nectarine

big thanks, Ian, for that advice, will follow up on that too.

Is 2047K the same as good old 2047? If so then download it here http://www.impots.gouv.fr/portal/dgi/public/popup?espId=1&typePage=cpr02&docOid=documentstandard_5041&temNvlPopUp=true

Thank you parsnips !

I have a friend who's having problems with a new swimming pool installation and the company are giving her the runaround about various issues. I shan't go into the detail but the nuts and bolts are, is there a Citizens' Advice Bureau or equivalent in France where she could get some independent advice on her rights? Going to see a solicitor would incur costs up front so is there some kind of free mediation/advice service as a first stop? All advice gratefully received. Thank you in advance.

thank you all for your helpful replies and, pitway, I'll follow up on the recommendations you gave!

I'd echo a lot of what has been said. I know a few people who have gone back ... usually the birth of grandchildren which is a great pull, or bereavement. However I know of two ladies who have recently been bereaved and who have decided, for the time being, to stay in France among the friends they know. I'm not aware of any great 'exodus' back to the UK but friends of ours in Spain had to move back because, when they'd moved out many years before they were getting 1/45++ to the pound, and when it plummeted down to a little near parity they had lost one third of their pension income and just couldn't stay. They, and many more of their friends, had to go home. I'd never say never, everyone's circumstances are different and in difficult times having one's family close by is a great comfort, which is maybe why in later years some people go back to the UK.

I have a smartphone and 2 SIM cards. Leclerc Pay-As-You-Go, cheap for French calls, no independent internet access and cannot make calls from the UK. Plus my UK Virgin SIM which is also PAYG, can be used anywhere in the world and can access internet. What I'm looking for is a SIM contract which allows me to use the phone anywhere in the world without having to notify the operator beforehand, and gives internet access - either by contract or PAYG - but reasonable cost. I don't make a lot of calls, rarely text (so unlimited SMS is useless) but do go on the interspazz a lot for mail, maps, etc. Been to SFR, Bouygues, France Telecom etc., and am getting baffled and confused by the different tariffs. So I'm asking advice - which SIM do you have, do you recommend it, why did you choose that? If I have to stay with Virgin then I will although it's easier to have a French mobile number. So all advice much appreciated and thanks for all replies.

yes I read that this morning, apparently her wine had won awards. She'd been in the region for about two years and obviously doing well but clearly got up someone's nose. What a shame ..

Fascinating! I love trivia and - with apologies for hijacking this thread - now offer my own, although it's not related to words. Apparently the Dr. Who alien, the Dalek, originated from two sources: The word, 'Dalek', came when the series writer saw, among his set of encyclopaedia, one volume with the letters DAL - EK referencing those entries. And Tony Hancock, the comedian, had an earlier discussion with the same writer about this alien enemy and what form it would take. "Oh I imagine it would look like an upturned dustbin with a sink plunger on its forehead" was TH's reply (according to his biography). Heyho, the Dalek was born. I really should get out more .....

Success! CPAM documents arrived just a few days later and all in order! Thanks all.

very interesting! I find that when I'm looking up a French word I'm more interested in the origin, which leads me to my Latin dictionary and then I'm just reading through that, so the afternoon is lost.

Thought this might be of interest to drivers out there http://www.leparisien.fr/automobile/ces-radars-qui-nous-piegent-29-04-2013-2767297.php

oh I can see we've started something here, this one is going to run and run (if we get some 'support' from forum members!)

Oh Wooly, somehow I knew that your eyes would pop out when you read this conversation thread!!!

That's an interesting article and I've read similar (Google Dr. Mercola, and read some of his articles). But I've also read that one of the factors that contributes to breast cancer is wearing a bra, where the breast is squeezed and heated (usually because bras contain lycra and other fabrics that don't allow any cooling or ventilation). If you're wearing one of those for, say, 16 hours a day, every day, and also having a mammogram every 2 years then I think the possibility of overcooking the breast tissues is considerably higher than if you are just having the mammogram alone. I know several people who've had early stage breast cancer detected in a mammogram, and had treatment. Therefore I think they're useful, particularly if you've a family history. But opinion will always be divided on this ... and you are receiving a heavy shot of radiation each time. Re. the bra issue ... when I gave up work ten years ago one of the first things I did was throw away my business suits and all-but-one of my bras (now only used for occasions when I have to dress posh). I'd say I only wear it three or four times a year. However, back in the UK last year I was going to a wedding and needed a bra, and went to M&S and asked for a fitting. She measured me and brought a selection - and nothing fitted, literally nothing, to her and my surprise. Perhaps ten years of boobie freedom has reshaped them, who knows, but it's clear that our natural body shape is very different to the artificial shape that bras squeeze you into. (I'm guessing that the men on the forum are reading this with their eyes boggling !!)

aye aye cap'n, I WILL take copies. I have learned my lesson !!!! thanks all, for support and encouragement!

Update: after ringing DWP Newcastle who said that they didn't issue duplicates for tax purposes, I rang again this morning and spoke to a different operator - she said they did, but I'd have to call Medical Benefits Office since after France processes the document it sends a copy back to that UK office. Which I did, although chap there said that they don't keep copies after a certain length of time and they're apparently not scanned into the system .. however, he checked and said he couldn't find one so no joy. So, took a deep breath and a swig of strong coffee and rang CPAM .... and a very helpful lady there said, no problem, it will be in the post and with you in a week! I find that, with government offices, it really does depend on who you get !!!!

yes, I have since learned that, in France, you need eight copies of your birth certificate, an attestation of sanity and your grandmother's passport in order to purchase a mobile phone SIM card. I am now much wiser! But rang DWP today ... no, they do not issue duplicates for tax purposes. I said, "if I hadn't mentioned it was for tax purposes would you have given me a copy?". No, was the answer. May try tomorrow and see if I find someone more helpful

no, I am too young! (although with current tax bureaucracy, forms, etc., I am ageing rapidly!!)

I didn't keep a copy but handed it in, I'm sure of that. It's needed now because of social charges, etc., and working out what to levy ... otherwise I need an attestation which I can get from CPAM. I just couldn't remember what the certificate looked like, but thanks all for your replies.

Currently transferring into the French tax regime (grey hairs, taken to the drink, etc.) but already have a Carte Vitale for husband (retired and pensioned) of which I am a dependent (not working). However, I remember before we left the UK a few years ago we got whatever relevant forms we needed and presented them to CPAM, and got our Cartes Vitale which we carried ever since. However, our accountant has asked for a copy of the S1 certificate. Now I've looked through our documents (and I'm a pretty neat filer!) but see nothing that has S1 on it. I have an original 'attestation' from CPAM and also the green Carte Vitale sheet but should I have received an S1 somewhere along the line. Perhaps if I knew what one looked like I might be the wiser (Google doesn't show any images of one). Otherwise I shall trot to CPAM and request one but, meanwhile, if anybody could enlighten me I should be most grateful. Thanks in advance. yours, rummaging through filing cabinets ...

Excellent article, justjohn. I've read on another forum where someone thinks that Mrs. Thatcher was responsible for the Hillsborough disaster! It's a shame there isn't more balanced reporting in the press - what she inherited, and had to put to rights, was a nightmare ... but she had the guts to stand up and fight to make the country better. Shame some of our current politicians don't have the balls that she had !

My grandfather was a Welsh coalminder and a real activist in the unions there. He was so high in the unions that he went on a miners visit to Russia in the 30s- sort of to see how the comrades were getting on, I think - and when he came back he said "I have seen communism in action and it doesn't work" then prompted voted Conservative for the rest of his life. Not sure what the moral is, but just wanted to tell this tale.

thank you both, I always hear "deuxième", etc., but it's in the abbreviation, whether there is a rule. I guess if I put 2e, 3e (superscript) generally then I can't go wrong. Thank you both.

Where one would say 'first, second, third' etc., I'm a little confused as to whether, in abbreviating them, one writes '2e' or 2ème', etc. I've seen both, but don't know the difference. Someone told me that '2e' represents a rating, e.g. someone comes second in a race, whereas 2ème is used for a space, e.g. second floor. Is this right, is there a definite rule, or is it not important and either can be used? Thanks for all replies.