Jump to content

debseal

Members
  • Posts

    14
  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never

debseal's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

0

Reputation

  1. This has probably been discussed a million times but as I'm in an internet cafe and running out of time, I can't check! We've had the infamous Orange Livebox since our arrival two months ago. It has now packed up (we think) despite having a surge protector, being completely disconnected if it gets so much as cloudy, never mind stormy, and being totally disconnected every night. We were initially told it was an external line problem but now, apparently, it's the Livebox. We've now been without email or internet for over a week (and without the phone for the week before that...). I get the impression this may be a regular occurrence if we stick with Orange. Has anyone broken their contract with Orange in less than the year minimum and, if so, what happened? Has anyone got a service (preferably with English speaking help) for broadband they can positively recommend over months or years of experience? The trouble with the English speaking phone/broadband operators I've talked to so far is that they operate over France Telecom lines so you keep the same telephone number (good!) but have to deal with the impenetrable FT English speaking helpline which, so far in my experience, is in English so long as you're talking about bills and in French via 3900, the moment it gets technical. My French is pretty good face to face and for most day to day phone conversations but I find the France Telecom technical helpline an absolute nightmare of incomprehension! Help?  
  2. Is anyone else taking thyroxine every day and, if so, do you have to pay for it in France or are you exempt from charges as in UK? I see that some drugs are free for diabetics or people living with HIV or certain heart conditions but can't find anything on a non-functioning thyroid.
  3. debseal

    grey area

    Thanks for the help. Ironically, went to my local CPAM office this morning to register and the man who covers it and other local offices is off sick until further notice! Will do the biz in Limoges on Friday instead. Surely they can't all be off sick!
  4. debseal

    grey area

    Hi I'm in the position of having moved here 6 weeks ago. Tomorrow I will finally find a moment to go and apply for my carte vitale at CPAM but know this takes a few weeks to come through. I'll then sort out top-up insurance etc. However, right now, I'm having a bit of a medical problem which would require me seeing a doctor and probably having some tests. Am I still under the English system even though I have a French address only? Will I have to pay and will it be reimbursed? Should I produce my EHIC (if I can find it!) All my books deal with once you're resident and sorted with all the proper documentation, not with the sort of grey area between two systems I'm in at the moment...
  5. Hi Does anyone knows of a good place to source granite for kitchen work surfaces between Limoges and Poitiers? We live near Magnac Laval and although there is a funeral marbrier there, I have yet to find anyone working there to ask! Anyone in Bellac maybe?
  6. Thanks Jay Jay. I'm in!!! (Trouble is the message was a bit fast for me to start with and I think I've recorded a ridiculous 'leave a message' message. Does this sound likely and if so do you know how I re-record?)
  7. OK, now the depth of my ignorance may be shattering but I'm not too proud to show it. We've got the France Telecom answer service thingy on our phone but I don't know what number to dial to access my messages. I dial 3131 and it just tells me which number has called. Can anyone help a poor telecoms luddite, please?
  8. Yes, great idea. Never heard of it before. Thanks for that Sue. (Tried to reply yesterday but couldn't get on the site at all!)
  9. We're in 87 - Limousin. Anyone know anyone who buys older RHD English registered cars in France? Ours is an S reg Ford Focus, 123,000 miles on the clock but still going brilliantly. MOT til Nov. Tax til Dec. Is there any alternative to the long drive back to UK with it now we've got our smart new LHD?
  10. Unfortunately, the quick evacuation would be me! And I DO love all birds and animals. I just don't want them leaving decomposing corpses and poo in my roof.
  11. Yes Clair, I just discovered that yesterday when I was trying to buy mothballs! For future reference, you can no longer buy mothballs with napthelene - now illegal in France. So mothballs are out and no other 'repulsif' exists as they are a 'regulated' species. Apparently I have to call the President of my local Chasse which doesn't sound very promising for the poor things' future. I hope in this case, regulated means protected. Can find no other avenue to explore though so will go in to the Mairie tomorrow to get the number...Fingers crossed it's a humane solution.
  12. So far as I know, the edible doormouse is un loir? These are more like weasels. Like you, I'm a nature lover but especially the smells all through the bedrooms and bathroom - of decomposing corpses (dinner) and noxious poo and wee which stain your ceilings as well - and the noise all night long and the potential damage to our wiring and insulation, it's too much I'm afraid even for an animal lover like me. Once we've solved the problem this time, we'll block all possible ingress to make sure they can never get in again. Then, hopefully, we can enjoy seeing them outdoors where they belong.
  13. Thaks for that Clair. I obviously didn't look hard enough for long enough to see we're not alone. Now, what's French for 'pest man' with special spray, I wonder???
  14. My husband I and moved in to our French home a month ago, only to discover a family of beech martens (we think) had beaten us to it. They live in the roof space to which we have no access as the ceilings are pitched into the eaves, like an inverted V. They make an enormous amount of noise and - worse - smells and are obviously making a right old mess of our insulation. We'd rather not harm them, if possible, just discourage them from staying. Obviously, we can block their access in. Our current problem is that we don't wan't to stop them getting out first and we don't know how many we've got. So what do we do? Has anyone encountered this problem and won? Is there a French equivalent of the English town council to come and sort it out or are we on our own? All help pathetically gratefully received.
×
×
  • Create New...