, 17) from  Spain next month.   I have read alot on the site which has been very helpful re education for your children, so thanks for that.  My children are aged 5 ( 6 in August ) and 7 years of age and at present don't speak any French.  Our move has been very last minute so we havent been able to prepare them at at as yet.  The first thing I would like to do is to find them some sort of French tutoring for the summer to help their entry into school a bit.  Any thoughts or contacts?  would be gratefully received. My other question is 1)  Does anyone know if anyone is in the schools during the summer holidays generally speaking?  We are thinking that we will not be able to go into the schools until we arrive which is after the end of term in July.  Would it be best to leave it until the beginning of September when the schools open.  I know this is very late but I am not sure we have any other option.  What do you think the reaction would be?  I know I have to go to the Mairie to get a entry form.  Is their likely to be a problem with places? I understand from the site that my 6 yrs old ( this August ) would be due to go into CP and my 7yr old ( 8 next March ) CE1. Would it be a good idea for them to both be in the same class e.g CP for support or do you think this would be a bad idea ( ie sticking together and not mixing/ learning the language. Obviously, it will be up to the school in the end where the are put. Our french is v bad at the moment, so it all seems a bit daunting but I am sure it will all work out in the end.  I want to make it as easy as possible for the kids as I know it will not be easy for them. Thanks again for all your help and useful info on the site, Sorchajames

Hi, As I mentioned yesterday we are moving to Jarnac ( Charente ) the beginning of July.  We have 2 children aged 5 and 7 and at the moment they don't speak any French.  We are looking for someone to teach them french over the summer to help them when they enter school in September.  Does anyone know how we could find someone or a private language school in the area?  Any advice would be gratefully received as I am trying to minimise the problems they will have when they start school. Thanks v much in advance, SorchaJames

Hi, Can anybody help me on this one.  We are moving from Arcos de la Frontera in Southern Spain ( near to Jerez/ Seville ) to Jarnac in Charente in 4 weeks time and are looking for a removal company to move us from our 4 bed house to a place we are renting in Jarnac.  Does anyone know of anyone who would deal with removals from spain to france? Thanks in advance, new to the site and it looks good stuff, Twinklex

Hi, I am new to the site and hope that someone could help me on this one. We are moving in a month's time from Arcos de la Frontera in Southern Spain ( near to Jerez/ Seville ) to Jarnac in the Charente. We are trying to find a removal company that will move us?  Any ideas gratefully received. Twinklex