Audois

As has been said, there isn't much call in rural France unless you happen to live next to a major industrial area, like Clermont Ferrand for instance. I am one of the very few CELTA qualified teachers in Aude that has a job.  I've been lucky in some respects to have a job but it pays peanuts, I can travel up to 200km in a day and average 40hrs PER MONTH (at 17euros an hour with work coming in via a school this is crippling!)  ... From this month I've managed to change a few things, I have a good accountant as I'm self-employed and some major contracts have come in which have taken a while to get, ie. the Army. If you are intending to move to rural France then don't rely on EFL work despite your qualifications; it's not a 'sought-after' subject and you'll find that there are a number of 'formations' in your area who probably have already employed someone, possibly French with an English degree .. Despite being an 'English' teacher, it's very necessary to have decent French to at least find yourself some work! In this area at least, there's more work for French teachers teaching the English French - as my colleague keeps telling me! Bonne chance!  

According to an e-mail from Living France you sent a PM into my inbox on here. I can't find it, it's been lost ... could you please send it again or via my 'external' e-mail, which I've got turned 'on' in my control panel (click on my name!) Thanks!

There is opportunity here.  To a certain extent ... the tide is turning and things will get better (said through gritted teeth!) I have seen a massive change in Aude in the last 6 years or so; 2003 was bleak, everything was closing and the unemployment level was rising.  Then suddenly we had some renewed light industry interest and slowly but surely things are getting better - not perfect, just better. Alongside this you have the govt. Zarkosy & Raffarin meddling in affairs ... despite some of the decisions the govt. has made; I really feel that France is waking up to the powers of China etc and getting their act (slowly) together.  The amount of French I know that want rid of the 35hr week (yes, there's a large amount of French that will do anything to keep it!) is increasing.  People here talk of France becoming under-developed (as I pointed out to a Saur man the other day when discussing drains!).  The French will not let France become anywhere near the status of 'developing' ... things will change in time. Bush was right, despite all his faults, 'entrepreneur' is a French word that doesn't exist in France, I have said this many times to business colleagues & friends who all agree with me; but that's down to the govt. again and I believe the govt. are looking at this issue .... in their own time. I work 16hrs a day, 6 days a week, I have numerous hats which I juggle to keep all & sundry happy; my day starts at 7.30am and finishes with a 40km drive home at 9pm followed by 2hrs of paperwork/e-mailing.  I am in my mid-thirties and single, as such the govt. whack hefty penalties on me due to my single 'entrepreneurial' status.  I don't earn anywhere near as much as I did in any other country I've lived in, but I'm happy - I have a great life, hard but fulfilling and I'm surrounded by friends, 99% of which are French.  Wild horses wouldn't drag me away, but when I get enquiries from people thinking of moving down to seize this 'sunny opportunity' I am quite careful in explaining to them how difficult life is; it's NOT A BED OF ROSES!!! Fingers crossed that the tide is turning and France will become a great nation again!  In the meantime we had better pay those cotisations to keep things afloat ... instead of doing it on the black or via UK companies!!!

You sent me a PM apparently, but when I opened my inbox, it didn't exist! Could you try to resend it please or via my e-mail on here!

I have a place just south of Limoux in 11, if you do get really stuck; possibly a bit out of your area!  

My friend has left France, due to personal reasons and has a lot to tie up here still.   She has a 9 seater Renault Traffic minibus, registered in Aude that she wants to sell.  The idea is that I go to the UK and drive it back down to sell it as we've had some offers.   The 'bus' needs its CT doing before it can legally be sold (due to the 6month thing).  Can I go to her Mairie, pick up the sale forms, fly with them to the UK, get her to sign them there and then bring the van back, run it through the CT and flog it - LEGALLY?  I have this funny feeling that she needs to be present to sell it - getting the forms from the Mairie after the 'vends le date' has been scrawled across the carte gris!   Can't remember which way around this has to be done ... can someone remind me please!

The cheapest would be ADA Location in ZI La Bouriette, if you ring them beforehand, they'll come and meet you at the airport, they've got a good selection of vans, I've been using them for various vehicles for 7 years or so.  M. Hernandez is a lovely guy, very fair about renting his vans but not so fair when putting a car in for some mechanical work!!! Call them on: 0468-11-71-92  

Not sure about this; although I'd heard the same, that this type of thing was coming into force across Europe. In Spain it's been obligatory to have a yellow jacket and two hazard triangles IN REACH of the driver (so no putting it in the boot!) for about a year now.  Due to this (and my numerous trips over the border) my yellow gilet is on display and the hazard triangles are behind the passenger seat.  I've not heard about a first aid kit ...    

Thanks to both Val & Sabine Went to the Impots, interestingly they get their addresses from the Cadastre - so didn't get far there. I'd checked on those sites Sabine, I still can't find a company of that name registered at the Paris address I have, just one in Marseilles and another possibility in 91. I've written a letter as instructed by my client and will wait and see what happens, next stop will be a notaires!

Thanks Val, hadn't thought of the Impots!!  The client who's house is next door is interested in buying this place too, so if I can find an owner we may get somewhere one way or another!

I've a building that I'm dealing with that has problems and I need to contact the neighbours (due to their roofless barn!) So, I thought this was going to be straightforward ... I asked at the Mairie, they didn't have a clue as to the owner so I went to the Cadastre and got the name etc from their records. I've now hit a major problem.  The building is owned by a SARL registered in Paris (Champs Elysees) and I can't find any trace of it.  I've looked up on www.bilan.net; www.verif.fr; www.pagesjaunes.fr; etc etc .... done numerous yahoo/google searches.  The nearest I've found is on verif.fr where there is a company with the same name (which seems to be initials or an acronmyn for something) that is based in MARSEILLES!!!  Having searched on that company I can't find an address or phone number for them in Marseilles so that I can call and further my enquiries. Would a company be able to re-register in Marseilles but the Cadastre files not be showing it?  I have a feeling the Paris address is probably just a post box. Can anyone help?  Short of sending the Paris address a letter I don't know where to go next!!! Thanks

Eindhoven has appeared on the scene at Salvaza ... so what is happening as the guys in the control tower were told of Frankfurt .. maybe Mr. O'Leary should get his atlas out! Dutch rather than Germans on their way ...    

The Liverpool service is already on the website apparently. Frankfurt should follow shortly and I've heard lots of rumours about Edinburgh following too - but I don't think Ryanair have an Edinburgh base so that can't be.  Certainly the 'powers that be' at Salvaza haven't yet heard of any Scottish links yet!

Strange that ... doesn't work like that in the Aude ...

As per PatF says, have a look locally.  But do be aware that builders doing up houses may not have the insurance cover to do new builds; the two are vastly different!

Normally around Perpignan they'll speak French or Occitan, Girona it's Spanish. However, try www.bluewheels.co.uk who have a good service and good contacts abroad.  Or else ADA Location in Perpignan; but that's predominantly French speaking. Bonne chance  

1.  When you don't have a valid UK address. By EU law you are not entitled to drive on a licence registered to a former address. If you change your UK licence DO be aware that if you want to keep all your 'classes' (even the straightforward UK permit) you will probably have to sit a medical.  Normally it's a 5 yearly one, checking heart & eyes etc So if you have a trailer, caravan or want to drive a Luton van; then make sure that they have you booked in for a medical before you fully change your licence.  The medical in 2004 was 28euros    

I'm not entirely clear, but what I will say is that gaz de ville is one of the cheapest forms of heating in France, far cheaper than electricity and fioul.  It will also work out cheaper than the gas bottles. A lot of people are getting mixed messages in regard to heating.  The electricity option is cheap to install but once the charges arrive it isn't at all economic! In terms of re-saleability; the house would benefit from gaz de ville!

Please don't be fooled into thinking that you can live off gite income.  It's all taxable after you've written off a forfait of 37% .. you've got the taxes foncieres/habitation to pay etc on the properties. If you are wondering if you should have a 2 bed or a 4 bed then I would suggest you do some research on the net and discover which would make your place more of a niche market for people coming to stay ... the market is currently flooded with gites and too many people unable to survive on just gites. Bonne chance

This is typical AGF behaviour, you're not with the Limoux (11) branch by any chance? I had a 'run-in' with them 2yrs ago over a car that was sold and they were informed ... they continued to send bills and then took me to court for non-payment.  Eventually, after several visits over 7 months I sorted it out; but they decided to have the final word as when I changed my insurance to another (cheaper) company they refused to send my documents.  I went back in to demand why they'd not been sent and I got a mouthful for having turned my back on AGF! Never again!

Thanks TU been a while since we communicated!!! I agree the pay is lousy ... if that's what she'll end up with. On the 'up' side she has me here, with accomodation to offer and help with the kids.  The other side of things - if she stays a year or two she'll have all 5 fluent in French, which will be a rarity for a family of that size!!!  Someone once said to me that nursing is a 'portable profession' which I think is very true, however with 5 kids it's an expensive portable profession!!!  But it would be good for them all, here's hoping we'll find a local hospital who'll take her or a Toulouse hospital who might pay a little extra!

It sounds to me like it's 'really old'!!!! I'd change it before it does something that could cause you problems!!!  Whether it trips well or not, I would imagine we're talking 35+ years old ...

Kate Thank you so much for your answer.  I think my friend may try to contact you via a PM or e-mail; I'll get her to log on as a member, if you'd be so kind as to correspond with her (she's got a multitude of questions!)  

Thanks Will The children aren't too much of a problem.  The 16yo has already done a year at college here when he was 14/15 and the question will be whether he goes to Lycee Agricole here or does his 'High School Certificate' by correspondance from here. The next one (11) will probably go to college or do the last year of primaire.  The other two (8&10) will be at primaire here in the village and the 'baby' will be 3 and go to maternelle in the village school too. I've been asking around, there seems to be work in Toulouse where they are taking Spanish nurses and giving them French courses on arrival; apparently they are still desperate for more nurses and offering all kinds of incentives.  The problem is who is recruiting?  Is it a national agency; private or public or does she forward her CV direct to hospitals? Does anyone know rates of pay here?  Obviously that will be a major factor!!!    

My best friend, a Kiwi has an idea; move to France with her 5 kids and work here for a year. It all came about because her son, my godson had a dream the other night that he was living here again with me. She's also fed up with where she is in NZ and wants a change. Having had 5kids she's been a little tied down. She's single, got lots of guts and will do it ... but I'm in a quandary as to how it could work. 1. She's a qualified theatre nurse with specialisms in gynaecology, orthopedics and generalist operations. 2. She doesn't speak French (but is willing to get to grips with it in an intensive course before coming over) 3. She has a Kiwi passport (in my eyes, I have a feeling French hospitals will want a EU passport and probably French qualifications).  However I have heard that French hospitals are madly recruiting nurses. Can someone give us a clue ... anyone in the nursing profession in France on the board? I'm not sure if this will work but I would love to see them all here for a year or two. I think there may be a job for her in Toulouse ... but whether they'd accept her ... Ideally she'd like something in the SE near me so they could all live at mine. Any ideas? She'd change her specialisms - ie. work with elderly in a home etc ...